The science of herauldry, treated as a part of the civil law, and law of nations wherein reasons are given for its principles, and etymologies for its harder terms.

CHAP. XVIII. Of such FIGVRES square and round as are only us'd in Heraldry (Book 18)

THere are b••sides the Ordinaries many other figures, which are proper to He∣raldry: and therefore I have insert them here next these; and before I begin to treat of the common Charge.

These are either round or square.

The round get from the English various names, according to their various forms, which I have here set down from Guilims.

• if they be 1 Or, then we call them 1 besants,
• if they be 2 argent, then we call them 2 plates,
• if they be 3 vert, then we call them 3 pomeis, the French word for aples
• if they be 4 light blew, then we call them 4 hurts,
• if they be 5 sable, then we call them 5 pellets or ogresses
• if they be 6 purpure, then we call them 6 golpes,
• if they be 7 tenne, then we call them 7 oreges,
• if they be 8 sanguine, then we call them 8 guzes,
• if they be 9 gules, then we call them 9 torteauxes.

But the French allow no such multiplicity, nor confusion of terms; and Colomb, sayes, c' est plustost obsturcir la Science que l' éclaircir, c' est pourquoy ce ne scaurois approuuer ces terms begearres d' angleterre.

The ordinar round figures approved by all Nations, are,

The besants, which were the money of Constantinople, and had their Name from that town, which was called Bizantium, and have been generally born of old by such as were at the Holy War; of late they are born by such as have been rais'd, by being Thesaurers or Customers: For these besants are still of Mettal.

If these Roundlets be of colour they are term'd, torteauxes, generally by the Scots and French.

If they be half Mettal, half colour, they are call'd besant torteaux, if the Mettal be in the highest place, or in the dexter side; if otherwise, they are called torteaux besants: This word torteaux is in Latine called limba torta & rotunda (round Cakes) and thence sprung the term torteaux Leigh: calls them wastals. It is given by Chassaneus conclus. 75. as a Rule, That besantae nume∣rantur usque ad octo, si excedant dicentur besanteae & tortellae numerantur sicut besantae: That is to say, If the besants exceed six, you should say, bestanted, and need not specifie their number.

If these Roundlets be shadow'd, they are call'd Bowles; and the first who bore these, was the Family of Medicis now Duke of Florence, because the first of that name, Edward de Medicis, who serv'd under Charles the great, kill'd Mugel a Giant, who wasted all about Florence, and murdered Passen∣gers by a mace of iron, at which were hung five iron bowles, and did there∣upon take five bowles for his Arms.

The four corner'd figures, are either Lozanges, which are exactly four squar'd para-lello grammata, and are born by Mathematicians, and ofttimes are the symbols of exact Honesty, and Constancy; that being a figure whose right side is alwayes highest, homus quadratus, Chas lib. 1. conclu 75. tells us, That Lozangiae factae sunt ad modum lozangiorum in vitriis.

The fusill is longer, and has its highest and lowest angles sharper than the Lozanges: it was the form wherein women carry'd their Arms of old, and by the old shape of it, and the present name, it represents a Spindle: If there be many of these, then we say, lozan'd or fusill'd.

The Macle is also four square, but it is voided as in the fig. 3. some think they resemble the mashes of a net, and if so, they must still be voided, as Guilims well observes, pag 317. and they signifie the Bearer to have been pollitick, and fit to take others in his net, as Sir Iohn Fern observes▪ but if the Macle represents a Mash, why was it cut as a Macle? and therefore I do rather believe Colomb. pag. 149. Who asserts, That these Macles were first used in the Arms of the House of Rohan, who chused them, because all the Carps, and Flints also of their Lands in the Dutchie of Rohan, are all markt with this Fi∣gure, which being a thing very extraordinary, and singular, gave occasion to them to use these in their Arms, and these Spots are called Macles in that Countrey from the Latine Macula: Whereupon the Dukes of Rohan have for their Motto, Sine Maculâ, Macla. In my opinion they look like Mirrours, and seeing the Name of Purves carries three Macles, and that their Name in France is Purvoir, I think these Macles represents Mirrours in their Arms.

The English call thir Figures Macles, without distinguishing whether they be voided or pierc'd; but if they be pierc'd round, the French call them rustres.

I have also set down the form of a Fret, which should consist of six pieces, if of moe, we say Fretted.

Billets are also four corner'd, but are longer in the sides, than at the ends; they represent a Brick, and therefore are call'd Laterculus by the Latine He∣ralds: Some ancient Families bear these, to show the antiquity of their Fami∣lies, as Varreus observes, for of old all houses were built of Brick. Some Fa∣milies with us use them, to show their Original was from England, where brick tyles are much us'd.

[illustration]

I have added the Earle of Errols Coat as an Example of Inescutheons.

The description of the PLATE, belonging to the 18. Chapter.

I.

* 1.1AZur, a Fesse betwixt three Lozenges Or.

The same quartered with the Coat of Balfour, Argent on a che∣veron sable, an Otters head crazed of the first.

Argent, a cheveron ensigned on the top, with a crosse pateé betwixt three Lozanges sable.* 1.2

Argent, three Lozanges sable, on a chief of the second, als many Lyons passant guardant as the first.* 1.3

II.

* 1.4Argent, a Fesse fusiliesable (or five fusils in fesse)

Or, a cheveron betwixt three fusils azur.

Or, a cross crosslet fitched sable betwixt three Crescents in chief, and als many fusils in base gules.

III.

* 1.5Azur, on a Cheveron betwixt three Mascles argent, als many cinquefoiles Gules.

Azur, on a fesse betwixt three mascles argent, als many cinque∣foiles of the first.

Gules, six mascles Or, 3, 2, and 1. quartered in the second place, in the atchievement of Cockburn of Langtoun,* 1.6 with his paternal Coat argent, three Cocks Gules.

* 1.7Azur, three Mascles, Or.

IV.

* 1.8Or, on a fesse, betwixt three Crosses, Pateé Gules, als many bezants.

Or, on a fesse, betwixt three Crosses, Pateé in chief Gules, and an star in baze Azur, als many Bezants.

* 1.9Argent, on a fesse azur, three Bezants.

Azur, a Cheveron, betwixt three bezants.

V.

* 1.10Ermin, a frett Gules.

Ermine, fretté Gules.

Ermin, a frett ingrailed Gules.

Gules, a frett Argent.

Sable, fretted Or.

VI.

Sable, a bend betwixt six billets Or: This is quartered in the at∣chievements of the Earles of Linlithgow and Callender.* 1.11

VII.

* 1.12Argent, three Shields (or inescutcheons) Gules.

* 1.13Gules, an inescutcheon Or,

* 1.14Sable, an inescutcheon, chekie argent and azur, betwixt three Lyons heads erased of the second.

Argent, four barrs imbatled azur, over all an inescutcheon, Gules.

VIII.

* 1.15Argent, a Cheveron Sable, betwixt three Torteauxes, (or three roundles) Gules.

Argent, a cheveron, betwixt three pellets, (or three roundles) Sable) This may serve for roundless of other colours; of each of which, there want not instances amongst the Bearings of this Kingdom.

IX.

* 1.16Or three annulets Gules.

Gules, three annulets or stoned Saphire: quartered in the se∣cond place in the atchievement of Montgomery Earl of Egling∣toun.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Beton, Beton of Balfour.
• * 1.2

  Strang, of Balkcaskie.
• * 1.3

  Ogston, of that ilk.
• * 1.4

  Leith of Restalrig. Leith of Overbarns. Leith, of Leith-hall.
• * 1.5

  Purves, Purves, now of that ilk.
• * 1.6

  Weapont.
• * 1.7

  Wardlaw, of that ilk.
• * 1.8

  Mercer, Mercer of Adie.
• * 1.9

  Fountain, Hope of Craighall.
• * 1.10

  Mcculloch, Mcculloch of Myre∣toun.

  Mcculloch, of Piltonn. Lyll.

  Lauder∣dale.
• * 1.11

  Calender.
• * 1.12

  Hay, Earl of Errol.
• * 1.13

  Balliol.
• * 1.14

  Mcnaught of Kil∣quharitie. Straiton of Low∣riston.
• * 1.15

  Blair of Balthay∣ock.

  Myrton of Cambo.
• * 1.16

  Hutton. Egling∣ton.