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
Fabius pinxi Neither was it the exercise of Nobilitie among the ancients onely but of late dayes and in our times we see it practised by the greatest princes of Europe without praeiudice to their Honors Francis the first king of France was very excellent with his pencill and the vertuous Margaret Queene of Navarre beside her excellent veine in Poesie could draw and limne excellently the like is reported of 〈◊〉 Duke of Savois Nor can I ouerpasse the ingenuitie and excellency of many Noble and Gentlemen of our owne nation herein of whom I know many but none in my opinion who deserueth more respect and admiration for his skill and practise herein then Master Nathaniel Bacon of Broome in Suffolke younger sonne to the most Honourable and bountifull minded Sir Nicholas Bacon Knight and eldest Barronet not inferiour in my iudgement to our skilfullest Masters But certainely I know not what fauourable aspect of Heauen that right noble and ancient family which produceth like delicate fruites from one Stemme so many excellent in seuerall qualities that no one name or family in England can say the like Painting is a quality I loue I confesse and admire in others because euer naturally from a child I haue beene addicted to the practise hereof yet when I was young I haue beene cruelly beaten by ill and ignorant schoolemasters when I haue beene taking in white and blacke the countenance of some one or other which I could do at thirteene and fourteene yeares of age beside the mappe of any towne according to Geometricall Proportion as I did of Cambridge when I was of Trinitie Colledge and a Iunior Sophister yet could they neuer beate it out of me I remember one Master I had and yet liuing not farre from S. Athanes took me one time drawing out with my pen that peare-tree and boyes throwing at it at the end of the Latine Grammarâ— which he perceiuing in a rage strooke mee with the great end of the rodde and rent my paper swearing it was the onely way to teach mee to robbe Orchard as beside that I was placed with him to bee made a scholler and not a painteâ— which I was very likely to doe when I well remember he construed vnto me the beginning of the first Ode in Horace Edite set ye forth 〈◊〉 the sportes atavit Râ—gibâ—â— of our ancient kings but leauing my ingenious Master to our purpose For your first beginning and entrance in draught make your hand as ready as you can without the helpe of your compasses in those generall figures of the Circle ovall square triangle cylinder c. for these are the foundation of all other proportions As for example your ovall directs you in giuing a iust proportion to the face Your Square or Cube for all manner of ground plots formes of fortification wherein you haue no vse of the Circle at all Your Circle againe directs you in all orbicular formes whatsoeuer and so forth of the rest Hauing made your hand fit and ready in generall proportion learne to giue all bodies their true shaddowes according to their eminence and concauity and to heigthen or deepe as your body appeareth neerer or farther from the light which is a matter of great iudgment and indeede the soule as I may say of a picture Then learne all manner of draperie that is to giue garments and all manner of stuffes as cloth silke and linnen their naturall and proper soldes which at the first will seeme strange and difficult vnto you but by imitating the choisest printes and peeces of the most iudicious masters with your owne obseruance you will very easily attaine the skill But since I haue already published a booke of Drawing and Limming wherein I haue discouered whatsoeuer I haue thought necessaâ—ie to perfection herein I will referre you for farther instruction to it and onely here giue you the principall Authors for your Imitation Since as I said proportion is the principall and chiefe thing you are first to learne I commend vnto you that Prince of Painters and Graund-master Albert Durer who beside that his peeces for proportion and draperie are the best that are hee hath written a very learned booke of Symmetrie and proportions which hath beene since translated out of high Dutch into Latine And though his peeces haue beene long since worne out of presse yet you may happen vpon them among our skilfull painters which if you can get reasonably keep them as iewels since I beleeue you shall neuer see their like they seeme old and commonly are marked with a great D in an A. For a bold touch varietie of posture curious and true shaddow imitate Goliziuâ— his printes are commonly to be had in Popes head alley Himselfe was liuing at my last being in the low Countries at Harlâ—â— but by reason of the losse of one of his eyes he hath giuen ouer a Hinge in copper and altogether exerciseth his pencill in oyle The peeces of Michael Angelo are rare and very hard to be comeby Himselfe liued in Rome and was while hee liued esteemed the best painter in Europe as verily it seemeth by that his famous peece of the last iudgment in the Popes Chappell being accounted one of the best in the world Hans Holben was likewise an excellent Master hee liued in the time of King Henry the eight and was emploied by him against the comming of the Emperor Charles the 5. into England I haue seene many peeces of his in oile and once of his owne draught with a penne a most curious chimney-peece K. Henry had bespoke for his new built pallace at Bridewell Of later times and in our age the workes of Shadan Witrix and my honest louing friend Crispin de Pas of Vtrecht are of most price these cut to the life a thing practised but of late yeares their pieces will best instruct you in the countenance for the naturall and 〈◊〉 dowes therof the cast and forme of the eie the touch of the mouth the true fall turning curling of the haire for ruffes Armour c. When you are somewhat ready in your draught for which you must prouide pens made of rauens quils black lead dry pencils made of what color you please by grinding it with strong wort then rowling it vp pencilwise and so let it dry get my booke entituled the Gentlemans Exercise which will teach you the vse and ordering of all manner of colours for limning as how to make any one colour what you please by the composition of many as a scarlet carnation flame colour all manner of greenes for leaues or banckes purples for the breake of the morning the violet the hyacinth c. all manner of changeable colors in garments of silke brownes blackes for haire colours the colours of barks of trees the sea fouÌ„tains rocks flesh colours or carnations for the face complexioÌ„ with the manner of preparing your card inbriefe whatsoeuer is needfull to
Phillipo eighteene moneths but growing familiar with his Master one day when he saw his time and his Master in a good humour tooke a coale and vpon a white wall drew him from head to foot this being seene of his fellow slaues and shewed vnto his Master who had neuer seene a picture before was cause of his deliueance for making his escape or at least his Master winking thereat he made shift to come to Naples where hee wrought in colours a most curious Altar-table for King Alphonsus Hence hee went to Florence and made another Altar-table which pleased Cosmo de Medicis wondrous well whereupon hee was employed by Cosmo in making many small Pictures whereof some were sent vnto Eugenius the fourth whereupon he grew in great fauour with the Pope He was so addicted vnto Women that what euer he got hee bestowed and spent it among them whereupon Cosmo shut him vp into a Chamber in his house that he might follow his worke close but hauing beene thus mewed vp by the space of two daies the humouâ— of gadding tooke him againe in the head and one euening cutting his sheets made ropes of them and so gat out at a window But shortly after found and brought to Cosmo againe he had libertie to go and come at his pleasure and was better attended and serued then before For said Cosmo. The excellence of rare Spirits are heauenly formes and no burden-bearing Mules Many excellent peeces he made in Florence admired and applauded by the best Masters At Prâ—tâ—o by Florence where hee was acquainted the Nunnes of Sancta Margarita procured him to make their high Altar-table where being at worke hee espied a beautifull virgin a Citizens daughter of Florence whose name was Francisco Bati This maid was there kept to be made a Nunne she was most beautifull her name was Lucretia so he wrought with the Nunnes that he obtained leaue to draw her Picture but by continuall gazing vpon her countenance he became so enamoured of her that what by close messengers and other meanes he got her out of the Nunnerie he got her away and married her and by her he had a sonne named also Phillip who became an excellent Painter This Frier Phillips workes are to bee seene at Prato And amongst other S. Bernard layed out dead his brethren mourning about him and many Cripples and diseased persons which as it was said with touching the Herse and his body were healed Then hee most excellently wrought the Martyrdome of S. Stephen the beheading of S. Iohn Baptist with many others He died aged fiftie seuen Anno 1438. Hee had a stately Monument of Marble erected ouer him his Epitaph was written by Angelus Politianus which for the elegancy I will set downe Coâ—ditus his ego sum picturae fama Philippus Nulli ignota mea est gratia mir a manus Artifices potui digitis animare colores Sperataque animos fallere voce diâ— Ipsa mess stupuit Natura expressa figuris Meque suis fassa est artibus esse parem Marmorco tuâ—ulo Medices Laurentius hic me Condidit antè humilâ— pâ—lâ—ere tectus eram Antonello de Messino Antonello borne at Messino ought not to be forgotten who was the first that brought painting in Oyle into Italy For certaine Oyle peeces being sent by the Merchants out of Flanders to Alphonsus the first King of Naples which the King had in great admiration for that they could not be washed out with water comming to the view of Antonello Antonello could neuer be in quiet vntill he had found out the Inuentor whose name was Iohn Van Eyck who entertained Antonello very curteously and shewed him his Art what he could but at last Iohn van Eyck dying Antonello returned vnto Venice where his workes of the Magnifici were much admired and for that he brought the working in Oyle the first into Italy he was honored with this Epitaph D. O. M. Antonius pictâ—r pracipuum Messanâ— tâ—tius Siciliae ornamâ—ntum hac humâ— contegitur non solâ—m suis picturis in quibus singulare artificium venustas fiâ—t sed quod coloribus elâ—â— miscendis splendorem perpetuitatem primus Italica pictura conâ—ulit summo semper artificum â—â—â—diâ— celebratus Dominico â—irlandaio This Dominico was a Florentine by profession at the first a Gold-smith but falling to Painting hee became a great Master therein His first worke was a Chappell for the family of the Vespucci wherein hee drew in his Sea habit and standing vpon an vnknowne shoare Americus Vesputius who gaue America her name His best peeces are to be seene at S. Maria Nâ—vella in Florence He died Anno 1493. Raphaell D'Vrbine I ouerpasse for breuitie sake many other excellent and famous Artists of Italie equalling the former as Bellino Pallaiuoli Botticello Verrocchio Andreas Mantegna of Mantua so highly esteemed and honoured of Duke Luduvico Gonzaga Francesco Francia Michael Angelo and will comprise them in the excellencie of one onely Raphaell D'Vrbine who was borne at Vrbine whose fathers name was Giâ—vanni de Santi a Painter also This Raphaell was brought vp vnder Petro Perusini in Perusia where he so gaue his mind from a child vnto Drawing and Painting that in short time hee contended for the Palme with the greatest Masters of Europe and was for his admirable inuention sirnamed the Wonderfull There was a great aemulation betweene Raphaell and the afore named Francesco Francia who liued and wrought at Bâ—logna till at the last through meere admiration by report of each others skill they grew most louing friends greeting each either by letters continually yet had Francia neither seene Raphaell Vrbine nor any of his workes by reason he was old and could not trauaile abiding alwaies in Bologna vntill it fortuned that Raphaell Vrbine hauing made a S. Cicilia in a faire Altar-table for the Cardinall De Pucci Santi quatro which was to be set at Bologna at S. Giovanni Sopra Monte or on the Hill which Table he shut in a Case and sent it to Francia as vnto a deare friend that if any thing were amisse or it happened to be defaced or iniured in the carriage hee would amend it and beside so much befriend him as to set it vp in the place appointed and to see it want nothing fitting When he vnderstood thus much by Raphaels Letter hee opened the Case with great ioy and set the peece in a good and faire light which when he had throughly viewed he was so amazed and grew so out of conceipt of himselfe and his owne worke confessing his worke to be nothing in respect of Raphaell Vrbines which so strucke him to the heart that he died presently after he had set the peece in his place Anno 1518. The fame of Raphael Vibine at this time was so great that he was sought for and employed by the greatest Princes of Europe as namely the Popes Adrian and Leo Francis the first King of France Henry the eight King of England the Dukes of Florence
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
in Poesie was most rich and his sweetnesse and facilitie in a verse vnimitably excellent as appeareth by that Master peece his Psalmes as farre beyond those of B. Rhenanus as the Stanza's of Petrarch the times of Skelton but deseruing more applause in my opinion if hee had fallen vpon another subiect for I say with one Mihi spiritus diuinus eiusmodâ— places quo scipsum ingessit a Patre illoruÌ„ piget qui Dauid Psalmos suis calamistris inustos sperarant efficere plausibiliores And certaine in that boundlesse field of Poeticall inuention it cannot be auoided but something must be distorted beside the intent of the Diuine enditer His Tragedies are loftie the stile pure his Epigrams not to be mended saue heere and there according to his Genius too broad and bitter But let vs looke behinde vs and wee shall finde one English-bred whose glorie and worth although Cineri suppôsta doloso is inferiour neither to Buchanan or any of the ancients and so much the more to be valued by how much the brighter he appeared out of the fogges of Barbarisme and ignorance in his time that is Ioseph of Exeter who liued vnder Henrie the 2. and Richard the first who wrote that singular and stately Poeme of the Troian warre after the Historie of Dares Phrygius which the Germanes haue printed vnder the name of Cornelius Nepos He died at Bourdeaux in France where he was Archbishop where his monument is yet to bee seene After him all that long tract of ignorance vntill the daies of Henrie the 8. which time Erasmus calleth the Golden Age of learning in regard of so many famously learned men it produced more then euer heretofore flourished Sir Thomas More sometime Lord Chancellor of England a man of most rich and pleasant inuention his verse fluent nothing harsh constrained or obscure wholly composed of conceipt and inoffensiue mirth that he seemeth ad lepôres fuisse natum How wittily doth hee play vpon the Arch-cuckold Sabinus scoffe at Frenchified Lalus and Herney a French cowardly Captaine beaten at the Sea by our English and his shippe burned yet his victorie and valour to the English disgrace proclaimed by Brixius a Germane Pot-aster What can be more loftie then his gratulatorie verse to King Henrie vpon his Coronation day more wittie then that Epigramme vpon the name of Nicolaus an ignorant Phisitian that had beene the death of thousands and Abyngdons Epitaph more sweete then that nectar Epistle of his to his daughters Margaret Elizabeth and Cicelie But as these ingenious exercises bewraied in him an extraordinary quicknesse of wit and learning so his Vtopia his depth of iudgment in State-affaires then which in the opinion of the most learned Budaus in a preface before it our age hath not seene a thing more deepe accurate In his yonger yeeres there was euer a friendly and vertuous emulation for the palme of inuention and poesie betweene William Lillie the author of our Grammer and him as appeareth by their seuerall translations of many Greeke Epigrammes and their inuention tried vpon one subiect notwithstanding they lou'd and liu'd together as deerest friends Lillie also was beside an excellent Latine Poet a singular Graecian who after he trauelled all Greece ouer and many parts of Europe beside and liued some foure or fiue yeeres in the I le of the Rhodes he returned home and by Iohn Collet Deane of Paules was elected Master of Pauls Schoole which he had newly founded Shortly after began to grow eminent aswell for Poesie as all other generall learning Sir Thomas Challoner Knight father to the truly honest and sometime louer of all excellent parts Sir Thomas Challoner who attended vpon the late Prince borne in London brought vp in Cambridge who hauing left the Vniuer sitie and followed the Court a good while went ouer with Sir Henry Knyuet Embassadour to Charles the fift as his friend and companion what time the Emperour being preparing a mightie fleete against the Turkes in Argier the English Embassadour Sir Thomas Challoner Henry Knowles M. Henry Isam and others went in that seruice as voluntaries with the Emperour But the Galley wherein Sir Thomas Challoner was being cast away by foulenesse of weather after he had laboured by swimming for his life as long as he was able and the strength of his armes falling him he caught hold vpon a cable throwne out from another galley to the losse and breaking of many of his teeth and by that meanes saued his life After the death of King Henry the 8. he was in the battaile of Muskleborough and knighted by the Duke of Sâ—mmerset And in the beginning of the raigne of Queene Elizabeth hee went ouer Embassadour into Spaine where at his houres of leisure he compiled ten elegant bookes in Latine vers de Ropub Anglorum instauranda superuised after his death by Malim and dedicated to the old Lord Burghley Lord Treasurer Being sent for home by her Maiestie he shortly after died in London and was buried in Paules neere to the steppes of the Quire toward the South-doore vnder a faire marble but the brasse and epitaphe written by Doctor Haddon by sacrilegious hands is since torne away But the Muse and Eternall Fame haue reared him a monument more lasting and worthy the merit of so excellent a man Of English Poets of our owne Nation esteeme Sir Geoffrey Chaucer the father although the stile for the antiquitie may distast you yet as vnder a bitter and rough rinde there lyeth a delicate kernell of conceit and sweete inuention What Examples Similitudes Times Places and aboue all Persons with their speeches and attributes doe as in his Canterburie-tales like these threds of gold the rich Arras beautifie his worke quite thorough And albeit diuers of his workes are but meerely translations out of Latine and French yet he hath handled them so artificially that thereby he hath made them his owne as his Troilus and Cresseid The Romant of the Rose was the Inuention of Ithan de Mehunes a French Poet whereof he translated but onely the one halfe his Canterburie-tales without question were his owne inuention all circumstances being wholly English Hee was a good Diuine and saw in those times without his spectacles as may appeare by the Plough-man and the Parsons tale withall an excellent Mathematician as plainly appeareth by his discourse of the Astrolabe to his little sonne Lewes In briefe account him among the best of your English bookes in your librarie Gower being very gracious with King Henrie the 4. in his time carried the name of the onely Poet but his verses to say truth were poore and plaine yet full of good and graue Moralitie but while he affected altogether the French phrase and words made himself too obscure to his Reader beside his inuention commeth farre short of the promise of his Titles He published onely that I know of three bookes which at S. Marie Oueries in Southwarke vpon his monument
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
Shield within a Bordure Componeè Or and Gules before the Armes of Ferrara in recognisance of the league and fidelitie wherein hee promised to stand bound to serue the King at his own charges And for the like respect Lewis the eleuenth in May 1465. allowed Pietro de Medici to beare three Flower-de-luces in his shield which I haue seene borne in cheife vpon one of his sixe Lozenges Of Difference by the Labell A second difference is by the Labell borne chieefely as the difference of the elder Brother As Edward the blacke Prince and all our Princes of Wales eldest sonnes to the King beare their Fathers Soueraigne Coate with a Labell of three points Siluer Iohn of Gauns had his Labell Ermin Edmond of Langley Duke of Yorke on his Labell Siluer nine Torteauxes Edmond Plantagenes sonne and heire of Richard Duke of Yorke Earle of Ruâ—land who being a Child scarce twelue yeares of age was stricken to the heart with a Dagger by the Lord Clifford at the battaile of Wakefield had vpon his Labell of fiue points Argent two Lionceaux Gules with nine Torteauxes The Coate of Vlsâ—er and Mortimâ—r being â—mpaled with his owne as may be seene in the windowes of Fâ—deringhay Castle the mansion house of the Duke of Yorke where by his father Richard Duke of Yorke and Cicely Nevill his mother hee lyeth buried whose bodies remoued out of Fâ—deringhay Church-yard for the Chancell in the Quire wherein they first were laid in that fury of knocking Churches and sacred Monuments in the head was also felled to the ground lapped in Lead were buried in the Church by the commandement of Queene Elizabeth and a meane Monument of Plaister wrought with the Trowell erected ouer them very homely and farre vnfitting so Noble Princes I remember Master Creuse a Gentleman and my wâ—rthy friend who dwelt in the Colledge at the same time told me that their Coffins being opened their bodies appeared very plainly to be discerned and withall that the Dutchesse Cicely had about her necke hanging in a Silke riband a pardon from Rome which penned in a very fine Romane hand was as faire and fresh to be read as it had beene written but yesterday Of Difference by the Bend. A third difference is by the Bend Baston c. as the house of Burâ—â—â— beareth Frâ—â—â—â— with a Bâ—tune Gules though the proper and true Coate of 〈◊〉 is Of a Lyon Gules within an Orle of Escallops Azure Lewis Earle of Eureux in Normandy brother to Philip le Bâ—ll bare Seme de France with a Batune Componeè Argent and Gules Iohn Earle of Lâ—â—â—aster and Brother to Richard the first afterward King bare for his difference a Batune Azure If the mother be of the ligne Royall many times her Coate is preferred into the first quarter as Hâ—nry Earle of Dâ—â—â—nshire and Marquâ—sse of Exeter â—â—re his mother Kâ—tharines Coate who was daughter to King Edward the fourth And the like Humphrey Stafford who was the first Duke of Buckingham by Anne Platagâ—nâ—â— his mother â— the Coate of Thomas of Woodstocke whose daughter she was This Coate I remember standeth in the great Chancell window in the Church of Kimbaltâ—n In France it hath beene and it yet a custome among the Nobilitie to 〈◊〉 their owne proper Coates and take others as perhaps their Wiâ—es or the Armes of that Srigâ—â—â—â— whereof they are Lords or whence they haue their Titles as Mons. Hugues brother to King Philip marrying the daughter and heire of Herbere Earle of Verâ—â—â—dâ—â—â—s forsooke his proper Coate and bare his Wiues which was Checky Or and Azure onely three Flower-de-luces added in chiefe to shew he was of the blood And Robert Counâ— de Dreux albeit he was brother to King Lewis 〈◊〉 bare Checky Azure and Or with a Bordure Gules Robert Duke of Burgogne brother to Henry the first tooke for his bearing the ancient Armes of the Dukes of Burgogne which was bendy Or and Azure within a Bordure Gules giuen by Charlemaigne to Sanson Duke of Burgogne And whereas we in England allow the base sonne his Fathers Coate with the difference of a bend Batune sinister or bordure engrailed or the like it was in France a long time forbidden I thinke vnder the Capets to the Princes of the blood as 〈◊〉 Earle of Mâ—mfort base sonne to King Robert was forced to leaue his Fathers Coate and beare Gules a Lion à la queue fourcheè Or passeè per à lentour Argent for Le maison de France â—â—â—â—tant les bastardes no leur endurè son armeirè c. saith Tillet The last and least obseruation is of Crests the Helmet the Mantle and doubling thereof which according to the manner of diuers Countries are diuersly borne In Germany they beare their Beauers open with Barres which we allow in England to none vnder the degree of a Baron in some places they haue no Crests at all If you would farther proceed in Nobilitie or Heraldry I would wiâ—h you to reade these bookes of 〈◊〉 obâ—â—itie in generâ—â—â— Simon Simonius de Nâ—â—ilitâ—â—e 〈…〉 at Leipsig 1572. Chassanâ—â—â—â— his Catalogus Gloria munâ—â— Hippolitus à Collibus his Axumata Nobilitatis Conclusiones de Nobilitate Doctorain published by one of Meckleburg who concealeth his name printed 1621. dedicated to the Archbishop of Breme Petrus Eritzius Counâ—â—â—â—er to the Elector of Brandenburge published Conclusiones de Nobilitate in quarto Lionellus De pracedentia â—omiâ—um Of the Spanish Nobilitie these Authors haue written Ioannes ab Arce Offalora in folio Priuilegios y Franquezas y libertades des bijos dâ—algos De Senniorio de Vizcaia c. in fol. Ludovicus de Mollâ—â—a De primogâ—niorâ—m Hispanicorum iure c. in fol. Iosephus de Sesse in Decis Aragon Decis 8. 9. 10. c. Gonzales de Câ—rte his Nobliza del Andaluzia in fol. Of Italy Sicily Naples c. Scipie Mazzella nelle Neapoli Illustrata in quarto Paulus Merula in Cosmograph lib. 3. pt 3. in Italian Of France The Workes of Tillet Ferâ—â— Charles L'Oisâ—â—â— Choppin Theatre d'Honneur Of Germany or the Empire Fran. Contzen his Politiques in fol. The Collections of Goldastus with some others The practise of Blazonrie Willeged the first Abbot dyed the same yeare that Off a did of very griefe it was thought for the death of his king and kinsman whom he dearely loued Anno 8â—8 After him succeeded these in order Eadricke Vulsigus Wulâ—â—â—us Eadfrithus Wulsinus Who built Saint Peters Church Saint Michaels and Saint Stephens and made a faire market place in the towne Alfricke Aldredus Who digged vp and searched the ruines of Verlam-cesire which in his time were dens of theeues and whores saued all the tile and stone for the repaire of the Church and in digging vpon the North side in the vale found oaken plankes pitched Shelles peeces of oares and a rusty Anchor or two Eadmer after his death being a religious and a good man imitating his predecessour saued all the ancient coines vrnes
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