Whenever a cross or cross crosslet has the bottom arm elongated and pointed it is said to be "fitched" (Figs. 180 and 181), but when a point is added at the foot e.g. of a cross patée, it is then termed "fitchée at the foot" (Fig. 182).
Fig. 173.—Cross crosslet. |
Fig. 174.—Cross parted and fretty. |
Fig. 175.—Cross patée quadrate. |
Fig. 176.—Cross quarter-pierced. |
Fig. 177.—Cross Tau. |
Fig. 178.—Maltese Cross. |
Fig. 179.—Patriarchal Cross. |
Fig. 180.—Cross crosslet fitched. |
Fig. 181.—Cross patée fitched. |
Of the hundreds of other varieties it may confidently be said that a large proportion originated in misunderstandings of the crude drawings of early armorists, added to the varying and alternating descriptions applied at a more pliable and fluent period of heraldic blazon. A striking illustration of this will be found in the cross botonny, which is now, and has been for a long time past, regularised with us as a distinct variety of