a
reference to the fleur-
de-lis (which literally means
flower of the lily in
French), a symbolic representation of a white lily, adopted as the emblem of the royal
house of
France in the twelfth century A.D. Adorning flags, shields, etc., the fleur-
de-lis consists of three petals or leaves in a circular
band, with the center petal
standing erect and the other two curving away to the
right and
left.