be borne wavy, engrailed,
&c.; it issues generally from the chief, and extends towards the base,
but it may be borne in bend or issue from the base.

See PILE and IN PILE in Dictionary.

[Illustration: Pile]

Ex. Argent, a pile, azure.

The _inescutcheon_ is a small escutcheon borne within the shield.

[Illustration: Inescutcheon]

Ex. Argent, a pale, gules, over all an inescutcheon or, a mullet
sable.

An _orle_ is a perforated inescutcheon, and usually takes the shape of
the shield whereon it is placed.

[Illustration: Orle]

Ex. Azure, an orle, argent.

The _flanche_ is formed by two curved lines nearly touching each other
in the centre of the shield.

[Illustration: Flanche]

Ex. Azure, a flanche, argent.

In the _flasque_ the curved lines do not approach so near each other.

[Illustration: Flasque]

Ex. Azure, a flasque, argent.

In the _voider_ the lines are still wider apart; this ordinary
occupies nearly the whole of the field: it may be charged.

[Illustration: Voider]

Ex. Azure, a voider, argent.

The _tressure_ is a border at some distance from the edge of the
field, half the breadth of an orle: the tressure may be double or
treble.

[Illustration: Tressure]

Ex. Or, a double tressure, gules.

Tressures are generally ornamented, or borne flory or counter flory as
in the annexed example.

[Illustration: Ornamented double tressure]

Ex. Argent, a double tressure, flory and counter-flory, gules.

CHARGES BORNE IN COATS OF ARMS.

At first when the Feudal System prevailed, not only in England, but
other parts of Europe, none but military chieftains bore Coats of
Arms. And as few persons held land under the Crown but by military
tenure, that is, under the obligation of attending in person with
a certain number of vassals and retainers when their services were
required by the king for the defence of the state, heraldic honours
were confined to the nobility, who were the great landholders of the
kingdom. When they granted any portion of their territory to their
knights and followers as rewards for deeds of prowess in the field or
other services, the new possessors of the land retained the arms of
their patrons with a slight difference to denote their subordinate
degree. The ingenuity of the armorist was not then taxed to find a
multitude of devices to distinguish every family. And when chivalry
became the prevailing pursuit of all that sought honour and
distinction by deeds o