per pale_. The arms of the baron (the husband) are always placed on
the dexter side of the escutcheon; and the femme (the wife), on the
sinister side, as in the annexed example.

[Illustration: Parted per pale, baron and femme, two coats]

Parted per pale, baron and femme, two coats; first, or, a chevron
gules; second, barry of twelve pieces, azure and argent.

If a widower marries again, the arms of both his wives are placed on
the sinister side, which is parted per fess; that is, parted by an
horizontal line running in the direction of the fess, and occupying
the same place. The arms of the first wife are placed in the upper
compartment of the shield, called the chief; the arms of the second
wife in the lower compartment, called the base.

[Illustration: Parted per pale, baron and femme, three coats]

Parted per pale, baron and femme, three coats;--first, gules, on a
bend azure, three trefoils vert: second, parted per fess, in chief
azure, a mascle or, with a label argent for difference. In base
ermine, a fess, dancette gules. The same rule would apply if the
husband had three or more wives; they would all be placed in the
sinister division of the shield.

Where the baron marries an heiress, he does not impale his arms with
hers, as in the preceding examples, but bears them in an escutcheon of
pretence in the centre of the shield, showing his pretension to her
lands in consequence of his marriage with the lady who is legally
entitled to them. The escutcheon of pretence is not used by the