BOYES, _Great Theatre of Honour_, 1754. In this great work the various forms of shields, and the etymology of their names, are treated on at considerable length. The Greeks had five:--the _Aspis_, the _Gerron_ or _Gerra_, the _Thurios_, the _Laiveon_, and the _Pelte_ or _Pelta_. The Romans had the _Ancile_, the _Scutum_, the _Clypeus_, the _Parma_, the _Cetra_, and others; but none of these approached the shape of the lozenge. The shields of modern nations are also dealt with at length; still the author appears to have had no information nor an opinion upon the lozenge, which he dismisses with these remarks:-- "L'ecu des filles est _en lozenge_, de meme de celui des veuves; et en France et ailleurs, celles-ci l'ornent et l'entourent d'une cordeliere ou cordon a divers neuds. Quant aux femmes mariees, elles accollent d'ordinaire leurs armes avec celles de leurs epoux; mais quelquefois elles les portent aussi _en lozenge_." COATES, _Dictionary of Heraldry_, 1725, quotes Colombiere, a French herald, who, he says, gives upwards of thirty examples of differently formed shields; but no allusion is made to the lozenge. CARTER, _Honor Redivivus_, 1660. DUGDALE, _Ancient Usage in bearing Arms_, 1682. GWILLIM, _Display of Heraldry_, 1638. CAMDEN, _Remains_, 1637. GERARD LEGH, _Accedence of Armorie_, 1576. None of these authors have touched on the subject; which, considering that at the least two of them are the greatest authorities, appears somewhat strange. FERNE, _Blazon of Gentrie_, 1586-- "Thinks the lozenge is formed of the shield called _Tessera_ or _Tessela_, which the Romans, finding unfit for use, did allow to women to place their ensigns upon, with one of its angles always upmost." Though unable at this moment to furnish examples in proof of my opinion, I must say that it is contrary to the one expressed by your correspondent CEYREP, that "formerly all ladies of rank" bore their arms upon a complete shield, or bore shields upon their seals. The two instances cited by him are rather unfortunate, the connexion of both ladies with royalty being sufficiently close to suggest the possibility of their right to the "full and complete" shield. Margaret, Duchess (not Countess) of Norfolk, was sole heir of her father, Thomas of Brotherton, fifth Earl of Norfolk, son of King Edward I., and Marshal of England. She, "for the greatness of her birth, her large revenues and wealth," was created Duchess of Norfolk for life; and at the coronation of King Richard II. she exhibited her petition "to be accepted to the office of High Marshal," which was, I believe, granted. In such case, setting aside her royal descent, I apprehend that, by virtue of her office, she would not bear her arms in a lozenge. She bore the arms of England with only a label for difference.