[Illustration:  Increscent]

Ex.  Azure, a moon increscent argent.

INDENTED. A serrated figure, much smaller than the dancette.

[Illustration:  Indented]

Ex.  Or, a chief gules, indented.

INESCUTCHEON.  The name given to small escutcheons forming a bearing of a coat of arms.

[Illustration:  Inescutcheon]

Ex.  Argent, three inescutcheons gules.

INVECTED. A line formed with small semicircles, with the points turned inward.  Any ordinary drawn with this line is called invected.

[Illustration:  Invected]

Ex.  Argent, a bend gules, invected between two hurts.

ISSUANT, or ISSUING.  Rays or other charges proceeding from any part of the escutcheon.  See RAY.

KNIGHT.  A title of honour conferred upon a subject for eminent services performed in war.  In the course of time, knights that had gained riches and high titles formed societies under the control and direction of their monarchs in every part of Europe.  The limits of this work will only permit us to notice the orders of knighthood introduced into England.

The KNIGHTS-BACHELORS were the earliest order of knighthood in England.  The title was conferred for services in war.  It was merely personal, and, like the knighthood conferred upon individuals at the present time, did not descend to their posterity.

[Illustration:  Knights-Banneret]

KNIGHTS-BANNERET.  This ancient and honourable order has become extinct.  It obtained the title of banneret from the knights having the right of having a square banner borne before them on the field of battle, and at jousts and tournaments.  Sir W. Segar gives the following account of the creation of a knight-banneret:—­“It is a military order, and can only be conferred upon persons that have performed some heroic act in the field.  When this action is known to the king, or general of the army, he commands the attendance of the gallant warrior, who is led, between two knights, into the presence of the king or general with his pennon of arms in his hand, and there the heralds proclaim his merit, and declare him fit to become a knight-banneret, and thenceforth to display a banner in the field.  Then the king or general causes the point of the pennon to be cut off to make it square; it is then placed at the top of his lance, and the new-made knight returns to his tent, the trumpets sounding before him.”  Knights-banneret were certainly created in the reign of Edward I., but how long before that time it is impossible to tell.

KNIGHTS OF THE GARTER.  This is considered the most honourable order of knighthood in Europe:  it was founded by Edward III. in 1349; the fraternity consists of twenty-six knights, to which are added the princes of the blood royal.  The king of England is the sovereign of the order; their officers are a prelate, chancellor, registrar, and king-at-arms.