Page:The book of public arms, 1915.pdf/23

The illustrations in the present volume are all of them given in conjunction with the verbal descriptions. Perhaps it may here be explained also that the attempt has been made to illustrate every British coat of arms which is still in use amongst these which arc included in these pages. But many coats of arms are described which are those of corporate bodies long since extinct, and no attempt has been made to illustrate those.

The heraldry of impersonal arms is, of course, the same science of heraldry that is described in many text-books, and at the risk of being again accused of never losing an opportunity of advertising my own books, let me suggest my "Complete Guide to Heraldry" as a text-book which will probably answer most requirements of that nature.

The illustrations, following the prevailing custom, are given in outline only. Accompanied as these illustrations are in every case by the verbal blazon, any indication of colour on the drawings seems unnecessary. Most of those who will refer to this book will know the elementary rules which will enable the blazon to be applied to the illustration. In fact, little more is necessary than a knowledge of the names of the metals, colours, and furs. "Or" is gold, "argent" is silver, "gules" is red, "azure" blue, "vert" green, "sable" black, and "purpure" purple. Ermine is white with black spots, "ermines" black with white spots. "Erminois " has a gold ground with black spots, "pean" is a black ground with gold spots.

It should always be remembered that the first word applies to the colour of the shield.

A knowledge of the ordinaries is useful, but as a drawing always accompanies the blazon this is hardly essential; but the ordinary rules observed in relation to blazon will repay a little attention.

The word " Blazon" is used with some number of meanings, but practically it may be confined to the verb "to blazon," which is to describe in words a given coat of arms, and the noun "blazon," which is such a description.

Care should be taken to differentiate between the employment of the term "blazon" and the verb "to emblazon," which latter means to depict in colour.

It may be here remarked, however, that to illustrate by the use of outline with written indications of colour is termed "to trick," and a picture of arms of this character is termed " a trick."

The rules to be employed in blazon are simple, and comparatively few in number.

The commencement of any blazon is of necessity a description of the field, the