Pale (Period)

The pale is an heraldic ordinary, a vertical band down the center of the shield, occupying roughly one-third to one-fourth the shield’s width.  Its diminutive is the “pallet”; Society blazonry does not recognize any other term for the pale’s diminutive.

The cotises of a pale are termed “endorses”; the whole may be blazoned a “pale endorsed” or a “pale between two endorses”.

Pale offset (Period)

Pale bevilled (Accepted)

The pale is subject to the normal complex lines:  engrailed, wavy, &c.  There are also some usages peculiar to the pale:  The “pale offset” is divided along the fess line, with each half then shifted to dexter or sinister; an example is found in the Armorial Bellenville, c.1380, in the arms of von Zirn [Pastoureau 206].  The “pale bevilled” is divided bendwise sinister, and similarly shifted; this appears to be a Society adaptation.

For related charges, see chief-pale.

The King of Meridies bears:  Argent, on a pale sable a crown of three points, above each point a mullet argent, overall a laurel wreath counterchanged.

Yñigo de Cueva bears:  Or, a pale checky gules and argent.

Anne Balfour of Markinch bears:  Ermine, a pale endorsed azure.

Katherine of Glastonbury bears:  Vert, two pallets Or.

Angela of Rosebury bears:  Gules, a pale offset between in bend sinister two mascles argent.