heraldic devices

Heraldic Devices in the Kelson era

Below are listed the actual quotes that describe certain coat-of-arms used by characters in the Kelson era books. The heraldic terminology that appears in the alphabetical glossary is reproduced here.

King Kelson Haldane:
The Golden lion of Gwynedd glittered darkly from its background of deep crimson velvet.
Gules, a lion rampart guardant or,.... Deryni Rising

Nigel Haldane:
Nigel's crescent-charged lion was also approaching. High Deryni (page 162 paper)

Duke Alaric Morgan:
The emerald Gryphon, its wings dripping gold and jewels, rearing up its head and claws in a rampant pose--segreant, when applied to griyphons--gleamed darkly, with an almost siinister aura from its background of shining black. Around the edge, a golden bordure--the double tressure floury counterflory of the old Morgan arms--gave homage to his paternal heritage. (after Bronwyn marries) Then only the golden tressure on the sable shield would remain of Morgan's paternal birthright--that and the name. Deryni Rising

Bishop Duncan McLain/Cassan:
McLain banner of sleeping lions and roses; marked with the red label of three points which identified him as the heir to Cassan and Kierney. High Deryni (page 162 paper)
Sword and crozier crossed in saltire behind the embroidered shield gave hint of his ducal status, but only at close range. The King's Justice
The battle standard--red roses scatterted over the particolor of blue and white that formed the tails of the standard. The roses symbolized the McLain commitment to the coming venture, as the Haldane lion on its red field, next to the hoist, signified Kelson's support as king and overlord. The Kings Justice
Cassani pennons are swallow-tailed, blue and white The Kings Justice

Furstan:
Streaming tawny pennons ensigned with the white roundel and black leaping hart of Torenth. King Kelson's Bride

Jolyon Ramsay:
Blue banner with a chequey fess of silver and gold inserted between the three silver stars long borne by the Ramsays. King Kelson's Bride

Sicard MacArdry:
Quartered with his own arms and that of his wife, the MacArdry border cats on crimson, bordured or, and the sable dancing bear and crimson etoilles of Meara on chequey of silver and gold. The Bishop's Heir

Heraldic Terms

Bordure A border round the edge of the shield. Source: [1]

Charge A bearing or figure represented on the shield. Source: [1]

Chequy, Checquy, or Checky A term applied to a field or charge divided into three or more rows of small squares of alternate tinctures like a chess board. Source: [1]

Colours The principle colours are blue (Azure), red (Gules), black (Sable), green (Vert), and purple (Purpure). Source: [1]

Coronet There are five different coronets of rank which may surmount the arms of British peers. The so-called ducal coronet, used either with or instead of a crest wreath, implies no rank, and the term crest coronet is preferred today. Source: [1]

Crescent Crescent moon represents the second son Source: [2]

Difference To make an addition or alteration to arms and crest, usually to mark a distinction between the coats of arms of closely related persons whose shields would otherwise be the same. Source: [1]

Dormant A beast in a sleeping position. Source: [1]

Estoile A star with wavy limbs. (Spelled etoilles in The King's Justice)
Source: [1]

Fess The Ordinary is a band taking up the centre third of the escutcheon, and formed by two horizontal lines drawn across the shield.

Flory counterflory Denoting that the flowers with which an Ordinary (usually a tressure) is adorned have their heads placed inward and outward alternately, as in the Scottish Royal Arms. Source: [1]

Griffin Winged monster with foreparts of an eagle and hindparts of a lion with a beard and ears. A male griffin has no wings, and spikes emerge from the body. Source: [1]

Guardant Used of a beast looking out at the spectator rather than seen in profile. Source: [1]

Gules Heraldic term for red. Source: [1]

Or Heraldic term for gold or yellow. Source: [1]

Pale The Ordinary. A vertical stripe in the middle of the shield occupying at most one third of the shield. Source: [1]

Particolor Source [22]

Quarter To divide the shield into four or more compartments of equal sizes.

Rampant Beast or monster standing on one hind leg. Source: [1]

Rampant Gardant - The same as rampant, but with the animal looking full-faced. Source [14]

Roundel A circle. Source: [1]

Sable Heraldic term for black. Source: [1]

Saltire The Ordinary, depicted in the form of a St Andrew's Cross. Source: [1]

Segreant applied by most writers to the griffin instead of rampant. It includes the wings being
expanded. Source [23]

Tenné In heraldry, tenne is a rarely employed tincture considered as an orange colour or bright brown. Source: Search results page

Tressure A diminutive of the orle appearing as a narrow band near the edge of a coat of arms, often ornamented with fleurs-de-lis, as in the Scottish Royal Arms. Source: [1]

Source: [2]

[1] Department of Medieval Studies at Central European University, Budapest.
[2] Britannica.com
[22] http://www.thewetlands.org/cos/
[23] http://www04.u-page.so-net.ne.jp/ta2/saitou/ie401/Jpglosss.htm