Britain's glory, and England's bravery wherein is shewed the degrees of honour from the prince to the peasant, with the honour of the nobles, and previleges of the commons, the proper places and precedency of all persons from the throne to the bondman, more particularly in coronations, processions, feasts, funerals and other great assembly : as also honour of arms, power of heralds, signification of charges in coat-armour, with an armorial dictionary, explaining the terms of heraldry, and an account of all the orders of knighthood in Christendom, and of the weights and measures of England : to which is added a continuation of The historians guide, from November, 1687, where the third and last impression ends, to June, 1687 / being the collections and observations of Benjamine Smithurst.

CHAP. XXXIV. Of the Points in an Escoucheon.

I Conclude with naming those places in the Escoucheon, which in Heraldry are called Points, and by which you are to know the several parts and places in it, which are also Nine. You are to imagine the Escoucheon, as placed before you, to be worn by the bearer; so that the right side of it answers to your left hand, and the left side to your right hand, and therefore are called the Dexter and Sinister sides of the Escoucheon. The Points are as follow: 1. The middle or centre of the Escoucheon is called the Fess Point. 2. The middle be∣tween the Fess point and the top of the Escoucheon, is called the Honour Point. 3. The right corner at the top is the Dex∣tre Chief Point. 4. The very middle of the top is the Chief Point. 5. The left cor∣ner of the top is called the Sinister Chief Point. 6. Then between the Fess Point and the bottom of the Escoucheon is the Nom∣bril Point. 7. The right corner of the bot∣tom is the Dextre Bass Point, 8. The mid∣dle of the bottom is the Bass Point. And,

9. The left corner of the bottom is called the Sinister Bass Point.

There being many words in the forego∣ing Treatise, which are not here explained (although most are,) and many other Terms of Art, and some peculiar Charges, which are not therein mentioned, I have thought good to insert the following Table, for the benefit of such who are willing to be in∣structed therein.

Abacat,

a Cap of High Estate, worn by some Kings.

Abatement,

(see Chap. 32.) Disgrace or lessen∣ing of Honour.

Achievement,

the Arms of any Gentleman, or Nobleman, with his Crest, Mantle, Helm, Supporters, Motto, &c. Proper.

Adumbration,

a shadowing; it is used in Heraldry when a Family is gone to decay, they may bear their Coat shadowed, i. e. only with the plain Lines, and no Co∣lours.

Adventail,

a Coat of Armour.

Annulet,

a Ring in Armory, the Rings of a Coat of Male.

Avelan,

a cross, whose ends are like Nuts, or Philbirds, therefore called a Cross A∣velan.

Bar,

(see Chap. 31.) less than the Fess, and many have three in an Escoucheon.

Barulet,

is a Diminutive Bar, containing a fourth part of the Bar.

Barre,

is when a Coat is composed of small Bars, both Colours being equal; else it must be blazoned Barre of so many.

Bars Gemews,

or Gemelis, double Bars, and always born two together.

Base,

the bottom of the Escoucheon.

Battoon,

a wand or ••udgel; it is like a Bend Sinister, reaching from the Sinister Chief to the Dextre Base, but doth not touch either; it is narrower than the Bend, and is a Note of Bastardy.

Bend,

see Chap. 31. a Belt.

Bendlet,

a diminutive Bend, three may be born in an Escoucheon.

Bendy,

when the whole Escoucheon is com∣posed of Bends.

Per Bend,

is when the Escoucheon is of two Colours, and parted by a Line bend ways.

Bessants,

are Quoits of Gold, valued 3750 l. Sterling.

Billit,

Letters, Chap. 32. Sect. 10.

Blazon,

to describe a Coat of Arms by pro∣per Terms.

Botony,

see Cross.

Border,

the edge of a different Colour that goeth round many Coats.

Cabosed,

when the Head of a Beast, &c. is cut close off, and no Neck left to it.

Canton Dextre

and Sinister, see Chap. 31.

Castle,

is when the Architecture extendeth it self from one side of the Field, to the other; and if it have Turrets, they must be named how many: But if it doth ex∣tend it self so, it is blazoned a Tower, and if it have Turrets, they must be cal∣led Towered.

Chaplet,

a Garland or Headband of Flow∣ers.

Checquee,

is when it is Chequered of more rows than two.

Chevron,

see Chap. 31.

Chevronel,

a little Chevron.

Cheif,

see Chap. 31.

Closs,

birds, &c. when set on their Feet are blazoned Closs, not Passant.

Closs, Cost,

or Cottises, are very narrow Bends, and by some thought to be the Ribs of a Man: They are born on each side the Bend, and some other Charges, but always in Bend.

Combatant,

sighting or rampant, face to face; it is only proper to Beasts of Bat∣tel.

Complement,

the Moon is so blazoned when at full.

Compony,

or Compounded, is two rows chequered and no more.

Counter,

to go toward the Sinister side of the Escoucheon, or to go back again.

Couped,

cut smooth off.

Couchant,

lying down, proper for Beasts of Prey.

Crenella,

see Chap 31. in a Chief, or Fess, or Bar, it is blazoned Embattellee.

Coward,

a Lion with his Tail between his Legs, and hanging about his Feet.

Cronels,

is that which is put upon the end of a Tilt, Staff, or Spear, in justing.

Cressant,

a horned Moon with the Horns upwards.

Cross,

see Chap. 31.

Croslet,

a little Cross, when more than one is born in an Escoucheon.

Cross Croslet,

when those little Crosses are crossed at the ends.

Cross Flory,

hath a Flower-de-luce, issuing out at each end, some call it Patence.

Cross Botony,

when each end hath Balls or Buttons on them.

Cross Pattee

or Form, when the ends are broader than the Bars.

Cross Fitchee,

when there is a spike in the lower end to stick it into the Ground.

Cross Julian,

like a Saltier, but crossed a∣again at each end.

Cross Potent,

when the ends are crossed like a Crutch, some call it a cross Bat∣toon.

Cross Ragulee,

see Ragulee.

Cross Moline,

when the ends are parted,

• and turn outward like the outside Leaves of a Flower-de-luce; it hath its name from a Mill-Link.

Dalmatica,

a Priest's Garment; see Chap. 2.

Dancette,

very much cut or indented; see Chap. 31.

Debruised,

oppressed.

Delft

or Delve, a Spit of Earth; see Chap. 32. Sect. 10.

Displayed,

spread abroad.

Dormant,

sleeping.

Doubled

or Doublings. lined or linings.

Eau,

water; see Chap. 32.

Embatalia,

see Crenella.

Embowed,

bended as the Dolphin.

Enaluron,

a Term proper for a Border, or the like, when it is charged with Birds.

Endorsed,

back to back, Rampant or up∣right.

Entoyer,

a Term proper to a Border, when charged with dead or artificial things.

Enurny,

a Term proper to a Border, and the like, when charged with Beasts.

Erased,

torn off by Violence.

Escoucheon,

a Shield whereon Coat-Armour is depicted.

Expanded,

Spread abroad or set open.

Fess,

see Chap. 13.

Fillet,

that which Women bind up their Hair with; it is when the Chief hath a fourth part of it taken off, as it were, at the bottom.

Fitchee,

a Spike to fix into the Ground; see Cross.

Files,

Some take them for Points, some for the folds of Garments, others for Can∣dles; the most likely are Points: they are a note of the elder Family, or Heir to a Family, when rightly placed.

Flanch,

the Flanck; see Chap. 31.

Flasque,

a bent Bow, some say; see Chap∣ter 31.

Flory,

see Cross; also any thing that is flow∣red on the sides.

Formee,

Broad; see Cross.

Frett,

it is as when a Square Frame (as of a Picture, or the like,) hath a stick laid on it from side to side, and another on the other side, which binds in the first stick by crossing over it, and, turning again on the other side of the Frame, holdeth all together.

Frettee,

is when several Sticks or Battoons are wadled or woven together, like our Lattice Windows.

Fucils,

the French take for Spindles where∣on Yarn is spun; we take them for Wea∣vers

Frinbrated,

bordered or hemmed.

Gads of Steel,

see Chap. 32. § 10.

Gambs,

the Paws of Lions, and Beasts of Prey.

Guardant,

when a Beast of Prey looks upon you as it were with a full Face.

Gaze,

is the same, and proper to Beasts of Chase.

Gemews,

see Barrs.

Gobonated,

cut in pieces.

Golps,

Wounds; see Chap. 32.

Gore,

the Gore of a Smock, a Note of Effe∣minacy; see Chap. 33.

Gussets,

the Gussets of a Smock; see Chap∣ter 33.

Guttas,

Drops; see Chap. 33. § 10.

Gyrone,

see Chap. 31.

Hauriant,

is a proper Blazon for Fish, when they are placed as if they hung at the Line.

Heawme

and Timbre, are those things that are without the Escoucheon, as, Mantle, Crest, &c. Chap. 31.

Honour Point,

see Chap. 34.

Humett,

is a Term in Blazon, when any of the honourable Ordinaries are cut off at ends, so that they do not touch the sides

Huns,

a Bruise in the Flesh; see Chap. 32.

Inescoucheon,

see Chap. 31.

Indented,

toothed, Chap. 31.

Ingrailed,

is when the Heads of the Scallops look inward to one another; Chap. 31.

Invected,

is when the Heads look outward from one the other; Chap. 31.

Jesant,

to lie over.

Knight-Service,

an ancient Tenure of Lands, by which a Man was bound to bear Arms in War for the defence of the Kingdom.

Lambeaux,

see Files.

Larmes,

Tears; see Chap. 32. § 10.

Lodged,

a Term proper to Beasts of Chace, as Couchant is to Beasts of Battel.

Lozenges,

Physical Compositions; see Chap∣ter 32. § 10.

Mascles,

Meshes of a Net, Chap. 32. § 10.

Mullet,

an imperfect Star, or Spur-Rowel; see Chap. 32. § 7.

Mounting,

a Term proper to Beasts of Chase, as Rampant is to Beasts of Prey.

Mound,

is the Globe or Ball, with the Cross on it, which the King holds in his hand when he sits in State.

Mouline,

the Links of a Mill.

Nayant,

swimming.

Nebulee,

Clouds, or clouded.

Nombril,

the Navil, a point in the Escou∣cheon; see Chap. 34.

Orle,

an Escoucheon hewed through; see Chap. 31.

Or,

Gold, or yellow.

Ogresses,

Pellets, Gunstones, or Bullets.

Pale,

a Pillar, see Chap. 31.

Pallet,

a little Pale; three or five may be in an Escoucheon.

Paley,

when the whole Escoucheon is com∣posed of Pales.

Passant,

a Term proper to a Beast of Battel, and is used when they are walking along, or passing.

Pattee,

see Form, or Cross.

Pattence-Flory,

see Flory; only it is peculiar to a Cross, which Flory is not.

Pierced,

when there is a hole in the Charge, through which the Field may be seen.

Pendent,

hanging down.

Pile,

such as is driven into Foundations when it is extended to the lower end of the Escoucheon; but when it reacheth but half way, it is taken for a Wedge.

Plates,

Quoits of Silver uncoined.

Poix,

Pitch.

Potent,

see Cross.

Proper,

the natural colour of any thing.

Purflued,

a Term proper for those Borders that are composed of Furr.

Purpure,

Purple.

Quarters,

see Chap. 31.

Quere,

the Tail of a Beast, chiefly used in the Lion.

Quere Double,

forked, or two Tails.

Quere Double in Saltier,

when the two Tails turn inward at the ends, and cross one the other in Saltier.

Quere Inflected,

when the Tail comes be∣tween the Legs, and turns over the Back.

Quere Renowned,

elevated over the Head,

Ragulee,

when the Branches are cut from the Stock of a Tree, &c. leaving some part on, like the ragged Staff.

Rampant,

when a Beast of Battel stands up∣right on his hinder Legs.

Rebated,

the point of a Weapon broken off.

Regardant,

looking backward.

Respecting,

when Fish, or Beasts of Chase, stand upright one against the other; see Combatant.

Reverse,

turned the bottom upwards.

Ribon,

like a Bend, but very narrow, and doth not touch the corner of the Escou∣cheon.

Roundie,

see Chap. 32. § 10.

Saltier,

see Chap. 32.

Saliant,

a Term proper for Beasts of Prey, when they are not so upright as Ram∣pant, it signifies to seise the Prey.

Scarp,

is a very narrow Sinister Bend.

Seiant,

sitting upon the Tayl.

Shaperoon,

a French Hood.

Sliped,

is when a Branch or Flower is pluck∣ed off from the Stock; and not cut or couped.

Socage,

an Ancient Tenure of Land, by do∣ing some inferiour service of Husbandry to the Lord of the Fee.

Springing,

is proper to Beasts of Chace; when they leap forward and are placed in the same posture that Beasts of Prey are when Saliant; in fish it is when they are placed in Bend.

Steel Gads,

see Gads; and Chap. 32. Sect. 10.

Stole,

a long Garment or Robe of Honour, the Keeper whereof is generally one of the Nobility; and styled Groom of the Stole, by the Vulgar Groom of the Stool.

Tenne,

Orange Colour; a Colour Stainant.

Tripant,

a Term proper for Beasts of Chace, as Passant is for Beasts of Battel.

Trunked,

is when a Tree or the like is cut off, so that the inside thereof is to be seen,

Torce,

is the wreath whereon the Helmet in the Crest standeth; and is used in their Coats who are under the Degree of a Baron.

Tortuaux,

wafers used in the Sacrament (by the Papists.)

Tower,

see Castles.

Vamplet,

is that on a Tilt Spear which co∣vers the hand of the Tilter.

Verdoy,

is a Term proper to a Border charged with Flowers.

Ʋlster,

is the Canton on the Arms of all Baronets, (which is Argent, a Sinister hand in Pale, couped at Wrist, Gules,) and so called, because it is the Arms of Ʋl∣ster in Ireland.

Ʋndee

or Ʋndaded, waved.

Volant,

flying.

Voided,

is when the inner side of an Or∣dinary or Charge is taken away, so that the Field is seen through.

Vulned,

wounded.

Wreath,

see Torce.

Waved,

see Ʋndee.