Heraldry

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% colors and metals

 Or, yellow or gold - Generosity.

 Argent, white or silver - Peace and sincerity.

 Sable or black - Constancy, sometimes grief.

 Azure or blue - Loyalty and truth.

 Gules or red - Military fortitude and magnanimity.

 Vert or green - Hope, joy and sometimes loyalty in love. 

 Purpure, purple - Royal majesty, sovereignty and justice. 

 Tenne or tawney - Worthy ambition.

 Murray or sanguine - Not hasty in battle, and yet a victor. 

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% ordinaries

 Chief - Dominion and authority.

 Cross - Chevron - Protection.

 Fess - Military belt or girdle of honor.

 Bar - For "one who sets the bar of conscience, religion and honor against angry passions.

 Pale - Military strength and fortitude.

 Palet - Same as Pale.

 Pile - Same as Pale.

 Canton - Bearing of honor. When borne charged, it often contains some special symbols
 granted by the sovereign in reward for the performance of eminent service.

 Quarter - Bearing of honor. Similar to the Canton.

 Bend - Defense or protection.

 Battune Sinister - Marks a royal descent that is barred by illegitimacy from succession to
 the throne.

 Orle or Tressure - Preservation or protection.

 Flasques - Given by a king for virtue and learning, and especially for service in embassage.

 Voiders - Given to gentlewomen who have deserved highly. 

 Bordure or Border - Frequently adopted as a "difference" between relatives bearing the
 same arms.

 Gyron - Unity.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Common Charges

 Lion - Deathless courage.

 Tiger - Great fierceness and valor when enraged to combat; one whose
resentment will be dangerous if aroused.

 Bear - Ferocity in the protection of kindred.

 Wolf - Denotes valiant captains that do in the end gain their attempts
after long sieges and hard enterprises. One whom it is dangerous to assail
or thwart.

 Rhinoceros - Great ferocity when aroused.

 Elephant - Courage and strength.

 Heraldic Tiger - Same as Tiger.

 Leopard - Valiant and hardy warrior.

 Panther - As a lion may be said to signify a brave man, so may a panther a
beautiful woman, which, though fierce, is very tender and loving to her
young, and will defend it with the hazard of her life.

 Horse - Readiness for all employments for king and country. 

 Bull or Ox - Valor and magnanimity.

 Boar - A fierce combatant when at bay, and ceases fighting only with its
life, and therefore may be properly applied as the armorial bearing of a
warrior.

 Goat - Emblem of that martial man who wins a victory by the employment
rather of policy than valor.

 Lamb - Gentleness and patience under suffering.

 Ram - Authority.

 Hares and Rabbits - One who enjoys a peaceable and retired life.

 Squirrel - Sylvan retirement being the delight of its bearer.

 Hedgehog - Provident provider.

 Beaver - Industry and perseverance.

 Fox - One who will use all that he may posses of sagacity, wit or wisdom
in his own defense.

 Talbot, Mastiff and Greyhound - Courage, vigilancy and loyal fidelity.

 Cat or Cat-A-Mountain - Liberty, vigilance, forecast and courage.

 Camel - Docility, patience and indefatigable perseverance. 

 Bee - Well-governed industry.

 Ant - Symbolizes a man of great labor, wisdom and providence.

 Spider - Wisdom, labor and providence in all affairs.

 Grasshopper - Wisdom and nobility.

 House Snail - Deliberation and perseverance.

 Double Eagle and Eagle - Signifies a man of action, ever more occupied in
high and weighty affairs, and one of lofty spirit, ingenious, speedy in
apprehension and judicious in matters of ambiguity.

 Alerion - Signifies one who having been maimed and lamed in war, was thus
prevented from fully asserting his power.

 Wings - Celebrity, sometimes protection or coverture.

 Feathers (usually ostrich) - Willing obedience and serenity.

 Falcon or Hawk - One eager or hot in the pursuit of an object much desired.

 Hawks or Falcons Bells - One who feared not to signal his approach in
either peace or war.

 Owl - One who is vigilant and of acute wit.

 Peacock - Beauty and pride of carriage.

 Pelican - Devoted and self-sacrificing charity.

 Stork - Filial duty, emblem of a grateful man.

 Swan - A lover of poetry and harmony.

 Goose and Duck - A man of many resources.

 Gannet - To subsist by the wings of his virtue and merit, having little
land to rest upon.

 Swallow - One who is prompt and ready in the dispatch of his business.

 Cock - Courage, always ready for battle, ready to fight to the death.

 Dove - Loving constancy and peace.

 Raven - One who, having derived little from his ancestors, has through
Providence become the architect of his own fortunes or one of an enduring
constancy of nature.

 Crow - Signifies a settled habitation and a quiet life. 

 Dolphin - Charity and a kind affection towards children. 

 Tortoise - Invulnerability to attack.

 Unicorn - Extreme courage.

 Griffin - Sets forth the property of a valorous soldier whose magnanimity
is such that he will dare all dangers, and even death itself, rather than
become captive.

 Dragon - A most valiant defender of treasure.

 Cockatrice - Terror to all beholders.

 Sphinx - Omniscience and secrecy.

 Pegasus - Exceeding activity and energy of mind whereby one may mount to
honour.

 Harpy - Ferocity under provocation.

 Mermaid - Eloquence.

 Centuar - For those who have been eminent in the field. 

 Hydra - The conquest of a very powerful enemy.

 Phoenix - Resurrection.

 Stag, Hart, Buck and Deer - Policy, Peace and Harmony.

 Horns and Antlers - Strength and Fortitude.

 Escallop Shell - One who has made long journeys or voyages to far
countries, who had borne considerable naval command or who had gained great
victories.

 Other Shells - Protection of Providence.

 Heart - Charity, sincerity.

 Flaming Heart - Ardent affection.

 Hand - Faith, sincerity and justice.

 Red Hand - Usual mark for a baronet if borne on a small escutcheon.

 Arm - A laborious and industrious person.

 Gauntlet - Signify a man armed for the performance of martial enterprise.

 Leg - Strength, stability and expedition.

 Shoe - Same as Leg.

 Foot - Same as leg.

 Human Head - Honor.

 Blackamoor Head - Deeds of prowess in the Crusades.

 Skulls - Mortality.

 Crossed Thigh-bones - Mortality.

 Eye - Providence in Government.

 Millstones - The mutual converse of human society.

 Sceptre - Justice.

 Trident - Maritime dominion.

 Crown - Royal or seigniorial authority.

 Celestial Crown - Heavenly reward.

 Pastoral Crosier - The emblem of a shepherd’s watchfulness over his
flock, and denotes episcopal jurisdiction and authority.

 Annulet or Finger Ring - Fidelity.

 Lozenge - Honesty and constancy, also held to be a token of noble birth.

 Billets - Their first bearer was a man who obtained credence, knowledge
and faith in his words and deeds, and who was secret in his affairs.

 Pen - Emblematic of the liberal art of writing and of learned employments.

 Inkhorn - Same as pen.

 Harp - Contemplation.

 Lyre - Same as harp.

 Scythe - Hope of a fruitful harvest of things hoped for. 

 Sickle - Same as Scythe.

 Anchor - Succor in extremity and the Christian symbol of hope.

 Ship, Lumphiad or Galley - All such symbols would point to some notable
expedition by sea, by which, perhaps, the first bearers had become famous.

 Cubes, squares or dice - Constancy, wisdom, verity probity, and equity.

 Lozenge - Same as Cubes.

 Axe -- Execution of military duty.

 Purse - A frank and liberal steward of the blessings that God has bestowed .

 Tower or Castle - Grandeur and solidity. Sometimes granted to one who has
held one for his king, or who has captured one by force or stratagem.

 Bridge - Signifies a governor or magistrate.

 Pillar or Column - Fortitude and constancy.

 Snake - Wisdom.

 Scaling Ladder - One who was fearless in attacking.

 Crosses - Symbolic of some Christian experience or sentiment.

 Trestles and stools - Hospitality.

 Cushions - Marks of authority.

 Angels, Cherubs and Seraphs - Dignity, glory and honor. 

 Estoiles - Emblems of God’s goodness or of some eminence in the
first bearer above the ruder sort of men.

 Mullet - Denotes some Divine quality bestowed from above. 

 Gold Spur - Dignity of knighthood.

 Silver Spur - An esquire.

 Sun - Glory and splendor.

 Crescent - Signifies one who has been enlightened and honored by the
gracious aspect of his sovereign.

 Moon - Serene power over mundane actions.

 Fire - Zeal.

 Lightning - The effecting of some weighty business with great clarity and
force.

 Rocks - Safety, refuge and protection.

 Portcullis - Effectual protection in emergency.

 Hunting Horn - One who is fond of high pursuits.

 Trumpet - Ready for the fray.

 Cannon, Mortars, Cannon Balls and Grenades - Well bestowed on those who
have dared their terrors in sieges and battles.

 Sword - Indicates the bearer to a just and generous pursuit of honor and
virtue in warlike deeds.

 Arrows and Arrowheads - Martial readiness.

 Spear or Lance - Knightly service and devotion to honor. 

 Spear Heads or Pheons - Dexterity and nimbleness of wit to penetrate and
understand matters of highest consequence.

 Shield - A defender.

 Saddles, Stirrups and Spurs - Preparedness for active service.

 Horse Shoe - Good luck.

 Trunk of a Tree - An object of veneration.

 Fusil - Travel and labour.

 Shacklebolt - Victory in war.

 Water Bougets - Conferred on those who had brought water to an army or
besieged place.

 Catharine Wheel - Emblem of one who is prepared to undergo great trials
for the Christian faith.

 Escarbuncle - Supremacy.

 Buckles - Victorious fidelity in authority.

 Clarion or Rest - Same as Trumpet.

 Beacons or Cressets - One who is watchful for the commonwealth or who gave
the signal in time of danger.

 Chains - A reward for acceptable or weighty service.

 Fusil of Yarn - Negotiation.

 Fret - Persuasion

 Gold Roundles - One who has been found worthy of trust and treasure.

 White Roundles - Generosity.

 Wheel - Fortune.

 Cornucopia - Bounty of Nature’s gifts.

 Chaplets and Wreaths - Granted for special service.