Martlet

Martlet

Martlet, (fr. Merlette, possibly the diminutive of the merula, merle, or blackbird): a bird resembling a swallow, with thighs but no visible legs. They form a very common bearing, being found in early Rolls, and are as common in French arms in English. They may be of any tincture, even of ermine(see example under Crescent), and are very frequently represented in orle(q.v.). It is used also as the difference of the fourth son.

Gules, a fesse between six martlets or--BEAUCHAMP, Powick, co. Worc.

Sable, a martlet argent--ADAMS, co. Pembroke.

Roger de MERLEY, barrée d'argent et de goulz, a la bordure d'azure et merlots d'or en la bordur--Roll, temp. HEN. III.

Sire Roger de WATEVILL, de argent a iij chevrons de goules, a un merelot de sable--Roll, temp. ED. II.

Sire Henri de APPELBY de azure a vj merelos de or--Ibid.

Monsire TEMPEST d'argent une cheveron de gules entre trois merletts du sable--Roll, temp. ED. III.

Argent, five fusils conjoined in fesse gules, in chief two martletts respecting each other--DAUBENE.

Monsire de FENWIKE, port d'argent, chief gules, a vj merletts de l'une et l'autre[i.e. counterchanged]--Ibid.