The Handbook to English Heraldry - Part 15
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Part 15

_Embattled_, and _Counter-Embattled_. A term applied to a fess or bar when so depicted both above and below.

_Embowed._ Bent. An arm embowed has the elbow to the dexter, unless blazoned to the contrary.

_Embrued._ Stained with blood.

_Endorse._ A diminutive of the pale.

_Enfiled._ Pierced, _e.g._ with a sword, or surrounded, _e.g._ with a coronet.

_Engrailed._ The border-line, No. 38D.

_Enhanced._ Raised towards the chief. Thus the arms of BYRON, No. 241, are--_Arg., three bendlets enhanced gu._

_Ensigned._ Adorned; having some ensign of honour placed above--as a coronet above a shield.

_Entire._ Said of a charge when it is necessary to express that it extends to the border lines of a shield, coat, or banner; also of a shield, coat, or banner of arms, when borne without any difference or mark of cadency.

_Entoire_, _Entoyre_. A bordure charged with a series of inanimate figures or devices, as crosslets, roundles, &c.; to a similar bordure of living figures the term _Enaluron_ is applied. These are not terms ordinarily in use.

_Enveloped_, _Environed_. Surrounded.

_Equipped._ Fully armed, caparisoned, or provided.

_Eradicated._ Torn up by the roots.

[Ill.u.s.tration: No. 240.--Electoral Bonnet.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: No. 241.--Shield of Byron.]

_Erased._ Torn off with a ragged edge; the contrary to _Couped_.

_Ermine_, _Ermines_, _Erminois_. Nos. 57-60 and 57A. The animal, the ermine, sometimes appears in blazon, and an ermine spot is borne as a charge.

_Erne._ An eagle. (See p. 96.)

_Escarbuncle._ No. 19.

_Escroll._ A ribbon charged with a motto; also a ribbon, coiled at its extremities, borne as a charge.

_Escutcheon._ An heraldic shield: Nos. 39-40: also No. 27. An Escutcheon, when borne as a charge, is usually blazoned as an "_Inescutcheon_": thus, the Arms of HAY are,--_Arg., three inescutcheons gu._: see also Nos. 131, 133.

_Escutcheon of Pretence._ A shield charged upon the centre of the field of another shield of larger size, and bearing a distinct Coat-of-Arms.

_Escallop_, or _Escallop-Sh.e.l.l_. A beautiful and favourite charge; No.

165.

_Esquire._ A rank below that of Knight. Besides those Esquires who are personal attendants of Knights of Orders of Knighthood at their installations, this t.i.tle is held by most attendants on the person of the Sovereign, and all persons holding or having held the Sovereign's commission in which they are so styled.

_Estate._ Dignity and rank.

[Ill.u.s.tration: No. 242.--Estoile.]

_Estoile._ A star with wavy rays or points, which are six, eight, or sometimes even more in number: No. 242. (See _Mullet_.)

_False._ Said of any charge when its central area is removed--thus, an _Annulet_ is a "false roundle."

_Fan_, or _Winnowing Fan_, or _Vane_. The well-known implement of husbandry of that name, borne by the Kentish Family of De Sevans or Septvans--_Az., three fans or_ (E. 2). This shield appears in the Bra.s.s to Sir R. DE SEVANS, A.D. 1305, at Chartham, in Kent, and in the cloisters at Canterbury.

_Fan Crest._ An early form of decoration for the knightly helm, exemplified in the 2nd Great Seal of RICHARD I., and in many other Seals, until about A.D. 1350. (See Chapter XIV.)

_Feathers._ Generally those of the Ostrich, sometimes of the swan, the turkey, and a few other birds, borne generally as Crests and Badges, both singly and in plumes or groups. (See _Ostrich Feather_, _Panache_, and Chapter XIV.)

_Femme._ The Wife, as distinguished from the "Baron," the Husband.

_Fer-de-Moline_, or _Mill-rind_. The iron affixed to the centre of a mill-stone; No. 243: a modification of the _Cross-moline_; No. 97.

_Fermail_ (plural _Fermaux_). A buckle: No. 244. Several varieties of form appear in blazon, it being usual to specify them as round, oval, square, or lozenge-shaped. They are always blazoned as buckles.

_Fess_, or _Fesse_. One of the Ordinaries: Nos. 76-80. _Fesse-wise, In Fesse._ Disposed in a horizontal line, side by side, _across the centre_ of the field, and over the _Fesse-Point_ of a shield: No. 27, M.

[Ill.u.s.tration: No. 243.--Fer-de-Moline.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: No. 244.--Fermails.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: No. 245.--Fetter-lock.]

_Fetter-lock._ A shackle and padlock--a Yorkist Badge: No. 245; is from the Bra.s.s to Sir S. DE FELBRIGGE, K.G., at Felbrigg, Norfolk, A.D. 1414; this, however, being a very unusual shape.

_Field._ The entire surface of a Shield or Banner, or of an Ordinary.

_File._ A Label, from the Latin _filum_, a narrow ribbon.

_Fillet._ A diminutive of a Chief.

_Fimbriated._ Bordered--the border (which is narrow) lying in the same plane with the object bordered: No. 89.

_Fish._ Numerous Fish appear in blazon, and generally in their proper tinctures. They are borne as allusive charges, and also as types of some connection between those persons who bear them and the sea or lakes or rivers. Mr. Moule has published an admirable volume on the "Heraldry of Fish," beautifully ill.u.s.trated with examples drawn by his daughter. (See p. 77.)

_Fitchee._ Pointed at the base, as in No. 110.

_Flanches_, _Flasques_. Subordinaries: Nos. 141, 142.

[Ill.u.s.tration: No. 246.--Fleur de lys.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: No. 247.--France Ancient.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: No. 248.--France Modern.]