The SALTIRE (H. 3), a combination of a Bend with a Bend Sinister, may also be regarded as a _Diagonal Cross_. Thus, the Crosses of St. ANDREW of SCOTLAND, and of St. PATRICK of IRELAND are Saltires--the former, No. 120--_Az., a Saltire arg._: the latter--_Arg., a Saltire gu._ The arms of the great family of NEVILLE reverse those of St. PATRICK, and are--_Gu., a Saltire arg._, No. 121: so Drayton has recorded that
"Upon his surcoat valiant NEVILLE bore A silver Saltire upon martial red." _Barons' War_, i. 22.
Charges set on a Saltire _slope with its limbs_ (all, however, pointing to the chief), _the central charge being erect_; and the disposition of charges set "_in saltire_" is the same: a single charge set on a Saltire is blazoned erect on the central point of the Ordinary, as in No. 122, another Shield of NEVILLE, in which the "Silver Saltire" is charged with a _rose gules_. A Saltire may be borne with a Chief, as in No. 73.
[Illustration: No. 124.--Shield of De Clare.]
The CHEVRON (H. 3), in form and proportions is rather more than the lower half of a Saltire. The Diminutive is a _Chevronel_, containing half a Chevron, or perhaps less: thus, for DE STAFFORD (E. 2),--_Or, a Chevron gu._, No. 123: for the great family of DE CLARE, from whom so many other families derived their Chevrons and Chevronels--_Or, three Chevronels gules_, No. 124 (H. 3). Two Chevrons may be borne in one composition: or they may appear with a Fesse, as in No. 79: or with a Chief, as (H. 3), for DE CROMBE--_Erm., a Chevron gu., and on a Chief of the last three escallops or_; for ST. QUINTIN (H. 3)--_Or, three Chevronels gu., a Chief vair_. A field _Chevronée_ is of rare occurrence: the three Chevronels of DE CLARE, however, No. 124, appear to have been derived from a field _Chevronée_: certainly, on his seal, "Strongbow" has the Chevronée Shield, No. 125, about A.D. 1175. Charges set on a Chevron, or disposed "_in Chevron_," are always placed erect.
[Illustration: No. 125.--Early shield of De Clare.]
The PILE (H. 3), resembling a wedge in form, is borne both single and in small groups. Unless some other disposition on the field be specified, this Ordinary issues from the chief of the Shield. Examples: _Or, a Pile gu., between six and charged with three estoiles_ (or _mullets_) _counter-changed_,--for ROBERT DE CHANDOS, No. 126: _Or, three Piles az._, No. 127,--for Sir GUY DE BRIAN; _Or, three Piles gu., a canton erm._, No. 128,--for DE BASSETT (all H. 3): and (E. 2), _Arg., a Pile engrailed sa._--for Sir ROB. DE FORNEUS. In early emblazonments three piles appear almost uniformly to be depicted with the points converging. But a distinction is now made, and when the piles are intended to converge, as in No. 128, they are termed "_in point_."