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A A, or a. Abbreviation for Argent. Capital Letters of the Alphabet are used as charges in Heraldry. See

  A rod entwined with a Serpent. P. 30, f. 57.

  An ancient cap of state of the English Kings.

 , or. Equivalent to the term "in base" a Cheveron Abaissé. P. 15, f. 37.  . a term applied to the wings of eagles when the tips are depressed below the centre of the shield. Abatement. A mark of disgrace, never used. See Points. A'bouche. A Shield was said to be a bouche when it had a carved notch cut out, for the lance to pass through, in the dexter chief, as the shield. P. 31, f. 26. Abyss. The centre of an Escutcheon. Abbess. A Lady Abbess, as borne in the arms of Abbes. P. 35, f. 5. Abbey. See Monastery. Abblast, Arbaleste, Arblast, or Ar- balist; a Cross Bow. P. 37, f. 23. Abbot's Pastoral Staff or Prior's Staff. P. 42, f. 45. Abeyance. The expectancy of a title ; the right being in existance, but the exercise of it suspended. On the death of a baron, whose dignity orig- inated in a Writ of Summons, without issue male, the barony becomes vested in his daughters ; if he leaves an only daughter, she succeeds to the dignity, but if there be more daughters than one, the title falls into Abeyance amongst them, and continues in that state until all but one of the daughters, or the sole heir of only one daughter sur- vives ; in which case, the barony devolves on the surviving daughter, or on the heir of her body. The Crown can, however, at any time, terminate an Abeyance in favour of one of the heirs. Abisme. When the charge, which is between others, is depicted small, so as not to appear as the principal bearing. Aboute. Placed end to end, as four lozenges aboute. P. 8, f. 12. Abouti. Conjoined. Accidents of Arms. A term some- times met with which appears to mean nothing else in blazoning than the strictures and marks of difference. AccoLES. Two shields in juxta-po- sition. See Accollies. AccoLLE, Gorged, or Collared as P. 18 and ig, f. 21. AccoLLiES, or Accolee. a term used to express the position of two shields placed side by side and touching each other, and was an early mode of marshalling the arms of a man and his wife. xA.ccompagnee, Accompagne, or x^ccom- PANiED. See Between, and P. 4, f. 31. AccoRNE. See Horned. Accosted. Side by side. The sama as counter-tripping. P. 28, f. 49. This term is sometimes used when charges are j^laced on each side of another charge, but is better expressed by the term " be- tween." P. 14, f. 6. Accoutred. Same as Caparisoned. ACCROCHE another. P. 39, f. 17 AccRoupi. A term sometimes used for Hares, Rabbits, 6^c., when lodged. Accrued. A tree full-grown. Ace-Cards. The four ace-cards are borne in the arms of the Cardmakers Company. P. 22, f. 20. Achievements of Arms. The armoria^ bearings with all the exterior orna- ments of the Shield. P. 11, f. 21. One charge hooked into

