MARKS OF CADENCY

DIFFERENCES, or MARKS of CADENCY, are the distinctions used to indicate the various branches or Cadets of one family. The eldest son during the lifetime of his father bears a LABEL; the second, a CRESCENT; the third, a MULLET; the forth, a MARTLET; the fifth, an ANNULET; the sixth, a FLEUR- DE- LIS; the seventh, a ROSE; the eighth, a CROSS-MOLINE; the ninth, a DOUBLE QUATREFOIL:

1. Label	2. Crescent	3. Mullet
4. Martlet	5. Annulet	6. Fleur de lis
7. Rose	8. Cross moline	9. Double quatrefoil

The mode of using these marks of cadency, as practised by the Heralds college, London, and Ulsters office, Dublin, is to carry them down to the third generation. There is no rule as to the colours of cadency marks except one, the label of three points must not be argent except for the Royal Family; but the same heraldic rule applies to these marks as to ordinary heraldic charges, colour cannot lie on colour, or metal on metal. If a younger son, say a third son, who bears a mullet for difference, assume by Royal Licence an additional surname, in addition to and after his own surname, and the arms belonging to that assumed surname, which would consequently be borne in the first quarter of his escutcheon, it is not necessary for him to continue the mark of cadency, as the compound coat is sufficient to distinguish him from the head of the family; if however, he wish to use the mark of cadency, it should be borne in the fess point of the compound coat.