Ex.  Argent, a chevron, gules.

The diminutives of the chevron, according to English Heraldry, are the chevronel, which is half the breadth of the chevron.

[Illustration:  Chevronels]

Ex.  Argent, two chevronels, gules.

And the couple-close, which is half the chevronel.

[Illustration:  Couple-closes]

Ex.  Gules, three couple-closes interlaced in base, or.

Braced is sometimes used for interlaced.  See the word BRACED in the Dictionary.

THE CROSS.

This, as its name imports, was the distinguishing badge of the Crusaders, in its simplest form.  It was merely two pieces of list or riband of the same length, crossing each other at right angles.  The colour of the riband or list denoted the nation to which the Crusader belonged.  The cross is an honourable ordinary, occupying one fifth of the shield when not charged, but if charged, one third.

[Illustration:  Cross]

Ex.  Or, a cross, gules.

When the cross became the distinguishing badge of different leaders in the 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, &c., 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.

[Illustration:  Saltier]

Ex.  Gules, a saltier, argent.

Like the cross, the saltier may be borne engrailed, wavy, &c., 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.