Charge extending into the chief: Simple question from a neophyte

[willcu...@gmail.com]

Hello!

I am a heraldry neophyte and I have a simple question that I hope you
will excuse.

Can a charge extend from the lower division into (over) the cheif? I
know of one example of this (Guy Stair Sainty's arms,) but my artist
friend says it isn't permitted.

Beyond anecdote, is there any authority regarding this?

Thanks.

[Patrick Cracroft-Brennan]

On Mon, 28 Apr 2008 09:31:47 -0700 (PDT), willcu...@gmail.com
wrote:

The simple answer is yes it can.

You could have the simple situation where the field was "per chief" in
which case the principal charges could extend over the division line.

Or slightly more complex, you could have the chief as a charge and
then have over charges "en surtout", "over all", etc.

Regards

Patrick Cracroft-Brennan
Editor - Cracroft's Peerage
The Complete Guide to the British Peerage & Baronetage
www.cracroftspeerage.co.uk
======================================================

[Joseph McMillan]

On Apr 28, 1:23 pm, Patrick Cracroft-Brennan
<hme...@heraldicmedia.com> wrote:
> On Mon, 28 Apr 2008 09:31:47 -0700 (PDT), willcubbe...@gmail.com

> wrote:
>
> >Hello!
>
> >I am a heraldry neophyte and I have a simple question that I hope you
> >will excuse.
>
> >Can a charge extend from the lower division into (over) the cheif?  I
> >know of one example of this (Guy Stair Sainty's arms,) but my artist
> >friend says it isn't permitted.
>
> >Beyond anecdote, is there any authority regarding this?
>
> >Thanks.
>
> The simple answer is yes it can.
>
> You could have the simple situation where the field was "per chief" in
> which case the principal charges could extend over the division line.
>
> Or slightly more complex, you could have the chief as a charge and
> then have over charges "en surtout", "over all", etc.
>

An example of the latter is the grant from the College of Arms to the
1st Earl of Stockton (former Prime Minister Harold Macmillan: "Argent
a Chief Or overall between three Open Books proper edged Or and bound
Azure those in chief inscribed respectively in letters Sable 'Miseres
and 'Discere' and that in base also in letters Sable inscribed 'Succo'
and as many Mullets Azure a Lion rampant Sable."