Sovereign

Sovereign

Sovereign: an old French term found in some Rolls, signifying chief or upper. In the examples of the arms of BORDET and FLEMING it would refer to the uppermost bar, and in those of CUSANCE it would mean in the upper part of the bend.

Sire Robert BORDET, [de azure a ij barres de or] en la sovereyne barre iij merelos de goules--Roll, temp. ED. II.

Monsire John FLEMINGE, barre d'argent et d'asur a trois oreillers de gules en la sovereign barre.--Ibid.

Monsire William CUSANCE, port d'argent a une bend engrele sable a une escalop en le sov'reign peice--Roll, temp. ED. III.