Order of the Author and begin with the Ensigns of the Actions of Estate Civill and first with the Highest and Soveraign as in example The cause that moved the Aegyptians to insert a Crown amongst their sacred or Hierogliphicall letters may not impertinently be expressed in this place where we are to handle their divers forms according to the severall dignities and estates to whom they do appertain for as Gamesters make but cold sport when there is no mony at stake so knowledge doth oftentimes faint if it be not seasoned with the Salt of reason In this Hierogliphick we may observe the foure causes of the Law The efficient cause is understood by the head of the King that is adorned with this Crown The finall cause is conceived by the Flowers or by the profitable use of fruit which how great the same in likely-hood will be may be conjectured by the flowers The materiall cause may be gathered by the context or interlaced form and workmanship of the Crown which carryeth a resemblance of the people or Subjects Finally by the Orbicular form of the Crown is understood Justice and amongst Mathematicians the Sphericall form is reckoned the perfectest and most noble Farnes 3.65 The Prince is to the people the author of all goodnesse inasmuch as from him as from a plentifull Fountain doth flow a sweet current of plentifull streams of honour profit and pleasure In regard whereof he is reputed to be the common parent of all his Subjects in that he affordeth unto them whatsoever a Naturall parent oweth to his Children The platting of these flowers in the Crown doth represent the end of the Law which end hath his determinate period in utility Farnes 4.66 for that Tree which beareth no blossomes for the most part produceth no fruit at all Ibid. Crowns in times past have been of great value and sumptuously enriched with precious stones as we may read 1 Chro. 20.2 And David took the Crown of their King from off his head and found it to weigh a Talent of Gold and there were precious stones in it And it was set on Davids head In these latter ages the Emperour elected before his Coronation doth write himself King of the Romans as a Title of lesse esteem and dignity than is the title of Emperour But in ancient times the Romans had three degrees of supream dignity that is to say a King a Dictator an Emperour and of these the dignity of a King was the chiefest and next thereto the dignity of a Dictator was holden the worthiest And after the Dictatorship the estate of an Emperour held the third place as inferiour to both the other Hereof we have a manifest proof in that the Senate and people of Rome minding to give unto Octavian the Emperour being a man well deserving of them some advancement or increase of honour and dignity they purposed to make him Dictator which he reverently bowing his knee refused for that he reputed the same a Dignity more ambitious and of greater esteem and withall more subjected to spite and envy Esteeming the Title of the Emperour to be popular and of small account in comparison of the eminency of a Dictatorship We may easily perceive by this that Julius Caesar that time he was Dictator did affect to aspire to the dignity of a King for which cause he was slain forasmuch as the Citizens could not endure that he should exercise Royall authority over them but well could they suffer him to use the power of a Dictator as a jurisdiction of lesse esteem Leonard Aretini Epistolar Lib. 5. There can be but one King at one time in a Realme whose power must be absolute for the better managing of the estate and affaires thereof for if there be more they will crosse and hinder each other in his government and so destroy the nature of a King in that neither of them can sway the whole weale-publick but each of them should admit a participation in government This do both ancient and modern times manifest unto us by examples for neither Numa nor Hostilius nor Ancus Martius nor any other of succeeding Kings of the Romans could endure any fellow or copartner in government the like also may we observe in Kings of modern times for neither doth England or France admit more than one King at once to sway the Soveraign state but one alone hath the sole government So that it is a thing meerly repugnant to the naturall Royall Jurisdiction that two persons at one time should exercise Kingly Authority It is in your choice whether you will term the foresaid Crowns Or or not for it sufficeth onely to mention their Forme because it is proper to them to be made of Gold But when they are found to be borne in other kind of Metals or Colours you should in Blazoning make mention whereof they are A Scepter with many nations is holden for an especiall ensigne of Royall Jurisdiction and authority and the extending thereof a speciall note of the placability and Royall favour of the King As we may see Hester 15.14 And he held up his golden Scepter and laid it upon her Neck That the Scepter betokeneth jurisdiction and authority it is manifest by that which is written Baruc. 6.13 One holdeth a Scepter as if he were a Judge of the Country yet can he not slay such as offend him Which is here spoken of the vanity of the Idols before mentioned in the same Chapter Now shall you see in Babylon Gods of Silver and of Gold and of wood borne upon mens shoulders to cause them to fear Hitherto of Honorary Ensignes that serve for a Declaration of the Royall Majesty or function of an Emperour or King and are worne by the persons themselves that do exercise Soveraign Jurisdiction over their Subjects within their Dominions To which Ensigns I hold it not impertinent to adde these few Attires or Ornaments following viz. Garters and Tassels as in example Now of those other Honorary Ensigns that are born before an Emperour or King or Persons that do exercise Soveraign Jurisdiction as their Vicegerents holding place of Supream dignity under them in signification of that their dignity which for brevities sake I will here onely name leaving their examples to be hereafter observed Such are the Sword of Estate the Canopy of Estate the Cap of maintenance the Purse wherein the great Seal is borne the great Mace c. All which shall follow hereafter in place convenient SECT IV. CHAP. II. Ensignes Ecclesiasticall HAving in the former Chapter discoursed of things Honorary representing Estate or Dignity Temporall Let us now consider of such Ornaments as bear a representation of Estate or Dignity Ecclesiasticall according to the distribution thereof of which sort are these ensuing examples In Blazon here you shall not say debruised or oppressed both in respect the Croysier extendeth not to the extremities of the Escocheon as also in respect of the slender substance thereof whereby it may be
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 incendunâ—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 vâ—ris religiosis non propter strenuitatem sed propter honorem quia honorabile est Arma portare ut Doctor in legibus viginâ—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 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 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
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 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 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 Acute-anguled so named because their corners or angles are acute or sharp and these we call Indented after this manner Daunsette which are formed after this sort 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 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. 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 A Chief saith Sir John Ferne may be honoured of another as an Addition to the former as in Examples 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 â—hether it be charged or not 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 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
Copiousnesse in their Number but onely that by the assistance of some few chief Examples that which hath been delivered by Precepts and Rules may be the more easily understood The Eagle having her wings thus displayed doth manifest her industrious exercise in that she is not idle Signification of the Eagle displayed but continually practiseth that course of life whereunto nature hath ordained her and doth signifie a man of action evermore occupied in high and weighty affaires and one of a lofty spirit ingenious speedy in apprehension and judicious in matters of ambiguity For amongst other noble qualities in the Eagle her sharpnesse and strength of sight is much commended and it is a greater honour to one of noble off-spring to be wise and of sharp and deep understanding than to be rich and powerfull or great by birth As the Terrestrial Animals have their peculiar actions and gestures so doubtless have Birds and Fowles their gesture according to their kind for sometime we find them born pearching which action is more usuall with Birds or Fowles of Prey that are throughly mained and brought to the fist As in this example Now sithence we are come to treat of Fowles of Prey Whereof next to the Eagle which is reckoned the Soveraign Queen of all Fowles like as the Lyon is reputed the King of all Beasts the Goshawk the Falcon the Ger-falcon and all other long winged Hawkes as also all Sparhawkes Marlyons Hobbeyes and other like small Fowles of Prey are the chief it shall not be altogether impertinent though therein I do somewhat digresse from my principall purpose if I give some litte touch of the propriety of terms commonly used of Fawlconers in mannaging their Hawkes and things to them appurtenent according to the slendernesse of my skill always subscribing herein to the censure and reformation of professed Fawlconers The cause of this my digression is the desire I have to give some superficiall taste unto Gentlemen of the terms of Fawlconry like as I have done Chap. 14. of the terms of skilfull Woodmen or Huntsmen That so in their mutuall conversing together they may be able to speak properly though but superficially and deliver their mindes in apt terms when in their meetings they happen to fall into discourse of the noble recreations and delights either of our generous Armorial profession or of Hunting and Hawking That so the standers by may say of them when they shall observe their skilfull discourses as old Father Simon said to Sofia his late Bondman touching the delights of his Son Pamphilus Ter. And. Quod plerique omnes faciunt adolescentuli Vt animum ad aliquod studium adjungant aut equos Alere aut canes ad venandum aut ad Philosophos Horum ille nihil egregie praeter caetera Studebat tamen omnia haec mediocriter It is an usuall thing with the most part of young men to delight themselves either in pampering of Horses or to cherish Dogs for hunting or to addict themselves to the study of Philosophy he fixed not his delight in any one of these more then another yet was he meetly well seen in them all The terms of Fawlconry that I purpose to touch in this place are briefly these that follow First a Hawk is said to Bate when she striveth to fly from the fist She is said to Rabate when by the motion of the bearers hand she recovereth the fist You must say Feed your Hawk and not Give her meat A Hawk is said after the hath fed she smiteth or sweepeth her Beak and not wipeth her Beak or Bill By the Beak of an Hawk is understood the upper part which is nooked The nether part of the Beak is called the Hawks Clap. The holes in the Hawks Beak are called her Nares The yollow between the Beak and the Eys is called the Sere Hawks of long small black feathers like hairs about the Sere are properly called Crinites You must say your Hawk jouketh and not sleepeth Also your Hawk pruneth and not picketh her self But your Hawk cannot be said properly to prune her self but when she begineth at her legs and fetcheth moisture at her tail wherewith she embalmeth her feet and striketh the feathers of her wings through her Beak Her fetching of the Oil is called the Note Your Hawk is said to Rowse and not shaketh her self Sometime your Hawk countenances when she picketh her self Then shall you not say She pruneth her self but that she reformeth her feathers Your Hawk Collieth and not Beaketh your Hawk straineth not clitcheth or snatcheth She mantleth and not stretcheth when she extends one of her wings along after her legs and so the other After she hath thus mantled her self she crosseth her wings together over her back which action you shall term the warbling of her wings and say She warbleth her wings You shall say your Hawk Mutesheth or Muteth and not skliseth You shall say Cast your Hawk to the Pearch and not Set your Hawk upon the Pearch Furthermore You shall say She is a fair long short thick Hawk and not a great Hawk Also you shall say This Hawk hath a large or short Beak but call it not a Bill Also your Hawk is full gorged and not cropped And that she hath a fine head or a small head well seasoned You shall say Your Hawk putteth over and Endueth but both of them in a diverse kind She putteth over when she removeth her meat from her Gorge into her Bowels by traversing with her body but chiefly with her Neck as a Crane or some other Bird doth She never Endueth so long as her Bowels be full at her feeding but as soon as she hath fed and resteth she Endueth by little and little If her Gorge be voyd and her Bowels any thing stiff then shall you say She is emboweled and hath not fully endued So long as you finde any thing in her Bowels it is dangerous to give her meat This bird according to Vpton doth shew that he that first took upon him the bearing thereof was such an one as did eagerly pursue vex and molest poor and sillie creatures 〈…〉 his manner is clamorous fraudulent filching things away 〈…〉 â—â—ding them secretly furthermore Alexander saith That Ravens do sometimes skirmish amongst themselves with much eagerness and do assaile each other with their Armors viz. with jobbing with their bills scratching with their Tallons and beating with their wings in which conflict if the Hen do chance to have the better of the Cock she ever after holdeth him in subjection But howsoever they do coape together in their encounter certain it is that the victor ever after carryeth a hand over the conquered Hitherto of Fowles of Prey leaving other particulars to each mans observation Now of those which are Predable whereof some are Savage some Domesticall the Savage I call those that are not subject to mans government but do naturally shun their society and usually are commorant in Woods Forrests Heaths c.