Pattee

Cross Pattée

§26. The term Cross pattée(fr.), more often writen patty, primarily means that the arms of the cross become expanded, of opened out, as they approach the edge of the shield. Named by itself, it means that the extremities are bounded by a straight line, that is, they are couped before reaching the edge of the shield. If otherwise, that is if the arms are extended to the edge of the field, the word throughout must be added(or, as some prefer, fixed, ferme, or entire); or if they have any other termination, e.g. flory, pometty, &c., such termination must be named; but in this case they belong rather to the class of Cross patonce(q.v.). In one case the ends are indented by a hollow(see below, under DYMOCK), and Berry gives a figure of a cross patty notched, but gives no name of bearer.

As to the expanding sides of the cross there seems to be no rule, but they are generally drawn slightly curved outwards, and not straight, as in the Maltese cross. Amidst the various forms which appear in the works of different authors it is difficult to define the line of demarcation between it and its kindred, cross patonce, which is described in the next article.

The extremities in French arms are sometimes so much curved that the outline of the four arms represent so many segments of a circle. With the French, however, the rule is for the Cross pattée to reach to the edge, and when it does not the term alaisée is introduced. It is not at all unusual in English arms for the lower extremity of the cross patty to be terminated in a point, and then it is blazoned cross patty fitchy. Cross crosslets may also be patty, and the device is then a very striking one. A Cross patty is also said to be used as a mark of cadency.

Le Conte d'AUMARLE, le goules, ung croix pate de verre--Roll, temp. HEN. III.

Sire William de LATIMER, de goules a un croys pattee de or--Roll, temp. ED. II.

Monsire Le LATIMER, port de gules a une crois patey or--Roll, temp. ED. III.

Sire Johan de BERKELEYE, de goules a iij crois patees de or, e un chevron de argent--Roll, temp. ED. II.

Sire Moris de BERKELEYE, de goules a les crusules pates de argent, e un chevron de argent--Ibid.

Sire Johan de RESOUN, de goules a un lion de or, en la un quarter un crois patée de veer--Ibid.

Monsire de ROIOSBY, de gules a trois crois pateis de sable, eu une bend d'argent--Roll, temp. EDW. III.

Sable, a cross pattée, or--ALLEN.

Ermine, a cross patty invected gules--GRANDALE, Harl. MS. 1407.

Verte, a cross patee fitchy or--HARRIS, Bp. of Llandaff, 1729-38.

Sable, a cross patty throughout fitchy or--COLLIAR.

Argent, a cross patty throughout engrailed sable--PESHALL.

Argent, a cross patée fixed sable--WOODHOUSE.

Gules, a cross patty crenelly at the ends argent--BATNYMERSH.

Argent, a cross pattée gules, in each end a small semicircle(otherwise a cross patée with one engrail)--DYMOCK.

Sable, on a chevron between three estoiles or, three crosses pattee fitchy gules--William LAUD, Bp. of S.David's, 1621; Bp. of Bath and Wells, 1626; Bp. of London, 1628; Abp. of Cant., 1633-45.

Argent, a cross patty elongated at the foot and pierced gules--MOLTON.

As to the synonym formée or formy, which appears to be used with modern heralds as frequently as patty, it is difficult to explain its origin or meaning. One example is found in a roll as early Henry III., but no other till a roll of Edw. III., where certain small crosses are described as formé de lis, that is, made up of the four flowers united in the centre. This may therefore be the origin of the term, since it will be observed that the same arms are blazoned in the previous reign(see above) as bearing 'iij crois patées.' It will be noted also that, as read by NICOLAS, the word lis appears as lij, but there can scarcely be much room to doubt the true reading.

Le baucent del hospitale de goules a un croyz d'argent fourme--Harl. MS. 6589, c. 1256.66.

Monsire Morris de BERKELEY, port de gules, a une cheveron d'argent entre dis croises forme de 'lij[forme de lis]--Roll, temp. EDW. III.

Gules, a cross formée or--Simon ISLIP, Abp. of Cant., 1349-66.

Ermine, two rings interlaced sable, on a chief of the last three crosses formy argent--WYCHINGHAM, Norfolk.

Argent, two annulets linked together gules, between three crosses formy sable--THORNHAGH, Nottinghamshire, confirmed 1582.

Argent, a wolf statant sable, on a chief azure three crosses formee of the first--EWER, Bp. of Llandaff, 1761, afterwards of Bangor, 1769-74.

Per fesse or and argent, in chief a lion rampant holding in the paw a cross formy fitchy gules, a chief sable, in base a cross formy fitchy ermine, surmounted by a fleur-de-lis of the fourth--VAWDREY, Chester.

Argent, on a chevron, the upper part terminating in a cross formée, gules, three bezants--NEWLAND, Southampton. [See similar example under Fesse.]

Argent, on a chevron between three crosses formée gules, three doves of the field--W. SANCROFT, Abp. of Canterbury, 1678-91[from MS. Lambeth, No. 555].