Purpure

Purpure

Purpure, (fr. pourpre): this colour, as it is considered by some, but tincture as it is allowed to be by others, is found but rarely in early rolls of arms. It is expressed in modern engravings by lines in bend sinister. The terms plumby and porprin occur. In the fanciful blazoning by planets it was called Mercury, and in that of precious stones Amethyst. It is not common in recent arms, still some hundred examples or so may be found.

Sire Felip de LYNDESHEYE, de or a un egle de porpre--Roll, temp. ED. II.

Sire Nicholas MALEMEIS, de argent a une bende engrele de pourpre--Ibid.

Sire Johan de DENE, dargent a un lyoun raunpaun de pourpre--Ibid.

So also Henry, the good Earl of Lincoln, at the siege of Carlaverock bore a banner of yellow silk with a purple lion.

    Enris li bons Quens de Nicole[i.e. Count    Baner out de un cendal safrin   
      of Lincoln] ...                           O un lioun rampant purprin.