Arrangements - Crossing the Line

In the period heraldry texts I've been reading, there are a few examples of devices with charges crossing the lines of ordinaries. I've shown one, which I'll re-cover here, but there are a number of interesting examples.

Hee beareth Or, a Lyon rampannt d'Ermine, debrused with two Barruletes, & fret with the thirde Sable.
This example from Bossewell's Workes of Armorie (1572) is more an example of layered overall charges, rather than simply crossing over the lines of an ordinary, but is worth mention here.
The fielde is sable, an Eagle displaide with two heades d'Or. debrused with a barre d'Ermyne.
The second example from Bossewell, this device which is blazoned as a simple surmounted or debruised is given the extra twist of having the wings come over the bar.
 R. hath to hys creste, on a Pillowe d'Ermine, an arme extended oute of a Crowne, sleves and ruffes d'Or, holding in an hande propre, a ball d'Argente.
The third example from Bossewell is from a crest, rather than the arms itself. It is blazoned with the term 'on', even though the arm extends off the edge of the pillow.
Ferne's 1586 The Blazon of Gentrie gives two examples of this. The first reads thusly:
The next coate I will blaze my selfe : the scutcheon is Verte in cheefe crenelle Ar. a file B.
In the tricking of this blazon, Ar. is Argent, and B. is Azure. The file has contrast to the chief embattled, but not to the field, by Society standards.
Or: on a chefe Gules, a right arme extended purpure, portant un fanon Ermynes, brochant sur le toute.
This blazon of Ferne's second example is rather tricky, as it mixes together English and French. As best as I can translate, "brochant sur le toute" is similar to "surmounting the field."
He beareth Or, out of the middest of a Fesse Sable a Lion Rampand, Naissant Gules, Armed and Languend Azure.
Guillim, in his 1611 Display of Heraldrie, attributes these arms to Sir Henry Emme, Knight of the Garter under Edward III of England. James Parker's Glossary also references these arms, in the entry for Naissant, stating
Or, a demi-lion rampant gules, naissant from a fesse sable. Sir Henry EAME, or ESME, K.G., temp. ED. III.
There is some difference in the surnames, giving three versions between two sources, and the Parker version lacks the blue claws and tongue. As far as I can see, there are two registrations for the naissant arrangement in Society heraldry, both from the 1980s.

No comments:

Post a Comment