Cross of Calvary (Period)

The “cross of Calvary” is a Latin cross mounted on a stepped pedestal; there are three steps (called “grieces” or “degrees”) by default.  If more than three grieces are used, they must be explicitly numbered.  The cross of Calvary is shown in rolls temp. Edward I, as the attributed canting arms of the King of Greece [ANA2 320].  In later period, other cross variants besides Latin crosses were shown atop grieces:  Society heralds would blazon these as a “[variant] cross Calvary.”  Thus Brytton, c.1460, bore what we would blazon a “Patriarchal cross Calvary” [RH]; Gloch, 1605, bore a “Tau cross potent Calvary” [Siebmacher 62]; while Iones, 1610, bore a “cross crosslet Calvary” [Guillim1 212].

Arthur of Ballonesmore bears:  Per bend sinister purpure and argent, two crosses of Calvary and a bordure counterchanged.