A Complete Guide to HeraldryFox-Davies, Arthur Charles
History
A Complete Guide to Heraldry
Fox-Davies, Arthur Charles
Heraldry -- Great Britain
The pale is a broad perpendicular band passing from the top of the
escutcheon to the bottom (Fig. 85). Like all the other ordinaries, it is
stated to contain the third part of the area of the field, and it is the
only one which is at all frequently drawn in that proportion. But even with
the pale, the most frequent occasion upon which this proportion is
definitely given, this exaggerated width will be presently explained. The
artistic latitude, however, permits the pale to be drawn of this proportion
if this be convenient to the charges upon it.
Like the other ordinaries, the pale will be found varied by the different
lines of partition (Figs. 86-94).
The single circumstance in which the pale is regularly drawn to contain a
full third of the field by measurement is when the coat is "per fess and a
pale counterchanged." This, it will be noticed, divides the shield into six
equal portions (Fig. 95). The ease with which, by {116} the employment of
these conditions, a new coat can be based upon an old one which shall leave
three original charges in the same position, and upon a field of the
original tincture, and yet shall produce an entirely different and distinct
coat of arms, has led to this particular form being constantly repeated in
modern grants.
[Illustration: FIG. 87.--Pale invecked.]
[Illustration: FIG. 88.--Pale embattled.]
[Illustration: FIG. 89.--Pale raguly.]
[Illustration: FIG. 90.--Pale dovetailed.]
[Illustration: FIG. 91.--Pale indented.]
[Illustration: FIG. 92.--Pale wavy.]
[Illustration: FIG. 93.--Pale nebuly.]
[Illustration: FIG. 94.--Pale rayonné.]
[Illustration: FIG. 95.--Pale per fesse counter changed.]
The diminutive of the pale is the pallet (Fig. 96), and the pale cottised
is sometimes termed "endorsed."
Except when it is used as a mark of difference or distinction (then usually
wavy), the pallet is not found singly; but two pallets, or three, are not
exceptional. Charged upon other ordinaries, particularly on the chief and
the chevron, pallets are of constant occurrence. {117}
When the field is striped vertically it is said to be "paly" of so many
(Fig. 57).
[Illustration: FIG. 96.--Pallets.]
[Illustration: FIG. 97.--The arms of Amaury de Montfort, Earl of
Gloucester; died before 1214. (From his seal.)]
[Illustration: FIG. 98.--Arms of Simon de Montfort, Earl of Leicester; died
1265. (From MS. Cott., Nero, D. 1.)]
[Illustration: FIG. 99.--Fess.]
[Illustration: FIG. 100.--Fess engrailed.]
[Illustration: FIG. 101.--Fess invecked.]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account