Augmentations - The Bordure

The incorporation of the sovereign's arms into one's own heraldry was used in period, and is still used in the Society, as a display of great honour bestowed on an individual. The most common forms are by placing it on either a canton, a small square or rectangle in the dexter chief corner of the shield, or an inestucheon, a smaller shield placed somewhere on the shield.

However, in Display of Heraldrie (1611), Guillim gives an example of another method: the bordure.

 He beareth Argent a bordure quarterly, as followeth: The first, Gules enury of three Lioncels passant guardant, Or. The second, azure, verdoy, of as many Flowers de Lices, Or. The third as the second : The fourth as the first. Such a Bordure did Henry Courtney Earle of Devon, and Marquesse of Exceter, beare, (who lived in the time of King Henrie the Eighth) environing the Royall Armes of England, which he received as an augmentation of honour.

 This form of augmentation would adapt well to some SCA kingdoms. For example, the populace badge of Lochac would fit quite well, being quarterly with a cross, and four charges on the cross. Caid, on the other hand is very well-suited to a canton, being a single charge on a coloured field (however, a bordure semy of the Caidan cross would be quite good).