[Illustration: FIG. 175.--Cross patée quadrate.] [Illustration: FIG. 176.--Cross quarter-pierced.] [Illustration: FIG. 177.--Cross Tau.] [Illustration: FIG. 178.--Maltese Cross.] [Illustration: FIG. 179.--Patriarchal Cross.] [Illustration: FIG. 180.--Cross crosslet fitched.] [Illustration: FIG. 181.--Cross patée fitched.] Of the hundreds of other varieties it may confidently be said that a large proportion originated in misunderstandings of the crude drawings of early armorists, added to the varying and alternating descriptions applied at a more pliable and fluent period of heraldic blazon. A striking illustration of this will be found in the cross botonny, which is now, and has been for a long time past, regularised with us as a distinct variety of {131} constant occurrence. From early illustrations there is now no doubt that this was the original form, or one of the earliest forms, of the cross crosslet. It is foolish to ignore these varieties, reducing all crosses to a few original forms, for they are now mostly stereotyped and accepted; but at the same time it is useless to attempt to learn them, for in a lifetime they will mostly be met with but once each or thereabouts. A field semé of cross crosslets (Fig. 183) is termed crusilly. [Illustration: FIG. 182.--Cross patée fitched at foot.] [Illustration: FIG. 183.--Crusilly.] [Illustration: FIG. 184.--Saltire.] [Illustration: FIG. 185.--Saltire engrailed.] [Illustration: FIG. 186.--Saltire invecked.] [Illustration: FIG. 187.--Saltire embattled.] THE SALTIRE The saltire or saltier (Fig. 184) is more frequently to be met with in Scottish than in English heraldry. This is not surprising, inasmuch as the saltire is known as the Cross of St. Andrew, the Patron Saint of Scotland. Its form is too well known to need description. It is of course subject to the usual partition lines (Figs. 185-192). When a saltire is charged the charges are usually placed conformably therewith. The field of a coat of arms is often per saltire. When one saltire couped is the principal charge it will usually be {132} found that it is couped conformably to the outline of the shield; but if the couped saltire be one of a number or a subsidiary charge it will be found couped by horizontal lines, or by lines at right angles. The saltire has not developed into so many varieties of form as the cross, and (_e.g._) a saltire botonny is assumed to be a cross botonny placed saltireways, but a saltire parted and fretty is to be met with (Fig. 193). THE CHIEF