n
France et ailleurs, celles-ci l'ornent et l'entourent d'une cordeliere
ou cordon a divers neuds. Quant aux femmes mariees, elles accollent
d'ordinaire leurs armes avec celles de leurs epoux; mais quelquefois
elles les portent aussi _en lozenge_."

COATES, _Dictionary of Heraldry_, 1725, quotes Colombiere, a French herald,
who, he says, gives upwards of thirty examples of differently formed
shields; but no allusion is made to the lozenge.

CARTER, _Honor Redivivus_, 1660.

DUGDALE, _Ancient Usage in bearing Arms_, 1682.

GWILLIM, _Display of Heraldry_, 1638.

CAMDEN, _Remains_, 1637.

GERARD LEGH, _Accedence of Armorie_, 1576.

None of these authors have touched on the subject; which, considering that
at the least two of them are the greatest authorities, appears somewhat
strange.

FERNE, _Blazon of Gentrie_, 1586--

"Thinks the lozenge is formed of the shield called _Tessera_ or
_Tessela_, which the Romans, finding unfit for use, did allow to women
to place their ensigns upon, with one of its angles always upmost."

Though unable at this moment to furnish examples in proof of my opinion, I
must say that it is contrary to the one expressed by your correspondent
CEYREP, that "formerly all ladies of rank" bore their arms upon a complete
shield, or bore shields upon their seals. The two instances cited by him
are rather unfortunate, the connexion of both ladies with royalty being
sufficiently close to suggest the possibility of their right to the "full
and complete" shield.

Margaret, Duchess (not Countess) of Norfolk, was sole heir of her father,
Thomas of Brotherton, fifth Earl of Norfolk, son of King Edward I., and
Marshal of England. She, "for the greatness of her birth, her large
revenues and wealth," was created Duchess of Norfolk for life; and at the
coronation of King Richard II. she exhibited her petition "to be accepted
to the office of High Marshal," which was, I believe, granted. In such
case, setting aside her royal descent, I apprehend that, by virtue of her
office, she would not bear her arms in a lozenge. She bore the arms of
England with only a label for difference.

Margaret, Countess of Richmond, was herself royally descended, being
great-granddaughter of John of Gaunt, son of Edward III.; was
daughter-in-law of Henry V.'s widow, and mother of Henry VII. Being
descended from the antenuptial children of John of Gaunt's third wife, who
had been legitimatised by a