CROSS, in heraldry, an ordinary composed of fourfold lines, whereof two are perpendicular, and the other two transverse; for so we must conceive of them, though they are not drawn throughout, but meet, by couples, in four right angles, near about the fesse-point of the escutcheon. The content of a cross is not always the same; for when it is not charged, it has only the fifth part of the field; but if it be charged, then it must contain the third part thereof.
This bearing was bestowed on such as had performed, or at least undertaken some service for Christ and the Christian profession; and is therefore held by several authors the most honourable charge in all heraldry. What brought it into such frequent use was
the ancient expeditions into the holy land, the cross being the ensigns of that war.
In these wars, the Scots carried St Andrew's cross; the French, a cross argent; the English, a cross or; the Germans, sable; the Italians, azure; the Spaniards, gules.