FOVNDERS. II

Summary

The armorial ensigns of the Lady Elizabeth de Clare, Foundress of the Society called after her name are,—or, three chevronels gules. The chevron, of which the chevronel is the diminutive, is a very common charge in heraldry; common as it is however, heraldic writers seem much divided in their opinions as to what was the exact object which the chevron was originally intended to represent. As the explanation which we shall propose of the origin of this charge will be in a great measure new, we feel pleasure in offering it to the notice of our heraldic readers through the medium of this work.

The root of the word chevron, in old writings spelt cheveron, we conceive to be aronde, which is an ancient term in architecture, used still in France for the principal timbers which support the tiles in the roofs of houses. This word aronde is itself probably derived from the Latin Hirundo, since the timbers, when erected and united on the building, resemble the forked tail of that bird. As some of the older heraldic writers have considered the chevron to represent the roof of a house, up to this point we may be said to be in agreement with them. The arondes or principals, however, which terminated the roof and formed the gable ends at each extremity, are composed of stronger and heavier beams than the intermediate timbers; they are also usually found decorated with finials at their point of junction and ornamented on their face with carved weather-boards.