Torteau

Torteau

Torteau, (fr. tourteau de gueules): the name now always applied to a roundle gules. At the same time the French apply the word to roundles of all tinctures, including even or and argent. (See Roundle.) Literally tourteau(and it is found in ancient rolls) means a little tart or cake, and the figure is said to have been intended to represent the sacred Host. The term gastel is also used(which in the form gâteau is still used for a cake), and in the older rolls, though the torteau is found more frequently tinctured gules, both that and the gastel are found tinctured as a metal. The examples of the blazon of the arms of CAMOYS in different rolls will clearly illustrate the variety of terms used.

Walter de BASCREVILE, argent, ung chevron et trois torteux de goules--Roll, temp. HEN. III.

Hugh WAKE, d'or, a deulx barres de goules, ove trois torteux de goules en le cheif--Ibid.

Sire Hugh WAKE, de or, a ij barres de goules, en la chef iij rondels de goules, el un baston de azure--Roll, temp. ED. II.

Rauf de CAMOIS, d'or; ung cheif de goules a trois torteux d'argent--Roll, temp. HEN. III.

Rauf de CAMOYS, dor; al chef de goules a tres gastelles d'argent en chef--Ibid. [Harl MS. 6589].

Sire Rauf de CAMOYS, de or; od le chef goules a iij rondels de argent--Roll, temp. ED. II.

Le Sire de CAMOYS, port d'or, au cheif de gules, a trois pellets en le chief d'argent--Roll, temp. ED. III.

Argent, on a chief gules three plates--CAMOYS, Broadwater, Surrey.

Argent, a torteau between three escutcheons sable--LOUDON, Scotland.

Or, six torteaux, two, two, and two--WALSHALL.

Argent, three cups sable, a torteau[? for difference]--Richard GRENEACRES.

It is said in books that tortoilly may be used for semé of torteaux, but it has not been observed.

Argent, semy of torteaux; on a pile azure a lion rampant of the field--HENSLEY.

Sable fretty argent, on each crossing a torteau gules--EAGAR.