Crusades, the simple form given in the preceding example was not generally adopted. Some bordered the red list with a narrow white edge, others terminated the arms of the cross with short pieces of the same colour, placed transversely, making each arm of the cross have the appearance of a short crutch; the ends of these crutches meeting in a point, make the cross potent. There is so great a variety of crosses used in Heraldry that it would be impossible to describe them within the limits of this introduction to Heraldry. The reader will find a great number of those most used in English Heraldry described and illustrated in the Dictionary. He of course will understand, if a coat of arms comes under his notice where this ordinary is described as a cross engrailed, a cross invected, that the form of the cross is the same as that in the last example, but that the lines forming it are engrailed, invected, &c. Small crosses borne as charges are called crosslets.

See the words CROSS, CROSSLETS, in the Dictionary.

THE SALTIER.

The saltier was formed by making two pieces of riband cross diagonally, having the appearance of the letter X, or, speaking heraldically, the bend and bend sinister crossing each other in the centre of the shield. The saltier, if uncharged, occupies one-fifth of the field; if charged, one-third.

Ex. Gules, a saltier, argent.

Like the cross, the saltier may be borne engrailed, wavy, and the termination of the arms of the saltier varied; but there are not so many examples of the variation of the form in the saltier as in the cross.

CHAP. V.

SUBORDINATE ORDINARIES.

In order more particularly to distinguish the subordinates in an army (the chieftains of different countries alone being entitled to the preceding marks of honour), other figures were invented by ancient armorists, and by them termed subordinate ordinaries. Their names and forms are as follows:—

The gyron is a triangular figure formed by drawing a line from the dexter angle of the chief of the shield to the fess point, and an horizontal line from that point to the dexter side of the shield.

The field is said to be gyrony when it is covered with gyrons.

Ex. Gyrony of eight pieces, argent and gules.

The canton is a square part of the escutcheon, usually occupying about one-eighth of the field; it is placed over the chief at the dexter side of the shield: it may be charged, and when this is the case, its size may be increased. The canton represents the banner of the ancient Knights Banneret. The canton in the example is marked A.

See KNIGHTS BANNERET in the Dictionary.

The lozenge is formed by four equal and parallel lines but not rectangular, two of its opposite angles being acute, and two obtuse.

Ex. Argent, a lozenge, vert.

The fusil is narrower than the lozenge, the angles at the chief and base being more acute, and the others more obtuse.

Ex. Argent, a fusil, purpure.

The mascle is in the shape of a lozenge but perforated through its whole extent except a narrow border.

Ex. Gules, a mascle, argent.

The fret is formed by two lines interlaced in saltier with a mascle.

Ex. Azure, a fret, argent.

Fretty is when the shield is covered with lines crossing each other diagonally and interlaced.

Ex. Gules, fretty of ten pieces, argent.

At the present time it is not usual to name the number of pieces, but merely the word fretty.

The pile is formed like a wedge, and may be borne wavy, engrailed, &c.; it issues generally from the chief, and extends towards the base, but it may be borne in bend or issue from the base.

See PILE and IN PILE in Dictionary.

Ex. Argent, a pile, azure.

The inescutcheon is a small escutcheon borne within the shield.

Ex. Argent, a pale, gules, over all an inescutcheon or, a mullet sable.

An orle is a perforated inescutcheon, and usually takes the shape of the shield whereon it is placed.

Ex. Azure, an orle, argent.

The flanche is formed by two curved lines nearly touching each other in the centre of the shield.

Ex.