heraldryofyorkmi01custuoft

THE FESS.
THE next Heraldic charge which I shall notice, the FESS, so called
from the Latin "fascia," French "face," has been taken of old (according
to Leigh) " for a girdle of honour, occupying the third part of the shield,"
though its width varied very much, and rarely
if ever attained that
proportion. It represented a part of the dress of no little importance.
Even the ordinary girdle, which must, indeed, have been indispensable
in days when garments were of a loose and flowing and sometimes voluminous
character, was of the costliest material, and occasionally ornamented
with jewels. The monumental effigies of our early sovereigns and their
consorts, have representations of girdles of elaborate workmanship, and
probably rich substance. The girdle of King John's effigy at Worcester
Cathedral was gilt,
and in the inventory belonging to him mention is made
of a belt or girdle wrought with gold and adorned with gems. In the
reign of Edward III., girdles ornamented with gold or silver are strictly
prohibited to all persons under the estate of knighthood, or not possessed
of property to the amount of two hundred pounds per annum. Those
who came within the latter class were permitted to wear girdles reasonably
embellished with silver. Similar prohibitions respecting the ornamentation
of girdles with gold, silver, or silk, are to be found in all the sumptuary
laws down to the
sixteenth century.
simply a band to keep the robe or cloak together.
Several of the figures in the
organ screen, which I assume
represent the costumes of the date
of Henry IV.-VI., have girdles
which are evidently intended to
represent good material and workmanship.
That of Henry
I. has a
broad band, richly ornamented,
which may have been a belt, or