A DISPLAY OF HERALDRY. SECT. I. CHAP. I.

WHosoever shall addresse himself to write of matters of Instruction, or of any other Argument of importance, it behoveth, that before he enter thereinto, he should resolutely determine with himself, in what order he will handle the same: So shall he best accomplish that he hath undertaken, and inform the understand­ing, and help the memory of the Reader. For so doth Chassaneus admonish us, saying: Cassan. Priusquam ad scientiam perveniatur, honum est, modum praescribere docendi & ordinem, quia per ordinem res intellectae magis delectant animos, mentes nutriunt, sensus magis illuminant, & memoriam reddunt clariorem. Such order and course of writing doth also procure in the reader a facility of apprehension, as Erasmus noteth, saying; Facilius discimus quae congruo dicuntur ordine, quam quae sparsim & confusim.

What Order is, S. Augustine doth inform us, saying, Definition of order. Aug. de civit. Dei. Order two­fold. Cas. Dialect. Ordo est parium dispari­umque rerum distributio. This order is twofold; the one of Nature, the other of Discipline: The order of Nature (as Doctor Casius noteth) is a progressi­on from simples to things compound: contrariwise, the order of Discipline is a proceeding from things compound to simples. As touching the order that I have prefixed to my self in this Display of Heraldry, you shall under­stand, that forasmuch as the handling of one of these alone, sufficeth not to the effecting of my intended Method, I must of force make use of them both in some sort according to their distinct kinds. Order in this Work obser­ved. Wherein albeit the order of Nature in right should have the precedence, as the more worthy, quia Natura regitur ab intelligentia non errante: nevertheless, in regard my principal pur­pose tendeth to the prescribing of a form of Discipline, whereunto these to­kens which we call Arms must be reduced, and therein to manifest rather their location than their generation, their use than their essence, their sha­dow than their substance; I am constrained to prefer the latter (which ser­veth [Page 2] directly for my purpose) before the former, which tendeth thereto but collaterally: whose dignity notwithstanding I purpose regardfully to observe, when I shall come to the distribution of things Naturall in their proper places.

Digression.But before I enter my Method, I hold it expedient (though I do some­what digress) by way of introduction to the better conceiving and under­standing of that which shall be herein handled, briefly to offer to the con­sideration of the judicious Reader, some few things of necessary note, touching the Subject of this Work: Such are those ensigns or marks which we call Arms in English, Equivocation of the word Arma. and in Latine, Arma; which being a word of equi­vocation or ambiguity, needeth some explication; Digredi enim quand [...] (que) licet ex causa, non autem divagari: for so it is very requisite, to the end it may be certainly known in what sense this word is to be here taken, quia discenti ponenda sunt vera & certa.

Instruments naturall.It is therefore to be observed that this word Arma in Latine is sometimes taken for very naturall instruments, and in this sense doth Doctor Casius use the same, where he saith, Arma belluis natura dedit, ut Leoni dentes, Ser­penti aculeum, Instruments Mechanicall. &c. Sometimes it is taken for all manner of instruments per­taining to Mechanicall Trades, as Arma Rusticorum, Rastra, Ligones, & hujus­modi. Also Arma Coquinaria, lebes, patella, tripus, ol [...]a, &c. And Virg. Aeneid. 5. speaking of the necessaries pertaining to shipping, saith, ‘Colligere arma jubet, validisque incumbere remis.’

Instruments Military.Sometimes it is taken for all sorts of warlike instruments; and in this sense doth Doctor Casius take it, saying, At hominibus arma indùstria finxit, eoque finxit, ut pro imperio rationis eis uteretur. But this word Arma here meant is not understood in any of these significations, but must be taken in a meta­phoricall sense, Metaphoricall sense. for that they do assume a borrowed name (by way of figure called Metonymia subjecti) from the Shields, Targets, Banners, Military Cas­socks, and other Martiall Instruments, whereupon they were ingraven, em­bossed, embroidered or depicted: which kinds of furnitures and habili­ments are peculiar unto martiall men, and professed souldiers, to whom onely it pertaineth to bear Armour; which even at this day we do usu­ally call by the name of Arms. And of them in Process of time did these en­signs or marks receive their denomination, and were called Arma, in En­glish Arms, as Abra. Fra. noteth, saying, Arma appellantur, quod olim solis mi­litibus data fuerunt, qui arma gerere solent. Nam cum ista sit gloria armis, ut in­strumentis comparata, placuit ipsam quoque mercedem arma appellare.

Claudius Fauchet saith, that Arms have their appellation or denomination, be­cause Military men bare their devices, or Inventions depicted upon their Coat-Armours, and in and upon their shields: Claudius Fauchet.

Arms were called Symbola, which signifieth signs, tokens, or marks, given in time of hostility, or of Civill Tumults, by Captains to their Souldiers, or by the authors of Rebellion to their pernicious associates and confederates, for distinguishing of particular persons, as well among themselves, as from their Enemies; for the better avoiding of such inconveniencies (as I shall presently shew when I come to speak of them, and use of Arms.)

These Armoriall notes (so much in use with us at this day) are oftentimes called Insignia, which name, as Aldronandus supposeth, proceeded of the bar­renness of the Latine tongue, his words are these, Insignium nomen ex linguae Latinae videtur fluxisse inopia; & certe vix alium vocabulum huc magis quadrat quod haec praecipue virtutis & gentilitatis sive nota sive signum sit.

[Page 3]How far the extent of this word Insignia, or Ensignes, doth dilate it self, we may perceive by this, that it compriseth generally all Signes, Markes, and Tokens of honour, due to well-deserving persons, either in respect of their Government, Learning, Wisdome, Magnanimity, &c. These albeit they have no government annexed to them, yet have they in them much honour and estimation, as were those Pontificall Ornaments, and Ensigns, wherewith Simeon the high Priest was adorned and furnished at such time as he went to meet Alexander, by means whereof his fury was appeased. In the like sort did Pope Leo attire himself when he went to meet Attylia the Scythian Prince; who having subdued the Country of Hungary, and destroy­ed Aqui leia in Italy, came forwards to Rome with like intent. So also did Pope Benedict mitigate the fury of Totila, as if there lurked some secret force and majesty in the very Ornaments and Ensigns.

Of the number of these Ensigns, are those notes, marks and shapes of Animals, that martiall men used to adorne the Crests of their Helmets with­all, to make themselves more eminent in the field: and to the end there might be better notice taken of their valorous actions when they encoun­tered their enemies in Battell: or should draw on their forces to fight. Whereof we shall have cause to speak hereafter in place more convenient, when we shall come to treat of them particularly.

The use of these was yet extended farther than the adorning of Shields and Helmets onely: For Ships also, and other Navigable Vessels, were also garnished and beautified in their fore-decks, yea, and that in very ancient time, for the distinguishing of one ship from another; as we may see, Acts 28.11. Where Paul saith, he went in a Ship whose badge was Castor and Pol­lux. Also the fore-deck of Europa that was carryed away, had a form of a Bull painted thereon, which gave occasion to the Fable: That a Bull had stollen away Europa. Neither did the Ancients onely use this, but it hath been a received custom in all Ages sithence, and yet continued with us un­to this day. Hereof it cometh that we give the Ships the names of the things that are depicted upon them, as the Bull, Bear, Lyon, Tygar, &c.

Arms then as they are here meant, according to their originall and first use, may be thus defined: Arms are tokens or resemblances signifying some act or quality of the Bearer. Or thus, These Signs called Arms are nothing else but Demonstrations and Testimonies of Nobility, and of Worthy prowes­full exploits performed in Martiall services, especially if they be ancient, and bestowed by a Noble and renowned Prince: and this is according to their use in the time of Alexander the Great, and since untill of later times: 3. Difinition of them. But according to their modern (I mean since the time of Charles the fourth) and present use, Arms may be said to be Hieroglyphicall, or Enigmaticall Symboles or Signs, testifying and▪ demonstrating the Nobility or Gentry, ac­quired by the vertue and good service performed by their Bearer or some of his Ancestors, either in martiall exploits abroad; or by their learning and wisdom which they attained to, by spending their bodies and spirits in continuall study, to make themselves fit for the patronage and defence of the Weal-publick at home.

How great the dignity and estimation of Arms ever hath been, and yet is, we may easily conceive by this, that they do delight the beholders, and greatly grace and beautifie the places wherin they are erected; so also they do occasion their spectators to make serious inquisition, whose they are, who is the owner of the house wherein they are set up, of what family their [Page 4] Bearer is descended; and who were his next, and who is his remote pa­rents or ancestors.

Armes, exter­nall demon­strations of the mind.It is very probable that these Signs, which we call Arms, at this day, how­soever in former Ages they have been named (whether Emblems or Pictures graven, painted or embossed, or notes representing some secret or hidden Mystery; as Hieroglyphicks, or Enigmaticall, or hidden conceits) they were externall notes of the inward disposition of the mind, manifesting in some sort the naturall qualities of their Bearers, yet so as they were hidden from the vulgar sort, and known to the judicious, onely experimented in the knowledge of the naturall vertues and dispositions of bodies Celestiall, of A­nimals and of Vegetables, &c.

Armes, ab­stracts of Na­ture.These in their begining and first institution, were not bestowed upon vul­gar persons, neither were their intendments fitted for common capacity, but such as were extracted out of the bowels, & very intrals of nature, and were neither obscure to the learned, nor over-familiar to the common sort.

Their confor­mity with Names.Between Arms and Names there is a certain conformity, so that as it is a thing unlawfull for a man (but upon great occasion) to change his name; Sic neque arma (saith Chass.) mutare licet, nisi magna & honorifica causa acces­serit; and another saith, A nominibus ad arma bonum deducitur Argumentum.

There are sometimes Arms borne that may seem to have been devised (in their first institution) according to the Sirnames of the Bearers, as a Bear for Ʋrsonne, three Castles for Castleton, three Conies for Conesby, &c. Whether these be either better or more ancient than other Arms, it is a question of more difficulty to be resolved, than commodious if it were known.

If there were two distinct families of one Sirname, yet bearing severall Coat-Armours, it is no consequence that they are originally issued from the same Ancestors; for their agreement of their Sirnames may be said to be a probability, but yet it is no proof that they are both extracted from the same Ancestors, unlesse there be withall a resemblance of their Coat-Armours, which are the expresse notes of distinction.

In case where there are two families, diverse in name, and issued from severall parents; and both of them do bear one and the selfesame Coat-Armour, and the name of one of them is agreeable to the Coat-Armour, and the other dissonant from the same; The same being in question, to whe­ther of them this Coat doth properly appertain: it may be probably con­jectured, that he is interessed in the Coat-Armour whose appellation is a­greeable therewith; rather than his, whose name hath no conformity with it. For names were instituted for differencing of each person from other severally, according to the saying, Sicut nomina inventa sunt ad cognoscendos homines: Ita Arma & insignia ad recognoscendum homines sunt inventa.

If two men of severall Families shall bear one Coat-Armour, and have their abode in one Country or Territory; and one of them can produce no more proof, why he doth arrogate the propriety thereof, than the other can: In such case the cause shall be questioned before the Soveraign, or be­fore such as do from him derive their authority, for the hearing, exami­ning and determining cases of this nature; Otherwise if either of them can prove that his Ancestors received the same of the Kings gift, as a remune­ration for service done, the Arms shall be adjudged to be his.

The sympathy of Arms with their Bearers.Also there is between these Arms and their Bearers, a kind of Sympathy or naturall participation of qualities, in so much as who so dishonourably or unreverently useth the Arms of any man, seemeth to have offered indigni­ty [Page 5] to the person of their Bearer (so according to some Authors) their owner shall right himself against such an offender, or wrong-doer, Actione injuriarum.

As touching the antiquity of these signs which we call Arms, The Antiqui­ty of Arms and Ensigns Armoriall. Diodorus Siculus maketh mention, that Osyris surnamed Jupiter the just, son to Cham the cursed son of Noah, called of the Gentiles Janus, being banished from the blessed Tents of Shem and Japhet; by reason of the curse fallen upon his father, was constrained to seek some remote place wherein he might settle himself, his children, and people: for which purpose he assembled a great army, and appointed Hercules his eldest son Captain. And in this so ancient an expedition of wars, as well Osyris himself, as Hercules, Macedon, and Annu­bis his sons, and others, did paint certain signs upon their shields, bucklers, and other weapons; which signs were after called Arms: As for example, Osy­ris bare a Scepter royall, insigned on the top with an Eye: Hercules a Lyon rampant holding a Battle-axe: Macedon a Wolf, and Annubis a Dog. And we find in Homer and in Virgil, that the Heroes had their signs or marks, where­by their persons were distinctly known, and discerned in Battell, as well as their Kings and commons had their publick Ensigns: For the Athenians bare the Owle; The Persians an Ancher or Sagitary stamped in their coynes: The Romans bare an Eagle, Minotaure, and sundry other shapes, which (according to Pliny) they bare in Battell unto the time of Marius, who bare in his En­sign an Eagle, Argent: figured and embossed, Sus une haute longue, as may be seen in ancient Medals, and chiefly in which is found this word, Allocutio.

Paulus Emilius saith, That anciently the French Kings did beare, Argent, The ancient Arms of the French Kings. three Diadems, Gules. Others say, they bare three Toads, Sable, in a field, Vert, alias Sinople, which cannot be good Armory, as the Masters of that Mystery do hold, because of Colour upon Colour.

Whence they received those Arms it is not certainly known, unless they had them from the Romans.

But their opinion is more probable who by the Blazon of the Shield of France, would shew that the first Frankes consist of Sicum'bri (a people of Germany, inhabiting the Marches of Frizeland, towards Holland, Zeland and Gelderland) gave unto them, Azure, which resembleth the water (which be­ing calme, representeth the colours of the Heavens) and therein three flower de Lis, Or, which do grow plentifully in those Marches, and do flourish in May and June.

Others affirme, that the same was sent by an Angell from Heaven to Clo­vis, the first Christian King of France.

But Gregory of Towers in his History mentioned no such thing, neither doth it appear that they bear those Arms before the time of King Pippine, but after the time of Lewis Le Crosse: at which time it seemeth that Armories began to become hereditary, and were transferred from Father to Son in each Family.

In the first assumption of these Signs, every man did take to himself some such Beast, Bird, Fish, Serpent, or other creature as he thought best fitting his estate, or whose nature and quality did in some sort quadrate with his own, or whereunto himself was in some respect in quality like or wished to be resembled unto. Ex iis quibus quisque maxime delectatur qualis etiam sit ipse cognoscitur. The reason is, for that no man is delighted but with things that are like himself. Therefore wherein any man is specially delighted, himself also is found to be in quality much like unto them.

[Page 6] Zanchius de immortalitate Animarum 133. Whereof it cometh that our souls, albeit they are naturally delighted with things that please, and de­light the Externall senses, yet shall we find that by how much the mind is more generous and noble, by so much the more doth it apprehend a more solid delight in things pertaining to the inward faculties, than in such as pertain to the exteriour senses; As we may see in those Arts wherein the Phantasie is chiefly exercised: whereby they receive a greater contentment of things pertaining to the mind, that is to say, as well Morall, as Naturall, and Supernaturall Philosophy. For like as our exterior senses are delighted with corporall, and corruptible things, so in like manner are our minds affected to things Spirituall and eternall, and are wonderfully delighted in them, by reason of the Sympathy of their naturall qualities. Similitudo non currit quatuor pedibus (ut aiunt in Scholis) Many things may be like, yet no­thing like in all points or respects.

Use of Arms, universall.As their institution is not new, but very ancient, derived almost from the beginning of the World, so their use was not limited, or restrained to some few particular Nations, Kingdoms and Countries, but most largely spread all the World over, in so much, as there is no Nation, Country or people, so savage or barbarous, but that they have their particular Signs, whereby they may particularly and distinctly be known and discerned from others. As in Example.

The Nati­ons of the

• Israelites
• Scythians
• Egyptians
• Phrygians
• Thracians
• Romans
• Persians

bare for their Ensigns

• The Hebrew letter Tau,
• A Thunderbolt,
• An Oxe.
• A Swine.
• Mars.
• An Eagle.
• Bow, and Arrowes.

Corali a Savage people of Pontus, bare two Wheeles.

Anciently Arms borne in Shields and Targets.And Plutarch in the life of Marius saith, That the Cymbrians, a people in­habiting the parts of Denmark, Norway, and the Almaynes, which in those dayes were cruell, and barbarous, neverthelesse had their Shields adorned with the forms and shapes of savage and cruell beasts, as also their Targets and other Military Instruments suted accordingly, and that in such multi­tudes, and in such glorious and glistering manner, that they dazeled the eyes of the beholders.

Arms gene­rally used for particular di­stinction.Neither were these Signs peculiarly restrained unto Nations, Countries, and Provinces, but they were so universall, as that there were no Tribe, par­ticular person or family, but had their Armoriall Signs, or Notes, whereby they were not onely distinctly known and discerned from other forrain Tribes and Families, but also apparently discerned (amongst themselves) one from another, by means of interposition of some minute or small diffe­rences, which after-comers were forced to devise for the preservation of Common peace and unity, when the multitude of Bearers (through long tract of time) encreased excessively.

Shields divers­ly adorned. Achilles had his Shield beautifully adorned with great variety of things Celestiall, as the motion of the Sun, Moon, Stars, Planets, and other the Celestiall Spheres, the Scituation of the Earth, & the adjacent Islands, the Seas, with the ebbing and flowing thereof, &c. wherof I shall have better occasion offered to speak more at large hereafter. Also Amphiaraus (as Pindarus the Theban Poet affirmeth) in his expedition to Thebes, bare in his Shield, a painted Dragon. [Page 7] Capaneus one of the seven Captains that besieged Thebes, bare the manifold headed Hydra, that Hercules fought withall, as Statius the Neapolitan Poet re­porteth. Polynices a Sphinx. Agamemnon in the Trojan Wars bare in his Shield a Lyon, with this Epigram, Terror hic est hominum, & qui hunc gerit est Aga­memnon.

Ʋlysses bare a Dolphin, and a Typhon breathing out flames of fire: First producti­on of Arms rough and rude. Perseus Medusaes head: Antiochus a Lyon, with a white wand: Theseus an Oxe: Seleucus a Bull, Augustus a Sphynx, with infinite others which I purposely over-pass.

These signs or tokens were in their first production rough-hewen (as I may term them) and rude, as also those other notes or signs that we now call Badges or Cognizances: so as they may be said to have been rather painted Emblems, than exquisite tokens of honour, or absolute signs or badges: in the time of their first Institution they received divers denominations, As Signs, Ensigns, Tokens, Marks, Cognizances, &c. But when in after-Ages, they had been polished and refined, then were these Tokens or Signs, Diverse Deno­minations of Arms. that had been formerly (after a rude fashion) handled together, more carefully distinguished, so as those which we now call Crests or Cognizances, worne upon the Helmets of Military persons in the field, were distinctly known from those that were borne in Shields and Targets, which we now call Arms in English, and in Latine Arma. Men of ancient times devised, and invented many things ingeniously, and with great care and consideration, but fini­shed them not, but recommended them to posterity, to be by them brought to perfection, according to that saying, Invenit antiquitas, posteri perfecerunt; neither doth this derogate ought from the studious, and Industry of the an­cient, neither is this any indignity unto them; Non erubescat antiquitas (saith Chassaneus) si quid melius horum quae ipsa tradidit, Novitas adinvenit: for no­thing is devised and perfected at an instant, but it is continuance of time, and much labour and industry that brings it to perfection.

These Signs, Marks, Notes, Ensigns or whatsoever else you please to name them, are not all of one sort, for some of them may be applyed to peace, and others to military use; and of each of these there are divers kinds or sorts: For some of them are expresse notes of government and authority or jurisdiction, others have no authority at all annexed to them.

Like as there is an absolute authority or jurisdiction royall, free from all limitation, and another said to be a mixt government; yea, and that as well in civill policy, as in Ecclesiasticall jurisdiction: so are also the ensigns seve­rall, as well those that pertain to the City, or Common-wealth, as also those that belong to Ecclesiasticall government.

Those Ensigns that are remote or exempted from government and au­thority are diverse, according to the diversity of conceits of the first insti­tutors or devisers of them. For some of them are in manner Vulgar, and Common, and such as may fall to the lot of a person of mean condition: others again of more subtile and deep invention; exquisite, beautifull and honorable, and are remunerations or rewards of some noble exploits, of meer Divine wits, or of some rare or excellent vertue, as a recompense of memorable and worthy deserts.

I know some are of opinion that these tokens or signs, Opinion of some concer­ning the Anti­quity of Arms. which we do call Arms, were utterly unknown to the ancient Greeks and Romans; and their memory not to be found with their Nations: They do confesse that the Romans did make the same use of their Images that we do at this day by our Arms, viz. to produce them for testimonies of their generous race.

[Page 8] Another opi­nion.Some other are of opinion, that they were excogitated and brought in use by Charles the Great, and the Lombards, and some again do suppose, they began in the time of Frederick Barbarossa, but the contrary appeareth by Authenticall proof, as I have even now shewed: well may their opinion stand with reason, that do hold, that the discipline of Arms in the reign (or rather) during the imperiall government of Theodosius, and in the time of Charles the Great, was brought to some kind of perfection, and withall more generally propagated and dispersed, according to that saying of Abra. Franc. Corolo potentissimo Imperante haec & distinctius explicata fuisse, & fre­quentius usurpata elucessit.

The principall end for which these signs were first taken up, and put in use, was, that they might serve for notes and marks to distinguish tribes, fa­milies and particular person, each from other: but this was not their onely use, for that they served also to notifie, to the ingenious beholder of them, (after some sort) the naturall quality, and disposition of their Bearers; and so behovefull was this invention thought to be, and their use so reasonable as that they have been entertained of all succeeding posterities, among all Nations, and continued (even to this day) without any immutation or alte­ration of their primary institution. These Armoriall Ensigns thus ingeniously devised had a further use; for they served also for the more commodious distribution of Nations, Tribes, and Families, into Regiments and Bands; as also for assembling, conducting, and governing of them in martiall expe­ditions, and distinguishing (as I have shewed) of particular persons in wars, as well amongst themselves as from their enemies; because it often falleth out by reason of the likenesse of Armour and Weapons, of Disclipine of War, and of Language and Voice (in default of such signs) that much trea­chery is wrought, and many men after battell or skirmish do make their retreat to the troops of the Enemy, to the danger of their surprise, or losse of life: So then it is clear that this is one use of these Notes, or Marks of di­stinction called Arms, that if a man shall meet and encounter us, we do forth­with discover by the note or mark that he beareth, whether he be friend or enemy; and for some of those uses and ends which I have formerly shew­ed, These Armoriall Ensigns have received approbation in the highest de­gree, even from the mouth of God himself (who, when he prescribed unto Moses and Aaron a form of ordering and conducting the Israelites in their passage towards the Land of the promise, did expresly command the use of Armoriall signs, saying, Filii Israelis quisquis juxta vexillum suum cum signis secundum domum Majorum suorum castra habento:) which order he required to be observed, not onely in the conduction of them in their journey, but also in the pitching and raising of their Camp.

In which precept we may observe, that God maketh mention of two sorts of Ensigns; the one generall, the other particular; and that these lat­ter were no lesse needfull than the former; for the orderly governing and conducting of so huge and populous a multitude as the Israelites were, in a journey so long, and withall subject to infinite dangers. The first sort of these Ensigns, God calleth Vexilla, that is to say, Standards or Banners, which served for the conduction of their severall Regiments. For the Israelites consisted of twelve Tribes which were divided into four Regiments; that is, to wit, three Tribes to each Regiment, of which every one had a parti­cular Standard, which as they differed in colour one from another, so did they doubtlesse comprehend in them severall and distinct forms.

[Page 9]Here may arise a twofold question concerning these Standards before mentioned; the one, what colour each of them were? the other, Question. what forms and shapes were depicted in them? As to the colour, Lyra upon the second of Numbers, saith, Qualia sunt ista vexilla in Textu non habetur, Resolution. Lyra upon Num. 2. sed d [...]c [...]nta­liqui Hebraei quod vexillum cujuslibet Tribus, erat similis colori lapidis positi in rationali, in quo inscriptum erat nomen ipsius Reuben, & sic de aliis.

And as to their severall forms, Martinus Bor­haus, Num. 2. Formes borne in Standards. Martinus Borhaus in his Commentary up­on the same place, hath this saying, Tradunt veteres in Rubenis vexillo Man­doragoram depictam fuisse, quam ille in agro collectam matri Liae atiu [...]erat: In Jehudae Leonem, cui illum benedicendo pater Jacobus contulerat. In Ephraim vexillo, Bovis species. In Danis vexillo, serpentis Imago, qui serpenti & colubro a Jacobo comparatus erat, fiat Dan coluber in via. And in conclusion he saith, Sit fides penes Authores.

This sort of Ensigne according to Calepine, is called, Vexillum quasi par­vum velum, & accipitur (saith he) pro signo quo in exercitu vel classe Imperatores utuntur. The use of these Standards doe consist herein, that they being borne aloft upon a long pole or staffe apparant to every mans view, the Souldi­ers may be thereby directed (upon all occasions of service) and by the sight of them may be dissevered and united at all times, as the necessity of the service shall require. Of this use, Lyra upon the second of Numbers saith, Vexilla in perticis elevantur, Lyra. Num. 2. ut ad eorum aspectum bellatores dividantur & uni­antur: For like as a Ship is guided in the surging Seas by the Sterne or Ruther, even so are the Souldiers ordered in their Martiall exploits by their Standard or Ensigne.

The other sorts of Ensignes, 2 Sort. God calleth Signa secundum domum Majorum suo [...]um: whereby is meant (if I be not deceived) the particular Ensignes or Tok [...]ns of each particular Family, and of the particular persons of each Fa­mily. For so doe I understand that exposition of Lyra upon the same place, Lyra. Signa propria sunt in vestibus & scutis, quibus bellatores mutuo se cognoscunt, & suos ab Adversariis distinguun [...].

But here we must put a difference between these words, Arma & Insig­nia, and we must seperate those things that are proper to Armes from such as pertain to Ensign [...]s.

Armes therefore being taken in the largest sense (as I have hitherto in this Discourse used the word) may be said to be either Publick or Pri­vate.

Such are said to be publick Armes, as have some Soveraign Authority or Jurisdiction annexed to them.

Of the first sort are such Armes as are borne by Emperours, Kings, and absolute Princes, and free Estates, having Soveraign authority and power within their severall Empires, and Kingdoms, and Territories. These in pro­priety of speech cannot be aptly said to be the Armes of their Stock or Family, whereof they are descended, but doe rather represent the nature of Ensignes than of Armes, in regard of the publick authority to them an­nexed; As also in respect that whosoever shall succeed them in those su­pream governments shall bear the same Armes as the expresse notes and testimonies of such their severall jurisdictions, though they be extracted from Aliens, or forrain Families. For so neither is the Eagle the peculiar Armes of the house of Austria, nor the Lions of the Family of Plantagenet, nor the Flowers de Lis of the house of Valoys. And these Armes or Ensignes may no man else bear, or yet mark his goods withall, unlesse it be that in [Page 10] token of loyalty he will set up the Kings Armes in his house, and place his own Armes underneath. And there are certain Ensignes of dignity and office which every man having the same dignity or office may lawfully bear as the Ensignes of a Proconsull, the Ensignes of a Bishop. And these are peculiar to those onely that have the exercising of such dignity or office, if any other shall usurp the bearing or use of them, he incurreth the crime of forgery. Private Armes are such as are proper to private Persons, whether they be numbred in ranck of the greater Nobility, as Dukes, Marquesses, Earles, Vis­counts and Barons, having no Soveraign or absolute power: or of the lesser Nobility or Gentry, Knights, Esquires and Gentlemen; neither yet are they Ensignes of any ordinary dignity, but peculiar to their Family, and may be infinitely transferred to their posterity.

For Armes or Armoriall tokens, pertaining to some particular Family, doe descend to every peculiar person extracted from the same Agnation, whether they be heirs to their father or Grandfather, or not. Sometimes the Bearers of these do so greatly multiply, as that they are constrained for distinction sake, to annex some apposition over and above their paternall Coat to them descended, for differencing the persons. Quod licitum est, si­cut nomini addere praenomen, which they may no lesse lawfully doe, than to adde a Christian name to a Surname, to distinguish two Children issu­ed from one parent.

These Armes are sometimes composed of naturall things, as of some kind of Celestiall bodies, viz. of the Sun, Moon, Stars, &c. Sometimes of four footed Beasts, or of Birds, or of Serpents, or of Fishes, or some other Reptiles, or else of some kind of Vegetables, as Trees, Shrubs, Flowers, Fruits, Leaves, &c. Or else of some solid things, as Castles, Towers, Mountains, &c. Or of things pertaining to Arts Liberall, or trades Mechanicall▪ &c. Some­times again they are compact of none of these, but doe consist onely of the variations of simple Colours, counter-changed by occasion of trans­verse, perpendicular, or whatsoever other Line used in Coat-Armour, whether the same be Streight, Crooked, Bunched, &c. Whereby passing through the Escocheon, either traverse, oblique, or direct, the colours be­come transmuted, or counter-changed; of all which I have occasion to speak hereafter in their particular places.

Armes a token of propriety.If question happen to arise touching the right of some desolate place, or ruinated building, if in digging up the ruines, or taking up of the founda­tion thereof, there be found any known Coat-Armour; the questioned place shall be adjudged to appertain to that Family, to whom that Coat-Armour belongeth.

Arms defaced.If any man be attainted or convicted of Treason, for betraying his Coun­try, or of Heresie, to the end he should be branded with a greater note of infamy, his Armes are rased, broken down and utterly defaced.

Armes int [...]r­red with the Corpes.Sometimes it falleth out that if a noble Family be extinguished by the death of the last of the same (deceasing without issue) whereby the bearing of the Armes proper to that Lineage is from thenceforth abo­lished: The Armes are interred in the grave, together with the corps of the defunct.

Opinion of some concer­ning the Antiquity of Arms.After long tract of time, these tokens which we call Armes became remunerations for service, and were bestowed by Emperours, Kings, and Princes, and their Generalls and chief Commanders in the field up­on Martiall men, whose valorous merits (even in justice) required due [Page 11] recompence of honour answerable unto their worthy acts, the remem­brance whereof could not better be preserved and derived unto posteri­ty, than by these kindes of honourable rewards. The first we read of, that made this use of them, was Alexander the Great, being moved thereunto by the perswasion of Aristotle his Schoole-master: who having observed his magnificent mind in rewarding his Souldiers to the full of their deserts, did at length prevaile with him so much, as that he caused him to turn the Current of his bounty another way, and to recompence his Souldiers with these markes, or tokens of honour; which he bestowed on them as hereditary testimonies of their glorious merits. In later Ages Charles the fourth the Emperour, gave Armes also unto learned men, and such as had performed any memorable service, or excellent work, therefore Bartholus, being a most expert man in the Lawes, and one of the Councell of the said Charles the fourth, received in reward for his Armes from the said Emperour, this Coat-Armour, viz. Or, a Lion rampant his taile forked, Gules, which afterward descended successively to his children and poste­rity. But Bartholus (though he were a most singular and perfect Civilian) because he was unexperienced in Martiall discipline, durst not at first assume the bearing of those Armes: But afterwards upon better advise he bare them, knowing how unfit it was to refuse a reward given by so po­tent an Emperour. And this was a noble institution of Charles the fourth, that not onely the skilfull professors of the Civill Lawes, but the learned proficients, and the judicious students, in other Arts and Professions, might receive remuneration for their vertues, Honos enim alit Artes, omnesque in­cendun [...]ur ad studia gloria. Abr. Fra. pa. 76. And without all doubt there is great reason that Armes should be distributed unto men, renowned for their learning & wisdome, who with expence, even of their lives & spirits in continuall study, to enable themselves to be fit for to serve the Weal-publick at home, by magistracy, and civill government, wherein they may no lesse merit reward of their Prince at home, by their politick managing of civill affaires; than the Martiall man abroad, with his brandished slaughtering sword, sithence they oftentimes in their civill government, doe prescribe limits to Martiall affaires also, how farre they shall extend their power, according to that saying of Cicero; Offici. 1. Parva sunt foris Ar­ma, nisi est consilium domi. And this is the cause that Armes are given for re­muneration in later times, as well to learned and religious men, as to Mar­tiall men; yet not so much for their valour, as for their wisdome, and to honour them withall, according to the saying of a certain Author, Arma dantur v [...]ris religiosis, non propter strenuitatem, sed propter honorem, quia hono­rabile est Arma portare; ut Doctor in legibus vigin [...]i annis per legem Armo­rum fiet miles, non tamen propter ejus strenuitatem, sed propter ejus digni­tatem.

The examples of these two Great Potentates before mentioned in re­munerating their well meriting Souldiers, faithfull servants, and vertuous and learned subjects, with these Signes, or Symbols called Armes, the one, viz. Alexander the Great, for service done in wars; The other, namely Charles the fourth, for politick managing of Civill affaires by learning and wisdome at home, have been immitated by divers Emperors, Kings, and Princes, of succeeding ages, using therein the ministery of the Office of Heralds; as subordinate officers thereunto appointed and authorized, re­serving alwayes to themselves the supream Jurisdiction of judging and [Page 12] remunerating persons according to their deserts; but using the ministery of the Heralds, as for sundry other uses of great importance in a State, so also for the inventing and devising of congruent tokens of honour, an­swerable to the merits of those that shall receive the same: to doe which although there is a power seeming absolute, committed to them by the Soveraign, yet the same is restrained into a power ordinary, which is to devise with discretion Armes, correspondent to the desert of the person, that shall be thought worthy to have these honourable badges or tokens of honour bestowed upon him.

Now sithence we have had cause here in this Chapter to make menti­on of a Herald, it shall not be amisse to shew what this word is, and his naturall signification.

Here-heaulte, by abbreviation (as Verstegan noteth) Herault, as also He­rauld, doth rightly signifie the Champion of the Army; and growing to be a Name of Office, he that in the Army hath the speciall charge to de­nounce Wars, or to challenge to Battell, or Combat: in which sense our name of Heraulte approacheth neerest to Fecialis in Latine.

SECT I. CHAP. II.

SO much of such notes as are necessary to be observed for the better understanding of these things that shall be hereafter delivered, touching the subject of this work. Now we proceed to the practick exercise of these Armoriall tokens, which pertain to the function of Heralds, and is termed Armory, Definition of Armory. and may be thus defined: Armory is an Art rightly prescribing the true knowledge and use of Armes.

Now like as in things naturall the effects doe evermore immediately en­sue their causes, even so division which is a demonstration of the extent and power of things, must by immediate consequence follow definition, which doth express the nature of the thing defined. Division is a distribution of things common, Of Division and Use. into things particular or lesse common. The use thereof con­sisteth herein, that by the assistance of this division, words of large intend­ment and signification, are reduced to their definite and determinate sense and meaning, that so the mind of the learner be not misled through the ambiguity of words, either of manifold or uncertain interpretations. Moreover it serveth to illuminate the understanding of the learner, and to make him more capable of such things as are delivered, Ea enim quae di­visim traduntur facilius intelliguntur.

The practise hereof shall be manifested in the distribution of the skill of Armory, with all the parts and complements thereof throughout this whole work.

Distribution.This skill of Armo­ry consisteth of

• Blazoning, and
• Marshalling.

Albeit I doe here make mention of the Marshalling, or conjoyning of di­verse Armes in one Shield, or Escocheon; nevertheless, sithence it is far be­sides my purpose, (for the present to have further to doe with them, (in this place) than onely to nominate them, for distributions sake) I will re­serve this kind, of Marshalling, or conjoyning of the Armes of distinct Fa­milies in one Escocheon, unto a more convenient time and place, peculiarly destinated to that purpose, and I will proceed to the explication of those [Page 13] things which doe concern the first member of this distribution, viz. Bla­zoning.

Blazon is taken, Definition of Blazon. either strictly for an explication of Armes in apt and sig­nificant terms, or else, it is taken largely for a display of the vertues of the Bearers of Armes: in which sense Chassaneus defineth the same in this manner, Blazonia est quasi alicujus vera laudatio sub quibusdam signis, secun­dum prudentiam, justitiam, fortitudinem & temperantiam. A certain French Armorist saith, that to Blazon is to express what the shapes, kindes, and colour of things born in Armes are, together with their apt significations.

Like as definitions are forerunners of divisions, Of a rule. even so divisions also have precedence of rules. To speak properly of a rule: It may be said to be a­ny straight or levell thing, whereby lines are drawn in a direct and even form. In resemblance whereof, we here understand it, to be a briefe pre­cept or instruction for knowing or doing of things aright, as witnesseth Calepine, saying, Regula per translationem dicitur, brevis rerum praeceptio, that is to say, a compendious or ready instruction of matters.

Rules are taken for brief documents prescribed for the delivery, or ap­prehension of some Art or Science, by these the wits and inventions of men are much comforted and quickened, according to that saying of Se­neca, Ingenii vis praeceptis alitur & crescit, non aliter quam scintilla flatu levi adjuta, novasque persuasiones adjicit innatas, & depravatas corrigit. The force of wit is nourished and augmented by Rules or Precepts; like as a spark is kindled with a soft and gentle fire, and doe adde new inducements and perswasions to those that are already apprehended, and correcteth such as are depraved and vicious.

It followeth therefore, by due order of consequence, Rules of Bla­zon in genere. that I should annex such rules as are peculiar to blazon in genere. For other particular rules must be reserved to more proper places.

The aptest rules for this place, are these immediately following: In Bla­zoning Rule 1 you must use an advised deliberation before you enter thereunto, for having once begun, to recall the same, doth argue an unconsiderate forwardnesse meriting just reprehension.

The more compendious your Blazon is, by so much is it holden the more Rule 2 commendable, Quia quod brevius est semper delectabilius habetur. Therefore you must shun multiplicity of impertinent words in your Blazon, Frustra enim fit per plura quod fieri potest per pauciora. But herein you must observe this Caution, that whilst you labour to be compendious, you omit no­thing materiall or necessary to be expressed: for as the one doth eclipse the understanding, so the other is offensive to memory, as Aristotle noteth, saying, Omnis sermo, si sit brevior quam oportet, obscurat intellectum, si autem longior, difficile erit retentioni.

You must take speciall heed to words in Blazon, for a different form of Rule 3 Blazoning maketh the Armes cease to be the same; Diversitas enim nomi­nis inducet diversitatem rei, in tantum quod nomina sunt significativa rerum.

You must not be too full of conceits in Blazon, nor over-forward in Rule 4 speech.

You must use no iteration or repetition of words, in Blazoning of one Rule 5 Coat:

Especially of any of these four words, viz.

• Of.
• Or.
• And.
• With.

For the doubling of any of these, is counted a great fault, insomuch as the offender herein is deemed unworthy to Blazon a Coat-Armour.

[Page 14] Rule 6 In Blazoning you must have regard of the things that are borne in Armes: as also whereunto they may be resembled, whether they be naturall or artificiall, and so to commend them accordingly.

Rule 7 In the Blazoning of any Coat, you must evermore observe this speciall rule. First to begin with the Field, and then proceed to the blazon of the Charge, if any be. Moreover if the Field be occupied with sundry things, whether the same be of one or diverse kindes: you must first nominate that which lyeth next and immediately upon the Field, and then blazon that which is more remote from the same. What Field and Charge are, shall be shewed in their proper places; interim oportet discentem credere.

Preposterous Blazons Chassan [...]us holdeth, that where the Chiefe of an Escocheon is of one colour or metall, or more, you should blazon the chief first; but I hold it more consonant to reason, to begin with the Field (because of the priority there­of in nature, as also in respect that it is the continent) rather than with the Charge, which is the thing contained, and so consequently last in nature. Nevertheless the French Armorists for the most part doe blazon the Charge first, and the Field after, which is a course meerly repugnant to nature: by whose prescript order, the place must have precedence of the thing placed, and the continent of the thing contained: wherefore our Heralds manner of blazon is more agreeable to reason than theirs. There be divers forms of blazon: A certain Dutchman who lived in the time of King Henry the fifth, Selected Kinds of Bla­zoning. used to blaze Armes by the principall parts of mans body, as Ab. Fra. writeth, pag. 63. Malorques a French man made use of flowers for this purpose: Faucon an English man, who lived in the time of King Ed­ward the third, performed it by the dayes of the week; but in former times their predecessors used onely these three kinds following: first, or Metals and Colours, secondly, by precious Stones, and thirdly, by the the celestiall Planets. Out of which sundry forms, I have made choice of these three last which are most ancient and necessary, in respect that these above all other doe best fit my purpose; which is, to apply to each particular state of Gentry, a blazon correspondent. As for example, to Gentlemen having no title of dignity, blazon by Metals and colours: to persons ennoblished by the Soveraign, by precious Stones: and to Em­perors, Monarchs, Kings and Princes, blazon by Planets.

Rule 8 The two last of these three selected formes are not to be used in the blazoning of the Coat-Armours of Gentlemen that are not advanced to some degree of Nobility, unlesse they be rarely qualified, or of speciall desert.

These selected formes of blazon, doe seem to imply a necessity of their invention; to the end that as well by Blazon; as by degree, Noble men might be distinguished from Gentlemen; and persons of majesty, from those of noble linage, that so a due Decorum may be observed in each de­gree, according to the dignity of their persons: for that it is a thing un­fitting, either to handle a mean argument in a lofty stile, or a stately ar­gument in a mean.

SECT. I. CHAP. III.

Distribution.SO much of the definition and generall rules of blazon. Now will I pro­ceed to the distribution thereof.

[Page 15]The principall means of teaching, and the chief part of Method con­sisteth in distinction, therefore in the explanation or unfolding of this fa­brick of Armes or Armoriall signes, I will use some manifest kind of distri­bution.

The blazon of Armes consisteth in their

• Accidents, and
• Parts.

I call those notes or marks, Accidents of Armes, Accidents of Armes what? that have no inherent qua­lity or participation of the subsistence or Essence of them, but may be an­nexed unto them, or taken from them, their substance still remaining; for so doth Porphyrius define the same, saying Accidens potest adesse & abesse sine subjecti interitu. Accidents may be said to be cousin germans to nothing: For so after a sort doth Aristotle reckon of them, saying, Accidens videtur esse propinquum non enti, Metaph. 6. For they have no being of themselves, but as they are in things of being, or annexed to them. As the same Au­thor further noteth, Metaph. 7. Accidentia non sunt entia, nisi quia sunt entis.

Accidents and formes doe agree in this point, that both the one and the other of them being separated from the substance, yet is not the substance thereby altered from that it was, but remaineth still the same; which oc­casioned many men to think that forms were accidents. These cannot al­ter the matter or substance because they are not of the main, but come upon the by, as it were. Nihil enim transmutat materiam, nisi sit in materia.

Accidents are in the subject, as passio in patiente, according to that say­ing, Accidens ut est in subjecto, non idem est in subjecto, sed ut est passio ejus, est sibi idem.

Such accidents as are here meant are these, viz.

• Tincture, and
• Differences.

Tincture is a variable hew of Armes, Tincture. and is common as well to Differen­ces of Armes, as to the Armes themselves.

And the same is di­stributed into

• Colours, and
• Furres.

Colour, may be said to be an externall die, Colours. wherewith any thing is co­loured or stained, or else it may be said to be the glosse of a body beauti­fied with light.

And the colour here mentioned is both

• Generall, and
• Speciall.

By generall Colour, Colour gene­rall. I understand the proper and naturall colour of each particular thing, whether the same be Naturall or Artificiall, of what kind soever that are depicted and set forth in their externall and proper beau­ty. In this respect all colours whatsoever (without exception) may seem to pertain to this Art, for so much as there is nothing in this world sub­jected to the sight of man, but either is, or aptly may be borne in Armes; so spacious and generall is the scope of Armory. In blazoning of things borne in their naturall or proper colour, Blazon of things proper. you shall onely term them to be borne proper, which is a blazon sufficient for things of that kind, and well fitting their property or nature, for there are no terms of blazon al­lowed to things borne after that sort.

By speciall colours, I mean such colours, Speciall co­lours. as by a certain peculiar pro­priety (as it were) doe belong to this Art of Armory.

These are both

• Simple, and
• Mixt.

Simple colours are those, Simple co­lours what. whose existence is of such absolute perfection [Page 16] (in their kind) as that they need not the participation of any other co­lour to make them absolute, but doe communicate their naturall quali­ties to all other colours, to make them perfect, in which respect they are called elementa coloris, as shall be shewed hereafter.

And those are

• White, and
• Black.

Elements of colours.To these in right belongeth the first place amongst colours, because in the order of nature they were before all other colours: Priora enim sunt compositis incomposita: and are of A [...]ist [...]l [...] called Elementa colorum, saying, Albus & niger sunt elementa colorum mediorum. Onely White and Black are accounted simple colours, b [...]cause all other colours whatsoever are rai­sed either of an equall or unequall mixture or composition of these two, which are (as I may term them) their common parents. These are said to be the common parents of all other colours, in respect they have their ori­ginall being from these, either in an equall or disproportionable mixture. Therefore I will begin with them, and so proceed to the rest that we call colores Medii, in respect of their participation of both. Now forasmuch as practise is the scope of Doctrines, (to the end those things that are, or shall be delivered, may be the better conceived or borne in memory) I have thought good to manifest them by particular examples of ocular demon­stration, in the plainest manner that I can devise, Quia qua [...]is est rerum de­monstratio, talis futura est hominum scientia.

Examples and demonstrations are of great power and efficacie to illu­strate and bring things to light, wherein brevity, the prop and aide of me­mory and sweet companion of facility, is higly commended, as Farnesius noteth, saying, Nihil est ad res illuminandas illustrius exemplis, in quibus bre­vitas adjutrix memoriae, facilitatis socia, semper est commendata.

White defined.

[example of blazon or coat of arms]

White is a colour that consisteth of very much light; as it is of Scrihoneus defined; Albedo est color simplex in corpore tenuiore multa lumin [...]sitate constans: to which black is contrary. Note. Note, as colours may be resem­bled to things of greatest Nobility or reputation, so is their worthiness accounted of accordingly.

Resemblance of white.The colour White is resembled to the light, and the dignity thereof reckoned more worthy than the black, by how much the light and the day is of more esteem than darknesse and the night, where­unto black is likened. Furthermore white is accounted more worthy than black, Dignity. in respect of the more worthy use thereof. For men in ancient time were accustomed to note things well and laudably performed (and estee­med worthy to be kept in memory) with white, and contrariwise what­soever was holden reproachfull or dishonorable, was noted with black, as the Poet noteth, saying,

Moreover white challengeth the precedency of black (according to Ʋp­ton) in respect of the priority of time, for that it was in nature before black, which is a deprivation thereof. Precedency. Like as darknesse, whereunto black is re­sembled, is an exemption of light, Omnis enim privatio praesupponit habitum. Finally, Ʋpton preferreth white before black, in regard that white is more easily discerned and furthest seen in the Field.

[Page 17]This colour is most commonly taken in Blazon for the metall Silver, and is termed Argent, wheresoever the same is found, either in Field or Charge. This Metall representeth Water, which (next to the Aire) is the noblest of all the Elements, and in Armory it is termed Argent, for that it approacheth neer to the Luminary Bodies. To this Metall is given the se­cond place next to Gold, in regard that the Armory cannot be good, that hath not in it either Gold, or Silver: It also for another cause bare the resemblance of Water, which scowreth, clenseth, and putteth away all filth and uncleanness: For in Blazon it betokeneth innoceney, cleannesse of life and chastity; amongst complexions it is likened to fleame, as for the esteem of this Metal Silver, we may observe in all Ages that Emperours, Kings, and Princes had and yet have their vessels of chief use of Silver; As for the abundance of this Metall, you may read 2 Chron. 9. How every man brought unto Salomon presents, being vessels of Silver and vessels of Gold, and Raiment and Armour, and sweet Odors, Horses and Mules from year to year. And the King gave Silver in Jerusalem as stones, &c. Such was the plentifull abundance of this Metall in the dayes of Salomon. In composition of Armes, it is accounted a fault worthy blame to blazon this otherwise than Argent, but in doubling of Mantles it is not so taken: for therein it is not under­stood to be a Metall, but the Skin or Furre of a little beast called a Litu­it, so named (as I conceive) Lithuania, now called Luten, a part of Sarmatia confining upon Polonia. this Furre hath been heretofore much used by the ancient Matrons of the honorable Citie of London, even by those that were of the chiefest account, who ware the same in a kind of Bonnet called corruptly a Lettice cap.

[example of blazon or coat of arms]

Black is a colour contrary to White, having little participation of light, and is of Scribonius thus defi­ned, Nigredo est color in corpore crassiore exiguae lumi­nositatis particeps. Wherby it is apparant that black is of lesse perfection than white. For what thing so­ever there is that hath in it either light or heat, or else a life, either Animall or vegetable, the same be­ing once extinct, the thing it self becometh forth­with black, which is said to be the colour of hor­ror and destruction; for which respect mourning garments are made of that colour, that doth most significantly represent the horrour of death and corruption, Farnes. 3. 104. this colour is called in blazon Sable, of the Latine word Sabulum, which signifieth, grosse, sand or gravel, in respect of the heavy and earthy substance, wherein it aboun­deth above all others. And this colour is reputed farre inferiour in dig­nity to white, and is likened to darkensse, called in Latine Tenebrae, eo quod teneant, id est, impediant oculos, & visum prohibeant. Note that the rest of those speciall colours before mentioned, besides white and black are called colores medii, for that they have their primary Essence from these, either by an equall or uneven concorporation or mixture of these two together: and in regard of these two extreams from which they have their being, cannot properly be called colores, nisi per participationem.

Now as touching Colores medii, or mixed colours; Colores medii. it is to be understood that they are raised by the contemperation or mixture of the two Simples formerly handled, as may appear by the Definition of Scribonius, who saith, Mixtus color est, qui ex Simplicium contemperatione producitur.

[Page 18]All mixt or midling Colours, that we call Colores medii, are reckoned more Noble, or Ignoble, by participation; that is to say, as they doe partake more or lesse of the nobility of white, which is resembled to light, or of black, which hath a resemblance of darknesse, or deprivation of light.

Of these according to Scribonius, some are

• Exactly compounded of both Simples.
• Declining more to the one than to the other, in an unequal proportion.

Red exactly compounded.

[example of blazon or coat of arms]

That Colour which is said to be exactly compounded, doth participate of the two Simples indifferently in a just proportion, as Red; which Scribonius thus defi­neth: Rubedo est color aequali simul Alb [...]dinis & Nigredi­nis combinatione constans. Amongst Colours (next af­ter Metals) this Colour, V [...]rmilion, or Red hath the prime place: forasmuch as it representeth the fire which of all other elements is the most lightsome, and approacheth nearest to the quality and vertue of the Sun. In regard wherof it was ordained, that none should bear this Colour, (which betokeneth noblenesse of courage, and va­lourous magnanimity) but persons of honourable birth and ranck, and men of speciall desert. This colour inciteth courage and magnanimity in persons, that do grapple together in single or publick sight. We read that when those that strengthened their Battels with Elephants, when they would provoke them to fight they produced before them res [...]mblances of this martiall Colour, as the blood of Grapes and of M [...]lberies. This C [...]our is likened to the precious Rubie, amongst vertues it is compared to magnani­mity, or boldnesse of courage. And amongst the complexions, it is resem­bled to Choler. In Armory it is called, Gules.

Yellow.

[example of blazon or coat of arms]

This Colour is bright Yellow, which is compounded of much White, and a little Red, as if you should take two parts of White, and but one of Red. This colour in Armes is blazed by the name of Or, which is as much to say as Aurum, which is Gold: and it is commonly called Gold Yellow, because it doth lively represent that most excellent Metall, the possession whereof inchan­teth the hearts of fools, and the colour whereof blind­eth the eies of the wise Of the excellency of this Me­tall, H [...]siodus hath this saying: Aurum est in corporibu [...] si­cut Sol inter stellas. Dignity of Gold. And therefore such is the worthinesse of this Colour which doth resemble it, that (as Christine de Pice holdeth) none ought to bear the same in Armes, but Emperours and Kings, and such as be of the Blood Royall, though indeed it be in use more common. And as this Metall exceedeth all other in value, purity, and finenesse, so ought the Bearer (as much as in him lyeth) endeavour to surpasse all other in Prowess and Vertue.

Green.

[example of blazon or coat of arms]

This Colour is Green, which consisteth of more Black and of less Red, as appeareth by the Definition; Viridis est color Nigredine copiosiore, & Rubedine minore con­temperatus. This color is blazoned Vert, and is called in Latine Viridis, à vigore, in regard of the strength, fresh­ness and liveliness thereof; and therefore best resem­bleth youth, in that most vegetables, so long as they flourish are beautified with this verdue:

[Page 19]

[example of blazon or coat of arms]

Blew is a Colour which consisteth of much Red, Blew. and of little White, and doth represent the colour of the Skie in a clear Sun-shining day. This in Blazon is termed Azure. Coeruleus color, à Coelo dictus est, Definition. quod tanquam so­lers & diligens nescit otiari. Farnes. 2. 18.

[example of blazon or coat of arms]

Purpure is a Colour that consisteth of much Red, Purpure. and of a small quantity of Black, and is thus defined: Pur­pureus color est, qui à multa Rubedine, & pauciore Nigre­dine commiscetur. Cossaneus having formerly handled those former six Colours, viz. White, Black, Red, Yellow, Green and Blew, saith, That of them all (being com­pounded and mixed together according to propor­tion) this Purpure Colour is raised. This Colour usually hath no other name in Blazon.

Purpure Colour hath some resemblance of a withered Red-Rose, which after long gathering, the glorious lustre thereof fading, it becometh somewhat blackish, as if it were a proportionable commixture of Red and Black together. This Colour hath his Denomination, of a certain Fish called in Latine Purpara, a kind of shell-fish, whereof in times past, great store have been found near to that famous City of Tyrus, scituated next to the Sea coast in the Country of Phoenicia: this kind of fish hath in the mouth of it an excellent and precious liquor, or juyce, of singular use in dying of cloathes, the invention and use whereof was first found out by the Tyrians, for which cause this Colour is called Tyrius Color. They must be taken alive, and that chiefly in the Spring season, at which time this juyce is most plentifull in them, at other seasons it is more scarce: They are gathered alive, and cast together on a heap, that so by their con­tinuall motion they may vent out this rich liquor, together with their spi­rit, which done in some near place or other provided for the clean keeping thereof, it is taken up and spared for necessary purposes. This Colour in an­cient time was of that precious esteem, as that none but Kings and Prin­ces, and their favorites might wear the same, as we may see, Dan. 5.16. Now if thou canst read the writing, and shew me the interpretation thereof, thou shalt be cloathed with Purple, and shalt have a chain of gold about thy neck. Also. 1 Macchab. 10.20. And Alexander sent Jonathan a Purple Robe, and a Crown of gold; And again, When his accusers saw his honour as it was proclaimed, and that he was cloathed in Purple, they fled all away. Hereof (perhaps) it cometh that this Colour is found of so rare use in armoriall signes. Moreover it is said; And the King commanded that they should take off the garment of Jonathan, and cloath him in Purple, and so they did, 1 Macchab. 10.62.

[Page 20] Tawny.

[example of blazon or coat of arms]

Tawny (saith Leigh) is a Colour of worship, and of some Hera [...]ds it is called Bruske, and is most com­monly borne of French Gentlemen, but very few doe bear it in England. In Blazon it is known by the name of Tenne. It is (saith he) the surest colour that is (of so bright a hew being compounded) for it is made of two bright Colours, which are Red and Yel­low: neither shall you have any Colour so made a­mong all that may be devised; and not to be stai­nand.

Murrey.

[example of blazon or coat of arms]

The last of the seven mixed Colours, we doe com­monly call Murrey, but in Blazon, Sanguine, and is (as most truly saith Leigh) a Princely Colour, being indeed one of the Colours appertaining of ancient time to the Prince of Wales. It is a Colour of great estimation, and very stately, and is in use in certain Robes of the Knights of the Bath. Some Heralds of approved judg­ment, doe hardly admit these two last mentioned for Col [...]urs of Fields, in regard they are reckoned Stainand Colours. Yet some Coats of Armes there are, and those of reverend antiquity, whose Fields are of those colours, for which respect they have been allowed for colours of Fields, as Sir John Ferne in his Glory of Generosity noteth. This kind of bearing, Leigh doth instance in two English Gentlemen of ancient Houses, that have of long time Borne Tawny in their Armes: the one of them he nameth Hounzaker, and the other Finers.

I have purposely, for the avoiding of prolixity, omitted here to speak of the Elements, vertues and complexions which every one of these Me­tals and colours are respectively resembled unto, because Ferne in his Bla­zon of Gentry hath a large discourse of the same subject, to which I refer the Reader.

SECT. I. CHAP. IV.

HItherto of Colours and Metals: Now of Furs, according to the series and course of our distribution before delivered, pag. 15.

Furres. Furres (used in Armes) are taken for the Skins of certain beasts, stripped from the bodies, and artificially trimmed, for the furring, dou­bling, or lining of Robes and Garments, serving as well for state and mag­nificence, as for wholesome and necessary use. And these thus trimmed and imployed, are called in Latine pellicei, à pellendo, of driving away, (quite contrary in sense, Why called Pellicei. though like in sound, to pellices à pellicendo, for drawing all to them) because they doe repell and resist the extremities of cold, and preserve the bodies that are covered with them, in good tem­perature.

Use.These are used as well in doublings of the Mantles pertaining to Coat-Armours, as in the Coat-Armours themselves.

Furres do consist either of

• One colour alone, or
• More colours than one.

[Page 21]

[example of blazon or coat of arms]

That Furre that consisteth of one colour alone, White Furre. is White, which in doubling is taken for the Lituits skin, before spoken of, pag. 17. An example whereof we have in this Escocheon. Some perhaps will expect that in the handling of these Furres, I should pursue the order of Gerard Leigh, who giveth the preheminence of place unto Ermyne, for the dignity and riches there­of: but that form suteth neither with the Method that I have prefixed to my self; nor yet with the or­der of Nature, which ever preferreth Simples before Compounds, because of their priority in time: for as Aristotle saith, Order of disci­pline. Priora sunt compositis incomposita: which order, as it is of all other the most rea­sonable, certain, and infallible; so doe I endeavour by all means to con­form my self in these my poor labours thereunto: Natura enim regitur ab intelligentia non errante. Note that this, Doublings what. and all other the examples follow­ing throughout this Chapter (as they are here placed) must be understood to be doublings or linings of Robes, or Mantles of State, or other Garments, wherein (according to Leigh) they all have one generall name, and are cal­led Doublings: but in Escoch [...]ons they are called by nine proper and severall names. What those Mantles are, shall be shewed hereafter when I shall come to the handling of the second Member of Division before made. White furre blazoned in doublings. In the blazoning of Armes, this Colour is evermore termed Argent, unlesse it be in the description of the Armes of one that is Reus Laesae Majestatis: but being a doubling, it is no offence (saith Christine de Pice) to call it White, Rules for dou­blings. because therein it is to be understood onely as a Furre or Skin.

Furres consisting of more than one Colour, are either of

• Two Colours, or
• More than two.

Such Furres as are compounded of two Colours only, are sor­ted either

• with Black, and are ei­ther
  • Black mixt with White, as or
    • Ermyne, and
    • Ermynes.
  • Black mixt with Yellow, as
    • Emynois, and
    • Pean.
• or without Black: such are, accord­ing to Leigh,
  • Verrey,scz. A. and B.
  • and Verrey, Or, and Vert,

Knowledge is no way better or more readily attained than by demon­stration: Scire enim est per demonstrationem intelligere, Ermyne Rule. saith Aristotle. I will therefore give you particular example of their severall Bearings.

[example of blazon or coat of arms]

Ermyne is a Furre consisting of White distinguished with black spots. You must blazon this by the name of Ermyne, and not Argent powdred with Sable. This is the skin of a little beast, less than a Squirrill (saith Leigh) that hath his being in the Woods of the Land of Armeniae, whereof he taketh his name. The taile thereof is of a thumbs length, which is of co­lour brown, The Egyptians did propose this little Beast for an Hieroglyphick of Chastity, Farnes. Lib. 2. fo. 15. So greatly is this little Beast affected unto [Page 22] cleannesse, as that she had rather expose her self to the hazard of being killed or taken by the Hunters, then she would pollute her Coat with the filth of the bird-lime laid before the entrance of the cave to take her at her going in. Leigh in the former part of his Accidence, fol. 132. seemeth therein to contradict himself, in that he affirmeth Ermyne to be no Colour, but a Compound with a Metall, and serveth as Metall onely. For mine own part, I doe not see in doubling of Mantles it should be reckoned a Metall, for that all doublings or linings of Robes and Garments, though perhaps not al­together, yet chiefely are ordained for the repelling of cold and weathers drift: to which use Metals are most unfit, as King Dionysius declared, when coming into a Church where the Images were attired in most rich golden Robes, he took them away, saying, Such Garments were too cold for Winter, and too heavy for Summer. A fair pretence to cloak his Sacrile­gious Avarice. Order for the wearing of Ermyne. The same Author in his said Accidence, fol. 75. making mention of this Furre, taketh occasion to commend a late prescribed order for the distribution of this rich and rare Furre, according to the dignity of the persons to whom the wearing thereof is allowed, which is this; That an Emperour, a King or a Prince may have the pouldering in their appa­rell as thick set together as they please: a Duke may have in his Mantles cape, onely four Raungs or Ranks of them: a Marquesse three Raungs and a half: an Earle a Cape of three Raungs onely. In some Coats these are num­bred, but then they extend not to the number of ten. These rowes or rancks before named are of some Authors called Timbers of Ermyne: for no man under the degree of a Baron or a Knight of the most honourable or­der of the Garter, may have his Mantle doubled with Ermyne.

Doublings Ermyne.

[example of blazon or coat of arms]

This is that other Furre, before mentioned, to con­sist of a mixture of white and black, and hath some re­semblance of the former: but differeth in this; that where that is composed of white powdered with black; contrariwise this is black, powdered with white. But neither in that, Rule. nor in this, shall you make any mention in blazon of any such mixtures, but onely use the name appropriated to either of them, which doth sufficiently express the manner of their compo­sition to the understanding of those that are but meanly skilled in blazon; Ermynes. the names peculiarly allotted to this Furre is Er­mynes.

Master Boswell is of this opinion, that Ermyne and Ermynes ought never to be sorted in Armes with the metall of their colour, because (saith he) they are but Furres, and have no proper blazon with any metall. Yet doth he particularly blazon the Coat of Walcot, fol. 106. in the Atchievement of the Right Honourable Lord, Sir William Cecil, Knight, late Lord Treasurer of England, where he might fitly have taken exception against such bearing, if he could have produced any good ground for warranting such his opi­nion; in default whereof he there passeth the same over with silence, knowing that Antiquity and Custome (which hath the vigour of a law, where there is no law written) are powerfull in things of this nature: he secretly relinquisheth his opinion, forasmuch as it is manifest, that not onely Walcot but Kingsmell, and many others, both ancient and modern, hath used such bearing without contradiction.

[Page 23]

[example of blazon or coat of arms]

Of those Furres before mentioned, that are com­pounded of yellow and black, this is the first, and is tearmed in blazon, Ermynois, Ermynois. whose ground or field is yellow, and the Pouldrings black, though this be rich in Armes (saith Leigh) yet in doubling it is not so rich. Of the use of this Furre, Bara maketh mention in his book entituled, Le Blazon des Armoiries, pag. 14. and Edel. H [...]ryssen in his book entituled Le Jardyn d'armo­ries, in the Arme of Leefwelt.

[example of blazon or coat of arms]

This is that other Furre composed of the same co­lours, but disposed in a contrary manner to the for­mer; for whereas that consisteth of yellow powde­red with black, this is black powdered with yellow; and in blazon is tearmed Pean.

There are other sorts of Furs or Doublings consisting also of two onely colours, Other Furres. which as they are much dif­ferent in form, so doe they also receive a diverse bla­zon, from these before specified; which are these that follow, and their like.

[example of blazon or coat of arms]

He beareth Verrey, Or and Azure, by the name of Claude de Rochford, somtime Constable of France. In Coats of this sort of bearing, in case where it may be holden doubtfull whether should have the precedence, Rule. the Colour or the Metall, the Metall must have the prehe­minence as the more worthy. The Frenchmen, from whom we do borrow our terms of blazon, do call all sorts of Doublings or Furres of this form, by the name of Vayre; perhaps, Quia ex diversis coloribus altenatim variantur. To this sort of bearing, there are no other terms of blazon allowed. If your vaire doth consist of Argent and Azure, you must in blazon thereof, say onely, he beareth vaire, and it sufficeth: but if it be composed of any other colours, then you must say, Robes of estate furred after this manner. he beareth vaire of these or those colours. The Latine blazoners making mention of this sort of bearing, doe thus describe them, Portat arma variata ex pellibus albis & cae­ruleis, accounting them for skins of little beasts. For that in ancient times they were used for linings of Robes, and Mantles of Senators, Consuls, Alex. Gen. Dier. Empe­rours and Kings, and thereupon are skilfully tearmed doublings. Of this use of them, Alex. ab Alex. Genial. dierum, lib. 5. fol. 285. saith, Legimus Cali­gulam depictas penulas induisse.

Sometimes it was permitted to men grown to years, to use a kind of short cloak called Penula, in time of wars, though it were in substance but sleight and thin: For Alexander Severus the Emperour, in favour of aged men, did grant them a priviledge for wearing of this kind of garments: Wolf. Lazius, lib. 8. The garments of the Tribune of the people, and of the Plebeian sect, was most commonly this Penula before mentioned, like as al­so was Sagum, which was a souldiers Cloak, or Cassock, and Endormis which was an hairy garment much like an Irish mantle, and hood. These were apt garments for repelling of cold; These were not habits beseeming an Emperour or chief Commander to wear: nevertheless we read that Caligu­la ware oftentime, Depictas penulas, Alex. lib. 5. Amongst the rest this is to [Page 24] be observed, that Consuls were habited sometimes, in Coat-Armours, cal­led Paludamenta, and sometimes in Kirtles called Trabeae, which was a kind of garment worn by Kings under their Mantles of State. So that they were sometimes said to be Trabeati, & somtimes to be Paludati, according to these severall habits. Also the Lictores were Officers that usually attended these Consuls, and were like unto Sergeants, or Ministers appointed to inflict cor­porall punishment upon offenders, and were most commonly in number twelve. These also attended the Consull to the wars, invested also with Coat-Armour.

Concerning those Depictae penulae formerly mentioned, they are said to have been in use with Emperours of later ages, that were addicted to wan­tonness and delicacie, whereof Tranquillus, in Caligula, writeth in this man­ner, Vestitu, calceatuque & caetero habitu, neque patrio, neque anili, ac ne virili quidem, ac denique non humano semper usus est: saepe depictas gemmatasque Pe­nulas indutus. Wolf. Lazius in Comment. Reip. lib. 8. 857. If you observe the proportion of this vaire, you shall easily discern the very shape of the case or skin of little beasts, in them; for so did ancient Governors and Princes of the world (saith Sir John Ferne in Lac. Nob. pag. 86.) line their pom­pous Robes, with furre of divers colours, sowing one skin to another after the plainest fashion. There is yet another kind of furs much differing from all other the furres before expressed, not onely in shape, but in name also, as in example.

[example of blazon or coat of arms]

This sort of furre or doubling, was (as Leigh noteth) of some old Heralds called varry cuppy, and varry tassa, which (saith he) is as much to say, as a Furre of cups, but himself calleth it Meire, for so he reckoneth it well blazoned, and very ancient, and a Spanish coat. But I hold it better blazoned, Potent counterpotent, for the resemblance it hath of the heads of crowches, Potent coun­ter-potent. which Chaucer calleth Potents, Quia potentiam tribuunt infir­mis, as appeareth in his description of old age in the Romcant of the Rose.

So much of furs consisting of two colours, onely: now of such as are com­posed of more than two colours, according to the division before delive­red.

Such are these and their like, Viz.

• Ermynites
• Vaire of many colours.

Ermynites.

[example of blazon or coat of arms]

This at the first sight may seem to be all one with the second Furre, before in this Chapter expressed, but differeth in this, that herein is added one haire of Red on each side of every of these Poulderings. And as this differeth little in shape, and shew from that second Furre named Ermyne; so doth it not much differ from the same in name, that being called Ermyne, and this Ermynites.

The other Furre that is composed of more than two colours, is formed of four severall colours at the least, as in example.

[Page 25]

[example of blazon or coat of arms]

This differeth much from all the other furs, Vaire. and (according to Leigh) must be blazoned vaire; this is composed of four distinct colours, viz. Argent, Gule, Or, and Sable. Here I will note unto you, Rule generall. a generall rule that you must carefully observe, not onely in the blazoning of these furs, but generally of all Coat-Armours, viz. that you describe them so particular­ly and plainly, as who so heareth your blazon, may be able to trick or expresse the forme and true por­trature thereof, together with the manner of bea­ring, no lesse perfectly, than if he had done it by some pattern thereof laid before him.

Although I have here in the Blazon of this kind of Fur, as also in the Table of this first Section, put a difference between these three words, vaire, verrey, and varrey, in ascribing to every one of these a particular property in the Blazon of Furs differing in Metals and Colours; in which I must confesse, I have followed Leigh; yet I doe for my own part rather agree with Sir John Ferne, who in the 86. pag. of his Book intituled Lacye [...] Nobility, writeth, That there is no other blazon allowed to a Doubling or Fur of this nature, than onely vaire, or variated, for which word variated I have observed, that our English Blazoners use verrey; from the French mascu­line participle, vaire; and Sir John Ferne there further saith, That these differences of termes verrey, varrey and vaire, are meer phantasies of Leigh his Blazon; and newly by him devised, without any authority of Writer to infer the same; and that before Leigh his time, all Authors had called this sort of Fur or Doubling, Vaire: And if it be varied, or composed of Argent and Azure, then it is so called, and no Colours named: but if it consist of any other Co­lour, then it is blazed, Vaire, of such and such Colours. And I shall hereaf­ter in this my present Edition, alwayes blazon a Fur of this nature, of what Metall and Colours soever composed, yea, although it consist of two Me­tals and two Colours, vaire or verrey, alwayes naming the Metall and Colour, except it consisteth of Argent and Azure: and thus concluding the Chap­ter of Tinctures, being the first kind of Accidents of Armes, I will now goe on to the second sort.

SECT. I. CHAP. V.

HAving hitherto handled the first part of the distribution before deli­vered touching the Accidents, viz. Tincture: I will now go forward to handle that other member of the same, namely, Differences; shewing first what Differences are; and so proceed in order to the Division of them.

But before I proceed to the definition and division of them, it is not unnecessary to observe, That Armes may be resembled to Arithmeticall numbers, for like as in numbers, the addition, or substraction of an uni­ty, maketh the said number to receive a diverse forme, from that it hath before; in like manner the apposition to, or exemption of any one thing from the Coat-Armour, be it either difference, or whatsoever else, the Coat-Armour is not the same; but varieth from that it was before. This variation (occasioned by the addition, or exemption of some adventi­tious [Page 26] thing) neverthelesse altereth not the substance of the Coat-Ar­mour; but maketh the same to differ in forme onely from that it was before, for these adventitious Appositions are of the nature of Accidents, whose property is Adesse & abesse sine subjecti corruptione; as I have for­merly shewed out of Porphyrus, p. 16.

Differences have no existence of themselves, but are of the quality of Adjectives, which need the aide and support of some substantive, to be annexed to them, and were devised, for the distinguishing of Coat-Ar­mour, of particular persons, of one and the same Family, each from other among themselves, according to that saying of Cass. Differentiae sunt quae­dam accidentia per se non existentia, quae inducunt diversitatem separativam, per quam dignoscuntur talia Arma, in qu bus sunt inserta, ab armis alterius. But I will proceed to the definition and division of Differences.

Differences are extraordinary additaments, whereby Bearers of the same Coat-Armour are distinguished each from others, and their nearnesse to the principall Bearer is demonstrated.

Of Differences some are

• Ancient.
• Modern.

Those I call Ancient differences, that were used in ancient time for the distinguishing, not onely of one Nation or Tribe from another; but also to note a diversity between particular persons also, descended out of one Fami­ly, and from the same Parents. Such are bordures and imborduring of all sorts. The Bordures that were annexed unto Coat-Armours, in the begin­ning were plain, and (in all likelihood) were of some one of the colours or metals before spoken of: But afterwards in processe of time (by reason of the multiplication of persons and of Families) men were constrained to devise other sorts of bordures; to induce a variety, whereby each particu­lar person might be distinctly known, and differenced ab omnibus & singu­lis ejusdem domus & familiae. Of these there are divers formes, as by these examples following may appear.

Plaine.

[example of blazon or coat of arms]

The first devised Bordures were borne plain, after the manner of this, which is thus blazoned. He beareth Argent, Rule. a bordure Gules. Here you shall not need to mention the plainnesse of the bordure: for when you say a bordure of this or that colour or metall, and no more, then it is alwayes understood to be plain, albeit the same be not so expressed. But if it have any other form than plain, in such case, you must not omit to make ex­press mention of the fashion thereof.

The plain bordure, used for differing of Coat-Ar­mour is resembled to those Fimbria's, or Bordures, that Almighty God by the mouth of his servant Moses commanded the Israelites to wear about the skirts of their Garments, to put in mind of their duties touching their observation of his precepts; In respect that the people were yet rude, and unexercised in obedience, therefore was this ordinance prescribed unto them; As Saint Hierom noteth in these words. Rudi adhuc populo, & hominibus ad obedientiam insuetis, per Moysen, imperatur a Domino: ut in fig­num memoriae quod praecepta Domini recordentur, per singulas vestimentorum fimbrias habeant cum cocco Hyacinthini coloris Insignia, ut etiam casu huc il­lucque respicientibus oculis, mandatorum Coelestium memoria nascatur. Of these Bordures were the Pharisees reproved by Christ, because they [Page 27] perverted the use thereof, by wearing them, not for the putting of them in mind of the observation of Gods precepts, but for a bravery, and their own vain ostentation, and to the end they would seem more strict and se­vere observers of Gods precepts than others were.

The content of the Bordures, (saith Leigh) is the fifth part of the Field. Rule. The content of a bordure. Also it is to be observed, that when the Field and the Circumference or Tract, about the same, drawn (as in this example) be both of one metal, co­lour or furre, then shall you not term it a bordure, but you shall say, that he beareth such metall, colour, or furre, imbordured. Leigh reckoneth this sort of imborduring, here spoken of, to be of the number of differences of bre­thren; but Bartol (saith he) hath committed the distribution thereof to the Heraulds.

Before I proceed to the Compound bordures above specified, Simple bor­dures. I will give some few examples of other severall formes of simple bordures; (Quia sim­pli i [...] p [...]iora fuerunt compositis,) as followeth.

[example of blazon or coat of arms]

He beareth, Sable, a bordure ingrailed, argent; This word ingrailed, is derived from the Latine word In­gredior, which signifieth to enter, or goe in; Quia ista sinea ex qua conficitur Bordura, C [...]mpum plus aequo ingre­diatur: or else it is derived of Gradu [...], which signifieth a step or degree, and therefore it is called a bordure in­grailed, Quia (as Ʋpton noteth) ejus color gradatim in­fertur in campum Armorum.

The next sort of Bordure that I will note unto you, Bordures in­vecked. is a bordure invecked, and the same is formed as appear­eth in this next Escocheon.

[example of blazon or coat of arms]

This bordure is formed meerly contrary to the last precedent, and is blazoned in this manner. He beareth Or, a border invecked, Gules. As the former doth di­late it self by way of incroaching into the Field, con­trariwise this doth contract it self by inversion of the points into it self; in regard whereof (it seemeth) it receiveth his denomination, and is called Invecked, of the Latine word Inveho, which signifieth, To car­ry in, Quia ipsa linea gibbosa, in borduram plus aequo in­vehatur.

[example of blazon or coat of arms]

This bordure differeth in form from both the other, Dent border. and is thus blazoned; he beareth, Gules, a bordure in­dented, Argent. Mr. Wyrly, in his Book intituled, Wyrly. The true use of Armes, treating of the honourable life, and languishing death of Sir John de Gralhye, Capitoll de Buz, and one of the Knights elected at the first foun­dation of the Garter, by that victorious King Edward the third, doth therein make mention of one Sir Per­ducas Dalbreth, to whom this Coat-armour did properly appertain, and describeth the same in this manner.

Sir Perducas Dalbreth to the French return'd,

This bordure is said to be indented, because it seemeth to be composed (as it were) of teeth, whereof the same hath a resemblance as well in pro­perty [Page 28] as in form: for teeth (especially those of beasts of ravenous kind, or of prey) have that part of their teeth next to their gums, broad and strong and their points sharp after the manner above specified; Isiodor. and they are cal­led in Latine dentes à demendo (as Isiodorus noteth) which signifieth to take away or diminish, Quia a [...]iquid de cibis s [...]mper demu [...]t. In the same manner also doe every of these I [...]dentings, entring into the Field, lessen and take away some part of them as they goe.

Note.Note that all sorts of bordu es are subject to charging with things, as well Artificial, as Natura [...]l; as by examples following, in part shall appear; wherein I purpose not to be curious, either in their number, or yet in their order; but as they shall come to hand, so will I set them down in their proper places.

Hitherto of bordures simple, now of such as are compounded, as fol­loweth,

Bordure countercom­poned.

[example of blazon or coat of arms]

He beareth, Azure, a bordure countercomponed, Or, and Gules, which is as much to say, as compounded of these two Colours counterly placed. Note that Countercompony consisteth evermore of two tracts only and no more. Note further, that the manner of differencing of Coat-Armours by bordure is very ancient, but if you re­spect their particular formes and charge, they are not so.

Bordure pur­flewe of vaire, Rule.

[example of blazon or coat of arms]

He beareth, Gules, a bordure perflewe, Verrey. Note here that, this term perflewe, is common to all the Furs before handled, so often as they are used in bordures. Therefore whensoever you shall find a bordure of any of these severall kinds, you must (for the more cer­tainty of the blazon) express by name of what sort of Furres the same is, if there be a peculiar name appro­priate thereunto. Otherwise if it be one of those kinds, that have no certain name, whereby it may be di­stinctly known from the rest; or if it be so, that the bordure be composed of some such of the Furres as doe comprehend under one name, divers and distinct Colours, then must you of necessity particu­larly name the Colours whereof every such bordure is so composed, except it consisteth of Argent and Azure, as this doth, and then it sufficeth to call it onely verrey; as in this example I have done.

Bordure checkie.

[example of blazon or coat of arms]

He beareth, Gules, a Bordure checkie, Or, and Azure. Albeit this hath a near resemblance of counter-com­pony before handled, yet is it not the same, for that never exceedeth two tracts or panes, and this is never lesse than of three: therefore you must take speciall heed to the number of the Tracts in Blazon, else may you easily erre in mistaking the one for the other. And this Rule holdeth not alone in Bordures, but also in Bends, Fesses, Bars, &c. borne after those man­ners.

Sometimes you shall find the Bordures cha [...]ged with things living, as in these examples.

[Page 29]

[example of blazon or coat of arms]

The Field is Argent, a Bordure, Azure, charged with Enaluron of Martlets, to the number of eight, Or: In your blazoning of bordures of this kind of bearing, you must mention what sort of Fowle or Bird your bordure is charged withall, for that this term serveth generally for all kinds of bordures charged with things of this kind.

A like bordure did Jasper Earle of Pembroke bear, Iasper Earle of Pembroke. Bordure Ena­luron of Mart­lets. that was half-brother to King Henry the Sixth, and was created Duke of Bedford, by that most prudent Prince King Henry the Seventh.

[example of blazon or coat of arms]

He beareth Azure, a bordure, Gules, Enurny of eight Li­oncels passant, Or. Otherwise thus. He beareth Azure, Hamlyne plan­tagenet, base brother to King Henry the second. a Bordure, Gules, charged with eight Lioncels passant, Or: Such a bordure is set forth for Hamlyne Plantagenet that was base-brother to King Henry the Second. This term Enurny is proper to all bordures charged with any beasts, whose kinds, must be specially observed, and expressed in blazon, for the more certainty thereof.

Sometimes you shall find two of these sorts of bor­dures before handled, commixt in one, as in these next examples following.

[example of blazon or coat of arms]

He beareth Argent, a bordure quarterly, as followeth: Examples of Bordures charged with living and ve­getable things. Hen. Courtney Earle of Devon, and Marquess of Exceter. Th first Gules, enur [...]y of three Lioncels passant guardant, Or. The second, Azure, verdoy, of as many Flowers de Lis, Or. The third as the second: The fourth as the first. Such a bordure did Henry Courtney, Earle of Devon, and Marquesse of Exceter, bear, (who lived in the time of King Henry the Eighth) environing the Royall Armes of England, which he received as an augmen­tation of Honour. And this Coat-Armour may also be thus shortly blazoned, Argent, a bordure quarterly England and France.

[example of blazon or coat of arms]

He beareth Gules, a bordure, quarterly composed of purflewe, Ermyne, and Counter-compony, Or, and Azure, Hen. Fitz-roy Duke of Rich­mond. Such a Bordure did Henry Fitz-roy bear, who was Duke of Richmond and Somerset, as also Earle of Nottingham. He was base son unto King Henry the Eighth. Some­times you shall find Bordures charged with leaves or flowers, and other vegetables, as in example.

[example of blazon or coat of arms]

He beareth Sable, a bordure, Or, Bordure ver­doy. charged with Ver­doy, of Trefoiles, slipped to the number of 8. proper. Note that this term Verdoy is appropried to all bordures charged with leaves, flowers, fruits, and other the like vegetables. Wherefore, to make your blazon more cer­tain, it behoveth, that you should expresly mention what kind of vegetable the bordure is charged with­all.

[Page 30] Bordure char­ged with things inani­mate.Otherwhiles you shall have bordures charged with other sorts of things inanimate, or without life, as in this next example.

Richard Plan­t [...]genet King of the Romans.

[example of blazon or coat of arms]

He beareth, Or, a bordure, Sable, charged with Entoyre of 8. Besants. Such a bordure did Richard Plantagenet, King of the Romans, and Earle of Cornwall bear, that was Son unto King John, and Brother to King Henry the third. Note, that this term Entoyre is proper to all bordures charged with dead things: Entoyre. Note. therefore you must name what kind of Entoyre the bordure is charged with, whether with Roundles, Crescents, Mullets, Annulets, or whatsoever other dead thing. A Beisaunte, or (as some call them) a Talent, is taken for a Massive Plate or Bul­lion of Gold, containing (according to Leigh) of Troy weight, 104 l. and two ounces, and is in value 3750 l. sterling, and had for the most part no similitude or representation upon it (as some hold) but only fashioned round and smooth, as if it were fitted and prepared to receive some kind of stamp But others are of opinion, that they were stamped, and that they were called bezants (or rather bizants) of bizantium, the place where they were anciently coyned. Note, that whensoever you shall find any Bezants or Talents borne in Armes, you shall not need to make mention of their colour in blazoning of them, because they be evermore understood to be Gold.

Bordure gobo­nated.

[example of blazon or coat of arms]

Sometimes you shall find bordures gobonated of two colours, as in this next example. He beareth Ermyne, a bordure gobonated, Or and Sable: and such a bearing is so tearmed, because it is divided in such sorts, as if it were cut into small Gobbets.

As this Bordure is gobonated, so shall you find Bor­dures, either Bendy, or Bendwaies, or charged with Bends, as in this next Escocheon in part may appear.

Bordure Ben­dy.

[example of blazon or coat of arms]

He beareth Gules, a bordure, Sable, charged with three Bends, Argent. I give it this blazon in respect that the Sable doth surmount the Argent, and stand­eth (as it were) instead of a Field, but if they both were of even peeces, then should I have tearmed it a bodure-bendee or bend-waies, of so many pieces Ar­gent and Sable, or Sable and Argent, as it should happen.

There resteth yet one example more of bordurings, which I have here placed, to the end the same may serve instead of many particular demonstrations, otherwise requisite for the full understanding of the manifold severall sorts of diapering, that may be used in bordures, as in example.

[Page 31]

[example of blazon or coat of arms]

He beareth Argent a Bordure, Gules Diapered, Bordure dia­pered. Note. Entoy­re, Enurny, Enaluron, Verdoy, &c. Note, that you may have diaper of any two, three or more of these, or any other their like, in one bordure, and that not onely bordures, but also Fields of Coat-armours, are found diapered. That Field or bordure is properly said to be diapered, which being fretted all over, hath something quick or dead, appearing within the Frets. And albeit things having life and sense, or their parts, may be borne diapered, yet Plants, Fruits, Leaves, Flowers, and other Vegetables, are (in the opinion of some Armorists) judged to be more fit for such kind of bearing.

This kind of bearing diaper in coat-armour, is sometimes seen in Coats of France, and Belgia, but very rare or never in England, as Sir John Ferne no­teth. Diaper (saith he) is known of every man to be a fantasticall work of knots, within which are wrought the signes or formes of things either quick or dead, according to the invention of the work-master, as it is well known in Ypres, Bruges, and some Cities of Heynault. In the blazon of such Coats you must first name the colour or metall of the Field.

As touching their first severall Charges imposed upon these bordures a­fore-handled, I should not (I acknowledge) have made mention of them at all in this place (the order of my Method respected) sed propter necessita­tem nonnunquam recedendum est à regulis. But the occasion offered to treat of the differences of bordures in this place, enforced me to make untimely mention of those Charges, to the intent I might yeeld some satisfaction to the Reader touching these variable formes, which I could no way better perform than by demonstrative examples: Exempla enim ponimus, ut sentiant addiscentes.

Notwithstanding, that I take here onely mentioned a bordure and im­borduring, for Ancient differences, yet I doe not thereupon conclude, Ancien diffe­rences, their first use Anti­quated. that Antiquity was not acquainted with any other than these; but the reason that I doe not particularly here discourse at large of those other Ancient differences, is, because the use of divers of them now, as differences, is an­tiquated, and some of them are now used, as Ordinaries, or some other Charge of the Field; which I shall afterward handle, but not here, because it sutes not with my intended method; others of those Ancient ones are still in use, as differences; but to demonstrate some other younger bro­ther than anciently they did, and therefore now tearmed modern, by changing of their first use. Let it therefore suffice onely to name some of those first sort here mentioned as Orles, Cotizes, Bends, &c. Which how they then were disposed of, in the Terminall, Collaterall and Fixall Coat-Armours, I refer you to Sir John Ferne and others, who have writ plen­tifully of them; In those elder times also, the variation of Metall or Colour, Transposition of Charge, yea, sometime change of the Charge, or of part of the Charge, transmutation of Metall into Furre, and such like, were used for distinctions of Families, as you may observe in divers Authors, and in the Coat-Armours of younger branches of many Ancient Families.

SECT. I. CHAP. VI.

Modern diffe­rences.HItherto of the ancient manner of differencing Coat-Armours: Next, such as we call modern differences, come in order to be handled. I call those modern differences, that are of a latter institution, and put in use sithence the invention of bordures. Such are these that follow, and their like, viz. the File, Crescent, Mullet, Martlet, Annulet, Flower de-lis, &c.

Files what.What these Files are, I cannot certainly avouch, because I find that di­vers Authors, and those very judiciall in matters of this kind, doe diversly judge of them, Opinion of Upton. according to their severall conceits. Ʋpton, a man much commended for his skill in blazon, and of some Armorists supposed to have been the first that made observation of their use (but they are therein much deceived, for that such use was made of them many ages before Ʋp­tons time) calleth them Points, such as men usually fasten their garments withall, and saith, they may be borne either even or odde, to the number of nine. Of Budaeus. Budaeus, an ancient Writer, affirmeth them to be Tongs, and that they may not be borne but odde. Of Alciatus. Alciatus in his Parergon nameth them Plaitez or Plaits of garments. Bartolus calleth them Candles. Some other Au­thors call them Files, Of Bartolus. and others Lambeaux or Labels. In this so great un­certainty, I forbear to determine any thing, seeing those so learned can­not certainly resolve among themselves what they are. Onely con­cerning their diverse manner of bearing, these examples following will give light: wherein I will begin with their single bearing, and so will I proceed to their compound use.

[example of blazon or coat of arms]

The Field is Argent, a File, with one Labell, Gules. This form of bearing is found in the Chappell of the Castle of Camphire, alias Trevior, in Zeland. Such is the dignity of the File, as that the Heraulds in their sound discre­tion, have caused many poor decayed Gentlemen, and persons newly risen, to lay aside the bearing there­of, because of the dignity of the same, being such, as the Son of an Emperour cannot bear a difference of higher esteem, during the life of his Father.

Upton. Ʋpton saith, that Files are not borne for Armes, but for differences of Armes: Tales lingulae sive labellae (saith he) non dicuntur pro­prie signa, sed differentiae signorum. Nevertheless in practice it falleth out o­therwise, as in this Coat here expressed, and others following may be seen. For we find that Labels are borne both single and manifold without any o­ther manner of Charge; so that it is clear, that they are borne sometimes for Armes, and not alwayes for Differences of Armes, as by the second Escocheon following, more plainly appeareth.

Leigh.

[example of blazon or coat of arms]

He beareth Azure, a File of three Lambeaux, Ar­gent: this, saith Leigh, is the first of the nine Differen­ces of brethren, and serveth for the heir or eldest son, the Father living. Honorius saith, that one of the Labels betokeneth his father, the other his mother, and the middlemost signifieth himself.

[Page 33]

[example of blazon or coat of arms]

He beareth Argent, a File of five points, or Lambeaux, Azure: this seemeth to me a perfect Coat of it self, for I find the same anciently set up in a glasse-window, in the Church of Estington in the County of Glocester, and is borne by the name of Henlington. Whence may ap­pear that this File is borne as a Charge sometimes, and not for a Difference of Coat-Armour alwayes. Leigh. The file of five Lambeaux, saith Leigh, is the difference of the Heir whilst the Grandfather liveth, but his Grandfa­ther being deceased, then he leaveth this, and taketh that of three, which was his fathers Difference. But herein his Rule faileth; for that they have been anciently borne with five points for the Difference of the Eldest son, in the time of King Edward the first, as appeareth by di­vers Seals, and other good authentick proofs of Antiquity.

Note, that as the Burdures before mentioned, so also these Files are of­tentimes charged with things as well quick as dead, whereof I will give you some few examples in thse next Escocheons.

[example of blazon or coat of arms]

He beareth Argent, a File of three Lambeaux, Azure, each charged with as Many Flewers de-lis, Or. Such a File did Henry the fourth, Duke of Lancaster bear (over the Armes of England) who was Son to Henry, Henry Duke of Lancaster. Earle of Lan­caster, whose Father was Edmund surnamed Crookback, that was first Earle of Lancaster, and Son to King Henry the third.

[example of blazon or coat of arms]

He beareth Azure, a File of three Lambeaux, Argent, each charged on the dexter side of the foot thereof with a canton, Gules. Lionel Planta­genet. A like File did Lionel Plantagenet bear (who was third Son unto King Edward the third) o­ver the Armes of France and England, saving that those Cantons, were placed in the highest part of his Labels aforesaid.

The Labell of the Heire apparent (saith Wyrley) is sel­dom transferred unto the second brother, The Labell transferred upon occasion Wyrley. but when the Inheritance goeth to the daughters of the Eldest brother: in which case, it was permitted unto him, to bear the File as heir male of his family, and as one that remained in expectancy of the Inheritance, if the issue of his Neeces should fail. Note, that the second brother, Rule. might not intrude himself into the absolute Signes of his family, the Inheritance being in his Neeces or Kinswomen. Hugh de Hastings, being a second brother, and his po­sterity did bear a Labell for their difference upon the like occasion, and for the reasons here mentioned.

[example of blazon or coat of arms]

The Field is, Vert; a File of three points parted perpale, Gules and Argent, on the first six towers, Or, and the second as many Lionceaux rampant, purpure. Edward Plan­tagenet Duke of Aubemarle. Such a File was borne by Edward Plantagenet son and heir to Ed­mund of Langly, Duke of Yorke, which Edward lived in the time of King Richard the second; by whom he was created Duke of Aubemarle, and was slain in the battell of Agincourt in the time of King Henry the fifth.

[Page 34] Robert D'ar­tois.

[example of blazon or coat of arms]

He beareth Argent, a File of three Lambeaux, Gules, each charged with as many towers, Or. Such a File did Robert D'artois bear, who guided King Edward the third in all his wars against the French. This Robert was a Frenchman, and was thought to have been the first that moved King Edward the third to make his challenge to the Crown of France. Many more exam­ples might be given of the divers manners of bearing and charging of Files, but these here expressed may suffice to inform the Reader that they are no less sub­ject to Charges than the bordures before expressed: as also to move him to take a more strict observation of them, as they shall come to hand.

Forasmuch as it hath been anciently questioned (and for ought that I could ever see, resteth as yet undecided) by Bartholus, Budaeus, and other Ju­dicious persons of their times; whether Files, or Labels should be borne with even points, or odde; some holding that they could not be borne but odde, others maintaining they might be used indifferently as well even as odde. In my former Impression I followed the stronger opinion, and in all the precedent examples have produced patterns of unequall points. Ne­verthelesse not so resting satisfied, I have sithence endeavoured to examine their use (the faithfullest interpreter of things doubtfull) to which end I took occasion to peruse certain Miscellanean notes of Seals, which I had ga­thered long agoe: by which Seals it appeared, they had been anciently used to be borne as well even as odde, whereupon (out of my desire to clear all doubts, and to make every thing as perspicuous, and manifold as I could) I resolved to cut such Seals as came to my hands, for the better approba­tion of this my assertion, and content of the Reader, and withall to set them down according to order of even bearing, viz. 2. 4. 6. &c. before I would conclude this Chapter of files. As in example.

[example of blazon or coat of arms]

Sigillum hoc appendit Chartae cujusdam Joh. ap Howell de Monnemoth fact. Christianae Ball. continenti quoddam escam­bium unius Curtilagii, in vico vocato Mowkentstreet, &c. Dat. Anno Regni Regis Edvar. III. 32.

This piece of Evidence resteth amongst the writings or deeds of George Thorpe of Wanneswell, Esquire, and one of his Majesties Gent. Pensioners, whose residence is in the Parish of Barckley in the County of Gloucester.

An example of a file with four points, followeth in this next Escocheon.

[example of blazon or coat of arms]

He beareth Argent, two cheverons, Gules, on a quarter of the second, a File of four points of the first. This Coat was amongst others taken out of an old Masse-book at Gos­worth, in the County of Chester, wherein they were found fair Limmed many years agoe. As appeareth by a Book of visitation of that Shire, remaining in my own hands, extant to be seen: which visitation was made by William Flower, alias Norrey, King of Armes of the North part beyond the River of Trent, who was associated and accompanied therein, with Robert Glo­ver, Somerset Herauld, his Marshall, Anno. Dom. 1580.

This Coat might have been more aptly placed hereafter in the second [Page 35] Section, amongst Ordinaries of diverse kinds, borne one upon another; But that I desired to place all my Labels of even points together without interruption, though I digressed somewhat therein by giving way to ne­cessity, albeit with breach of Rule and Order; Nonnunquam enim propter excellentiam seu necessitatem receditur à Regulis. This form of bearing of Files with four points, is also warranted by Rowles of great Antiquity; As appeareth by the Coat of Sir Thomas Leyhourne, that bare, Azure, six Li­onceux Rampant, Or, a File of four points, Gules, which I doe here passe over, as well for brevity, as for impertinency thereof to this place, in respect of the Lions the principall charge thereof. Note here a strange bearing of a File.

[example of blazon or coat of arms]

This Seal was affixed unto a certain deed of one Wil­liam de Curli, as appeareth by a Transcript thereof in my Book of Seals, the effect whereof is brief, as follow­eth in these words.

Will. de C. fil. Will. de Curli, &c. pro Salute Antecess. &c. terr. in Territorio de Langle. 20. Henr. 3. Teste Hug. le Poer. Vicecom. Warwick. Henr. de Napford, Roberto de Clop­ton milit. This example serveth to confirm my former assertion; that Files are not onely borne for differen­ces, but sometimes for the onely Charge of the Coat-Armour, as appea­reth by the Coat of Henlington, whereof I have given Example, elsewhere: and herein we may observe, a rare form of position thereof, in bend Sinister.

[example of blazon or coat of arms]

I have seen a like File of three points borne dexter-waies in Bend, for the onely Charge of the Field, as in this Escocheon, which may receive this blazon, He bea­reth, Argent, a File of three points in bend, Sable. This Coat-Armour belonged to one Morien an Alien born, buryed in Saint Maries Church in Oxenford.

For the shunning of multiplicity of Examples, I will give an instance of a Coat-Armour, comprehending both sorts of Files, viz. even and odde points, which for that it is simple, and unmixt with any Ordinary or Common Charge, may serve instead of all. As in example.

[example of blazon or coat of arms]

The Field is Or, Three files borne barwaies, Gules; The first having five points, the second four, the last Triple poin­ted, here I am constrained to say, Triple pointed, lest by the iteration of the word Three, I should break the Rule given pag. 13. This is as I take it a Dutch Coat, borne by the name of Liskirk, quasi lis Ecclesia.

Now if any man will demand of me, why I doe spend my oyle and travell in things of so small moment? To such I answer, that so long as I travell to find out the truth, I reckon my travell well bestowed, though the matter be of never so small importance, Suave enim est in minimis e­tiam vera scire.

There is yet another form of bearing of files, diverse from these before mentioned, which albeit, the same be not in use with us, but seemeth to be a Nationall Custom peculiar to the Kingdome of France: Neverthelesse sithence I have undertaken to treat amongst things of the use of Blazoning Coat-Armour, I would not willingly omit any forme of bearing, or o­ther remarkable thing, that might make either my self or the Reader more [Page 36] expert in the use of Blazon. This forme of bearing files which I will now shew you, is not distant some little space from the upper part of the Chief (after the most usuall fashion) but groweth immediatly out of the Chief it self.

Pet. Matthew of the life and death of H. 4. King of France.

[example of blazon or coat of arms]

The Field is Azure, a file issuing out of the Chiefe without any intermission at all; And is thus blazoned in French; I port D'azure Ʋng file de Gules, movant du Chiefe. These Armoriall differences are (in France) ob­served upon the Robes of honourable Persons issued out of Princely Families amongst themselves; such Robes (I mean) as are given them, either at the marri­ages, and funerals of Kings and Queens. As for exam­ple; It hath been noted that the Lambeaux, Gules, up­on the Mantles of Orleance, have been adorned with Flowers de Lis. The Lambeaux of Arthois with Castles, Or. Those of Anjou moving out of the Chiefe, only Gules.

In like sort divers other noble Houses of France, viz. of Valois, of berry, and of Allencon, have Bordures either plain or engrailed, or charged with Rey­sants, those of Ever [...]ux bastons, Or, and Argent, and they of Burbon bastons, Gules.

Here may rise a question, not unworthy our observation, viz Whether like as the eldest brother is preferred before the second, so the son of the eldest brother, shall in like sort be preferred, or take place before his Ʋncle? And this hath been holden a great and difficult question a long season; un­till at length O ho the Emperour of Germany, being at Trevere with his Barons this matter was there questioned, he ordained that the cause should be de­cided by Combat, wherin the Nephew hardly obtained the victory, which because it was deemed to have proceeded by the secret Judgment of God, it was decreed that from thenceforth the Nephew should be preferred be­fore the Ʋncle. Of this mind are Nich. Boerius, Lucas de Penna, and John de Montoleno; that the Nephew should take place.

The like question hath risen in France between the second daughter, and the son of the elder sister, as well in Avionin a city of Narbone in France, as in other parts therof, Chassa in Cata­logo suo de Glor. which remained long undetermined. At length it was finally adjudged in the Court of Parliament (holden at Paris) for the Nephewes, for whom also it was likewise decreed in the City of Avinon.

If any man shall demand of me, how it commeth to pass that the Dimi­nutions or Differences of Armes before mentioned, are so diversly borne, not only in forrain Countries, but also in one selfe Nation: Or why there is not one set forme observed in the use of them with all Nations? I an­swer, that, it is not possible, because of the infinite actions of men, which are no lesse infinitely subject to mutabilitie, and therefore can by no meanes be reduced to a set forme of bearing universally, according to that saying of an uncertaine Author, Res sunt i [...]finitae, infiniteque mutabiles, id­circo praecepto generali comprehendi non possunt.

Besides these Differences before mentioned, other sorts of modern differences were devised for the distinguishing of brethren and persons issued out of one Family, which for the reach they extend unto, doe more manifestly ex­presse, and (as it were) point out with the finger, how far their severall bea­rers are distant in degree from their originall ancesters; as also, how each of them standeth in degree one to another among themselves; as by the examples ensuing may appeare.

[Page 37]

To these single differences expressed in the first of these Rancks doth Gerard Leigh adde three other to make up the number of nine; which Number he laboured much to make compleat throughout all his book. The forme of which three, are these: viz. the Rose, the Crosse Molin, and the Double Cater-foile.

[emblems of degrees of separation]

[Page 38] Observation in bearing of Armes.It hath been evermore one observation with Nations in bearing of Armes, that as every particular family (saith Sir Iohn Ferne) did bear Armes, different in substance from those of other families, so those that are descended of the selfesame blood, should likewise beare the Armes of that house and Family whereof they are descended, in a different manner each from other, (not in substance but in accidents) for the distinguishing of their Line of Agnation. And the apposition of these Differences, albeit they seeme to make some alteration in the Coate-Armours, wherunto they are annexed, yet is the same but meerely Accidentall, the substance still remaining as it was before; the nature of these Appositions being such as is of all other Acci­dents, Ʋt possunt abesse, & adesse sine subjecti interitu.

Differences called Diminu­tiones Armo­rum, and why.And these differences annexed to Coat-Armours are of some Authours termed (& that not improperly) Diminutiones armorum, in respect they doe derogate from the dignity of the Armes whereto they are added, as ex­presly manifesting them to be of lesse esteem than those from which they are derived: Multiplicitas enim individuorum, in eadem specie diminutionem arguit. Occasion of invention of Differences. But doubtlesse, the conceit of Apposition of these differences to Coat-armours was grounded upon the necessity (the common Parent of all in­ventions) aswell that thereby all confused bearing of armes might be avoi­ded; as also that the prerogative of the eldest son should be preserved in­violable. And for this cause hath the eldest of every noble and generous Family, Use of diffe­rences. his peculiar manner of sole and plain bearing, which he will in no case permit any other man to use, though he be of the same Family and Sirname, Lyra in Genes. 49. but with addition of some kind of Difference, because the sole bearing of Armes pertaineth onely to the first begotten: In primogenito e­nim (saith Lyra) tanquam in capite, stat, & remanet splendor geniturae.

Tremelius in Genes. 49. Dignity of the first begotten.As touching the dignity of the first begotten, Tremelius in his Annotations upon the 49 of Genesis maketh mention of two chief Prerogatives, due un­to Reuben, had he not defiled his Fathers Bed; the one of Honour, where­by he had his Brethren in Subjection unto him; the other of Strength, by reason of his double portion of inheritance. Chassa. Conolu. 76. part. 1. And Chassaneus saith, Ea quae ac­quiruntur Primogenito, acquiruntur titulo universali, item acquiruntur ut consti­tuto in dignitate. For these respects the Armes of the Family ought to re­maine entire to the Eldest, because the second, third, and fourth begotten Sons, cannot arrogate to themselves any such Prerogative, and there­fore may not bear their Coat but with Difference.

Another use of differences.Furthermore, these differences here spoken of, are of some Authors called Doctrinae Armorum; and that very aptly, in regard that by the apposition of them to Coat-Armours, our understanding (upon sight of them) is infor­med from what Line of Consanguinity the Bearer of such difference doth abstract himselfe; whether from the Line ascending, descending, or colla­terall, as also in what degree he standeth; as, whether he be the second, third, or fourth begotten child of such a Parent. And such apposition is no lesse lawfull, than is the addition of names of Baptisme unto the Sirname of the Family: Sicut enim nomina inventa sunt ad cognoscendos homines, ita arma vel insignia ad familias & personas distinguendas singulatim.

A further use of differences.There is yet a further use of these differences, in that they serve to pre­vent and avoid dissentions, debates, challenges, combats, and slaughters. For as to all Brethren there is but one sirname allowed, yet for difference, that one of them may be discerned from another, there is added unto each Brother a praenomen, or name of Baptisme; so is it necessary, that sithence [Page 39] the Coat-Armour of the Ancestor is competible to all the children (as the mark of the family, whereof they are descended) that a difference should be added to the Coat-Armour of every brother, to mark and limit out to all mens sight the diversity of their Birth and Line whereupon they depend, that so all occasion of challenge may be prevented, when each man know­eth not onely his place of precedence, but also his nearnesse and place of title to the Inheritance.

Whereas I have formerly among the examples of bordures, Differences of Bloud-Royall more eminent, and why. The first rea­son. used demon­strations of differences in the blood-royall, of some of the younger sons of Kings; I hold it fit before I conclude this Tract of differences, to give a lit­tle touch of the necessity why these should be more eminent than those of ordinary use, with persons of inferior estate. First, in regard that if the Coat-Armour of others should have too near a conformity and resem­blance with the Soveraign Ensignes, the vulgar sort perhaps might (in some cases or pretences) be seduced to follow such a one as were not their King, to the great disturbance of the State, and no lesse perill to the per­son of their lawfull Soveraign. And not onely is it so in Coats pertaining to the blood-royall, but also in other inferiour callings: for in ancient time (saith Wyrly) when men could not sufficiently distingush their Coat-Armours by changing their devices into other colours, for the number of leaders, that many times were of one house or family; then were they forced to vary their markes by the said additions. And very seldome should you see in those times, Crescents, Mollets, or such small things borne for a difference: or if any such were, they were made so large, that they might easily be discerned by the distance of forty foot. Furthermore, the Soveraign estate and dignity being compared with the quality of any Sub­ject, the difference will be found so great between them, and the one so far surmounting the other of them, as that reason it self willeth that so great a difference should be put between the Royall Ensignes and the Armes of a Subject, as there is between their estates and degrees, sith those Ensigns are the marks of their worthinesse and esteem.

For these and other respects, it hath been, and yet still is in use, Honorable Ordinaries, used for diffe­rences. that in addition of differences to the Armes of Kings younger children, the skilfull Heralds have given some of the Honourable Ordinaries, for more apparent distinctions, as a F [...]sse, Chief, Bend, Pile, Bordure, and such like, as we may manifestly see in divers ancient Coats borne by such noble Personages as have descended from the collaterall lines of the Kings of England, France, Scotland, &c.

Concerning those modern differences before expressed in the form of six rancks, page 36. viz. Crescents, Mollets, Martlets, &c. Crescents, Mollets, &c. notwithstanding their institution was ingenious, yet hath tract of time discovered their use to be dangerous, especially in Martiall affaires, by reason of their dark­ness and unapparent formes, occasioned by imposition of one difference upon another: the perill whereof hath not a little extenuated their esti­mation. Nevertheless, their invention is not therefore to be condemned, in as much as the events have not fallen out answerable to the intention of their first Deviser: Neither can it be therefore justly said to be done without ground of reason, as a certain Author noteth: Si finis in intellectu operantis sit rationabilis, etiamsi non sequatur quod intenditur, non idcireo dici­tur irrationabiliter operari.

Here it is to be observed, Note. No differences for daughters. that differences doe in no wayes appertain un­to [Page 40] Sisters, for that they are reputed to be separated and divided from the Family whereof they are descended, in as much as when they are once married, they doe lose their own surname, and doe receive their denomi­nation from the Family whereof their Husbands are descended. And so much doth the word Soror notifie unto us, as Sosinus saith: Soror est quasi seorsim nata, & à familia separata.

Armes of Daughters. Why Daugh­ters are not allowed dif­ferences.To Daughters it is permitted to bear the Armes of their Father, even as the elder brother doth after his Fathers decease, without any scandall or challenge of their elder brother, for that to daughters never were any diffe­rences allowed, and that for three causes: First, because their Coats are never, or very seldome advanced in the Field, forasmuch as to that sex war is reputed odious. Secondly, for that the Coat-Armour is no longer borne by them than during their life, for the same extendeth not to their Issue. Lastly, because so long as Issue continueth of any of the Brethrens Lines, they are debarred from the inheritance. Yet in some cases they shall bear the Coat-Armour to them and their heirs, as in example. If all the issue of the Brethren happen to become extinct, then the Daughters shall Inherit the Land of their Ancestor. In which case, they may therewithall assume his Coat-Armour, and bear the same by themselves and their heirs for ever. But betwixt those Sisters be allowed no differences or badges of Pedegrees: the reason whereof is, for that sithence by them the Name of the House cannot be preserved; therefore they are admitted to the Inheritance equally, and are adjudged but one Heir to all intents and purposes, in Lawes as well Martiall as Civill, without any eminent prerogative either of Honour or Possesion, betwixt Elder and Younger.

SECT. I. CHAP. VII.

SO much of the Accidents of Armes. viz. Tincture and Differences, compre­hended in the first part of our premised distribution.

Now of the second member thereof, viz. Parts of Armes.

The parts of Armes are the

• Escocheon.
• Ornaments without the Escocheon.

An Escocheon is the form or representation of a Shield of what kind so­ever, and is so called of the Latine word Scutum, which hath the same sig­nification: whence also an Esquire or Page takes his name, of Scutiger, signi­fying primarily a Target bearer. And the Target is not unaptly deduced from the Latine word tergus, a beasts hide, whereof at first Shields were made, whereupon Pliny saith, Tergus ad scuta galeasque impenetrabile, An impene­trable hide fit to make a Shield. And the Poet Statius,

Whence Virgil calls Ajax his Buckler, Septemplex, for the seven-fold dou­blings of leather: Camden, Brit­tan. as elsewhere he describes a Target-duo taurea terga: made of two Oxe hides. But the clearest star of our Profession, Mr. Claren­ceaux takes it from the British word Tarian, and that from the French Thi­reos, which Pausanius saith, is the Buckler in use amongst the old Gaules. If any here should ask me, why then Escocheons should be used in Heraldry, sith other men are invested with Ensignes of honour, besides Martiall men; I answer them, that as to Military men that token is proper for reward of [Page 41] that kind of service; so if others by their Vertues, Arts, or Actions, Escocheon, an Hieroglyphike of defence. advance either the honour or the welfare of their Countrey, their service is as be­hoovefull as the others, and themselves as Defenders or Preservers of their Countries peace and happiness (as I have formerly shewed) deserve like­wise the reward of the Escocheon, being the Hieroglyphick or Emblem of de­fence and preserving. In which respect that good Prophet Eliah was cal­led The Chariots and Horsemen of Israel. And by the Civill Law (Imp. in L. Advoc. C. de Advoc.) an Advocate is sayd to be Miles, a martiall man, and to have the same prerogatives, in that they doe civium vitam & patri­monium defendere, defend the life and livelihood of the Subjects. Advocate termed Miles. Touching the divers formes of Shields, I will not here speak; every Country almost ha­ving their diverse makings: amongst which, the smallest were in use a­mongst our old Britans, as being most manageable; & the greatest amongst the Romans and Grecians, as may appear by Alexander, who being to passe a river, used his Sheild for his Boat, and his Spear for his Ruther to guide him­self over. And it was ever held more dishonorable for a man to lose his Buckler, than his sword in field, because it is more praise-worthy to defend a friend, than to hurt a foe, as a Noble Generall once said: Mallem unum Ci­vem, &c. I had rather save one good Subject, than kill an hundred enemies.

The Accidents in this Escocheon are

• Points.
• Abatements.

Points are certaine places in an Escocheon diversly named according to their severall Positions.

Whereof some are

• Middle.
• Remote.

The Middle Points are those that have their location in, or neere to, the Center of the Escocheon.

Such are these; viz. the

• Honour
• Fesse
• Nombrill

Points.

The Fesse Point is the exact Center of the Escocheon. Fesse, Honour, and Nombrill Points. The Honour Point is the next above the same in a direct line. The Nombril is next underneath the Fesse Point, answering in a like distance from the Fesse Point, as Gerard Leigh hath set them downe.

Remote Points are those that have their situation naturally in places fur­ther distant from the center of the Escochon. Remote Points.

Of these some are

• Superiour.
• Inferiour.

The Superiour Remote Points are those that have their being in the upper part of the Escocheon.

Of these there are

• Middle,
• Extremes.

The Superior Middle Point doth occupie the precise Middest of the chiefe, betweene the two extremes. The two Superior extream Points do possesse the corners of the Chiefe part of the Escocheon.

And are termed

• Dexter,
• Sinister.

The Superior Dexter Point hath his beginning near unto the right corner of the Escocheon in the chiefe thereof. The Superior Sinister point is placed neere the Left Angle of the chiefe, in opposition to the Dexter chiefe; wher­unto, as also to the Middle chiefe Point, it answereth in a direct line.

[Page 42]The inferior Points do occupy the Base of the Escocheon, and thereof have their denomination, and are called Inferior, because they are seated in the lower parts thereof.

Of these also there are both

• Middle,
• Remote.

Note, That each of these do answer in opposition unto the several Su­perior chief Points above mentioned, in a direct line, insomuch as by them the location of these might be easily conceived without any further descri­ption of them, quia posito uno contrariorum, ponitur & alter. Neverthelesse, because those things that are delivered dividedly, are best conceived and understood, I will particularize these as I have done the former, beginning with the Middle Point.

The Middle Base Point doth occupy the exact Middest of the Base of the Escocheon, and answereth perpendicularly to the Middle Superior and Infe­rior Points. And in like sort doe both the Inferior Base Extreams answer in

[example of blazon or coat of arms]

an equi-distant proportion to the Extreams of the Su­perior Points placed in the Corner of the Escocheon. That Extream Base Point, on the right hand is na­med the Dexter Base Point, and that on the left hand is the Sinister Base. And for the better explana­tion of that which hath been here delivered touch­ing the Points of an Escocheon; I have here (because examples adde light) expressed the same by manifest demonstrations, placing severall letters upon every of the said Points, according to the description before mentioned. Preheminence in nomination and location. As there is preheminence in the priority of nomination of things, so is there also in their locall distribution: wherefore you must have respect unto the points of an Escocheon, for therein also consisteth a dignity, in as much as one point or place of the Escocheon, is more worthy than another, whereunto you must have regard in blazoning, Quia à dig­nioribus semper est incipiendum. What those points of an Escocheon are, ap­peareth in the last precedent Escocheon; and here made more manifest; as in example.

• A Signifieth Dexter Chief Point.
• B Signifieth Precise Middle Chief Point.
• C Signifieth Sinister Chief Point.
• D Signifieth Honour Point.
• E Signifieth Fesse Point.
• F Signifieth Nombrill Point.
• G Signifieth Dexter Base Point.
• H Signifieth Exact Middle Base Point.
• I Signifieth Sinister Base Point.

Note the ne­cessity of the knowledge of these points.The knowledge of these Points is very requisite in respect, that when divers of these Points are occupied with sundry things of different kinds (as oftentimes it falleth out in some Escocheons) you may be able thereby to assigne unto each Point his apt and peculiar name, according to the dig­nity of his place. For no man can perfectly Blazon any such Coat, unlesse he doth rightly understand the particular Points of the Escocheon.

SECT. I. CHAP. VIII.

WE come now from points, the first part in our partition of Accidents of an Escocheon, to the second part, which is Abatements. Abatements. An Abate­ment is an accidentall mark annexed to Coat-Armour, Abatement what. denoting some un­gentleman-like, dishonourable, or disloyall demeanour, quality, or stain in the Bearer, whereby the dignity of the Coat-Armour is greatly a­based.

Abatements doe consist in

• Diminution.
• Reversing.

Diminution is a blemishing or defacing of some particular point or points, of the Escocheon, Diminution what. by reason of the imposition of some stainand co­lour thereupon. Note that all these marks of diminution, in the Escoche­ons next following, must be evermore of some one of the stainand colours, viz. Tawny, or Murrey, and must in no wise be of Metall, Note the Tinctures of Di­minutions. neither must they be Charged in any case, for so should they be additions of worship.

These are placed on

• The Middle.
• Some other part of the Escocheon.

Such as are placed in the Middle are expressed in these next two Esco­cheons following, whereof the first is a Delfe, as in this example.

[example of blazon or coat of arms]

He beareth, Argent, a Delfe, Tenne. A Delfe for revocation of challenge. To him that revo­keth his own Challenge (as we call it) eating his word, (saith Leigh) is this abatement given in token thereof. Note.Note, that whensoever you shall find two or more of them in one Escocheon, you shall not reckon of them as signes of Abatement, but of Honour; and in like man­ner, if either they be of Metall, or Charged upon; and so is it also in some other Abatements, which either by their number or colours, doe change their quality and become Charges of perfect bearing.

[example of blazon or coat of arms]

He beareth, Or, an Escocheon reversed, Sanguine. Escocheon re­versed for de­flouring either maid or widow This is that other abatement that occupieth the Mid­dle point of the Escocheon, and is given unto him that discourteously intreateth either Maid or Widow a­gainst their will; or to such an one as flyeth from his Soveraigns Banner: he shall bear his Armes after this sort untill such time as he have done some valiant exploit, worthy to be noted by the Heralds; upon whose true report, it may please the Soveraign to re­store him to his former Bearing; which admission must be done in no lesse private Assembly than in the Mustering of a Camp.

Such Diminutions as are placed upon some other part of the Esco­cheon,

Doe occupy

• One point alone.
• More than one.

That which occupieth one alone, is called a Dexter point parted, an ex­ample whereof you may see in this next Escocheon.

[Page 44] Point dexter parted for too much boasting.

[blazon or coat of arms]

He beareth, Argent, a point Dexter parted, Tenne: this Diminution is due unto him that overmuch boa­steth himselfe of his Martiall acts. If a man doe per­forme any praise-worthy Action, the self deed will sufficiently commend him though he hold his peace; and therefore Seneca lib. 2. de Beneficijs, doth repre­hend this kinde of vaine boasting; Res loquatur (saith he) nobis tacentibus, Let our deeds speake, let our tongues be silent: or if we will needs have verball praise, let us seek it by the direction of that wise King, Laudet te alius, & non os tuum, aliena labia non lingua tua. Let another man be thy Trumpeter, and not thine owne mouth. For indeed, that marke wherewith Judicio Virgil brandeth Drances, doth seldome deceive, Lin­gua melior, sed frigida bello Dextera, Whose tongue is quickest to speak, his arme in fight is weak. And albeit a man be truely valiant in deeds of Arms, yet Laus in ore proprio sordescit, It is ungentlemanlike to boast of it, Plutarch writes of young Marius, that his talk and gesture was so stout, that he got the name of Martis filius, the sonne of Mars; but when it came to the proofe, he was so farre from what he seemed, that he gained a new name of Veneris filius, the sonne of Venus.

Such Diminutions as doe occupy more then one point of the Escocheon,

Doe comprehend,

• Foure points.
• Lesse then foure.

That diminution of the former sort, is this which you see in this Esco­cheon, and is due to him that is slothfull in the warres.

Point in point for sloath in warre.

[blazon or coat of arms]

He beareth, Or, a Point in Point, Sanguine, Herein you may see in part how necessary it is to know the Points of the Escocheon before expressed. Inasmuch as this one Abatement compriseth these foure Points, viz. the Honour, together with the dexter and sinister, and the exact base points. For it is very manifest that the one of these Arch-lines hath his being from the dexter, and the other from the sinister base points, and doe meet in an acute Angle in the Honour point, an­swering perpendicularly to the precise base point. In former ages this vice was chastised by another kind of punishment, saith Chassaneus, Quando Miles se male gesserit in bello, potest Iudex scutum suum per­forari facere, Piercing of the Shield a pu­nishment for Cowardize. ut hoc exemplo alij Milites in praelio sint fortiores: If a Souldier demean himself not well in fight, the Judge Martiall may cause his Escoche­on to be pierced, to teach others by this chastisement, to be more valorous But contrariwise it is honourable for a man of Arms, to have blowes appear in his Bukler, given by his foes; as is memorable in our ancient Countryman Scaeva (the principal man who taught Julius Caesar the way to conquer Bri­tain) whose valour Caesar hath eternized with this acknowledgement, that it was he alone who saved the fortification against Pompey at Dyrrachium, where Caesar perused his Buckler, and found 230. holes pierced in it. And therefore because the dastard dares not come so neere the Enemy, to beare his strokes on his shield, he must be content to take this piercing of some of his owne side in Armes.

Those Diminutions that doe comprehend fewer than foure,

Are either, of

• Three,
• Two.

[Page 45]Such are said to comprehend three points, whose lines doe bound so ma­ny within their limits, as in example.

[blazon or coat of arms]

He beareth, Or, Point Champain, Tenne. Point Cham­pain for killing of a Prisoner. This is the first of those Diminutions, that doe comprehend three points, and is formed of one Arch-line, which taketh his beginning from the Dexter base (and including the middlemost) and endeth in the Sinister base point. This is due unto him that killeth his Prisoner, (hum­bly submitting himself) with his own hands, though in extream need it is allowed by the Law of Armes, rather to kill, then to hazzard himself to be slain; Froysard. Alwaies (saith Sir John Froysard) by right Arms of a man ought to grieve his enemy, and good company of Armes is mercy to Knights and Souldiers.

[blazon or coat of arms]

He beareth, Or, a plain point Sanguine. Point plaine or lying. This Abate­ment comprehendeth the same points that the last precedent doth, but differeth from the same herein, that the former is framed of an Arch-line, and this of a Right-line. This Abatement is due to him that telleth lies, or other false tales, to his Soveraign. For if light eares incline to light lips, harme ensueth; and war is then easily begun but hardly allaid again, when mis­report and light credence meet together.

[blazon or coat of arms]

He beareth, Argent, a Goare Sinister, Tenne. A goare for Cowardize. This Abatement consisteth of two Arch-lines drawn from the Sinister chiefe, and bottome of the Escocheon, and meeting in a sharp Angle in the Fesse Point. This is the third and last of the Abatements, that occupieth three points of the Escocheon, and is due to him that is a coward to his enemy. For we must conceive that Gores and likewise Gussets are things in use among women, especially Sempsters, & therfore are fit notes of cow­ards and womanish dipositions. But as for the Dexter Goare, we must otherwise esteem of it; for (saith Leigh) though it be of Stain and colour, yet is it exempted out of the number of abatements, Leigh. and it is a good Coat for a Gentlewoman; many of which sex are so far from the stain of Cowardize, as they will not turn their backs to men of grea­test valour; but like the valiant Penthesilea, Audetque viris concurrere virgo, The damosell faire dares meet the stoutest man; saith Virg. 1. Aeneid. But if there be both Dexter and Sinister (saith he) it is too bad to be borne, for although it be charged, yet doth it dishonour the thing that is thereupon.

That Abatement that comprehendeth onely two points of the Escocheon is called a Gusset, Gusset. and is formed of a Traverse line drawn either from the Dexter or Sinister chief point of the Escocheon tending to the Honour point, and descending from thence perpendicularly to the extream base parts of the Escocheon; as in this next example appeareth, wherein are expressed both the Dexter and Sinister Gores.

[Page 46]

[blazon or coat of arms]

He beareth, Argent, 2. Gussets, Sanguine. In Abating (saith Leigh) there is but one Gusset: and he that is too much devoted to the smock, shall weare the Gusset on the right side; but he that committeth Ido­latry to Bacchus, the Gusset on the left side, shall be his reward. If he be faulty in both, then he shall beare both, as in the Escocheon present. Such a Coat as this I finde borne by the name of Coningham, saving that the field is Sable, and the Gussets Argent, and therefore not to be taken to be of this kinde, according to the rule touching the Delfe.

Hitherto of such Abatements as doe abase the estimation of the Coat̄ar­m u [...] whereunto they are annexed, in some parts or points of them onely, being the first sort of Abatements, whereof we prmised to speake.

Reversed Coates for Treason. Reversing what.Now followeth the last, and worst of all the rest, which is a Coat-Armour rev [...]rsed. Reversing is a preposterous manner of location of a Coat-armour, by tur­ning of the whole Escocheon upside downe, contrary to the usuall forme of bearing, after this manner.

[blazon or coat of arms]

He beareth light blew, 4. Mollets, yellow. 2. in the Fesse, and as many in the Chiefe. This forme of bearing is pe­culiar to a Traitor, such an one (saith Leigh) was he that owed these Armes, whose name was Sir Armery of Pavy, a Lombard born, an unworthy Captain of Ca­lice, and Traitor to King Edward the third, in selling the same to Sir G ffrey Charney for 20000. Crowns. To this kind of bearing is this forme of B [...]zon (beginning at the Base first) peculiar, and to no other, in respect that as this Escocheon standeth, the Base Point is the high [...]st part thereof. By this inglorious subversion of the Escocheon, the dignity thereof is not blemished only in some points, as the former, but is essentially annihilated in the whole. In all other Crimes, though Capitall, the punishment transcendeth not the person of the Offender, Qu [...]a nullum de [...]ic [...]um patris innocenti filio poena est (saith Chassaneus) the innocent son shall not bear the punishment of the fathers offence. Crimen Laesae Majestatis. But in this which we call Cri­men Laesae Majestatis, or high treason (being an offence so horrible and de­testable before God and Man) it is far otherwise, for herein as well the children of the Offenders, as the Traitors themselves, shall participate of the heavy vengeance due to so great an impiety, although not in that deep measure that the father doth; and that by the imitation of the di­vine Justice; that so men might be deterred, not only from the actuall committing, See Num. 16 & Num. 27.1, 2, 3. but also from the confederation and concealment of an of­fence so highly displeasing God, and abhorring Nature. For when a fact is committed or intended against the person of him that swayeth the Sove­raign State (wherein he representeth the image of the divine government) it is not so much offensive against the person of the Prince, as it is against the Majesty of the Eternall God, whose Image he beareth. And the welfare of the Subjects depending on the safety of the Soveraign, the danger inten­ded to the one, hath in it a guilt of endamaging the lives of millions.

Punishment of Treason by the Law of Armes.As touching persons convicted of High Treason in the Justice of the Law of Armes, for the further coertion of so hainous a fact as Treason is, and for a further punishment both of the Traitor and of his whole Progeny; it is to [Page 47] be observed, that if a Gentleman of Coat-armour hath issue divers Sons, and committeth Treason, he hath forfeited his Coat-armour for ever, neither may his issue bear the same, Quia eorum memoria d [...]strui debet. For that the memory of them may utterly be exstinguished. For sithence it is held they may be lawfully killed, seeing they are said to be enemies to the King and Peo­ple, much more is it lawfull to prohibit to their Heirs, together with the inheritance, their Armes also, and stile of Gentry: in so much as some are of opinion, that the son loseth Jura Sepulchrorum, the rights and ceremonies of Buriall accustomed to G [...]ntry. And of Mar [...]us M [...]nlius (who was condem­ned of Treason against the Roman State) we find a Law, that none should ever bear that name. A notable example whereof we saw of late on the instrument or that devillish Parricide on the late puissant King of France, for the obliterating of the name and memory of such a villain out of that Kingdome. Statut. Hyler. Fol. 175. And in Ireland such Traitors as are convicted by the Acts and Ordinances of the high Court of Parliament, are by force thereof adjudg­ed to suffer dammage in their name, state, preheminence, dignities and ho­nour to them due in fore-passed times. As in all their Offices, Lor ships, Castles M nnors, and in all their Hereditaments whatsoever: Moreover that th [...]y shall sustain corruption of their blood and family, and both him­self and his posterity are (by force of such conviction and Judgment) dis­abled to demand, receive or recover of any man by descent from any of their Ancestors, either lineall or collaterall; neither are the Children of persons so convicted, permitted to make their Pedegree, or to derive themselves from such Parents.

Finally, if such an one were invested with any honourable dignity, the Lawes adjudg not onely his Coat-armour to be razed, and his Shield reversed, but also his Spear trunked, his spurs hewen from his heeles, his horse docked, his sword to be broken upon his helmet, his Crest divided, his Statues pulled down, his blood corrupted, and his body to death, (nisi speciali Regis rescripto intervenerit gratia, without the Kings speciall pardon) his Family at an end, his possessions taken away (and for a greater terror) given to some other Fami­ly, whose profitable service to the King and State may better deserve it. Hainousnesse of Treason. So loathsome is this offence to Nobility, that she cannot suffer the Markes of him that hath offended in so high a degree, to possesse any place with her Ensigns; but that the same shall be without all reverence defaced, and spur­ned into some base place: so that by such his degradation, he receiveth far greater shame and ignominy, than ever he received honour by his ad­vancement; according to the old Proverbe,

SECTION II. CHAP. I.

HAving formerly handled in the first Section the Common Accidents of an Escocheon, viz. Points and Abatements: Severall kinds of Escocheons. Now will I proceed to shew their severall kinds.

Escocheons are either of

• One Tincture.
• More than one.

Those Escocheons are said to be of one Tincture that have onely some one Metall, Colour, or Furre, appearing in the Shield of any Nobl [...]man, Escocheons of one Tincture. or Gentleman. Concerning this forme of bearing, it hath been holden of some Writers a matter doubtfull, whether one Metall, Colour or Furre borne a­lone in a Shield be ancient or honourable: Sir John Ferne affirmeth, such Bearing to be false Armes, and not worth the receiving, except in some speciall cases; being perhaps thereunto induced, because it was reckoned among the Romans a thing reproachfull to bear a naked Shield without any Portraicture, in regard it was an usuall thing with men of valour and courage to have their Shields painted.

[example of blazon or coat of arms]

White Shields were accustomed to be bestowed up­on such as were Novices in Martiall affaires, White Shields. or (as we commonly call them) Freshwater Souldiers, to the end they might in future time merit to have them garni­shed with the titles and testimonies of their valo­rous deserts, untill which time such Shields were reckoned inglorious: Virgil▪ as Virgil noteth in his Aeneidos lib. 11.

Contrariwise, Leigh reckoneth such unportraicted bearing to be good, and withall very ancient, grounding his assertion (if I be not deceived) upon the 1 Kings 10.16. where it is said, that King Salomon made 200 Targets of beaten gold, and that 600 Sheckles of gold went to a Target; as also that he made 300. Shields of beaten gold, and that three pound of gold went to one Shield.

Also we read, that Simon, the High Priest of the Jewes, sent Numenius with a Shield of great value to the Roman state, to confirme the league of friendship between them, as appeareth in 1 Macchab. 14.24. in these words; After this Simon sent Numenius to Rome, with a great Shield of gold of a thousand pound weight, to confirme the friendship with them: And in the letter of Lucius the Consull mention is againe made of the thousand pound weight of this golden Shield, 1 Macchab. 15, 16, 17, 18.

[Page 50] Golden Shields.

[example of blazon or coat of arms]

That these Shields were void of Portraictures, it may be probably conjectured, in that there is no mention of any; for otherwise, such might have been the curiousnesse and excellency of their workmanship, as that it might have been prised above the worth of the gold it self: an example whereof, Ovid in M ta­mor. lib. 2. giveth, where describing the glorious beauty of the Palace of the Sun, he saith,

Alex. Severus Impe.Furthermore we read that Alex. Severus the Emperour had certain gol­den Shields, whose Bearers were named Chrysoaspides, the golden Shield Bea­rers. And as touching the Bearers of Shields made of clean Silver, we read that Alex. Alex. Macedo. Macedo had such, whose Bearers were named Argiroaspides, Sil­ver-Shield Bearers, which manner of bearing (saith Alex. ab Alex.) they borrowed of the Samnites. Neither is there any mention that these were garnished with any Emb [...]ssements, Graving, or Portraictures.

Shields of Colours.Now to prove, that not onely Metals, but Colours also have been anci­ently borne alone in Shields: I will note unto you the words of the Pro­phet N hum, Chap. 2. where it is said Clypeus potentum ejus rubricatus, bellato­res coccinati, &c. The Shield of the mighty ones were red, &c. alluding to their bloudy fights.

We also find that the Grecians used Russet Shields; the people of Lu­cania in Italy, scituated between Calabria and Apulia, had their Shields wrought of Osiers, or twigges, and covered over with leather. It was the manner of the Scythians, Medes and Persians, to have their Shields of Red colour, to the end that the effusion of their blood should not easily be dis­covered (when they received any wound) either to the discouragement of themselves, or animating of their enemies. Moreover, these Nations used Scarlet and Red colours i [...] their Military garments, and Shields, to the end they might thereby strike the greater terror and astonishment into the hearts of their enemies.

Eumenius de la Brect.

[example of blazon or coat of arms]

Of this sort of Bearing, I find in a note worthy of credit, amongst the Coat-Armours of many Noble Personages, Only Furres. borne in Shields. and valorous gentlemen, that did attend the person of King Edward the first (in his Expediti­on that he made into the parts of Scotland to the siege of Kalavero [...]k) that one Eumenius de la Brect, did bear in his Shield onely, Gules. Finally, that Furres also have been alone in Shields (without any Charge) as well as Metals and colours (besides the Coat Armour of the Duke of Britain) I could produce many exam­ples even to this day; were not the use hereof so vulgar, as that it is al­together impertinent to give instance therein.

[Page 51]

[blazon or coat of arms]

You have received a Rule before pag. 23. and 25. how you ought to Blazon a Furre of this sort. This kind of bearing of a Furre without any other Charge in the Field, is both ancient and good, saith Leigh. And this kind of Furre is much in use with persons Nobly descended, and gentlemen of good reputa­tion have long borne the same, as Ferrars of Chart­ley, Beauchamp, Somerset, Marmion, Staunton, and o­thers.

Yet will I note unto you three Coat-Armours consisting of Furres, for their beauty and rarity, and those of no vulgar bearing, as you may see in these next Escocheons following.

[blazon or coat of arms]

He beareth Varey, a Chief, Or, by the name of Tich­borne, of Tichborne in the County of Southampton, at this time dignified with the title of Baronet.

[blazon or coat of arms]

He beareth verrey, Ermyne and Gules, by the name of Gresly of Drakelow in the County of Darby. Some­times you may Observe in this kind of bearing, the Metall part charged with some other thing than Er­mine, viz. with Drops or such like. Of this Family is the honourable Sir Thomas Gresly of Drakelow Baro­net now living, 1658.

[blazon or coat of arms]

He beareth Gules, a Fesse between two Cheverons Vaire, which is the Coat of the ancient Family of Good-yere of Hadley in the County of Middlesex. Hythrope in Com. Oxford, and P [...]ulsworth in Warwick-shire.

SECT. II. CHAP. II.

FRom Shields or Escocheons consisting of one Tincture onely, Shields of ma­ny Tinctures. we come to such as have more Tinctures than one. Such Escocheon is that, wherein divers colours are represented to our sight.

Of this some have Tincture

• Predominating,
• Not Predominating.

Tincture is said to be predominate, when some one metall, colour, or fur, Tincture pre­dominate is [Page 52] spread or (at least) understood to be spread all over the Superficies or Sur­face of the Escocheon, which we usually call the Field thereof. In such Es­cocheons as have in them more Tinctures than one (as is usuall with the greatest number of them.

We must observe the

• Field,
• Charge.

Field what.The Field is the whole Surface (if I may so call it) of the Shield overspread with some Metall, Colour or Furre, and comprehendeth in it the charge, if it hath any. Look how many Metals, Colours and Furs there are before named, so many severall Fields of Armes there be. In Blazoning of any Armes, you must (according to the Rule given, pag. 14.) first expresse the Metall, Colour or Furre of the Field, saying, He beareth, Or, Argent, Gules, &c. or thus, The Field is Or, Argent, Gules, &c. but you must not name this word Field, when you use these words, He beareth; saying, He beareth a Field, Or, Argent, Gules, &c. but you shall onely name the Metall, Colour, or Furre; thus, The Field is, Or, Argent, Gules, &c. or, He beareth, Or, Argent, Gules, &c. and then proceed to the Blazon of the Charge, if there be any. The first Metall, Colour or Fur, that you begin to Blazon withall, is alwayes understood among our English Blazoners to be the Field. Rule 2. Also in Blazoning of Armes composed of Field and Charge, if there be severall charges, whereof the one lyeth nearer to the Field than the other, after you have nominated the Metall, Colour or Furre of the Field then must you proceed to the immediate charge that lyeth next to the Field, and after to that which is more remote.

Tinctures of Field what.Whereas I have formerly made mention of the Tinctures or Colours, when I speak of the Tinctures or colours of Fields, I understand thereby, those speciall colours before named, which as by a certain peculiar right be­longeth to the Art-armoriall, utterly excluding all those that are named generall or proper colours, as altogether unfit for Fields of Coat-Armours.

SECT. II. CHAP. III.

THese Fields are the parts of Armes, containing: Charges, which are the parts contained, are next to be considered.

A Charge, is that thing whatsoever that doth occupy the Field, and is in the same as Contentum in Continente, whether it be Sensitive or Vegetable, Naturall of Artificiall, and is placed, either throughout all the Superfi­cies of the Escocheon, or else in some speciall part of the same.

The common accidents of Charges are

• Adumbration, or Transparency.
• Transmutation, or Counter-Changing.

Adumbration or Transparency, is a clear exemption of the substance of the Charge, or thing borne, in such sort, as that there remaineth nothing there­of to be discerned, but the naked and bare proportion of the outward li­neaments thereof, or the outward Tract, Purfle, or shadow of a thing; and such kind of bearing is by better Heralds than Gramarians, tearmed transpa­rent, quasi transparens, because the Field being (as it were) on the further side of the Charge, or underneath the same, yet the Tincture and Colour thereof sheweth clean thorough the Charge, and that no lesse clearly than as if it were thorough a glasse.

Rule.In Blazoning of Coat-armour of this kind, you shall say that the owner [Page 53] thereof beareth this beast, bird, tree, &c. umbrated; for that by reason of the exemption of the substance thereof, which was intended to be the Charge, it affordeth no other representation than the simple shadow thereof, which in Latine is called umbra, and thereof is it tearmed umbrated. And the Portracting out of any thing umbrated, is nothing else but a sleight and single draught or Purfle, traced out with a Pensill, Protracting of things umbriated. expressing to the view a vacant forme of a thing deprived of all substance, which must be done with some unperfect or obscure colour, as Black or Tawny, unlesse the Field be of the same Colour.

Such bearing hath undergone the sharp censure of those that judged it to have been occasioned by reason of some ungentlemanlike or unthrifty quality, in regard that the same representeth a shadow void of substance. Opinions of bearing um­brated. O­thers are of opinion that their owners were such, whose Progenitors in fore­passed times have borne the same essentially and compleatly according to the true use of bearing; but forasmuch as their patrimony and possessions were much impaired, or utterly wasted; their Nephews and Kinsmen seeing themselves deprived of their Inheritance, and yet living in hope, that in fu­ture time the same may (by some unexpected accident) revert unto them­selves or to their posterities (laying aside all ordinary differences) chose ra­ther to bear their Arms umbrated, that whensoever either that inheritance or any other high fortunes should light on their family, they might again resume the wonted substance to such their umbrated forme, and so reduce their Armes to their ancient bearing. And it is deemed a farre better course (upon such occasion) to beare the Armes of their Proginitors, umbrated, than utterly to reject the same whereby it might (within a few descents) be doubted much, if not denied, that they were descended from such a Fa­mily.

Whatsoever is borne with Armes umbrated, Rule. must not be charged in any case: In Blazoning you must never nominate the colour of such tract of the thing that is umbrated, Rule. because they doe onely bear a shew of that they are not, that is to say, of a Charge; and therefore is the colour of such Adrum­bration esteemed unworthy to be named in Blazon. As touching the distri­bution of Charges, it is to be observed, that

All Charges of Arms are either

• Proper, or
  distribution of Charges.
• Common.

Those Charges are said to be Proper, which by a certain property do pe­culiarly belong to this Art, and are of ordinary use therein, Proper Charges. in regard wher­of, they are called Ordinaries: and they have also the title of Honourable Or­dinaries, in that the Coat-armour is much honored therby, Ordinaries, and why so called. forasmuch as they are oftentimes given by Emperors, Kings and Princes, as Additions of Honour unto the Coat-armours of persons of desert, for some speciall service already past, or upon hope of some future worthy merit. Moreover (as Leigh sheweth) they are also called, most worthy partitions, Most worthy partitions and why so called. in respect that albeit the Field be charged in divers parts thereof, whether with things of one or of divers kinds, yet is every of them as effectuall as if it were only one by the Soveraignty of these partitions being interposed between them.

In these we must consider their

• Making,
• Manner of bearing.

The making of Ordinaries consisteth of Lines diversly composed. Their making. Lines therefore are the matter wherof these Ordinaries are formed, and according to the divers Tracts and formes of Lines, they doe receive a divers shape [Page 54] and variation of Names. For this cause, Lines must be duly considered, and especially their properties: in speaking whereof, I must crave pardon of Euclydes Artists, if I trace not in their steps and definitions, but use such descriptons as shall be fittest for our practise.

The Properties of those Lines are their

• Rightnesse.
• Crookednesse.

Duae sunt lineae ex quibus figurae omnes componuntur, linea recta, & linea cur­va, Zanch. Lib. 3. Cap. 422.

Consisting of Rightnesse, Crookednesse. Rightnesse is a property of a Line whereby it is carryed levelly or equally throughout the Escocheon, without either rising or falling. Crookednesse is a property of a Line meerly contrary to Rightnesse, in that it is carryed une­venly throughout the Escocheon, with rising and falling.

Rule.In Blazoning of Ordinaries formed of straight lines, you must only name the Ordinary, without making mention of the straightnesse of the Line where­of the same is composed: but if the same be made of any of the manifold sorts of crooked Lines, the form of such crookednesse must be especially men­tioned; as by Examples shall be plain hereafter in their proper places.

These Honourable Or­dinaries before men­tioned (according to Leigh) are in number nine, viz.

• Crosse,
• Chiefe,
• Pale,
• Bend,
• Fesse,
• Escocheon,
• Cheuron,
• Saltire,
• Barre,

whose Con­tent is

• 5. Part of the Escocheon un­charged, & charged the 3.
• 3. Part.
• 3. Part.
• 5. Part uncharged, and charged the 3.
• 3. Part.
• 5. Part.
• 5. Part according to Leigh: the 3. according to Chas.
• 5. Part uncharged, & char­ged the 3 part thereof.
• 5. Part.

Lines crook­ed.As touching the properties of a Crooked Line, it is to be observed, that

A Crooked Line is

• Bunched
• Cornered.

Bunched.A Bunched Line is that which is carried with round reflections or bowings up and down, making divers hollow Crooks or Furrows, by reason of the sun­dry bendings to and fro, as by these examples next following may appear.

Of these some are

• Invecked,
• Ingrailed,
• Waved,
• Nebulae,

As in example,

• [bunched line]

• [bunched line]

• [bunched line]

• [bunched line]

Cornered.A Corner Line is framed of sundry lines meeting together corner-wise.

• Of corner­ed Lines, some are
  • Rect-anguled: so called of their right corners or angles, and are for­med after this manner,

    [corner line]

  • Acute-anguled: so na­med because their corners or angles are acute, or sharp; and these we call
    • Indented, after this manner,

      [corner line]

    • Daunsette, which are formed after this sort,

      [corner line]

[Page 55]Note, That these two last mentioned sorts of Lines, viz. Note. Indented and Daunsette, are both one, secundum quale, but not secundum quantum: for their forme is all one, but in quantity they differ much, in that the one is much wider and deeper than the other. Of all these severall sorts of Lines, ex­amples shall be given hereafter, as occasion shall arise.

SECT. II. CHAP. IV.

HAving spoken of the properties of Lines, so much as serves for our in­tended purpose; let us next take a view of the severall kindes of those Lines, as far forth as they have use in Heraldry. Severall kinds of lines.

For they are used

• Single,
• Manifold.

Of both which kinds and forms are all the Honourable Ordinaries com­posed, Single lines. as we shall shew hereafter. And first for the Single Lines and their use, it is to be understood, that one single line doth make that sort of Or­dinary which we name a Chiefe. A Chief. A Chiefe is an Ordinary determined by some one of the severall forms of Lines aforesayd, added to the Chief part of the Escocheon, as in example.

[blazon or coat of arms]

He beareth, Gules, a Chiefe, Argent, by the name of Woorkesh. When I say, that a Chiefe is determined by one line, I mean not, that one single Line is of it selfe a compleat Chiefe, but that the bounds and pro­portion of such an Ordinary is designed out and limi­ted by such a single Line: for otherwise, to speake more properly, a Chiefe containeth in depth the third part of the Field; and the same may be diminished, Signification. but in no case divided into halves. The Cheefe beto­keneth a Senator or honourable Personage borrowed from the Greeks, and is a word signifying a Head, in which sense we call Capitaneus (so named of Caput the Head) a Chiefetaine: though he spake wittily, who derived the name of a Captaine, à capiendo & tenendo, of ta­king and then holding: For,

And as the head is the chief part in a man, so the chief in the Escocheon should be a reward of such onely, whose high merits have procured them chiefe place, esteeme, or love amongst men. Rule. This Ordinary in our example you see is formed of a streight Line: you must therefore in the Blazon thereof, onely name the kind of Ordinary (as before we admonished) ma­king no mention at all of the straightnesse of the line: but if the same, or any other Ordinary be framed of any other forme than straight, then must you expresly mention the forme of the line whereof such Ordinary is com­posed, be it Bend, Cheuron, Fesse, Saltire, &c. shewing the same to be either Invecked, Ingrailed, Wavay, Indented, &c.

[Page 56]

[blazon or coat of arms]

He beareth Or, a Chief, Gules, by the Name of Lum­ley, and is the bearing of that worthy Gentleman Sir Martin Lumley, Baronet, Son of Sir Martin Lumley Knight and Baronet, son of Sir Martin Lumley Knight, Lord Mayor of London, 1623.

Chiefe Cre­nelle.

[blazon or coat of arms]

He beareth Gules, a Chief Crenelle, Argent; by the name of Ryncester. This term is derived of the French word Crene, which signifieth the dent or notch in the horne of a bow, or such other thing. There is a kind of bearing much like unto this in shew, but yet farre different from it in kind: therefore good deliberati­on must be used, lest being carryed away with a de­ceivable appearance, we do utterly mistake the truth of things in Blazoning.

Their formes. Chiefes are made of all those severall formes of lines before mentioned, as well as other Charges, as by the examples of Bordures before handled may in part appear, and shall be more fully shewed here­after in other kinds.

Chiefe char­ged.

[blazon or coat of arms]

The Field is Tenne, a Chief, Or, charged with a Sha­pourneth, Ermyne. This tearm Shapournet (if I mistake not) is derived from th [...] French word Chaperon, which signifieth a Hood, whereof this is a Diminutive, and beareth a resemblance. Leigh seemeth to take this form of bearing to be a kind of partition, and for that cause doth extend the dividing line (as in this Esco­cheon) to the extremities of the Chief; for which cause I have inserted the same (although untimely) in this place, which otherwise I would have reserved to some other. For mine own part, I take the same to be rather a Charge to the Chief, than a portion thereof, distinguished from the same only by a conceited line of partition, never heretofore heard of: which moved me to shorten the head of the rising line, whereby the middle part hath the more resemblance of a Chaperon or Hood, in respect that it is made large below, and so ascending with a comely narrownesse to the top of the Chiefe: and if the Chief be the Head, as before we said, what place can be fitter for the Hood to be on, than the Head?

A Chief (saith Sir John Ferne) may be honoured of another, as an Addi­tion to the former, as in Examples:

Chiefe sur­mounted of another.

[blazon or coat of arms]

He beareth Gules, a Chief, Argent, surmounted of an­other, Or. This is accounted good Armory, and signi­fieth a double reward given by the Soveraign. So well may a Gentleman deserve in giving counsell to his So­veraign, that he may be twice rewarded for the same, as was the Bearer hereof a French Counsellour, which when it hapneth, must be placed in this manner: Those Additions of honour that are given in reward for Counsell or wise actions are thought to be placed [Page 57] most fitly on the chief part or head of the Escocheon, Quia à Capite edenda est omnis ratio, Because all reason proceedeth from the brain. That contrariwise a Chief may be also diminished, this next example may teach us.

[blazon or coat of arms]

He beareth Or, a Chief, Azure, A Fillet. a Fillet in the nether part thereof, Argent. Some perhaps strictly obser­ving the forme of my undertaken Method, will con­ceive that this Coat might have been more fitly pla­ced hereafter among such Ordinaries as are made of a twofold line. Neverthelesse, though it may seem to be of the number of those, yet in very deed, one line be­ing added to the lower part of the Chief, doth consti­tute a Fillet, whose Content must be the fourth part of the Chief, and must be placed properly and naturally in the precise lowest part thereof. For a twofold respect was the name of Fillet given it; the one in regard of the thing whereunto it is resembled, by reason of the length and narrowness thereof, So named for two respects. and the other because of the place wherein it is bestowed. For as the Fillet is shaped long and narrow for the more commodious use of women in trussing up of their haire, as also for the fastning of their Head-tires, and restraining of their haire from scattering about their browes; so is this very aptly placed on the Chief, which is the head of the Escocheon, and doth confine and encompass the uttermost borders of the same. This Head-tire being taken from wo­men, may well fit an uxorious or luxurious person, or such an one as in mat­ters of importance is overswaied by a woman: Fillet to home fitting. which doth not a little extenuate and impaire their dignity or estimation amongst those of gra­ver sort; for that they are deemed to have their head fixed upon the shoulders of others, and those of the weaker sex.

SECT. II. CHAP. V.

HItherto hath our Pencill drawn out to your view, a single line, Manifold Lines. which doth create an Ordinary, or some other of the Charges last mentioned: it resteth, that I shew what a Manifold line is, and the use thereof according to the project of our prefixed method. I call that a Manifold line, when as more than one Line are required to the perfecting of an Ordinary.

Manifold lines are

• Twofold,
• More than twofold.

Twofold lines I understand to be there, where is constituted an Ordinary of two lines. Of which kind of Ordinaries are these onely, viz. The Pale, Bend, Fesse, Bar, Quarter, Canton, and their like, as shall appear by example in their severall places, first of a Pale.

A Pale is an Ordinary consisting of two lines drawn perpendiculary from the Top to the base of the Escocheon, comprehending the third part of the Escocheon. The content of the Pale must not be inlarged▪ [...]hether it be charged or not.

[Page 58] Pale.

[blazon or coat of arms]

He beareth Gules, a Pale, Or: which Coat was borne very anciently by Hugh de Grandemesnill Lord of Kinkley in Leicester Shire, and Lord High Steward of England, in the time of King Henry the first.

This Ordinary is subdivided into

• Pallet,
• Endorse.

Pallet.A Pallet is the moyety or one halfe of the Pale, and thereof receiveth his name of Diminution, as being a Demy or little Pale. And an Endorse is the fourth part of a Pallet. Leigh. Example of each ensueth.

[blazon or coat of arms]

He beareth Azure, a Pallet, Argent. The Pallet is never charged with any thing, either quick or dead, neither may it be parted in any case into two, as some Armorists doe hold: but that it may be parted into four, Leigh. Leigh maketh no question; for he giveth an ex­ample of the bearing of the fourth part thereof, which he tearmeth an Endorse; as in this next Escocheon ap­peareth: But Sir John Ferne saith, it containeth the eighth part of the Pale, which in effect is all one with the fourth part of the Pallet.

Endorse.

[blazon or coat of arms]

He beareth, Or, an Endorse, Gules. This Endorse (saith Leigh) is not used but when a Pale is between two of them. But Sir John Ferne saith, he was very confident and bold to set down such Rules of Blazon. Ferne. And that an Endorse may very well be borne in any Coat-Armour between Birds, Fishes, Fowles, Beasts, &c. But then (saith he) it sheweth that the same Coat hath been sometimes two Coats of Armes, Endorse may be borne a­lone. and after conjoyned within one Escocheon, for some Mystery or secret of Armes. And for the approbation of such bea­ring, Instance of such bearing. he giveth an instance of an Escocheon of pretence, or Engislet, (so he tearmeth it) borne over these four Coats, viz. of Austria, Burgundy, Sieile and Flanders; which is, Or, an Endorse between a Lyon saliant, and an Eagle displaied. Gules.

Now from the Pale, and the severall Subdivisions thereof, let us come to the bend, and the distinct parts of the same. A bend is an Ordinary consi­sting also of twofold Lines drawn overthwart the Escocheon, from the Dex­ter chief to the Sinister base point, of the same, so that the exact point of the Dexter and Sinicter corners thereof, may answer to the precise Middest of those equidistant Lines, whereof the bend is made, as in example.

Bend.

[blazon or coat of arms]

He beareth, Or, a bend, Sable. Which Armes were an­ciently borne by Peter de Mololacu or Mawley, a noble Baron of this Kingdom; in the time of King Edward the 3. The bend containeth in bredth the first part of the Field, Content. as it is uncharged; but if it be charged, then shall it con­tain the third part thereof. Of all the Ordinaries there is none divided like this, as by example shall hereafter appear.

[Page 59]The Bend seemeth to have his Denomination from the French word Ben­der, Denominati­on. which signifieth to stretch forth, because it is extended betwixt those opposite points of the Escocheon, viz. the Dexter chief, and the Sinister base. Yet in ancient Rolls I find the Bend drawn somewhat Archwise, or after the resemblance of the Bent of a Bow. Notwithstanding, Representati­on of a scaling ladder. according to some Armorists, it doth represent a Ladder set aslope on this manner, to scale the Walles of any Castle or City, as shall be shewed hereafter, and betokeneth the Bearer to have been one of the first that mounted upon the enemies walls. This Bend drawn from the right side to the left, is called a bend dex­ter; but you shall also find a bend exactly drawn like to this on the con­trary side, having his beginning from the left corner of the chief, and his termination in the Dexter base point of the Escocheon, Bend Sinister. Rule. for which cause it is named a Bend Sinister, as in example hereafter shall illustrate. In Blazoning of bends, if the same be Dexter, you shall onely say, he bears a bend, not using the word Dexter; but if it be drawn from the Sinister chief to the Dexter base, then you must in blazon by no means omit the word Sinister.

Note that the bend, and divers other Ordinaries following, Voiding what. are subject to exemption or voiding. Voiding (as earst we shewed) is the exemption of some part of the inward substance of things voidable, by occasion whereof the Field is transparent through the charge, leaving onely the outward edges, bearing the colour and quantity of the charge, as appeareth in this next Es­cocheon.

[blazon or coat of arms]

He beareth, Ermyne, a bend voided, Gules, Bend Voided. by the name of Ireton. Note that if the void part of the bend, were of a different metall, colour or furre, from the Field, then should you tearm the same, a bend bordu­red, Gules (according to the opinion of some Armo­rists:) but I am of opinion that it were better blazon­ed, a bend of such and such metall, colour or furre, edged. For this difference doe I put between them, that when it is blazoned edged, it must be understood, to be an edge or hemme, running along the sides onely; but if it were tearmed in blazon bordured, then must it be conceived that the bend is invironed round, as well the ends as the edges.

[blazon or coat of arms]

The late Right Honourable Henry Earle of Sussex, Henry Earle of Sussex. Viscount Fitz-water, Lord of Egremont, Burnell and Botatoart, Engrailed. Knight of the most noble order of the Gar­ter, beareth, Pearl, a bend ingrailed, Diamond. This Ordinary is composed of divers other of the formes of Lines, before mentioned, as sundry other of the Ordinaries are, as by these next, and other subse­quent examples in their due places shall appear.

[blazon or coat of arms]

He beareth Argent, a Bend engrailed, Gules, which is the Coat-Armour of that right ancient and worthy Family of Colepepper of Kent, now existing in the Per­sons of one Baron, two Baronets, and severall Knights and Gentlemen of much worth and esteem.

[Page 60] Wavey.

[blazon or coat of arms]

He beareth, Argent, a Bend, Wavey, Sable. This Coat-armour peratineth to Sir Henry Wallop of Farleigh Wal­lop in the County of Southampton Knight. This is tear­med Wavey, or waved, in respect it beareth a Repre­sentation of the Swelling Wave or Billow of the Sea, which being tossed by contrary flawes of wind doe rise and fall after this manner: and this also by some is called unde, of the Latine word unda.

This forme of bearing may put us in mind of the manifold (and those inevitable, yet profitable) affli­ctions, which doe attend this mortall state of ours, for so hath God or­dained that they should be means to win and bring us to himselfe, there­fore must we receive them patiently, as the evident tokens of Gods great love and mercy. Eccl. 2.4, 5, 6. As the Preacher admonisheth us, saying, Whatsoever cometh unto thee receive it patiently, and be patient in the change of thine afflictions, for as Gold and Silver is tryed in the fire, even so are men acceptable in the furnace of adversity. Beleive in God and he will help thee, order thy way aright, and trust in him, hold fast his feare, and grow old therein.

Crenelle.

[blazon or coat of arms]

He beareth, Azure, a Bend Crenelle, Argent, by the name of Walleyes: what Crenelle is I have before shew­ed. After this manner, Souldiers in default of scaling Ladders, used to nick or score a piece of Timber with their Swords (for want of better Tooles) and so found means to ascend the walls, and surprise the enemies.

Flory.

[blazon or coat of arms]

He beareth Sable, a Bend, Flory, Argent, by the Name of Highlord or Helord, and is the Coat-Armour of Highlord of Moreden in Surrey Gent. and of Tho. Highlord of London Merchant.

Parts of a Bend.The parts of a bend are

• Such as are duduced from it.
• Bendelet.

Such as are derived from a bend doe containe

• Halfe.
• Lesse then halfe.

[blazon or coat of arms]

He beareth Azure, three Bendlets, Argent, a Chief, Ermine. This is the Coat of Sir William Martin of Woodford in the County of Essex Knight.

[blazon or coat of arms]

He beareth Argent, a Bend between two Mullets, Sable, pierced, this is the Coat of Walter Pell Esquire, Merchant Adventurer of London.

[Page 61]That which containeth half the bend is called a Gartier, Gartier. whereof you have here an example in this Escocheon.

[blazon or coat of arms]

He beareth Or, a Gartier, Gules. Derivation of a Gartier. This is derived ei­ther from the French word Jartier, or else from the Norman word Gartier, both which are the same that we call in English a Gartier, the forme whereof this Charge doth represent. It is a name of Honourable esteem in English Heraldry, and it gave beginning to the most renowned order of Knight wood, of which Colledge and Society have been more Kings and Princes, and Princely Peeres, than of all the Knightly orders be­sides in Christendome. This containeth half the bend in bignesse.

Such as doe contain lesse than half the Bend, are

• Cost,
• Riband:

Both which be exemplified in these next Escocheons.

[blazon or coat of arms]

The Field is Gules, a Cost, Or. Cost what, and the content thereof. The content of this is the fourth part of the Bend, and halfe the Gartier, and is sometime called a Cotise, and also a Batune (as Leigh noteth:) But Bara maketh a Cotise and the Ba­tune two distinct things. This word Cost or Cotise is derived from the Latine word Costa, Why named a Cost. which signifieth a Rib, either of man or beast. And Farnesius saith, Costae a custodiendo sunt dictae. Farn. 1.45. When one of these is borne alone, as in this Escocheon, then shall you tearm it in Blazon a Cost; but if they be borne by couples in any Coat (which is never, saith Leigh, but when a Bend is placed between two of them) then you may name them Cotises, as in Example.

[blazon or coat of arms]

He beareth, Or, a Bend, verrey, Bend verrey. between two Cotises or Costs, Gules. This Coat pertaineth to Sir Edmund Boyer of Camberwell in the County of Surrey Knight. Not unfittly are these so tearmed Costs or Cotises, in re­spect they are placed upon each side of the Bend, and doe inclose the same, as the ribs of man or of beast doe bound and defend their intrailes. And concer­ning such Charges or Fields composed of verrey. I refer you (for the avoiding of needlesse repetition) to the Rules before delivered. Note, that as well the Sub­divisions of Ordinaries, as the Ordinaries themselves are formed of the se­verall sorts of lines before expressed, as may be gathered out of Ʋpton, Notes. whose opinion you shall hear when we come to speak of Batunes.

[blazon or coat of arms]

He beareth Or, a Riband, Gules. Riband what, and the con­tent thereof. This is that other Subdivsion that is derived from a bend, and doth con­tain the eighth part therof. The Name accordeth well with the forme and quantity of the same, in that it is long and narrow, which is the right shape of a Riband.

Thus much may suffice touching the Benddexter, Bend Sinister what. & the Subdivision thereof: let us now consider the Bend sinister, and how the same is subdivided. A Bend Sinister is an Ordinary consisting of a twofold line, drawn tra­verse the Escocheon, from the Sinister chief corner to the Dexter base point; and differeth (as we said) from the Dexter Bend onely in this, that it is placed on the opposite part of the Escocheon, as in example.

[Page 62] Rule.

[blazon or coat of arms]

He beareth Argent, a Bend sinister, Vert. You may perhaps sometimes finde this Bend borne joyntly with the Bend dexter in one Escocheon, which to look up­on are much like unto a Saltire. In Coats of such bea­ring, you must carefully observe which of them lyeth next to the Field, and that must be first named. And this Rule holdeth not alone herein, but also in all o­ther Coat-armours formed of divers charges, whereof the one lieth nearer to the Field than the other, accor­ding to the sixth Rule of Blazon formerly given.

The Bend sinister is subdivided into a

• Scarpe.
• Batune.

Scarpe what.A Scarpe (as Leigh noteth) is that kind of ornament (much in use with Commanders in the Field) which we do usually call a Scarfe, as may be gathered by the derivation therof from the French word Escharpe, signify­ing that ornament which usually is worn by Martiall men after the same manner from the left shoulder overthwart the body, and so under the arme on the right side, as in Example.

[blazon or coat of arms]

He beareth Argent, a Scarpe, Azure. You need not in Blazon thereof make any mention of this word Si­nister, because it is never borne otherwise than thus. Notwithstanding this Charge hath some resemblance of the common Note of Illegitimation; yet it is not the same, neither hath it any such signification, for that it agreeth not with the Content thereof, nor with the manner of bearing the same, as is plaine by this next Escocheon.

Batune what.

[blazon or coat of arms]

He bearth Or, a Batune, Gules. This word Batune is derived from the French word Baston, which signi­fieth a wand or a cudgell. The French men do usually bear their Batune (as it were) couped after this man­ner; Whereof I do better allow than of that forme which is commonly used among us in England, be­cause the same being so borne, doth better resemble the shape or form of a Cudgell or Batune. And though this hath the forme and quantity of a Cost, yet it dif­fereth from the same, in that the Cost is extended to the extremities of the Escocheon, Note of illegi­timation. whereas the Batune shell be Couped, and touch no part of the same, as by this Escocheon appeareth. This is the proper and most usuall note of Illegitimation (perhaps for the affinitie betwixt Baston and Bastards; or else for that bastards lost the priviledge of freemen, and so were subject to the servile stroke:) and it containeth the fourth part of the bend sinister; and being thus borne, differeth from all the subdivisions of the Ordinaries before manifested sufficiently, what conformity soever any of them may seeme to have therewith. This Marke was devised both to restraine men truly generous, The use of this marke. from the filthy staine of this base (but com­mon) sinne, when they consider, that such accusation to themselves, and shame to their issue, shall never be severed from their Coat-Armour, which should be the blazon of their honour. For let the spuriours birth have ne­ver so noble a father, yet he is base-borne; and base will be ever the first [Page 63] syllable in a Bastards name, till by his owne Vertues hee hath washed off the staines of his Fathers vice, as many high spirits have done; Leigh. who though so borne, have attained to the highest pitch of glory. Every bastard may have his batune of what colour he will, but not of metall, Legitimation of Bastards. which is for the bastards of Princes. At the first, bastards were prohibited to beare the Armes of their reputed fathers. Then (saith Sir Iohn Ferne in his Glory of Generositie) they did by suit obtaine a toleration from Soveraignes and Kings, to be made le­gitimate, and to be matriculated by the Kings Grant, as children lawfully born; which Grant did enable them to be capable of many immunities and prerogatives which others lawfully begotten do enjoy: and so by such legitimation they are discharged of all those dishonours which in for­mer time they were subject unto, and were acquitted from the staine of their bastardy, Excepto quod ex tali legitimatione non admittebantur ad Jura Sanguinis cum aliis filiis: Except only, that they had not the right of blood and inheritance thereby; to participate with the lawfull inheritance of their Father, as appeareth Judg. 11. And when the Womans children were come to age, they thrust out Jepthah, saying, Thou shalt not inherit in our Fathers house, for thou art the son of a strange Woman. By pretence of these legitimations, they bear the Coat-Armour of their reputed Ancestors, with a sign of bastardy, now commonly known to every man, by reason of frequent use: which Mark (as some do hold) neither they nor their children shall ever remove or lay aside, Ne sordes per errorem inter praecipuos reputentur; Least the fruits of lust should by error gain the estimation of Generosity.

It is not lawfull for those that are base born to usurp the Armes of their reputed Fathers, unlesse it be branded with certain notes or marks pro­per to men illegitimate, devised of set purpose to separate and distinguish them from such as proceed from lawfull Matrimony. Moreover it is often questioned, whether such as be illegitimated (by Act of Parliament, or whatsoever other means) may bear, or assume the bearing of the Arms of their reputed Fathers? Some are of opinion they may: Others do hold the contrary, unlesse they do bear them with the apposition of some of the before mentioned notes appropriated to the quality of their illegiti­mate generation and procreation. By legitimate issue, is not to be under­stood legitimate onely, that is to say, such as be adopted Children: For there is in such but a bare imitation of nature, of such we have no use in this Land of Adoption or Arrogation. But of such as are both naturall and legitimate; naturall so termed, Quia naturaliter generati; legitimate, Ex Legitima parentum conjunctione approbata per Leges. Such as are otherwise be­gotten are bastards, and the issue of an unlawfull bed.

Consanguinity, is a bond or link of persons descended of the same stocke, derived from Carnall propagation: So called, Consanguinitas, quasi sangui­nis unitas, viz. the unity or community of blood.

To discern priority or nearenesse in blood, two things must be regarded principally; viz. Linea and Gradus, the line is that, that gathereth together the persons containing their degrees, and distinguishing them in their numbers. This is called Collectio personarum. The other, viz. Gradus, shew­eth the state or condition of the distant persons, how near they be, or how far distant asunder (in themselves) from their common Stock, or either from other. This is called, Habitudo distantium personarum. Et dicetur Gradus, ad similitudinem sclarum graduum, sive locorum proclivium; quia ita gradimur, de proximo ad proximum.

[Page 64]This before mentioned Line is threefold, viz.

• Ascending,
• Descending,
• Collaterall.

The Ascending Line is, from me to my Father, Grandfather, and so up­wards.

The Descending Line is, from me to my Son, Nephew, his Son, down­wards.

The Collaterall Line is placed on either side.

This Line also is twofold, viz.

• Equall,
• Ʋnequall.

The equall collaterall is that, where equally the persons differ from their Common Stock: as Brothers and Sisters be equally distant from their Fa­ther; As also Brothers and Sisters children from their Grandfather.

The unequall collaterall is, where one precedeth another: Such are bro­thers, and their brothers and sisters children.

Affinity is (after the lawes) personarum proximitas proveniens ex justis nup­tiis; A nearness of persons proceeding from lawfull marriage. So called Af­finitas, quasi duorum ad unum finem unitas; A union or consolidation of two that be of divers Kindreds by marriage or other copulation conjoyned.

By this, Affinity is contracted two manner of waies, viz.

By

• Lawfull Marriage,
• Ʋnlawfull Knowledge.

The first is thus contracted; My brother and I are Consanguine in the first degree, He taketh a Wife, her they call, personam additam personae per carnis copulam. This is the first kind of Affinity (contracted by means of my brother) viz. between his Wife and me, and the first degree; for thus they be the kindred and degrees) discerned in Affinity, viz. by the persons that be in consanguinity, or blood, either nearer or farther off. As for example.

My brother is in the first degree to me in consanguinity; his wife in Affi­nity: My brorhers son in the second, his Nephew in the third, his Ne­phewes son in the fourth. They in consanguinity: their Wives in the same degrees, second, third, or fourth unto me, but they in Affinity.

Note that they attain not (in me) by their addition, that that I have at­tained (by blood) in the persons to whom they be added. For herein, that is to say, in Attinency we be distinguished in Consanguinity and Affinity. To make it plain. My brother is my Consanguine, his Wife my Affine, onely they retain and participate with me the degree, whether it be first, second, third or fourth; that I have with the persons that they be car­nally known by, the which they alter not.

Consequently, they shall be every person in Consanguinity to my wife, in Affinity to me, in what degree in the one, in that degree in the other. But alwaies in the first kind, be they Brother, Sister, Nephew, Neece, &c. But to return to our Batune. Ʋpton calleth this baston or batune, a Fissure: and making mention of the variable formes thereof, saith, Istae Fissurae tot modis variantur, quot modis fiunt bendae: These Fissures have as many varieties of formes as the bends have.

Severall formes of Fissure.For there are of them (saith he)

• Planae,
• Ingrediatae,
• Invectae,
• Fusilatae,
• Gobonatae.

• Plain.
• Ingrailed.
• Invecked.
• Fusile.
• Gobonated.

[Page 65]And (he saith) it is commonly called a Fissure (which is a cut or rent) pro eo quod findit Arma paterna in duas partes; quia ipse basterdus finditur & di­viditur à patrimonio patris sui: in that it cuts or rents the Coat-armour in twain, because the bastard is cut off from his fathers Inheritance. In some Countries they used to distinguish these from the lawfull begotten, by setting of two letters upon their garments, S. and P. quasi, Sine Patre, without Father.

And perhaps S. P. did signifie Situs Populo, the Sanne of the People. Signification of the letters S.P. Chas­saneus saith, that bastards are not capable of their Fathers patrimony, ei­ther by law or custome, Quia filius Ancillae non erat haeres cum filio Liberae: The servants child must not part stakes with her Mistresses. Leigh is of opinion, that the lawfull son of a bastard shall change his Fathers Mark to the right side, observing still the quantity thereof: for so I doe understand him, in respect that he addeth immediately, that the same may at the pleasure of the Prince be inlarged, or broken after this manner.

[blazon or coat of arms]

He beareth, Azure, a Bend, double Dauncette, Sundry notes of bastardy. Ar­gent, by the name of Lorks. This (saith Leigh) shall ne­ver be called other than a bend, after it is thus parted: but bastards (saith he) have sundry other marks, eve­ry one according to their unlawfull begettings; which with hundreds of others are the Secrets of Heralds.

Besides those bearings bendwise above demonstrated, Bendlet. we mentioned another by the name of a bendlet, which hath greater resemblance with a bend than a­ny of the rest, and by the name it may seem to be some subdivision of the bend. It hath yet no certain quantity, but contain­eth evermore a sixth part of the Field, (according to the observation of Leigh) whereof you have an example in this next Escocheon.

[blazon or coat of arms]

The Field is Argent, a bendlet, Gules. Difference of the bend and bendlet. Two manner of waies doth this charge differ from the bend: the one, that the bend containeth the fifth part of the Field un­charged, and the third part thereof charged. And this is limited to the sixth part of the Field, which it may not exceed. Secondly, it is distinguished from the bend, se­cundum locationem, in place, in as much as the bend is so placed, as that the corner of the Escocheon doth answer to the just middle of the same, between the upper and nether lines thereof: but the bendlet beginneth in the exact corner of the point of the Escocheon; so as the lower line is distant from the corner thereof the full breadth of the bendlet.

SECT. II. CHAP. VI.

OUR prefixed order doth now call upon me to bend my course from bends, with the parts and subdivisions thereof, Fesse and con­tent thereof. and to proceed to the Fesse, which challengeth the next place. The Fesse is an Ordinary, form­ed of a twofold line, drawn overthwart the breadth of the Escocheon; in [Page 66] the midst where of is the very center of the Shield. And it containeth the third part of the Field, and may not be diminished, albeit the French He­ralds doe blazon three barres gemels, for a fesse of six peeces.

[blazon or coat of arms]

He beareth Vaire, Or, and Vert, a Fesse, Gules, by the name of Duffield. This word Fesse is a French word; and doth signifie the Loines of a man. This Ordinary hath been anciently taken for the same that we cal Baltheum militare, or Cingulum honoris, a belt of honour: because it divideth the Field into two equall parts, it selfe occupying the middle betweene both; even as the Girdle environeth the middle part of a man, and resteth upon his Loines.

This Girdle of honour may seeme to have beene in ancient time given by Emperours, and Kings, and their Generals of the Field unto Souldiers, for reward of some speciall service performed by them: and it is not improbable, that such a reward it was that the General of Davids Army, Ioab, would have given the Messenger that brought him newes that Absalom was hanged by the haire of the head in an Oke, if he had slain him, where Ioab saith, 2 Sam. 18.11. Why hast thou not killed him, that so I might have rewarded thy service with ten Shekles of Silver, and a girdle (or an arming Belt?) For some translate it Cingulum, some Baltheum. Amongst the Macedonians, it was ordained by a Military law (saith Alex. ab Alex.) that the Souldier that had not killed an Enemy, Non Militari Cingulo, sed capistro cingeretur; should not be girt with an Arming girdle, but with a halter. And not without reason is a man adorned with a Military girdle, signifying he must be alwaies in a readiness to undergoe the businesse of the weal publike; for the more speedy performance of which charge; he should have his garments close girt unto his body, that the loosenesse of them should give no impediment to the execution of his assumpted charge and enjoyned services. And these tokens of Chiva [...]ry were so highly esteemed in ancient times, St. Ambrose. that Saint Ambrose saith, in his age Duces, & Principes, omnes etiam militantes, operosis cingulis au­ro [...]u gente pretiosi [...], ambiunt, &c. Great Captains, Princes, and Martiall men, de­light to wear their Belts curiously wrought, and glittering with gold, &c.

As the bestowing of this Military Girdle, was reputed very honourable, because none were to receive it but men of merit, so also was it ever ac­counted most dishonourable for any just cause to be again deprived of the dignity thereof; neither should such an one be restored thereunto, but up­on very singular and especiall desert, as Ferettus noteth, where he saith, Au­gustus laudabiliter militarem disciplinam gessit severissi [...]e: Augustus Im­perat. & privatos militari Cingulo nunquam restituit, nisi illos prae caeteris virtutum merita insignirent: Au­gustus the Emperor got much honor by the severity of his Military Discipline: for if a man were once deprived of his Arming girdle, he never would restore it unless he performed some excellent service above all others. Notwithstanding, there is also one kind of putting off the Belt, of no lesse honour, than the putting on of it; yea much more glorious it is, in that it is the end and perfection of the other; and that is, when the victory is atchieved, victory being the end of Arming, as peace is of Battle. To which purpose is that saying, 1 Reg. 20.11. Ne jactet se qui se accingit, ut qui discingit: Let not him boast who girds himself as he that doth ungird: meaning we must not triumph (as the saying is) be­fore the victory; but it being once attained, it is the honour of a generous mind, to put off his Belt, and not to sanguine his blade with cold blood. [Page 67] For those Gallants, who in times and places of peace, are still drawing their swords, like warriours, in times and places of warre, prove (for the most part) p [...]ceabler and calmer then they should be.

But if a Knight be disarmed of his Military girdle by his demerits and of­fence, he is therewithall deprived of all Military priviledges, like as it fareth with a Captain, who (if he happen to lose his Ensigns, is disabled to advance any other in the Field, untill he hath either regained the same, or by his valor extorted some other from the enemy. Which kind of deprivation of Knights and M [...]rtiall men for any notable transgression, was of frequent use in times past, and in some places is continued unto this day with grea­ter severity and much more infamy than in former times. Depositio Cingu­lorum & Balth [...]orum (saith Wolfgan. Wolfgangus Lazius.) Lazius quod genus poenae proprio seorsim vocabulo discinctura & recinctura vocabatur, manet hodie ad huc in ordine E­questri, majori quam olim ignominia. Quo ritu (ut nos dicimus) Equites [...]urati degradantur. The depriving of the Belt (which was wont to be tearmed, the di­scincture or ungirding) is at this day still in use amongst Knights, and with more ignominy than was in ancient times: which is nothing else but that which we call degrading of a Knight. If any aske me how this comes about that such Degradation of a Knight, is more infamous than of old: I answer, it is because it is more rare, and therefore more remarkable. If again, you aske why it is more rare than of old: I answer, it is because it is more infamous, and therefore Princes more unwillingly to inflict it. Howsoever, the truth is, that base and unknightly actions and qualites, deserve a base and unknight­ly chastisement.

[blazon or coat of arms]

He beareth, Or, two Cheurons, Gules: this is the Coat of that eminent and ancient Family of Mounson. Of which are worthy Ornaments Willi­am Viscount Mounson, and Sir John Mounson of Carleton in Lincolnshire Baronet, son and heir of Sir Thomas Mounson created Baronet, 29. of June, 1611.

[blazon or coat of arms]

He beareth, Or, four Cheu­rons, Gules, which is the bearing of Sir Henry Every son of Sir Simon Every or Ivory of Eggington in Com. Derb. Baronet, so created May 26. 1641.

[blazon or coat of arms]

He beareth Argent, three Cheurons, Gules, a Labell of three points, Azure, by the name of Barington, and is the Coat of that worthy Gentle­man Sir John Barington of Barington Hall in Essex, Knight and Baronet.

[Page 68]

[blazon or coat of arms]

He beareth Argent, a Cheuron, and in the Dexter point a Trefoyle Sable, which with a Crescent for a difference of a second brother is the Coat of that grave Citizen Sir Thomas Foot Knight, Lord Mayor of London, 1651.

Fesse Dauncet.

[blazon or coat of arms]

He beareth Or, a Fesse Dauncette, Sable. These Armes pertain to the worthy Gentleman Sir Thomas Vava­sour, who in the Reign of King James was Knight Mar­shall of his then Majesties house-hold, and of the vierge thereto appertaining. Whose Family anciently had the addition Le to the name, as being the Kings Valva­sores, being in times past a degree not much inferiour to a Baron, and given to their Family ex Regio munere, as M. Cambden noteth in York-shire, speaking of Hasel­wood, being the ancient inheritance of the said Family.

Cheuron what.So much of a Fesse: now of a Cheuron. A Cheuron is an Ordinary, formed of a twofold line Spirewise or Pyramidall; the Foundation being in the Dexter, and Sinister base points of the Escocheon, and the Acute angle of the Spire near the top of the Escocheon: as in example.

[blazon or coat of arms]

The Field is Topaz, a Cheuron, Ruby. This Coat pertaineth to the Honourable and Ancient Family of Stafford, now Barons, and somtimes Earles of Stafford, and Dukes of Buckingham. This Ordinary is resembled to a paire of Bargecouples or Rafters, such as Carpenters doe set on the highest part of the house, Ancient form of bearing thereof. for bearing of the roof thereof; and betokeneth the atchieving of some businesse of moment, or the finishing of some Chargable and memorable work. This was anciently the usuall forme of bearing of the Cheuron, as appea­reth by many Scales and Monuments yet extant, and is most agreeable to reason, that as it representeth the Roof of an house (though I am not igno­rant that Leigh saith, it was in old times the attire for the heads of Women Priests) so accordingly it should be extended to the highest part of the Es­cocheon, though far different is the bearing thereof in these dayes. In which respect it were fit that common Painters, the common disorderers of these tokens of honour, were better looked unto; who both in former ages, and much more in these daies, have greatly corrupted these honourable signs, by adding their new fantasticall inventions; that so they might make the things borne in Coat-Armour more perspicuous to the view, or because they would be thought to be well overseen in Heraldry. Idle inventi­ons of Pain­ters. For indeed they want the eye of judgment, to see and discerne that such is the excellency of these honourable tokens, that the least alteration either by augmentati­on, diminution, transposition, or whatsoever other means, doth occasion a change in them so great, as that they thereby differ from themselves, not onely in their accidentall, but also in their substantiall parts, and cease to be any longer the same they were before, and their owners are debarred to [Page 69] challenge any propriety or interest in them, in respect of such alteration. Modica alteratio in membro principali magnam alterationem facit (saith the Philosopher) A little alteration makes a great alteration in a principall part. As the least spot in the Eye, which is the worthiest part of the face, doth more disfigure the same, than ten times so much in any other member of the whole body.

The Content of the Cheuron is the fifth part of the Field (according to Leigh: Content of a Cheuron.) but Chassaneus reckoneth the same amongst those Ordinaries that do occupy the third part of the Field. You may have two cheurons in one Field (saith Leigh) but not above; and if they exceed that number, Note. then shall you call them cheuronwaies. But I suppose they might be tearmed much better cheuronels, that is to say, Minute or small cheurons; for so is their Blazon more certain. This charge following, and the subdivisions thereof; are diversly borne, as well in respect of the divers location, Cheuron re­versed. as of the variable form thereof; for sometimes it is borne on chief, otherwhiles on base, sometimes Enarched, sometimes Reversed, sometimes Fretted, &c. as hereafter by examples appeareth.

[blazon or coat of arms]

He b [...]areth, Or, a Cheuron in chief, Azure. Cheuron in chief. Note that the lower part of this cheuron is far above the ordinary place of a single cheuron; for it is pitched as high as the Nombrill of the Escocheon, whereas others have their rising from or near above the dexter and sinister base points. The Ancestors of this bearer (saith Leigh) have borne the same otherwaies, which was for some good purpose removed, although it were better after the common manner of bearing. Accidents of an Escocheon. There are divers Acci­dents incident unto this Ordinary, viz. Transposition, as in this last Escocheon, Couping, Voiding and Reversing. Of all which I pur­pose to give severall examples in their proper places.

[blazon or coat of arms]

He beareth, Ermyne, a Cheuron, couped; Cheuron Couped. Sable, by the name of Iones. What couping is, I have before shewed, whereunto (for shunning needlesse repeti­tion) I referre you.

[blazon or coat of arms]

He beareth, Azure, a Cheuron engrailed, voided, Or, Cheuron En­grailed. by the name of Dudley. What voiding is, I have shew­ed before. In the blazoning of Coat-Armours of this kinde, I meane of Charges voided, you shall not neede to make any mention of the colour of the exempted part thereof, saying, that it is voided of the Field: for if you say, voided, onely, it is ever understood that the field sheweth thorow the middle part of the charge voided. If the middle part of this cheuron were of a different metall, colour, or furre, from the Field, then should you Blazon it thus: A Cheuron, engrailed, surmounted of another, of such or such colour.

[Page 70]The Subdivisions of this Ordinary are

• Cheuronell,
• Couple-close.

Cheuronell what.A Cheuronell is a diminutive of a Cheuron, and signifieth a minute or small Cheuron, and containeth halfe the quantity of the Cheuron, as for example.

[blazon or coat of arms]

He beareth, Argent, a cheuronell, Vert Of these (saith Leigh) you may have no more than three in a Field, except partition. The. other Subdivision of the cheuron is called a couple close. A couple-close is a subor­dinate charge derived from a cheuron, and formed of two lines erected cheuronwaies.

Couple-close what, and the content there­of.

[blazon or coat of arms]

He beareth Vert, a couple-close, Argent. This con­taineth the fourth of the cheuron, and is not borne but by Paires, except there be a cheuron betweene them. Well doth the name of this charge, agree with the use thereof, which is not onely to be borne by couples for the most part, but also to have a cheuron between them which they inclose on each side.

Barre.The next in order to the Cheuron is the Barre. A Barre is composed of two equi distant lines drawne overthwart the Escocheon, after the manner of the Fesse before mentioned, as in this next Escocheon appeareth.

[blazon or coat of arms]

This Ordinary differeth from the Fesse, not onely in that it containeth the fifth part of the Field, wher­as the Fesse occupieth the third part thereof, but also that the Fesse is limited to one certaine place of the Escocheon to wit, the Exact Center or Fesse Point there­of, whereas the Bar is not tryed to any prescript place, but may be transferred unto sundry parts of the Escocheon. But if there be but one onely Bar in the Escocheon, then must the same occupy the place of the Fesse, as appeareth in this Escocheon. This Charge is of more estimation than is well considered of many that bear the same. If you have two Bars in the Field, they must be so placed, as that thereby the Field of the Escocheon may be divided into five equall parts; so shall each of them receive their just quantity.

Subdivision.A Bar is subdivided into a

• Closet.
• Barulet.

A Closet is a Charge abstracted from a Bar, and consisteth also of two e­quidistant lines drawn overthwart the Escocheon, as in Example.

[Page 71]

[blazon or coat of arms]

He beareth, Or, a Closet, Sanguine. Content of a Closet. This containeth half the Barre, and of these there may be five in one Field, and are very good Armory. The other Subdivi­sion of a Barre, is called a Barulet, which (after the opi­nion of Leigh) cannot be borne dividedly, but must be borne by couples, unlesse they be parted with a Barre, whereof you have an example in this next Escoche­on.

[blazon or coat of arms]

He beareth Azure, two Barres, Or. This is the Coat of that eminent ancient Family of Burdet, which flourishes at this day in the persons of Sir Fran. Burdet of Bramcot in Warwick-shire Baronet, and Robert Bur­det of London Merchant, sons of Sir Thomas Turdet of Bramcot created Baronet, Feb. 25. 1618. which Sir Francis Burdet married, Jane daughter of Sir John Walter Knight, Lord chief Baron of the Exchequer.

[blazon or coat of arms]

He beareth, Sable, a Barulet, Argent. Barulet what it containeth. The Content of the Barulet is the fourth part of the Barre, whereof is a derivative, as by the name of Diminution imposed thereupon doth manifestly appear. Barulets (saith Ʋpton) are diversly borne in Armes, viz. Plain, En­grailed, &c. whereunto good heed must be taken in Blazon.

Hitherto of a barre: Now of a Gyronne: A Gyronne what. A Gyronne is an Ordinary consisting of two straight lines drawn from divers parts of the Escocheon, and meeting in an Acute-angle in the Fesse point of the same. Signification of a Gyronne. A Gyronne (as one saith) is the same that we call in Latine Gremium, which signifieth a Lappe, and is the space between the thighes: and thence perchance doe we call the Groyne; which name, whether it be given to this charge, because it determines in gremio, in the very lappe or midst of the Escocheon, or because it hath a ben­ding like the thigh and leg together, I cannot define. Gyrons are borne di­versly, viz. single, by couples, of six, of eight, of ten, and of twelve, as shall ap­pear hereafter, Forme of making thereof. where I shall speak of Armes having no Tincture predomi­nating. For the making this Ordinary, behold this next Escocheon, where you shall find one single Gyronne alone, which doth best expresse the man­ner thereof, as in example.

[blazon or coat of arms]

He beareth, Sanguine, Single Gy­ronne. one Gyronne issuing from the Chief Dexter point, Or If these two lines whereof this Ordinary is framed, were drawn throughout to the Extremities of the Escocheon, then would they consti­tute two Gyrons, as in this next Escocheon appeareth. But if this Gyronne had stood in Fesse in the Dexter part, and the Gyronne Argent, then were it the se­cond Coat of the Lord de Wolfo of Swesia, whose daughter was married to the Marquesse of Northamp­ton, and after to Gorge.

[Page 72] Two Gyronnes.

[blazon or coat of arms]

He beareth, Argent, two Gyrons, Gules. You need not say, meeting in Point, the one from the dexter Chiefe, the other in the Sinister base, because they do evermore meet in the Fesse Point, be they never so many. Here you see, that as two lines drawn, the one bendwaies from the dexter corner of the chief part of the Escocheon, and resting on the Fesse point, and the other drawn Fesse­waies overthwart the Escocheon, and meeting with the same in the said Fesse point, do make one Gyron: so do the same drawne throughout produce two Gyrons.

A Canton what.So much of a Gyron: Now of a Canton and Quarter: A Canton is an Ordi­nary framed of two streight lines, the one drawn perpendicularly from the Chief, and the other transverse from the side of the Escocheon, and meet­ing therewith in an acute Angle, neer to the corner of the Escocheon, as in this next appeareth.

Whereof so named.

[blazon or coat of arms]

He beareth, Ermyne, a Canton, Argent, charged with a Cheuron, Gules, by the name of Middleton. This Or­dinary is termed a Canton, because it occupieth but a Corner or Cantell of the Escocheon. Some Armorists do hold, that the Canton is a Reward given to Gentlemen, Esquires and Knights, for service done by them, and not to a Baron. Some others notwithstanding are of a different opinion, that a Canton may well beseem an Earle or a Baron receiving the same at his Soveraignes hand; yet in the Quarter to be preferred in dignity before the same: Preheminence of certaine Ordinaries. Note Base Squires how made. Rule. and before them both, Sir John Ferne preferreth the Es­cocheon of Pretence, which he calleth an Engislet or Fessy Target. Note that a Canton parted traverswaies, whether it be from the Dexter corner, or From the Sinister, doth make two base Squires. And if the Canton be placed in the Dexter corner of the Escocheon, you must in blazon onely name it a Canton, not making any mention of the locall situation thereof: but if it be pla­ced on the contrary side, then must you in Blazon ad this word Sinister; as he beareth a Canton Sinister. Canton Sini­ster. The Sinister Canton is all one with the Dexter in form, in quantity, and in estimation, but differeth from the same both in regard of the locall position thereof (by reason that it is placed in the sini­ster corner of the Escocheon) as also in that it is not of so frequent use.

Quarter what.Hitherto of a Canton, now of a Quarter. The Quarter is an Ordinary of like composition with the Canton, and holdeth the same places, and hath great resemblance thereof; insomuch as the same Rules and Observations, that doe serve for the one, may be attributed to the other, Quia similium similis est ratio: of like things the reason is alike. The only difference between them is, Difference of a quarter and Canton. that the Canton keepeth only a cantle or small portion of the Cor­ner of the Escocheon, and the quarter comprehendeth the full fourth part of the Escocheon, as in example.

Estanton.

[blazon or coat of arms]

He beareth Verrey, Argent & Sable, a Quarter, Gules, by the name of Estanton. The quarter a reward for ser­vice. Albeit that (according to Leigh) the Quarter is for the most part given by Empe­rours and Kings to a Baron (at least) for some speciall or acceptable service done by him; yet doe we find the same bestowed upon persons of meaner dignity for like occasion. Contrariwise, the canton (being recei­ved at the Soveraigns hand) may beseem the dignity of a Baron or an Earle, as aforesaid.

[Page 73]Having spoken of the Canton and Quarters, as much as for this present is requisite; I will reserve some other their adjuncts to a more conveni­ent place. And will now speak of a Pile, shewing some variable examples of the diverse bearing thereof.

A Pile is an Ordinary consisting of a twofold line formed after the manner of a Wedge; that is to say broad at the upper end, A Pile what. and so lessening by de­grees throughout with a comely narrownesse and Taper-growth, meeting together at the lower end in an Acute-angle, as in this next Escocheon ap­peareth.

[blazon or coat of arms]

He beareth Argent, a Pile, Gules. Use of the Pile. This Coat pertain­ed to the right worthy and valiant Knight Sir John Chandos, Baron of Saint Saviours, le Viscount in France, great Senescal of Poictow, high Constable of Aquitain. All given him by King Edward the third, who also made him one of the Founders of the most noble Or­der of the Garter. In all fortifications and buildings, in case the ground be distrusted to be unsure & de­ceivable: Men are accustomed to build upon Piles, and by them to force an infallible, and permanent foundation

[blazon or coat of arms]

He beareth, Azure, a Pile, Ermyne, which was the Coat of Sir Peter Wich, Knighted 1626. sometime Ambas­sadour at Constantinople for the late King Charles, and is the bearing of Nathaniel Wich, now President to the In­dies, and severall other worthy Gentlemen and Mer­chants.

[blazon or coat of arms]

He beareth, Or, a Pile Engrailed, Sable, by the name of Waterhouse, and is the bearing of that Ingenious Gentleman and great lover of Antiquity and Heral­dry, Edward Waterhouse of Greneford in Com. Mid. Esquire, who is lineally descended from Sir Gilbert Waterhouse, of Kirton in Low-Linsey in Lincolnshire: temps Hen. 3. of which family are divers worthy and well bred Gentlemen now extant.

Sometimes you shall find three of these in a Field, as in this next example.

[blazon or coat of arms]

The Field is, Or, three Piles, Sir Guy Bryan. meeting near in the Base of the Escocheon, Azure. This Coat was borne by Sir Guy Bryon Knight, one of the Noble Knights of the most honorable order of the Garter, in the time of King Edward the third: and he was also a chief mean unto the said King for obtaining the Charter of Pri­viledge and freedome of his Majesties Forrest of Deane, in the County of Glocester, for the benefit of the Inha­bitants of the same Forrest.

Sometimes you shall find this Ordinary borne, Note. tran­sposed or reversed, contrary to the usuall forme of their bearing, viz. with their points upward, which naturally ought to be downewards, being suppo­sed [Page 74] to be a piece of Timber, whose nether part is sharpened, to the end it maybe more commodiously driven into the ground; as in example.

[blazon or coat of arms]

He beareth Argent, three Piles, one issuing out of the Chief between the two others transposed or reversed, Sable, by the name of Hullets. The Pile is an ancient Addition to Armory, and is a thing that maketh all foundations to be firm and perfect, especially in Wa­ter-works.

Rule.When there is but one Pile in the Field, it must con­taine the third part of the same at the Chief. This Or­dinary is diversly formed, and borne, as in these next Escocheons appeareth.

[blazon or coat of arms]

He beareth Argent, a Triple Pile, Flory on the tops, issuing out of the Sinister base, in Bend, towards the Dexter corner, Sable, This sort of bearing of the Pile, hath a resemblance of so many Piles driven into some water-worke, and by long tract of time, incorporated at their heads, by reason of an extraordinary weight imposed upon them, which gave impediment of their growth in height.

[blazon or coat of arms]

He beareth, Argent, a Pile in Bend, issuing out of the Dexter corner of the Escocheon, Sable, Cotised, In­grailed, Gules. I have made speciall choice of this Coat-armour, (out of the glory of Generos.) as well for the rarenesse thereof, as for that I find the same there commended for faire Armory, and good in regard of the variety thereof for Blazoners to look upon.

[blazon or coat of arms]

He beareth, Azure, a Pile waved, issuing out of the Dexter corner of the Escocheon, Bendwaies, Or, by the name of Aldam. As this Pile waved issueth out of the Dexter, so also may the same be borne from the Sini­ster chief point. Moreover you shall find them borne in Pale, and sometimes issuing out of the Base with the point thereof transposed, which I leave to obser­vation.

Now the bearing of Waves, or of things waved, may well fit those that are tryed in the furnace of Afflictions, which are the badges and the testimonies of our election in Christ, who suffered for us; the just for the unjust, to bring us unto God. Therefore we should bear our afflictions gladly, forasmuch as if we suffer with Christ, we shall also be glorified with him. For so doth the Apostle ad­monish us, saying; That no man should be moved with these afflictions, for ye your selves know that we are appointed thereunto, 1 Thess. 3.3. And againe, thou therefore suffer affliction as a good soldier of Christ, 2 Tim. 2.3.

So much of Piles and their variety, as well of Forme, as of Location. There rest yet some other sorts of Ordinaries, that are composed of a twofold line not hitherto spoken of.

[Page 75]Such are these, viz

• Flasque.
• Flanch.
• Voider.

In some mens conceit perhaps these Ordinaries last mentioned might have been more fitly placed amongst such as are before handled, and are composed of a single line, (of which number these may be well reckoned, if we consider them each one apart by themselves:) but forasmuch as none of them are borne single, but alwayes by couples; for conveniency I have chosen rather to sort them with these that are formed of a Twofold Line; and first of a Flasque.

A Flasque is an Ordinary, consisting of one Arch Line, A Flasque what. drawn somewhat distant from the corners of the Chief, and meanly swelling by degrees un­till you come towards the middest of the Escocheon, and from thence again decreasing with a like comely descent unto the Sinister base points, as in example.

[blazon or coat of arms]

The Field is Or, two Flasques, Azure. A Flasque what kind of reward. This Reward (saith Leigh) is to be given by a King for vertue and learning, and especially for service in Ambassage: for therein may a Gentleman deserve aswell of his Sove­raign, as the Knight that serveth him in the Field. This is called an Arch line of the Latine word Arcus, that signifieth a Bow, which being bent hath a mode­rate bowing, void of excesse of tuberosity. This word Flasque is derived, either from the French word Fleschier, or from the Latine word Flecto, which sig­nifieth to bend or bow.

The next in order is the Flanch, which is an Ordinary formed of an Arch line, taking his beginning from the corner of the chief, and from thence compassing orderly with a swelling embossement untill it come near to the Nombrill of the Escocheon, and thence proportionably declining to the Sinister base point, as in this next Escocheon.

[blazon or coat of arms]

He beareth Ermyne, two Flanches, Vert. This (saith Leigh) is one degree under the aforsaid Flasque, yet it is commendable Armory. Note. This word Flanch (as some doe hold) is derived from the French word flans, which signifieth the flank, of man or beast, that includeth the small guts, because that part stouteth out, cum tumore quodam, as it were a blown bladder. Sometimes you may find this Ordinary made of some other form of Lines than plain, which when it shall happen, you must in the blazon thereof make speciall mention of the form of Line whereof it is composed.

Last of all in our Ordinaries, cometh the Voider; Voider what. consisting of one Arch Line moderately bowing from the corner of the chief by degrees towards the Nombrill of the Escocheon; and from thence in like sort declining un­till it come unto the Sinister base, and hath a more near resemblance of the bent of a Bow than the Flanch hath, in that it riseth not with so deep a com­passe, as in example.

[Page 76] Reward for a Woman.

[blazon or coat of arms]

He beareth Tenne, two Voiders, Or. This is the Re­Ward of a Gentlewoman for service by her done to the Prince; but when the Voider should be of one of the nine furres or Doublings. Such Reward (saith Leigh) might the Dutches of Montfort have given to her Gen­tlewoman, who served her most diligently, not onely while she kept the Town of Hanybot, but also when she rode armed into the Field and scared the French men from the siege thereof. These are called Voiders, either because of the shallownesse wherein they doe resemble the accustomed voiding Plates with narrow brims used at Tables, Voiders why so called. or else of the French word voire, which signifieth a looking Glasse or Mirror (which in ancient times were commonly made in that bulging form) especially considering they are given to Gentlewomen in recompence of service, unto whom such gifts are most acceptable; and withall implying that Gentlewomen so well deserving, should be mirrors and patterns to others of their sex, wherein to behold both their duties, and the due reward of ver­tues. His counsell was so very behovefull, who advised all Gentlewomen of­ten to look on Glasses; that so, if they saw themselves beautifull, they might be stirred up to make their minds as faire by vertue as their faces were by nature: but if deformed, they might make amends for their out­ward deformity, with their interne pulchr [...]ude and gracious qualities. And those that are proud of their beauty, should consider, that their own hue is as brittle as the Glasse wherein they see it; and that they carry on their shoulders nothing but a Skull wrapt in skinne, which one day will be loath­some to be looked on.

SECT. II. CHAP. VII.

Ordinaries of lines more than two fold.HAving shewed the manner and making of such Ordinaries as are com­posed of a twofold Line: we will now proceed to that other member of the Distribution before delivered, which maketh mention of Ordinaries, consisting of Lines more than twofold; and will shew how they also are made.

Such Ordinaries doe consist of Lines

• Threefold,
• Fourfold.

Those that are formed of a threefold line, are the Inescocheon and the Orle. The Inescocheon is an Ordinary formed of a threefold line, Inescocheon what. representing the shape of the Escocheon, as in example.

Inescocheon named Esco­cheon of Pre­tence.

[blazon or coat of arms]

He beareth, Ermyne, an Inescocheon, Gules, by the name of Hulgreve: This name of Inescocheon, is pro­per onely to those that are borne in this place, for if the same were borne in any other place, than upon the Fesse point of the Shield, you should tearm the same then an Escocheon; and not an Inescocheon: so must you also, if there be more than one in the field. This Escocheon is sometimes tearmed an Escocheon of Pre­tence, as shall appear heareafter. Note. This Ordinary con­taineth the fifth part of the field (saith Leigh, but his demonstration denoteth the third part) and may not be diminished; and albeit it be subject to some alteration, by reason of the different forms of [Page 77] Lines before specified, yet keepeth still one set forme of an Escocheon, as we shall see by and by.

The next in rank of this kind is the Orle, Composition of an Orle. which is an Ordinary composed of a threefold line duplicated, admitting a transparency of the field, throughout the intermost Area or space therein inclosed. This hath the forme of an Inescocheon, but hath not the solid substance thereof, being evermore voided, as in these following Examples appeareth.

[blazon or coat of arms]

He beareth, Or, an Orle, Azure, Derivation. by the name of Ber­tram, Lord of Bothall. This word Orle seemeth to be derived from the French word Oreiller, which signifi­eth a Pillow, and is attributed to this Ordinary, be­cause the same being of a different tincture from the Field, and formed only of a double tract, in regard of the transparency of the Field within, and the surroun­ding thereof without, it receiveth the resemblance of an embossed substance, as if it were raised like a Pil­low above the Field. Ʋpton tearmeth it in Latine, Upton. Tra­ctus which signifieth a Trace, or Traile, because the field is seen both within and without it; and the Traile it self is drawn thereupon in a different colour. If this were flored (saith Leigh) then must it be called a Tressure, which must contain the fifth part of the Field. And if two of these be in an Escocheon, you must tearm them a double tressure. Chassaneus saith, that the Orle is some­times formed of many pieces, and that they are borne to the number of six. As touching the doubling of this plain Orle, I will not here give Example, for that I purpose to present to your view a Threefold Orle or Tract, which doth include the twofold, as in this next Escocheon appeareth.

[blazon or coat of arms]

He beareth Or, an Orle of three pieces, Sable. Orle of three pieces. That this Ordinary is borne of many Tracts, it appeareth by this Example, taken out of Ʋpton for the Readers satisfaction, where it is said, Sunt insuper alii qui habent istum Tractum triplicatum & quadruplicatum, ut nuper in Armis Episcopi Coenomanensis, qui portavit pro Armis unum tractum triplicatum de nigro, in campo aureo: Some beare the Orle tripled and quadrupled, as the late Bishop of Maine, who bare a tripled Orle, Sable, in a field, Or. This Ordinary is born diversly, according to the se­verall formes of Lines, before handled, as may appeare in the Examples en­suing.

[blazon or coat of arms]

He beareth Argent, Orle Engrai­led. an Orle Engrailed on the inner side, Gules. I found this forme of bearing observed by an uncertain Author, whom at first I supposed to have either unskilfully taken, or negligently mi­staken the Trick thereof; but after I had found in Ʋpton, that in Blazoning of an Orle Engrailed, he Bla­zoned the same, An Orle engrailed on both sides, I took more speciall notice of this kind of bearing, for that such a form of Blazon (proceeding from a man so ju­dicious in this kind) seemed covertly to imply a di­stinction of that from this form of bearing. And because diversa juxta se ap­posita magis eluces [...]unt, things differing give light each to other, I will here pro­duce the Coat it self, and the Blason thereof, as I find it set down by Ʋpton.

[Page 78]

[blazon or coat of arms]

Il port (saith he) de Gules ung trace engrailee, de chas­cun cost d'Or. And in Latine thus: Qui habet ista Ar­ma, portat unum tractum ex utra (que) parte ingradatum, de Auro in campo rubro. Note. He beareth an Orle engrailed on both sides, Or, in a field, Gules. And no doubt by heedfull observation you may finde these Orles in like sort borne Invecked, Similium enim similis est ratio; for like things have the reason and respect. Note, that divers Charges, as well artificiall as naturall, are born Orle­wayes, or in Orle; as likewise in form of Crosse, Bend, Cheuron, Saltire, &c. the examples whereof I must passe over, untill a fit place be offered to handle Charges of those kinds. Concerning the bearing of Orles, composed of the sundry sorts of Furs, I hold it needlesse to use ex­amples to expresse them to the view, for that by consideration of the ma­nifold sorts of severall Ordinaries before expressed, their divers manner of bearing may be easily conceived: and therefore I will leave them to ob­servation.

Ordinaries of four-fold lines.Hitherto have we considered the making of such Ordinaries as are com­posed of a threefold Line: Our order calleth me now to speak of such Ordinaries as do require a fourfold Line for the effecting of them.

Of this sort is the

• Crosse,
• Saltire.

Crosse.The Cross is an Ordinary composed of a fourfold Line, whereof two are perpendicular, and the other two are transverse, for so we must conceive of them, though they are not drawn throughout, but meet by couples in four acute Angles neer about the f [...]sse point of the Escocheon; to look upon (if they were couped, as they are sometimes found) like to four Carpenters Squares; as the example following will demonstrate. This Ordinary is cal­led crux à cruciando, or à cruciatu, because of the unspeakable torture and torment which they do suffer, Crux dicitur a cruciatu, in regard of the unspeakeable torture it gave to the execu­ted thereupon. who undergo this kind of death. The con­tent of the Crosse is not the same alwaies; for when it is not charged, then it hath only the fifth part of the field; but if it be charged, then must it contain the third part thereof. To give you particular examples of all the different formes of bearing of the Crosse, were as needless as endless, considering the variety set down by other Authors; I will therefore con­tent my selfe with these ensuing.

[blazon or coat of arms]

The Field is Azure, a Crosse, Or: This Coat-Ar­mour pertaineth to the right worshipfull Family of Shelton, Shelton. in the County of Norfolk, whence descended that Honourable vertuous Lady, Mary Shelton, who was many years of the most Honourable Bedchamber of that Glorious Queen Elizabeth; and was also wife to the right worshipfull Sir John Scudamore, of Home Lacie in the County of Hereford Knight, Standard-bea­rer to her Majesties honorable band of Gentlemen Pen­sioners. This Ordinary is oftentimes diversly named, ac­cording to the diversity of Lines whereof it is composed: for as is the form of Lines whereof it is made, so is the denomination thereof. In the ancientest Institution of the bearing of the Crosse (without all controversie) it had this form; Content of the Crosse. which is taken to be the true shape of the Crosse, where­upon our blessed Saviour Christ Jesus suffered; whose godly observation [Page 79] and use was in great esteeme in the Primitive Church; though in later times it hath been dishonourably entertained by two opposed kinds of fantast­icks; the one, who so superstitiously dote on it, that they adore it like their God: the other, who so unchristianly detest it, that they slander the most godly and ancient use thereof, in our first initiating unto Christ, as if it were some devillish Idoll. But the true Souldiers of such a Captain need not to be ashamed to beare their Generalls ensigne. And this bearing was first bestowed on such as had performed, or at least undertaken, some service for Christ and Christian Profession: and therefore being duly conferred, I hold it the most honourable charg to be found in Heraldrie. But the forme and bearing hereof (as well as the cheurons formerly spoken of) hath been also depraved through the inconsiderate handling of common Painters. For which cause I have caused this precedent crosse onley to be cut after this fashion, in the rest I have ensued the vulgar manner of bearing now used, chusing rather to sway with the multitude in matters of smal importance, than that I would seeme to affect I know not what singularity; Nemo e­nim errantem arguit, qui cum multis errat. This manner of bearing of the pa­tible cross is warranted by Rolls of greatest Antiquitity, and is most conso­nant to reason, that the stem thereof should be much longer than the cross part, by how much it was requisite that the same was to be deeply fixed in the ground: So then if we shall compare this ancient bearing, with that of modern times, we shall find this to be naturall; and that adulterate.

Crosses do receive manifold varieties of Denomination, Divers deno­minations of Crosses. according to the multiplicity of their different shapes, and variable properties of lines whereof they are formed.

The bearing of the crosse, is the expresse note or badge of a Christian that he bear the same according to the prescript rule and will of his Lord and Master. For as Barth. saith, Insignia ad voluntatem Domini sunt portanda, & non alias.

All Crosses may signifie unto us tribulations and afflictions, which (how burthensome soever they may seem to the flesh) yet is there much comfort to be found in them, to those that make a right use of them, and do under­goe the burthen of them chearfully, and without recalcitration. For it is the property of Worldlings that have been dandled (as I may say) in for­tunes lappe, and pampered with worldly delights, to forget both God and themselves, and in their fulness to spurn and kick up the heel; According to that saying of Moses in his Song that he made a little before his death; But he that should have been upright, when he waxed fat, spurned with his heel; He was fat, he was gross, he was laden with fatness, therefore he forsook God that made him, and regarded not the strong God of his Salvation; Deut. 30.15.

Sithence then our Lord and Master (for our sakes) did willingly take up­on him this grievous, and almost unsupportable burthen, why should we then, that would be counted his professed Souldiers and Servants shrink thereat; Especially sithence by the Discipline of the Crosse, we are brought to the true knowledge of God, his Omnipotency, Wisdome, Justice, Mer­cy, and all other his divine Attributes, and of our own miserable and dam­nable estate, through our adherent and inherent corruption of sins as well Actuall, as Originall.

A like form of bearing of this, is that Cross which we find borne in the Shield of S. George; but diversly from this, both in Metall and Colour which of some Armorists of Ʋptons time, (as himself noteth in his discourse of [Page 80] Armes) received in those dayes a very strange and absurd kind of Blazon, which he there setteth downe after this manner; the Shield, Gules, four Quarters, Argent: whose reason herein (saith he) I doe not allow, for that by such manner of Blazon, the bearing of a plaine Crosse shall never be knowne. Moreover, herein also may we observe the Blazon hereof to be erroneous, in that they say, foure Quarters: which are indeed but so many Cantons; else should they all foure meet in the Center of the Escocheon. This Ordinary is subject to voiding and couping, as these examples following shew.

Alphonsus K. of Aragon.

[blazon or coat of arms]

He beareth, Argent, a Crosse voided, Azur. Panormitan writeth of Alphonsus King of Aragon, (what time he besieged Putcoli, a city by the Sea side in Campania) that resorting daily to the Seashore, for his recreation, up­on a time he chanced to finde the corps of a man of Genea in Italy, that had been cast out of a Galley; and thereupon alighting speedily from his horse, caused all others that were neer him to light; and comman­ded some to dig the Grave, whilst others covered the naked Corps: and he himselfe with his own hands did make a Cross of wood, which he sticked fast at the head of the man so in­terred; to testifie that all Christian offices may beseem the greatest Kings; and that whatever death we die, it is not material, so we live to Christ So great is the Resemblance oftentimes of things born in Coat-Armour: which yet in their Existence, are much differing, that a man well seen in Heraldry, may easily commit an error in the blazoning of them, as by comparing of this Coat-Armour with the next will manifestly appear: wherefore you must use an advised deliberation in blazoning, especially of Armes of neer Resemblance.

Crosse Fim­briated.

[blazon or coat of arms]

He beareth, Or, a crosse Patee, Sable, Fimbriated, Gules. The reason wherefore this Cross is called Patee, I will presently shew you, when I come to speak of the Shield of Cadwallader. This approacheth neer to the former in respect of the double tract thereof; yet doth it much differ from the same in substance, forasmuch as the charge of that is a twofold crosse, viz. one sur­mounted of another, and this a single crosse bordured, or invironed with a hem or edge. Moreover, that this is not a cross of Gules, surmounted of another, Sable, it is cleer, because the edge that goeth about this cross is much narrower than is the space between those two crosses. Besides, it cannot stand with the Rules of good Armory, to bear colour upon colour, or metall upon metall. This is called a crosse Fimbriated, of the Latine word Fimbria, which sig­nifieth an edge, welt, or hem, for a Garment, and is to be understood to be of the same thickness with it, and not to lie either upon or underneath.

[blazon or coat of arms]

He beareth, Gules, a Cheuron between ten Cros­ses, Formee, Argent, and is the Coat of the Right Honourable George Lord Barkley, descended in a di­rect male line from Robert Fitzharding, a second son of the bloud Royal of Denmark, whose son Maurice Barkley was Father of Thomas, and he of Maurice, Fa­ther of a second Thomas, called by writ to Parliament the two and twentieth of Edw. the first.

[Page 81]

[blazon or coat of arms]

He beareth, Ermine, a cross ingrailed, Gules, Crosse En­grailed. by the name of Norwood of Lekhampton in the County of Glo­cester. As this cross is formed of bunched lines, so are there others that are composed of sundry other sorts of lines before shewed, as experience will informe you, and as you may in part see by the example fol­lowing.

[blazon or coat of arms]

He beareth, Argent, a crosse wavey, voided, Sable, Crosse wavey. by the name of Duckenfield in Devonshire. In Coats of such bearing, you shall not need to say in the blazon of them, that the charge (whatsoever the same be) is [...]oided of the field: because when you say only voi­ded and no more, it is alwaies understood to be voi­ded of the field.

Of all other sorts of crosses the cross waved is a more speciall note of tribulation, in regard it represen­teth the turbulent Waves or surges of the Seas, occasion [...]d by some turbulent gust or flaw of boystrous winds or storms, causing a success of surging billowes: notifying unto us consequent af­flictions and troubles following immediately one upon anothers [...]eck, which the children of God must sustain with a constant resolution, Fol­lowing therein the instruction of Eccl. 2.1. My son, if thou wilt come [...]nto the service of God, stand fast in Righteousness and fear, and prepare thy soul unto tem­ptation. And again, Settle thy heart and be patient, bow down thine ear, and re­ceive the words of understanding, and shrink not away when thou art assayled, but wait upon God patiently; Joyne thy self unto him and depart not away, that thou mayest be increased at thy last end, Vers. 3.

[blazon or coat of arms]

He beareth Sable, a Crosse, Engrailed, Or, in the first quarter a Mullet, Argent. Tirone, viz. Argent, a Sinister hand coupe, Gules, which is the Coat of that Noble Gentleman Sir Thomas Peyton, son of Sir Samuell of Knolton now first Baronet of Kent. And of Algernoon Peyton of Donington in the Isle of Ely Esquire, son of Sir John, second brother to Sir Thomas Father of Sir Sa­muel.

[blazon or coat of arms]

He beareth Azure, Crusily, a Crosse molline, Or, voided throughout by the name of Knolles, and was the Coat of Sir William Knolles Baron, Viscount Wallingford, and Earl of Banbury, &c.

[Page 82] Crosse Patee Fitched.

[blazon or coat of arms]

He beareth, Or, a crosse patee fitched in the foote, Gules. This Coat was borne by Galfride de Scuda­more that lived in the time of King Henry the second; it is termed fitched of the Latine word figo, which signifieth to fasten or make sure, because by the means of the sharpness added to the foot thereof, it becom­eth more apt to be fastned any where. There is an­other sort of fitching of crosses that have the whole fourth part sigetive, as in this next Escocheon.

Crosse Patee on three parts, and Fitched on the fourth.

[blazon or coat of arms]

The field is Jupiter, a crosse Patee on three parts, and fitched on the f [...]urth, Sol. This (saith Gerard Leigh) was the Shield of blessed Cadwallader last King of Bri­taine; who slew Lothaire King of Kent, and Ethelwold King of South-Saxons. I confess in tearming this kind of crosse, a crosse Patee, I differ from Leigh who calleth it formy: But Chassaneus blazons it Patee, and giveth this reason thereof, Quia extremitates ejus sunt patu­lae, because his ends are broad and opened, Chass. fol. 28. Bara is of the same opinion, Bara le blazon des Arm. 67. and with these agree many of our Blazoners.

[blazon or coat of arms]

He bears Sable, a Crosse potent, Or, by the name of Allen, and is borne by Sir George Allen Baronet, by the decease of Sir Edmund Allen his Nephew with­out issue male. Thomas Allen also of London Alder­man, and John Allen of Grayes-Inne Esquire, that hopefull and ingenious Professor of the Law, are Ornamentall Branches of this Family.

[blazon or coat of arms]

The field is Jupiter, a crosse potent fitched, Sol. This kind of crosse was borne by Etheldred King of the West Saxons, who lived, Anno Salutis, 946.

What a potent is I have formerly shewed in the first Section, p. 24 It may also be blazoned a crosse crowchee, for the resemblance that it hath of a Crowche, which Chau­cer calleth a potent, which is properly sigetive: For were it that the overthwart or crosse part hereof should be exempted, then would the middle part shew it self to be a perfect Crowche, used for the stay and sustentation of feeble and aged persons. Like as old Age is a blessing of God, so contrariwise it is a token of his heavy displeasure, to be cut off before a man shall attain thereto: As appeareth by that saying of God unto E [...]i the Priest, Behold, the dayes come, that I will cut off thine Arme, and the Arme of thy fathers house, that there shall not be an old man in thine house, 1. Sam. 2.31. And again, and there shall not be an old man in thy house for ever, Ver. 32. And further, And all the mul­titude of thine house shall dye when they be men, Ver. 33. Moreover it is said in the Prophet Zach. Zach. 8.4. on the contrary part, Thus saith the Lord of Hostes, There shall yet old men and old women dwel in the [...]reets of Jerusalem; and every man with his Staffe in his hand for very Age: Whereby is meant, that God would preserve them in life, so long as nature might sustain them.

[Page 83]

[blazon or coat of arms]

The Field is Jupiter, a crosse patonce Sol. You may read in Leigh his accidents of Armory, pag. 59. that, King Egbert did beare in battell a crosse of this forme or fashion in his left hand, and in his Azure-coloured banner likewise. Here you may observe how this cross patonce differeth from the crosse patee, (demonstrated before in the Shield of Cadwallader) and also from the crosse Flourey or Flurtee, which I shall presently shew you in Penthars Coat-Armour.

[blazon or coat of arms]

He beareth Azure, a Crosse patee, Or, by the name of Ward, of Kent, London, &c. I know some will quar­rell at my blazoning this Crosse thus, and not either Flory or Patonce which they do weakly surmise to be two different bearings, Crosse voided and Couping. Piercing what. whereas it is manifest by ob­servations of old Seals, Monuments, &c. that it was the Fancy or Error of the Painter or Carver to make the points expand open, or patere, or more erect as is found by hourely experience: now for calling it Patee which is a title given to a Crosse of another forme, as may be seen in the Coate of Scudamore and Cadwallader, immediately before there appear to me great reason to adhear to the o­pinion of Leigh, and not to expunge the word Formee quite, for what is said of that Crosse may better fit this, extremitates ejus sunt patulae, his ends broad and opened, that Crosse being broad formed, but not opened.

[blazon or coat of arms]

He beareth Ermine, a Crosse, Raguly, Gules, a Can­ton, Ermines, which is the bearing of that worthy and accomplished Gentleman John Laurence now Sheriff of London, 1658.

Whereas I have formerly made mention of Voiding in the Chapter of bends, and of one other Accident, namely Couping in the Chapter of Fesses, I will now expresse them both in one example in this Escocheon following.

[blazon or coat of arms]

He beareth Argent, a crosse voided and couped, Sable, by the name of Woodnoth.

There is another Accident whereunto this Ordinary is subject, that is to say Piercing. Piercing is a Penetrati­on or Perforation of things that are of solid substance: and it is threefold:

That is to say

• Round.
• Losengwaies.
• Quadrate.

[Page 84]

[blazon or coat of arms]

He beareth Gules, a Fesse between three Crossets, Fitchee, Or, by the Name of Gore, of which Family are the two Sir John Gores of Hertfordshire, Sir Willi­am Gore of Ireland Baronet, William Gore of Moreden in Surrey Esquire chosen Alderman, Gerrard Gore of Tottenham, and his Brother Robert Gore of London, Merchant Adventurer, Gerad Gore late chosen Al­derman, and divers other persons of Worth and Reputation.

[blazon or coat of arms]

He bears Azure, a Fesse, Dauncette, Ermine, be­tween six Crossets, Argent, which is the Coat of Bar­nardiston of Suffolk, a very Ancient and Knightly Family now flourishing in the Persons of Sir Thomas Barnardiston Knight, Nathaniell, Samuell Pelethiah, Wil­liam and Arthur, Barnardiston, Merchants, of the Le­vant, Sons of Sir Nathaniell Barnardiston late deceased, Knighted at Therbald, December 1618.

Round Pier­cing.As touching Round Piercing, you have an example in this next follow­ing Escocheon.

[blazon or coat of arms]

He beareth, Sable, a Crosse couped, Pierced, Or, by the name of Grill. If this Round in the middest were of a­ny other colour than of the Field, then should you ac­count the same to be a Charge to the Crosse where­fore good heed must be taken in blazoning of Coats of this kind, and chiefly of the Orbicular form in the middest of the Charge; to the end that you may know when to take the same for a Piercing, and when for a Charge.

Crosse Moline Losenge pier­ced.

[blazon or coat of arms]

The Field is Azure, a Crosse Molinge Pierced Lo­sengewaies, Or. This is the second forme of Piercing before mentioned, and the Coat was borne by Ri­chard de Molineux of Lancaster, that lived in the time of King Richard the second. Concerning this Crosse Moline, (Leigh saith) that if it stood Saltire-waies, then should you call it Ferre de Molin, that is to say, a Mill Rinde, or the Inke of a Mill: which to me seemeth a very Paradox, that Transposition (being a thing meerly accidentall) should give a new deno­mination, to the thing transposed, and consequently alter the essence thereof: Quia novum nomen dat novum esse rei, where are new names, new things are supposed to be. It were a thing worthy of admiration, that Ac­cidents should have such power in them; for Aristotle Physicorum 1. saith, Accidentia possunt miraculose, & non alias mutare subjectum: Accidents change not the subject but by Miracle. Addition doubtlesse and Substraction, are of greater force than Transmutation or Location, yet is there no such power in them as that they can alter the essence of any thing, Quia augmentum vel diminutio (saith Chassaneus) circa accidentia contractuum non reponunt [Page 85] contractum in diverso esse, neque per ea intelligitur ab eo in substantialibus re­cessus: the adding or diminishing of Accidents makes not the thing lose the na­ture of his being.

[blazon or coat of arms]

He beareth, Azure, a Crosse Moline, Quarter-pierced, Crosse Moline quarter-pier­ced. Or. This Coat was borne by Thomas Molyneux of Haughton, in the County of Notting. that lived in the time of King Henry the fourth. Leigh in blazoning of this form of Crosse, maketh no mention at all of the Piercing thereof, perhaps because it resembleth the Inke of a Mill, which is evermore Pierced. This is termed Quarter peirced, quasi, Quadrate peirced, for that the piercing is square as a Trencher.

So much of the Crosse, with the Accidents thereof: A Saltire what. Now of that other Ordinary that is framed also of a four-fold line, that is to say, a Saltire. A Saltire is an Ordinary consisting of a fourfold line, wherof two are drawn from the Dexter chief towards the Sinister base corners, and the other from the Sinister chief towards the Dexter base points, and do meet about the middest by couples in Acute-angles. I know the learned Geometer will find many more lines here than I doe mention: but (as I said of lines in the Crosse) this our description agreeth best with Heralds, and our pur­pose.

[blazon or coat of arms]

He beareth, Sable, a Saltire, Argent, The use of a Saltire. by the name of Aston. In old time (saith Leigh) this was made of the hight of a man, and was driven full of Pinnes, the use whereof was, to scale the walls therewith, to which end the Pinnes served commodiously. In those daies (saith he) the walles of townes were but low, as appear­eth by the walles of Rome, which Remus easily lea­ped over: and the walles of Winchester, which were overlooked by Colebrand the Chieftaine of the Danes, who was slaine by Guy Earle of Warwick, who was Champion for King Athelstane.

[blazon or coat of arms]

He beareth Argent, a Saltier, Gules by the name of Gerard, of which Family is that true noble Gentleman the Lord Gerard Baron of Gerards Bromley in the Coun­ty of Stafford, and also Sir Gilbert Gerard of Harrow Hill in Middlesex.

[blazon or coat of arms]

He beareth Argent, a Saltier, Azure, in Chief three Ermines, by the name of Williams, of London, and is borne by William Williams of London Merchant of the Levant, a person of eminent note and Reputati­on; and by Daniel Williams his Brother, as also by John Williams and William Williams, and a third Bro­ther, all Merchants of London.

[Page 86] A Saltire verrey.

[blazon or coat of arms]

He beareth, Gules, a Saltire, Verrey, by the name of Willington. This Ordinary is limited to the fifth part of the Field, the same not being charged, but if it be charged, then shall it contain the third part there­of. This charge also varieth his name in Blazon, accor­ding to the diverse formes of Lines, whereof the same is composed; for that it is no lesse diversly made in respect of the lineaments thereof, than the Crosse be­fore handled.

SECT. II. CHAP. VIII.

Divers bearing of Ordinaries.HAving hitherto shewed at large the severall forms of making of such Charges as we call honourable Ordinaries: Order requireth that I should now shew their diverse manner of Bearing, according to our prefixed Di­stribution.

These are borne

• Simple,
• Compound.

Those are said to be borne Simple. when onely Ordinaries do appear in the field.

[blazon or coat of arms]

He beareth Ermine, a Saltier, Engrailed, Sable, by the Name of Ingoldesby, and was the Coat of Sir Ri­chard Ingoldesby late of Lethenborough in Buckingham­shire Knight, who by Elizabeth Daughter of Sir Oliver Cormwell of Hinchingbrook, in the County of Hunting­ton, Knight of the Bath, hath left a Noble and hope­full Progeny.

[blazon or coat of arms]

He beareth parted per pales, Ermine and Ermines, a Saltire ingrailed, counter-changed by the names of Latton, of Kingston in the County of Berks, a person of good worth and quality.

[blazon or coat of arms]

He beareth parted per pale, Argent and Vert, a Sal­tier counterchanged, and a Canton, Ermine, by the Name of Hunt, and is the Coat of that ingenious Gen­tleman Richard Hunt of Rumford in the County of Essex.

[Page 87]

[blazon or coat of arms]

He beareth Gyrony of four, Argent and Gules, a Saltire between as many Croslets, all counter-chan­ged, this is the Coat of Sir Roger Twisden of East Peck­ham in Kent, Knight and Baronet, a worthy Gentle­man and judicious Antiquary; as well appears to those whose studies are that way inclined: nor lesse eminent and celebrated for his understanding in the Lawes is his Brother Thomas Twisden Esquire, Serje­ant at Law, Sons of Sir William Twisden, Knighted May the 11. 1603. created Baronet June 29. 1611. by Ann Finch Daughter of Elizabeth, Countesse of Winchelsey, by whom he had also William, John and Francis, Elizabeth wife of Sir Hugh Cholmley Knight and Baronet, and Anne married to Christopher Yelverton Knight and Baronet, which Family aforesaid by marriage of the Daugh­ter and heir of Chelmington of Chelmington in Chart. magna, there seated themselves many Ages agoe, though since removed to Roydon Hall in East Peckham, by marrying Elizabeth Daughter and Heir of Thomas Roydon Esquire then Proprietor.

These Ordinaries comprehend

• One sort.
• Divers sorts.

Ordinaries are said to be of one sort, Ordinaries of one sort what. when only one kind of them is borne in the Field without mixture of any other.

Whose bearing is

• Single,
• Manifold.

By single bearing I understand some one Ordinary borne alone in the Es­cocheon: Single bearing what. such are these precedent examples before handled.

By Manifold bearing of Ordinaries, Manifold bea­ring what. I mean the bearing of divers Ordi­naries of the same kind, whether the same be borne of themselves alone, or else conjunctly with some of their Subdivisions.

Which forme of bearing is twofold, viz

• One upon another.
• One besides another.

What is meant by the bearing of Ordinaries of one kind, one upon ano­ther, may be easily conceived by these four Escocheons next following.

[blazon or coat of arms]

He beareth, Ermine, a crosse, Gules, surmounted of another, Argent, by the name of Malton. Amongst the crosses formerly exemplified, I have given an ex­ample of one much like to this in shew, but yet much differing from the same, as you will easily find by comparing them together: for in the former the field sheweth thorough the innermost parts thereof, but in this it is farre otherwise; forasmuch as herein are two crosses, whereof that which lyeth next the Field is, Gules, and the other that is placed upon the same is Argent; so as in this it can by no means be conceived to be of that kind before handled, for then should the Ermines appear in the inner part thereof, as well as in the rest of the Field, then might you boldly call the same a crosse voided, as that formerly handled.

[Page 88]

[blazon or coat of arms]

He beareth, Vert, a crosse couped, Argent, charged with another, Gules. This example doth more appa­rantly expresse the double charge shewed in the last precedent Escocheon, for that the crosse that lieth next the field is made more spacious than the former: and withall it doth inform our understanding, that there is great difference betweene the bearing of this, and of the Crosse fimbriated, herein, that in the crosse fimbri­ated the edges thereof doe occupy the least portion thereof, and in this the surmounting Crosse hath the least part of the same. This therefore cannot by any means de understood to be a Crosse fimbriated, for so should the gard or edge thereof be larger than the thing that is said to be guarded, which were a very absurd affir­mation.

Saltire Char­ged.

[blazon or coat of arms]

He beareth, Gules, a Saltire, Or, charged with ano­ther, Vert, by the name of Andrewes. What hath been formerly said in the last precedent example touching the Cross, doth hold also in this and other like bearings: for in things having a conformity or resemblance one of another, the same reason holdeth in the one as in the other: where contrariwise, of things having no resemblance or likeness, the reason is diverse. Saltire what use thereof. This Engine (as Leigh noteth) in old time was of the height of a man, and was borne of such as used to scale the walls of Cities or Towns (which then were but low) and it was driven full of pins fit for that purpose. Ʋpton saith, it was an En­gine to catch wild beasts, and therefore bestowed upon rich and covetous persons, that willingly will not depart from their substance.

Ordinnaries borne one be­sides another.Proceed we now to examples of Ordinaries of the same kind borne one besides another: such are these next following, and their like.

Three Pallets.

[blazon or coat of arms]

The Field is, Argent, three Pallets, Gules. This Coat appertaineth to the ancient Family of Berchem, Lord of Berchem in Brabant near Antwerpe. And as there are Ordinaries of this kind borne in straight lines, so are they also borne in lines unde, as in example. The bea­ring of Piles, Pales, Bends, Barres, and their extracted parts, was called of old Heralds, Restriall, in respect of their strength and solid substance, which is able to abide the stresse and force of any triall they shall be put unto.

Pallets waved.

[blazon or coat of arms]

He beareth, Argent, three Pallets Wave, Gules, by the name of Downs of Debnam, Suffolke. Note, that such Ordinaries, as either of themselves, or else by rea­son of some charge imposed upon them, do challenge the third part of the Field, are exempted from this kind of bearing one besides another, because of such the Field can contain but one of them at once. But their Derivatives or Subdivisions may well be sorted with them in the same Escoheon; as a Pale between Two Endorses, a Bend between two Cotises, and such like of the same kind, as in example.

[Page 89]

[blazon or coat of arms]

The Field is Azure, a Bend Ingrailed, Argent, Co­tissed, Or. This Coat-Armour pertaineth to the wor­thy Family of Fortescue of Devon. As these Cotisses are borne plain, so shall you finde them varied after the divers formes of lines before expressed, as in these ex­amples following may in part be seene: and Vptons assertion (before delivered) touching their diversitie of shapes approved as by practice the diligent obser­ver shall easily peceive.

[blazon or coat of arms]

He beareth Sable, a Bend, Argent, between two Co­tisses dauncette, Or, by the name of Clopton, albeit these Cotisses may seeme to be of a divers kind from the Bend wherewith they are sorted: yet is it otherwise inas­much as they are subdivisions abstracted from the Bend, as hath beene before shewed. Now I will shew you Bends borne one besides the other.

[blazon or coat of arms]

The Field is Argent, two bends, Gules. This Coat-Armour I finde in an Ancient Manuscript, of Collection of Englishmens Armes in Metall and Colours, with the Blazon in French, of the time of our Henry the Sixt, as it is apparent by the Character of the letter: over which Coat-Armour is there written the bearers name, viz. Mounsieur John Haget; from whom Master Barthol­mew Haget, late Consull of Aleppo, deriveth his descent. This booke at this present remaineth in the custody of a worthy friend of mine, a curious Collector and carefull preserver of such ancient monuments.

[blazon or coat of arms]

Or, two Bendlets, Azure, by the name of Doyly, a Family of very great antiquity, and divers hundreds of years agoe Barons of Parliament; for Robert Lord Oy­ley or d'Oyley came into England with the Conqueror and founded the Castle of Oxford within five years of the Conquest, whose Son Robert the second Lord D'-Oiley was Constable to King Henry the first, and foun­ded the Abbey of Osney.

[blazon or coat of arms]

He beareth Azure, three Croslets, Fitchee between two Bendlets, Or, being the Coat of Sir Norton Knatch­hull of Marsham Hatch in the County of Kent Knight and Baronet, a Gentleman of much worth and wise­dome, and generally beloved in his Country.

[Page 90]

[blazon or coat of arms]

He beareth Argent, three Bends wavey, Azure. This is the ancient Paternall Coat-Armour belonging to Wilbraham of Ch [...]shire, as appeares by divers Records in the Office of Armes, and elsewhere. The chiefe of which name is Sir Richard Wilbraham of Woodhey Knight and Baronet, lineally descended from Sir Ri­chard Wilbraham Knight, who lived in the Raigne of King Henry the third, and was high Sheriffe of the aforesaid County in the beginning of King Ed­ward the first. From which Family of Wilbraham of Woodhey descended Sir Roger Wilbraham Knight, lately one of the Ma­sters of Requests in Ordinary to King Iames, and Surveyor of his Majesties Court of Wards and Liveries; who at Nantwich (the place of his birth) and elsewhere, hath by his charitable Acts left pious Monuments of his name and memory. Master Boswell in his Workes of Armory observeth that the Bearer of such Bends as these, or of the like Coat-Armour may be thought to have done some great enterprise upon the Seas worthy of perpetuall commendation. As for Ordinaries of other sorts borne likewise one be­sides another of the same kind, behold these next Examples.

[blazon or coat of arms]

He beareth Azure, three Barres waved, Argent, by the name of Samford. To the end I may make plaine (by demonstration) the use of the severall formes of Lines before expressed; I made choise of this Coat-Armour; to exemplifie the third sort of Bunched lines there men­tioned. This kind of bearing may put us in minde, that like as in a tempestuous storme, the seas being trou­bled, do raise their waves one immediatly upon ano­ther: So likewise hath God ordained that one trouble should succeede an other to keep his chosen in conti­nuall exercise, and may have manifold experiments of his gracious provi­dence and fatherly care, in preserving of them in all their troubles, and giveth them a comfortable event, and happy end of all their afflictions: As appeareth. Iob 5.19. He shall deliver thee in six troubles, and in the seventh the evill shall not touch thee. It is a blessed thing to be under Gods correction, as witnesseth Iob 5.17. Behold, blessed is the man whom God correcteth, therefore refuse not thou the chastisement of the Almighty: for he maketh the wound and bindeth it up, he smiteth and his hands make whole, Vers 18. Againe, he delive­reth the poore in affliction; and openeth their Eare in trouble, Io [...] 36.15. By af­flictions God moveth the hearts of his children to feele their sinnes, that they may come to him by repentance, as he did Manasseh. And if they be bound in fetters and tied with cords of affliction, (Iob 36.8.) Then will he shew them their worke, and their transgressions that they have exceeded, Verse 9. Behold God exalteth by his power, what teacher is like unto him? Verse 22. Affliction bringeth us to knowledge and acknowledging of our sinnes, as we may see, Deuter. 31.17.

[Page 91]

[blazon or coat of arms]

He beareth, Or, three Barres Dauncette, Gules, Dauncette. by the name of Delamare. This example serveth to in­forme our understanding of the use of that sort of A­cute anguled Ordinaries, that in Blazon we terme by the name of Dauncette; and is in shape like to that other sort of Acute anguled Line, which is there named In­dented, but differeth from the same onely in quantitie, wherein these doe exceede those, as deing more spa­ciously drawn than they.

Now from Ordinaries of the same kind borne one upon another, and one besides another, with their extracted Subdivsions, Ordinaries of divers kinds. proceede we to Ordinaries of divers kinds, and their Diminitives abstracted from them, eftsoones found likewise borne both one upon another, and one besides another: Such are these next following and their like.

[blazon or coat of arms]

He beareth, Gules, on a Cheuron, Argent, Cheuron with Barres Gemelles. three Barres Gemelles, Sable, by the name of Throkmorton of Gloucester shire. These are termed in Blazon Barres Ge­melles, of the Latine word Gemellus, which signifieth a Twin, or children of one birth, as Gemelli fratres, brothers of one birth, for like as these are twins of a birth, so are those in like sort borne by couples.

[blazon or coat of arms]

He beareth, Sable, a Pile, Argent, Pile and Cheuron. surmounted of a Cheuron, Gules, by the name of Dyxton. This Coat is found in the Abby Church of Cirencester in the County of Gloucester; and it serveth fitly to exemplifie a Rule formerly delivered touching the usuall Blazoning of distinct things borne in one Escocheon; viz. that the Charge lying next and immediatly upon the Field, shall be first nominated, and then things more re­mote.

[blazon or coat of arms]

He beareth, Sable, on a Satire Engrailed, Argent, Saltire and In­escocheon. an Inescocheon, Or, charged with a Crosse, Gules, by the name of Morris. It may be of some conceived that there is false Armory in this Coat, in respect of the Escocheon, Or, placed upon the Saltire, Argent, which is Metall upon Metall, a kinde of bearing (as also colour upon colour) utterly condemned for false Armorie: but such kind of falsitie is evermore meant of metall upon metall, or colour upon colour, placed in one self-same Escocheon: but here are severall Sheilds, and those pertaining to distinct Families, and therefore not to be holden for false Armorie.

[Page 92] Pale and bor­dure.

[blazon or coat of arms]

He beareth, Argent, on a Pale, Sable; three Crosses Pa­tee, Or, within a Bordure Engrailed, of the second, by the name of Crowch of Alswike in the County of Hartford. Here you may observe that when you are to Blazon an Escocheon wherein are borne a Pale and a Bodure, that you must mention the Pale before the Bordure.

Fesse and can­ton.

[blazon or coat of arms]

The Field is, Argent, a Fesse and Canton, Gules. This Coat-Armour pertained to the honourable Family of Woodvile, created Earle Rivers in the time of King Ed­ward the Fourth, who was also L. Treasurer of England: from whom many worthy persons of high calling are descended. As touching Ordinaries of divers kindes borne one upon another, you must observe, that if they be both of one metall, colour, or Furre, their parts contingent are not severed by purfle, for that by their formes it may be easily conceived what Ordinaries they are, notwithstanding the defect of the purfle.

Barres and canton.

[blazon or coat of arms]

He beareth, Gules, two Barres and a Canton, Ar­gent, by the name of Deane, of Tatton in the County of Hereford. As to the omission of purfle last before mentioned, the Rule there given holdeth not alone in that, but also in these and all other Coats of like bearing, I mean such as have in them a Canton or Quarter borne joyntly (as in these) with some other Ordinary of the same metall, colour, or fur, now I will adde one example of the joynt bearing of a Canton with three Bars, as in this next Escocheon appeareth.

Three Barres, and canton.

[blazon or coat of arms]

He beareth, Argent, three Bars and a Canton, Gules, by the name of Fuller. Many more examples of Coat-armours of like sort of bearing could I produce, were it not that I hold these few sufficient to inform the understanding of studious Armorists, that as well Or­dinaries of divers kinds, as those of the same kind, are found born one upon another; & withal to occasion them to prie more narrowly into these curious and nice manners of bearing, which numbers of them do sleightly passe over, as if they held them unworthy of more than ordinary observation. But here the Bars are cut too little.

Bend and Chief.

[blazon or coat of arms]

He beareth, Sable, a Bend and Chief; Or. This is a Coat of rare bearing, which I find cut in stone in the Abby Church of Westminster, in the North part there­of. The conjoyning of these two Ordinaries doth constitute (on the left side thereof) the forme of a Gyronne; and the Ordinaries themselves thus united, do resemble the form of the Arithmeticall figure of Seven turned backwards.

Now for Ordinaries of divers kinds borne one be­sides another, you shall have these Examples ensuing.

[Page 93]

[blazon or coat of arms]

He beareth, Or, a Fesse between two Cheurons, Sable; This Coat-armour was borne by Sir John Lisle Knight, one of the first founders of the most Noble Order of the Garter, as appeareth by his Plate whereon these armes are enameled, and yet remaining in his Stall in the Quier in the Chappel of Saint George at Winsore. Which Sir John Lisle was Lord of the Mannor of Wilbraham in the County of Cambridge, of which said Mannor Wil­liam Lisle Esquire is at this day Seised. A Gentleman, to whom the Studious in our ancient Saxon tongue are much obliged, for the clear light he hath given therein by his great travell and pains.

Robert Lisle, who was a Baron in the times of King Edward the second, and Edward the third, bore the same Coat-Armour. And diverse Anti­ent and Eminent Nobles of this Kingdome do rightfully quarter these Armes, being descended from the heirs generall of the Family of Lisle.

[blazon or coat of arms]

He beareth, Gules, a Crosse, Argent, Crosse and Escocheon Dexter. in the Dexter Quarter, an Escocheon, Or, charged with three Cheu­ronels of the first, by the name of Saint Owen; which Family either for affection, or for some Lands which they anciently held of the house of Clare, may seem to have assumed the Armes of the said Clare in the dexter point of the Field; which forme of bearing is of very rare use.

[blazon or coat of arms]

He beareth, Argent, a Crosse-floury, Gules, in the Si­nister quarter, an Escocheon, Sable, charged with a cross of the first; by the name of Penthar. This Coat I have also inserted here, because of the variety and rarity of it, being of no lesse rarenesse than the former, and seldome seen to be borne by any: in Blason of which I break not the Rule formerly given, by twice re­peating the word cross, because it is in the Eseocheon by it selfe.

[blazon or coat of arms]

The Field is Topaz, a Saltire and chief, Ruby; Saltire and the Chief. and is the Armes of Thomas Bruce Lord of Kinloss in Scotland, Earl of Elgin, and Lord Bruce of Worleton in the Coun­ty of Yorke, Persons of much worth, and great Lovers of Arts and Sciences. These Armes sometime belonged to the old Bruses of Anandale, and also to the Earles of Carict; out of which House this▪ right honourable Lord derived his descent.

[Page 94] Barres and Chiefe inden­ted.

[blazon or coat of arms]

He beareth, Gules, two barres and a chiefe indented, Or, by the name of Hare; and as I take it, derived from the ancient Armes of Harecourt, and is the Coat of Sir Ralph Hare of Stow Bardolph in Com. Norf. and also of the Lord Hare, Baron Colrane, a Family of no mean account, whose Coat-Armour it is if the chief were a­way. In this Escocheon you may observe in some part, the variable shape of chiefs, occasioned by reason of divers formes of lines (before shewed) whereof they are composed. The rest, time and diligent observation will make plain.

Cheuronels and Chiefe.

[blazon or coat of arms]

The Field is Azure, three cheuronels, brased in the base of the Escocheon, and a chief, Or. This Coat Ar­mour pertaineth to the honourable Family of Fitz-Hugh, sometimes ancient Barons of the North parts of this Land; of whom the right honourable the Earl of Pembrook is heir, and writeth himself, Earle of Pen­brooke. amongst his other titles, Lord Fitz Hugh, and also quartereth the Coat. These are tearmed in Blazon Ch [...]uronels, in respect they are abstracted from cheurons, whereof they have not alone the shape, but also a borrowed name of diminution, as if you should call them minute, or small cheu­rons.