and other antiquities hee could finde there Leofricke was sonne to the Earle of Kent and after being chosen to be Archbishop of Canterburie he refused it this Abbot in a time of dearth solde all the Iewels of his Church to buy bread for the poore After him succeeded Alfricke Leostan Frâ—theric Paul In this Abbot were giuen to the Monastery of Saint Albanes the Celles of Wallingford of Tinnemuth of Bealvare of Hertford and Binham Richard who liued in the time of William Rusus when the Cell of Saint Marie de Wymonaham or Windham in Norfolke was giuen vnto this Abbey beeing sounded by William de Albeney father to William de Albeney first Earle of Arundell Gaufridus who founded the Nunnery of Sopwell therby on the other side of the riuer founded and so called vpon this occasion two poore women hauing built themselues a small cabben liued in that place a very austere life praying and seruing God with great deuotion and for that they liued for the most part with no other sustenance saue bread and the water of a Well there wherein they vsed to soppe or dippe their bread it had saith mine Author a Monke sometime of that Abbey the name of Sopwell Then Radulphus Robert Simon Garmus Iohn William c. Off a gaue to this his Abby of Saint Albans these towns following viz. Thei l Edelâ—â—â—â—â— Wiclesfield Cagesâ—o cum suis Berechund Rikeâ—aresworth Bacheworth Crokâ—leie Michelfield Britchwell Watford Bilsey Merdell Haldenham Sprâ—t Enefeild Stâ—â—â—â—â—â— Hâ—â—â—â—â—ted Winelesham Biscopscoâ— Câ—dâ—â—â—dune and Mildâ—â—dune Egelsride his sonne and successour gaue Sandruge and Penefield Alfrickâ— Abbot of this Church after Archbishop Leofrick his brother gaue Kingesbury Câ—ealdwich Westwic Flamsted Nortâ—â—â— Râ—â—â—â—hang Wâ—â—â—â—field Birstan and Vpton AEthelwold Bish. of Dorchester gaue Girshuna Cuicumba Tyme Aegelwin Redburne ThuangnaÌ„ Lingley Grenburga One Tholfe gaue Estune and Oxaw One Sexi gaue Hâ—chamsted One Haâ—dh gaue Newhaâ— and Beandise Therefeld a religious woman gaue Sceanlâ—a Bridel Aegelwina another gaue Batesden Offal and Standune One Aegelbert gaue Craniford Aâ—â—an Cutesham Winsimus gaue Esenden Osulsus and his wife gaue Stâ—dham and Wilsinâ—â— others Walden Cudicote Scephal Bethell with sundry other Celles Churches and goodly possessions of me vnnamed If I should set you downe the inestimable wealth consisting in Plate Iewells Bookes costly Hangings Altar-cloathes and the like which by our English Kings Nobilitie and others haue from the foundation vnto the dissolution with the sundry priuiledges this Abby had I should weary my selfe with writing and you with reading but I omit them hauing onely proposed a mirrour to the eyes not of the Church pillars of ancient but the Church pillers of our times The Auncestors of this Noble family were Frenchmen borne taking their Surname of a Towne in Normandy called Sackuill whereof they were Lords and came into England to the aide of Duke William the Conquerour as appeareth by an auncient Manuscript or Chronicle of Brittaine now in the Custody of Mr. Edward Gwinn where he is called a Chiefetaine and is the seauenth man ranked in a Catalogue of names there for as it may be obserued out of Mr. Camdens Remaines that the better sort about the time of the Conquest began to take vp Surnames so againe they were not setled amongst the common people vntill the Raigne of King Edward the second He moreouer affirmeth that the most ancient and of best account were deriued from places whereof this name of Sackuill is one and to adde yet more vnto it Ordericus Vitalis the Monke in his Normane story saith that Herbrann de Sackuill was liuing in the time of William the Conquerour being father of three Noble Knights Iordan William and Robert de Sackuill and of a vertuous and beautifull Ladie named Auice who was married to Walter Lord of Alfage Hugleuill by whom shee had issue Iordan L. of Alfage Hugleuill that married Iulian the daughter of one Godsâ—all who came into England with Q. Adelize of Loâ—â—ine the Wife to King Henry the first After whose death the said Queene married to William de Albency Earle of Arundell from whom the now Right Honorable Thomas Earle of Arundell and Surry and Earle Marshall of England is descended S. Iordan de Sackuill Knight the eldest sonne was Sewer of England by the gift of the said Conquerour but liued and died in Normandy S. Robert de Sackuill Knight the yonger sonne liued in England and gaue together with his body the Mannor of Wickham in Suffolkeâ— to the Abbey of Sâ— Iohn Baptist in Colchester leauing issue a son named Sâ— Iordan de Sackuill a very eminent man in the time of King Richard the first as appeareth by a Charter of the said King made to the Monkes of Bordesâ—ey in Buckinghamshiere Sâ— Iordan de Sackuill that obtained of King Iohn a Friday Market weekely and a Faire once a yeare in his Towne of Sackuill in Normandy as saith the Kings Publike Records in the Tower of Lâ—â—don Holiinshed fol. 186. doth there ranke Iordan de Sackuill as a Baron calling him one of the assistants to the 25. Peeres of this Realme to see the Liberties of Magna Charta confirmed And for further proofe that they were men of no meane â—anke it is apparent in the Red booke of the Excheaquer in the 12. and 13. yeeres of the said Kings Raigne in these words Hubertus de Anestie tenes 2. food in Anestie parua Hornmcad dimid 〈◊〉 in Anestie de Honore Richardâ— de Sackâ—yle Agaiâ—e Sâ— Iordan de Sackuill Knight grandâ— childe to the said Iordan de Sackuill was taken prisoner at the battaile of Eâ—esham for siding with the Barons against King Henry the third in the 49. yeare of His Raigne whose sonne and heire named Andrew Sackuill being vnder age at the time of his fathers death and the Kings Waâ—d was like wise imprisoned in the Castle of Deuer Ann. 3. Eâ—n 1. and afterward by the speciall command of the said King did marry Ermynâ—â—de an Honourable Ladie of the houshold to Queene 〈◊〉 or whereby he not onely gained the Kings fauour but the greatest part of his Inheritance againe From whom the aforesaid Richard Earle of Dorset with Sâ— Edward Sackuill Knight of the Bathe his brother and others are descended one of whose Auncestors by marrying a daughter and co-heire of Rase de Denn sonne of Rodbert Pincerna that held the Lordship of Buckhurst with diuers other Mannors and Lands in Sussex about the time of the Normain Conquest In right of which marriage they haue euer since continued Lords of the said Mannor of Buckhurst with diners other Manors and Lâ—nds in Sussex c. Which William Earle of Devonshâ— was sonne of Sâ— William Cavendish of Chattesworth in the said Countie of Derby knight Treasurer of the Chamber to King Henry the eight Edward the sixt and Queene Marie by his wife Elizabeth daughter of lohn Hardwick of Hardwick Esquire The Auncestors of this Noble Familie called themselues Gâ—râ—ms whose issue
THE Compleat Gentleman Fashioning him absolute in the most necessary Commendable Qualities concerning Minde or Bodie that may be required in a Noble Gentlemaâ— By Henry Peacham Mr. of Arts Sometime of Trinity Coll in Cambridge inutilis olim Ne videar vixisse Anno 1622 Imprinted at London for Francis Constable and are to bee sold at his shop at the white lioÌ„ in Paules churchyard The Compleat Gentleman whose Titles are contained in these Chapters following Chap. 1. OF Nobilitie in Generall Chap. 2. Of the dignitie and necessity of Learning in Princes and Nobilitie Chap. 3. The time of Learning c. Chap. 4. The dutie of Parents in their Childrens Education Chap. 5. Of a Gentlemans carriage in the Vniuersity Chap. 6. Of stile in speaking writing and reading Historie Chap. 7. Of Cosmography Chap. 8. Of memorable obseruation in suruey of the Earth Chap. 9. Of Geometry Chap. 10. Of Poetry Chap. 11. Of Musicke Chap. 12. Of Drawing and Painting in Oyle Chap. 13. Of Armory or Blazing Armes Chap. 14. Of exercise of the body Chap. 15. Of reputation and carriage Chap. 16. Of Trauaile Ad optimae spei generosissimaeque indolis adolescentem D. Gulielmum Howard illustriss ac vere honoratiss Thomae Comitis Arundeliae summi totius Angliae Mareschalli c. filium tertiogenitum Ingenio genio dum vis Generosus haberi Ingenua haec discas ingeniose puer Stemma nihil cultis animum nisi moribus ornes Et studeas studijs nobilitare genus TO THE TRVLY NOBLE AND MOST HOPEFVLL MR. WILLIAM HOVVARD third and youngest Sonne to the Right Honorable THOMAS Earle of Arundell and Surrey Earle Marshall of England c. WHat Motiue Noble Sir may induce others in their Dedications I know not sure I am none other hath incited me then the regard of your owne worth and that natiue ingenuitie and goodnesse of Spirit I haue euer perceiued in you since it was my good hap to enioy your acquaintance and to spend some houres with you at your Booke in Norwich where at this present you haue your education vnder the Reuerend Religious and my Honorable good Lord the now Lord Bishop of Norwich And indeed to whom rather of right should appertaine these my Instructions in regard of their subiect which is the fashioning of Nobilitie after the best Presidents then to your selfe euery way so Nobly descended Beside it is affirmed that there are certaine sparkes and secret seeds of vertue innate in Princes and the Children of Noble personages which if cherished and carefully attended in the blossome will yeild the fruit of Industry and glorious Action not onely aboue the strength of the vulgar but euen in the scient and before the time Nature hath appointed So Achilles while hee was yet very young vndertooke to shoote the fiercest Lions and Boares and was so nimble on foote that he was able to take a wilde Beast without either â—oyle or Dogge Alexander also when an Egyptian Priest saluted him being very young by the names of Son and Child replyed But you shall finde me a Man before the walls of Athens But to omit Heathenish examples Salomon wee reade when he was but euen a child begged wisdome of God and grace to gouerne well and Ignatius that holy Martyr writeth Salomon was scarce 12. years of age when he decided that hard controuersie betweene the two Harlots so Iosias was but eight years old when he walked religiously before God And mee thinkes Sir as in that Cornelian Stemme whereof Scipio was said to be the top and In quo vt plura genera in vnam arborem videtur infita multorum illuminata sapientia already you grow apace reflecting as from a faire Glasse that Princely Moderation and Honesty of heart of the good Duke your great Grand-father the Honourably disposed mind of my Lord your Noble Father together with his loue and admiration of whatsoeuer is honest or excellent so that verily you need no other patterne to the absolute shaping of your selfe then the Images of your fore-fathers But as Aristotle saith of the Vine by how much it is laden with Clusters by so much it hath need of props so say I of Greatnesse and Nobilitie euer fruitfull and apt to abundance it hath hourely need of support and helpe by all timely aduice and instruction to guide and vphold it from lying along Wherefore since the Fountaine of all Counsell and Instruction next to the feare of God is the knowledge of good learning whereby our affections are perswaded and our ill manners mollified I heere present you with the first and plainest Directions though but as so many keies to leade you into far fairer roomes and the readiest Method I know for your studies in general and to the attaining of the most commendable qualities that are requisite in euery Noble or Gentle-man Nothing doubting but that after you haue herein seene the worth and excellence of Learning how much it addeth to Nobilitie what errors are hourely comitted through Ignorance how sweet a thing it is to conuerse with the wisest of all Ages by Historie to haue in-sight into the most pleasing and admirable Sciences of the Mathematiques Poetrie Picture Heraldrie c. whereof I heere intreat together with the most commendable exercise of the body with other generall directions for Carriage Trauaile c. you will entertaine this Discourse as Vlysses did Minerua at his elbowâ— your guide to knowledge the ground not onely of the sweetest but the happiest life And though I am assured there are numbers who notwithstanding all the Bookes and Rules in the world had rather then behold the face of heauen burie themselues in earthly sloath and basest idlenesse yet Mr. William Howard at the least let vs recouer you from the tyrannie of these ignorant times and from the common Education which is to weare the best cloathes eate sleepe drinke much and to know nothing I take leaue from my house at Hogsdâ—n by London May 30. Who is and shall be euer yours HENRY PEACHAM To my Reader I Am not ignorant Iudicious Reader how many peeces of the most curious Masters haue beene vttered to the world of this Subiect as Plutarch Erasmus Viues Sadolet Sturmius Osorius Sir Thomas Eliot M. Askham with sundry others so that my small Taper among so many Torches were as good out as seeming to giue no light at all I confesse it true But as rare and curious stamps vpon Coynes for their varietie and strangenesse are daily enquired after and bought vp though the Siluer be all one and common wâ—th ours so fares it with Bookes which as Meddailes beare the Pictures and deuices of our various Inuention though the matter be the same yet for variety sake they shall bee read yea and as the same dishes drest afâ—er a new fashion perhaps please the tastes of many better But this regard neither mooued me When I was beyond the Seas and in a part of France adiorning vpon
to haue need His magnificence appeared by diuers his building For within the Citie of Florence hee builded the Abbaits and Temples of S. Marco S. Lorenzo and the Monastery of S. Verdiana in the mountains of Fiesole S. Girolamo with the Abbey thereto belonging Also in Mugello he did not only repaire the Church for the Friers but tooke it downe and built it anew Besides those magnificent buildings in S. Croce in S. Agnoli and S. Miniato he made Altars and sumptuâ—â—â— Chappels All which Temples and Chappels besides the buildings of them were by him paued and furnished throughly with all things necessarie With these publique buildings wee may number his priuate houses whereof one within the Citie meeâ—e for so great a personage and foure other without at Carriaggi at Fiesole at Casaggiuolo and at Trebio all Palaces fitter for Princes then priuate persons And because his magnificent houses in Italy did not in his opinion make him famous enough he builded in Ierusalem an Hospitall to receiue poore and diseased Pilgrims In which worke he consumed great summes of Money And albeit these buildings and euery other his actions were princely and that in Florence he liued like a Prince yet so gouerned by wisedome as he neuer exceeded the bounds of ciuill modestie For in his conuersation in riding in marrying his Children and Kinsfolkes he was like vnto all other modest and discreeâ—e Citizens because he well knâ—w that extraordinarie things which are of all men with admiration beheld doâ— procure more enuy then those which without ostentation be honestly couered I omit as followeth shortly after his great and excessiue charge in entertaining of learned men of all professions to instruct the youth of Florence his bountie to Argiropolo a Gracian and Marsilio Fiâ—ins whom he maintained for the exercise of his owne studies in his house and gaue him goodly lands neere his house of Carreggi men in that time of singular learning because Vertue reares him rather to wonder then Imitation To proceed no lesse respect and honour is to be attributed to Eloquence whereby so many haue raised their esteeme and fortunes as able to draw Ciuilitie out of Barbarisme and sway whole kingdomes by leading with Celticke Hercules the rude multitude by the eares Marke Anthony contending against Augustus for the Romane Empire assured himselfe he could neuer obtaine his purpose while Cicero liued therefore he procured his death The like did Antipater a Successor to Alexander by Demosthenes aspiring to the Monarchy of Greece And not long since a poore Mahumetan Priest by his smooth tongue got the Crowne of Morocco from the right heire being of the house of Giuseph or Ioseph And much hurt it may doe if like a mad mans sword it be vsed by a turbulent and mutinous Orator otherwise we must hold it a principall meanes of correcting ill manners reforming lawes humbling aspiring minds and vpholding all vertue For as Serpents are charmed with words so the most sauage and cruell natures by Eloquence which some interpret to be the meaning of Mercuries golden Rod with those Serpents wreathed about it Much therefore it concerneth Princes not onely to countenance honest and eloquent Orators but to maintaine such neere about them as no meane props if occasion serue to vphold a State and the onely keies to bring in tune a discordant Common-wealth But it shall not be amisse ere I proceede further to remoue certaine doubts which as rubs clog the cleere passage of our Discourse and the first concerning Bastardie whether Bastards may be said to be Nobly borne or not I answere with Iustinian Sordes inter praecipuos nominarinon merentur Yet it is the custome with vs and in France to allow them for Noble by giuing them sometimes their Fathers proper Coate with a bend Sinister as Reignald Earle of Cornewall base sonne to the Conquerour bare his Fathers two Leopards passant gardant or in a field Gules with a bend sinister Azure The like Hamlin base sonne to Geoffrey Plantagenet Earle of Surreyâ— Some their fathers whole Coate or part of the same in bend dexter as Iohn Beauford a Bastard of Somerset bare partie per pale argent and Azure a bend of England with a labell of France Sir Roger de Clarendon base son to the Blacke Prince his fathers three Feathers on a bend Sable the field Or. I willingly produce these examples to confirme our custome of ennobling them and though the Law leaneth not on their side yet stand they in the head of the troope with the most deseruing yea and many times according to Euripides proue better â—hen the legitimate Who are more famous then Remus and Romulus who laid the first stone of Rome more couragious and truly valiant then Hercules Alexander our King Arthur of Britaine and William the first more critically learned then Christopher Longolius Iacobus Faber more modest and of better life then Coelius Calgaguinus the delight of his Ferrara with infinite others and where decretals and Schoolemen may beare the bell those two Grandes Gratian and Lombard A second question ariseth whether he that is Noble descended may by his vice and basenesse lose his Nobilitie or no. It is answered that if he that is ignoble and inglorious may acquire Nobilitie by Vertue the other may very well lose it by his Vice But such are the miserable corruptions of our times that Vices go for prime Vertues and to be drunke sweare wench follow the fashion to do iust nothing are the attributes and marks now adaies of a great part of our Gentry Hence the Agrigentines expelled their Phalaris the Romanes extinguished the memorie of the whole race of the Tarquines with those Monsters of Nature Nero Heliogabalus c. the Sicilians Dionysins the later with others Thirdly whether Pouertie impeacheth or staineth Nobilitie I answere Riches are an ornament not the cause of Nobilitie and many times wee see there lyeth more worth vnder a thrid-bare Cloake and within a thatched Cottage then the richest Robe or stateliest Palace Witnesse the Noble Curij and Fabritij taken from a poore dinner of Turneps and Water-cresses in an earthen dish to leade the Romane Army and conquer the most potent Kings of the world Fourthly concerning Aduocates and Physitians whether we may rancke them with the ennobled or no. Aduocates or Counsellors being Interpreters of the Law their place is commendable and themselues most necessarie Instruments in a Common-wealth wherefore saith the Ciuill Law their calling is honorable they ought to be freed of mulcts publike charges and all impositions and to be written or sent vnto as vnto persons of especiall worth and dignitie Touching Physitians though the profession by some hath beene thought seruile and in times past was practised by seruants as Domitian saith Seneca imper auit medico seruo vt venenum sibi daret and that slouenly Epithite of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 be by Aristophanes bestowed vpon Aesculapius
Vrbane Mantuâ— and diuers others Those stately hangings of Arras containing the Historie of S. Paul out of the Acts than which eye neuer beheld more absolute Art and which long since you might haue seene in the banquecting house at White-hall were wholly of his inuention bought if I be not deceiued by King Henrie the eight of the State of Venice where Raphaell Vrbine dyed I haue no certainty but sure I am his memorie and immortall Fame are like to liue in the world for euer If you would reade the 〈◊〉 at large of the most excellent Painters as well Ancient as Modern I refer you vnto the two volumes of Vasari well written in Italian which I haue not seene as being hard to come by yet in the Libraries of two my especiall and worthy friends M. Doctor Mountford late Prebend of Pauls and M. Inigo lones Surueyer of his Maiesties workes for building and Caluin Mander in high Dutch vnto whom I am beholden for the greater part of what I haue heere written of some of their liues CHAP. 13. Of Armorie or Blazon of Armes with the Antiquity and Dignitie of Heralds IT is meete that a Noble or Gentleman who beareth Armes and is well descended bee not onely able to blazon his owne proper Coate deriue by pedegree the descent of his family from the originall know such matches and allies as are ioyned to him in blood but also of his Prince the Nobilitie and Gentry where he liueth which is not of meere ornament as the most suppose but diuersly necessary and of great consequence as had I fortuned to haue liued in those times when that fatall difference of either ROSE was to be decided by the sword with which partie in aequitie and conscience could I haue sided had I beene ignorant of the descent and pedegree Royall and where the right had beene by inheritance of Blood Match or Alliance How should we giue Nobilitie her true value respect and title without notice of her Merit and how may we guesse her merit without these outward ensignes and badges of Vertue which anciently haue beene accounted sacred and precious withall discerne and know an intruding vpstart shot vp with the last nights Mushrome from an ancient descended and deseruing Gentleman whose Grandsires haue had their share in euery foughten field by the English since Edward the first or my selfe a Gentleman know mine owne ranke there being at this instant the world ouer such a medley I had almost said Motley of Coates such intrusion by adding or diminishing into ancient families and houses that had there not beene within these few yeares a iust and commendable course taken by the Right Honorable the Earles Marshals for the redresse of this generall and vnsufferable abuse we should I feare me within these few yeares see Yeomen as rare in England as they are in France Besides it is a contemplation full of pleasing varietie and for the most part sympathizing with euery Noble and generous disposition in substance the most refined part of Naturall Philosophie while it taketh the principles from Geometry making vse almost of euery seuerall square and angle For these and other reasons I desire that you would bestow some houres in the studie of the same for a Gentleman Honorably descended to be vtterly ignorant herein argueth in him either a disregard of his owne worth a weaknesse of conceipt or indisposition to Armes and Honorable Action sometime meere Ideotisme as Signeur Gaulart a great man of France and none of the wisest inuiting on a time many great personages and honourable friends to his Table at the last seruice a March-pane was brought in which being almost quite eaten hee bethought himselfe and said It was told mee that mine Armes were brauely set out in Gold and Colours vpon this March-pane but I haue looked round about it and cannot see them Your Lordship said one of his men eate them vp your selfe but now What a knaue quoth Mounsieur Gaulart art thou thou diddest not tell me before Ieate them I might haue seene what they had beene The dignitie and place of an Herald among the ancient Romans was very great that same lus Feciale or Law of Armes being first instituted by Ancus Martius as Liuis testifieth though some ascribe it to Numa Pompilius who ordained a Colledge of Heralds The office of an Herald was to see that the Romanes made not warre iniustly with any of their confederates to determine of warre peace leagues agreements wrongs taken or offered by them or their enemies and the like Now if the enemy had offered them wrong or taken away any thing from them by violence they first sent Messengers to demaund their right and the restoring of that they had taken away which was done in a soleanmneâ—sorme and the words pronounced distinctly and with a loud voyce and this manner of deliuering their message was called Clarigatio The forme was this Ioucnâ—â—egotestem facio siego impiè iniusletque illas res dedier populo Romano mibique exposco â—unc patriae compotem nunquam sinas esse If they refused their demaunds or to make â—â—stiitution first all league and friendship if any were betwixt them being renounced and broken after thirty daies which they solemnly obserued they proclaimed open warre and with fire and sword inuaded the enemies Countrey and by force recouered their owne Neither was it lawfull for either Consull or Senate or any of the common people to take vp Armes against an enemy without the consent and approbation of the Heralds Among the Heralds there was one the cheese and aboue the rest whom they called Pater Patratus and hee was chosen one who was to haue children and his owne father aliue him one of the inferior Heralds crowning his head and Temples with Veruaine made him the cheese or King either in concluding peace or denouncing warre The most ancient forme of denouncing warre is set downe at large by Liuie The Tybarens are reported to haue beene so iust in their making warre and defiance of their enemies that they would neuer meete them but first they would send them word of the day place yea and very houre they meant to fight Moreouer if any complaint by the enemy were made of breach of the league the Heralds examined the truth and hauing found out the Authours they deliuered them vp to the enemy to doe with them as hee listed or if any without the consent of the people Senate Heraldes eyther foâ—ght or made peace entred league c. the Romanes freede themselues again by deliuering vp the Authors to their enemies So were the Consuls T. Veturiâ—s Sp. Postumius for their error at Caudium and making peace with the Samnites contrary to the will of the people and Senat together with T. Numicius and Q. Aemilius Tribunes deliuered to the enemy The words of Postumius himselfe who made request that himselfe with the rest who had offended might be deliuered to the enemy are thus recorded
by Livie Dedamur per ficiales nudi vinctique exâ—lvamus religions populuâ— fi qua obligavimns ne quid divini bumâ—â—ive obstet quo minus instuns piun quâ— de integreine 〈◊〉 bellum The forme and words on their deliuery to the enemies hands were these Quandoquidem hice homines iniussu populi Romani Quiritum soedus ictuâ— iri sposponderunt atque ob â—am rem noxam nocuerunt ob eam rem quo populus Romanus Seelere impio sit solutus bosâ—e homines vobis dedo And so many yeares after was C. Mancinus deliuered to the Numantines with whom hee had entred into league contrary to the will and without the knowledge of the Senate Heraldes also examined and determined of wrongs and iniuries done vnto Embassadours and punished them by deliuering vp in like manner the parties offending vnto the nation or State offended They looked also to the strict obseruing of euery branch of the league or truce in briefe their Authority was comprised in these few words ' Belli pacis foederum induciarum oratorum feciales indices sunte Spurius Fusius was the first Herald that cuer was created among the Romanes and had the name of Pâ—ter Patratus in the warre which Tullus Hostitius made against old Latines Their priuiledges were great and many and too long for me here to reckon vp And to conclude for farther search of their institution priuiledges and Office I referre you to Iehan le Feron a French Authour I purpose not heere to enter into a large field and absolute discourse of Blazonry with all the lawes termes thereof hauing beene already preuented by Bara Vpton Gerrard Leigh Master Ferns Master Guillim late Portculleis pursuiuant in his Methodicall Display of Heraldry with sundry others So that in a manner more cannot bee saide then hath beene my selfe besides hauing written something of this subiect heretofore but onely to poynt vnto you as a stranger vpon the way the fairest and shortest cut vnto your iournies end in this Art The word Blazon is from the French Eâ—blasonner and note that we in England vse herein the same tearmes of Art with the French because the ancients of our Nobility for the greater part acknowledge themselues to bee descended out of Normandy and to haue come in with the Conquerour many retaining their ancient French names Charges vnto this day as Beauchamp Beaumont Sacuill Neuill with many others Your A. B. C. in this Art let be the knowledge of the sundry formes of Shieldes or Escotcheons which are and haue beene ordinarily borne in ancient times Among all nations we of Europe haue onely two kinds in vse the Lozenâ—s excepted viz. that we vse in England France Germany c. and the Ouall they beare in Italy which forme they yet from the old Romanes holde in vse The word Escotcheon is deriued from the French un esciâ— that from the Latine Scutam and that againe from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Greeke which is leather because the ancients had their Shieldes of tanned leather the skinnes laid thicke one ouer another as appeareth by that of Vlysses vpbraiding Aiax Quae nisi fecissem frustra Telamone creatus Gestasset laeva taurorum tergora septem And Caesar saith CaÌ„brensis fighting hand to hand with Nennius a British King fast had his sword nayled into Nennius his shield being of hard leather at which aduantage Nennius had slaine him had not Labienns the Tribune stepped in betweene and rescued his master Now the ancient shields by reason that they were long and in a manner of that forme as some of the Knights Templers had theirs as appeareth vpon that their monument in the Temple Church differed much from the buckler or target which was round as it may appeare out of Livie Clypeis aâ—tem Romani vsi sunt saith he deinde postquam facti sunt stipendiarij scuta pro clypeis fectre And Virgil compareth the great eye of Cyclâ—ps to an Argolican Target for who will deny but that an eye is round That their shieldes as I haue said were long and in a manner couered the whole body he saith else-where Scutis protecti corporalongis Hereupon Scutum was called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 because it resembled a dore which is euer more long then broad The Carthaginians made their shieldes of gold M. Aufidius tels vs that his ancestours being Romanes had theirs of Siluer Alexander king of the Iewes opposed against Prolomy 8000. fighting men which hee tearmed Hâ—catomachi as much to say as fighting each man against an hundred because they vsed brasen shields The Numidians vsed shieldes made of Elephants hides impenetrable to any dart yet on the other side they had this discommoditie that in rainy weather they would like a sponge so soake in the water and become hereby so heauy the souldiers could hardly beare them The shield in times past was had in such honour that he who lost or alienated the same was accounted as basely of as he that with vs runnes from his colours and was seuerely punished and the Graecians fined him at a greater rate who lost his shield then he who lost his sword or speare Because that a souldier ought to take more care that he receiueth not a mischiefe then he should doe it of himselfe Bitter was that iest of Scipio when hee saw a souldier bestow great cost in trimming and glazing his shield I can not blame thee quoth he that thou bestewest so much cost vpon thy shield because thou trustest more to that then to thy sword The Lacaeademonians of all other the most warlike by the lawes of Lycurgus brought vp their children to the vse of shields from their infancy and famous is that Lacaedemonian mother for that her speech to her son when she deliuered him a shield going to the warre 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sonne either bring backe this shield or bee thou brought backe thy selfe dead within it But thus much of the shield or Escotcheon Armes or Ensignes at the first had their chiefe vse for distinction of Tribe from Tribe armie from armie being composed of two or moe colours whereof one was euer white or yealow which we now tearme Mettals and that of necessitie for without the mixture of one of these the other as too darke of themselues could not bee discerned farre neyther of white and yealow onely as participating too much of the light Hence they say though not generally true where there is wanting colour or mettal it is false armorie I will not stand here to dispute ouer philosophically as some haue done of the praeeminence of one colour aboue another or out of profound ignorance affirme blacke to be the most ancient colour because darkenesse was vpon the face of the earth in the Chaos as if colour were not qualitas visibilis luminis beneficio and privatiâ— were formarum susceptibilis and white the next because God said fiat Lux as if light were
augmentation to the Armories of the Palsgraue of the Râ—ine in regard of Vienna so brauely defended by Phillip Earle Palatine together with the Count Solmas against the furie of Solyman who laid siedge to it with aboue 300000. men yet glad at the rumour of the Emperour Charles his comming to shew his backe For Solyman as himselfe was wont to say seared not Charles as he was Emperour of Germany but that good fortune which euer attended him in his greatest enterprises And no doubt but the blessing of God was vpon him as being one of the most religious iust and worthiest Princes that euer liued The family of the Haies in Scotland bare Arg. three Escotcheons Gules vpon this occasion At what time the Danes inuaded Scotland and in a set batraile had put the Scots to the worst one Hay with his two sonnes being at plow not farre off and seeing his Countrey-men flying froÌ„ their enemies to come vp a narrow Lane walled with stone on both sides towards him with their Plowbeames in their hands meeting them at the lanes end in despite beate them backe to charge their enemies afresh reuiling their cowardize that now hazarded the whole kingdome whereupon with a stout resolution they put themselues againe into array and returning backe vpon the Danes who were both disordered and in a feare lest a new supply had come downe to the Scots succour ouerthrew them vtterly and regained a most memorable victory Heâ—eupon Hay was by the King ennobled and had giuen him for his bearing in a field Siluer three Escotcheons Gules the rest a Plow-man with his Plow-beame on his shoulder and withall for his maintenance as much Land as a Faulcon put off from hand could sly ouer erc she did alight which Land in Scotland is to this day called Hay his Land and the Faulcon alighting vpon a stone about seuen miles off gaue it the name of the Falcons stone euen to this day Armes againe are sometimes taken from professions and those meanes by which the bearers haue raised themselues to honourable place as the Dukes of Florence for that they are descended from the family Di Medicâ— or Phisitians bare in a field Azure sixe Lozenges Sometimes they are wonne in the field from Infidels for no Christian may directly beare anothers Coate by his sword as was the Coate of Millan from a Saraceâ— it being an Infant naisant or issuing from the mouth of a Serpent And after the winning of Granadâ— from the Moores in the times of Ferdin 〈◊〉 and Isâ—bell Kings of Castile the Pomgranate the Armes of that kingdome was placed in the bast of the Escotcheon Royall and in regard it was gained principally by the meanes of Archerie the Bow and Quiuer of Arrowes was stamped vpon the Spanish sixpence which remaineth at this day to be seene Coates sometimes are by stealth purchased shuffled into Records and Monuments by Painters Glasiers Caruers and such But I trust so good an order hath beene lately established by the Right Honorable the late CoÌ„missioners for the Office of the Earle Marshalship carefull respect of the Heralds with vs that all hope of sinister dealing in that kind is quite cut off from such mercenary abusers of Nobilitie Many times gained at a cheaper rate by bearing as the Boores in Germany and the Netherlands what they list themselues neither can their owne Inuentions content them but into what land or place soeuer they trauaile if they espy a fairer Coate then their owne for they esteeme Coates faire or good as our Naturals according to the varietie of colours after their returne they set it vp in Glasse for them and their heires with the Crest and open Beauer as if they were all Princes as at Wodrichom or Worcom hard by Louestein I found ouer a Tradesman Coate no worse Crest then the three Feathers in the Crown and in many other places whole Coates of the French Nobilitie Heereof examples in those parts are so frequent that I must say Inopem me copia fecit Now being acquainted with your colours the points and euery place of the Escotchcon which the Accidence of Armorie of Master Guillims Display will at large instruct you in begin to practise the Blazon of those Coats which consist of bare and simple lines without charge as that ancient Coate of Waldgraâ—â— who beareth onely party per pale Arg. and Gules and the Citie of Virecht partie per bend of the same Then your fields equally compounded of moe lines as Quarterly Bâ—ndey Barrey Gyronned Checkey Masculie c. Withall know the names and vse of all manner of your crooked lines as Endemed Embatâ—elled Nebulè or Vndeè Danncéâ—â—â—è c. Know then those Honorable and prime places or Ordinaries with their Species as the cheese so called of Chef in French that of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 because it possesseth the head or vpper third part of the Escotcheon The Fesse holding the middle third part of the shield containeth vnder it the Barre Barrulet Coste Barresgemells c. The Bend the Bendlet single and double Cotize Next know the Furres Counterchangings Bordures Tressures Orles Frets all formes of Crosses differences of Brothers Roundles of euery kind as Beasanâ—s Plaâ—es Pommices c. Then proceede to the blazon of all vegetable things as Flowers Trees c. Then to all quicke and liuing things as Beasts Birds Fishes Serpents and the like When you haue done know Honorable additaments whether they be by way of augmentation or markes and differences of alliance Coates of augmentation as those of Queene Katherine Parre Queene Katherine Howard and Queene Iane Seymor conferred by King Henry the eight By Cantons as Ferdinand King of Spaine honoured Sir Henry Guilford with a Canton of Granado and King Iames Molinâ— the Vâ—neâ—ian Embassadour with a Canton of the Rose of England and Thistle of Scotland empaled Then ensue differences of alliance by Bordures Labels Bends Quarterings and the like By the Bordure no where more frequent then in the Soueraignes Coate when the blood Roiall was deriued into so many veines to the distemper of the whole body vnder the dissention of Yorke and Lancaster Thomas of Woodstocke as also Humphrey Duke of Glocester who lyeth buried in the Abbey of S. Albanes vpon the South-side of the Quire and not in Paules bare the Soueraigne Coate within a Bordure Argent Richard Plantagenet sonne and heire of Richard Earle of Cambridge Duke of Yorke and father to Edward the fourth bare quarterly France and England within a Bordure Argent charged with Lionceeaux purpure Edmund of Hadham sonne of Owen Tuder by Queene Katherine the Soueraigne Coat within a Bordure Azure with Martlets and Flower-de-luces Or. Iohn Beaufort sonne of Iohn of Gaunt and his posteritie the same within a bordure Componeè Argent and Azure Charles the seuenth King of France in the yeare 1436. gaue leaue vnto Nicholas Duke of Ferrara to beare the Armes of France in a