The  second  thing  to  be  mentioned  in  the  blazon  is  the  principal  charge.  We
will  consider  first  those  cases  in  which  it  is  an  ordinary.  Thus,  one  would  speak  of
"  Or,  a  chevron  gules,"  or,  if  there  be  other  charges  as  well  as  the  ordinary,  "  Azure,
a  bend  between  two  horses'  heads  or,"  or,  "  Gules,  a  chevron  between  three  roses
argent."

The  colour  of  the  ordinary  is  not  mentioned  until  after  the  charge,  if  it  be  the
same  as  the  latter,  but  if  it  be  otherwise  it  must  of  course  be  specified,  as  in  the  coat :
"  Or,  a  fess  gules  between  three  crescents  sable."  If  the  ordinary  is  charged,  the
charges  thereupon,  being  less  important  than  the  charges  in  the  field,  are  mentioned
subsequently,  as  in  the  coat :  "  Gules,  on  a  bend  argent  between  two  fountains
proper,  a  rose  gules  between  two  mullets  sable."

The  position  of  the  charges  need  not  be  specified  when  they  would  naturally
fall  into  a  certain  position  with  regard  to  the  ordinaries.  Thus,  a  chevron  between
three  figures  of  necessity  has  two  in  chief  and  one  in  base.  A  bend  between  two
figures  of  necessity  has  one  above  and  one  below.  A  fess  has  two  above  and  one
below.  A  cross  between  four  has  one  in  each  angle.  In  none  of  these  cases  is  it
necessary  to  state  the  position.  If,  however,  those  positions  or  numbers  do  not
come  within  the  category  mentioned,  care  must  be  taken  to  specify  what  the  coat
exactly  is.
