Hemp break

Hemp-break

Hemp-break, or Hemp-hackle(also Flax-breaker), was the device of Sir Reginald BRAY, and is seen upon the vaulting of S.George's chapel at Windsor. This machine for pounding the hemp seems, like many other devices, to be borne on account of the name, the old word bray signifying to bruise or pound(see Proverbs xxvii. 22). From the form it has been confused with the breys or barnacles, q.v.

Argent, three hemp-breaks sable--HAMPSON.

Sable, on a fesse between three bugle-horns stringed and garnished argent a hemp-break gules--BRAINE.

Azure, on a fesse between three bugle-horns stringed argent a hemp-buckle gules--BRAYNE, co. Gloucester.