heraldryofyorkmi01custuoft

44 THE HERALDRY OF YORK MINSTER.
sentence was pronounced by the Somerset Herald; in compliance with
which one of the Knight Marshal's men, " standing on the scaffold with
" him, did cut his belt whereby his sworde did hang, and soe let it fall to
" the grounde then he cut his spurres off from his heels, and hurled the
:
" one one way into the hall, and the other another way. That done he
" drew his sword out of his scabbard and with his hands broke it over his
" head, and. threw the one piece the one way, and the other the other way.
" Then the rest of the writing was read and pronounced aloud, viz., ' That
" '
he be from henceforth reputed, taken, and styled an infamous, errant
"'knave.
God save the King!'"*
But there were other punishments, which if less
severe than this were
equally degrading and disgraceful. These were effected by " abatements,"
as they were called, or accidental marks upon the coat-armour, denoting
some " ungentlemanlike, dishonourable, or disloyal demeanour, quality, or
"stain in the bearer, whereby the dignity of the coat-armour is greatly
" abused."
"To him that revoketh his own challenge" (or as we call it, eats
his own words), a delf or square patch of tinne or orange was placed on
his
escutcheon.
*
Dallaway.