Page:The Grammar of Heraldry, Cussans, 1866.djvu/27

13

Charges are divided into three classes—Honourable Ordinaries, Subordinaries, and Common Charges. Of these, the ordinaries, as their name implies, are considered the most honourable, as they certainly are the most ancient. Unlike the common charges, which may consist of any object, the ordinaries seem to have been originally bands or bars riveted on the shield to strengthen it.

The ordinaries are nine in number:—



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