| After death, the Coat of Arms painted and framed. The frame is lozenge shaped, and covered with black cloth. It is placed on the front of the house on the morning of interment, where it generally remains for twelve months, and thence is removed and (frequently) put up in the Church. The anus on a Hatchment are always painted as borne by the party when living, so that the Hatchment of a Peer is known by his Coronet, Mantle, etc. A Baronet by his Badge; a Knight by his Helmet, or Badge and Motto of his Order; a Bishop by the Mitre, etc.; a Bachelor's by his Shield; and a Maid, or Widow's by her Lozenge; the only difference is, that when a married woman dies before her husband the Crest is omitted. To distinguish what party is dead, the ground on which the arms are painted, is represented either Black or White, or one side White, the other Black. Thus the Arms of a Bachelor, Maid, Widow and Widower, are painted upon a Black ground. When a married woman dies, her husband still surviving, the sinister half of the ground is painted Black, the dexter white. If a married man dies, and his wife survives, the ground is painted the reverse. In many instances, instead of the family motto, the words "In cœlo quies" or "Resurgam" are placed on the Hatchment. |