very great and plain for in some places they say it was the Queen's Garter and if so what needed then the Motto But most commonly they say it was the Countesse of Salisburies ' whom they name sometimes Alice and sometimes Joan when her name was Katherine and Mistris and after wife to the Black Prince Son of the said King as is well observed in Heylyn's History of St. George By which Froysart's error must appear very perspicuous who was the first and most eminent Author of this mighty fable Mounsier Favin in his Theater of Honor quotes Froysart and Polydore Virgil for the like account But I am apt to collect another reason from Mr. Selden's discourse an authority that I think needs no Apology and to think Edward the third being to engage a field gave St. George for the word long time before the Patron-Saint of England in which battail he gained a great victory which was about the year 1349. and at his return in the year one thousand three hundred and fifty established thisOrder to the honor of St George which agrees with the black Book of Windsor that Chronologizes it on the three and twentyeth day of April in the year one thousand three hundred and fifty being the three and twentyeth of that King's Reign And I understand not but that the addition of the Gartet might be after added to the Ensignes of the Order for the firstEnsign together with the Robes was the Crosse of Saint George yet in use amongst them And some do adde that the Garter was from a Martiall rise also as that a leather-garter upon the left leg was a mark given to some of the eminent Commanders with promise of enriching it on those that performed honorably in the charge For the account of the time according to other Authors it is left disputable Mr. Selden takes notice of some of the French Authors that affirm it to be erected in Anno 1344. yet after his victories as in the relations of the same Froysart and Thomas of Walsingam And Polydore Virgil to whom Favin subscribes will have it in An. 1347. Yet in another place he sets it down in the year one thousand three hundred and forty four Oportet mendacem memorem esse And one other observation I collect from some of these Authors that the Order was established before either of these passages only as a Seminary to draw other Knights of the world into these parts which caused the French King to do the like the same year of another Order by way of prevention this is averred by some Which is I conceive by other circumstances a mistake upon a Just or Turnment proclaimed by the said King Edward about the year one thousand three hundred forty and four in all places beyond the Seas to be held at Windsor about which time he caused to be built a very large round table for the entertaining of such Princes and Persons of great quality as should repair thither when the Earl of Salisbury was so bruised at the Justing that he dyed At the news of which meeting the French King sodainly after did the like to obstruct the concourse of great soldiers and honorable Personages that this would have produced The patron of this order is St. George who suffered Martyrdome at Nicomedia and was buryed at Lydda in Capadocia according to Dr. Heylin but Mr. Selden sayes he suffered at Lydda under Diocletian about the 〈◊〉 of Christ one hundred and ninty Whose fame was so great in the world that many Temples were built to his name as that of Justinian in Armenia and in Venice the chief Church for the Grecians Jo. Eucaitensis built a Monastery to the honor of St. George in the time of Constantine Into which the Emperors after were wont to make a solemn procession every Saint Georges day In Carinthia there is an Order of Knighthood of St. George in very much esteem And Eusebius speaks also of another Order of St. George among the Greeks whose Ensign is a red Crosse with this Motto Sub hec signo vinces begun by Constantiue the Great When first it came into this Nation is by the best Antiquaries left disputed but that he hath been long honored as Patron-Protector of England is proved by all and by Mr. Selden before the Conquest The three and twentyeth day of April being constantly celebrated to his memory And it is no marvail saith the same Author that so warlike a Nation should chuse to themselves the name of such a souldier Saint known by the particular name of Tropheophorus and of greater eminence in both the Eastern and Western Churches then any other Souldier-Saint The Soveraign of this order is the King of England the number of the Fellowship is twenty six besides the Soveraign of which when any of them dye the place is to be supplyed by another elected by the Soveraign with the consent of the Fraternity as it was antiently chosen and estalled at Windsor but since it is referred to the entire disposing of the King They have many Articles confirmed to which all that are enstalled subscribe and have an oath to which they swear that to their power during the time they shall be fellows of the Order they will defend the honor quarels rights and Lordships of the Soveraign and that they will endeavour to preserve the honor of the said Order and all the Statutes of it without fraud or covin Quinam perjurati The Officers of the Order are a Prelate which is alwayes the Bishop of Winchester a Chancellor Register a King of Arms called Garter and an Usher called the Black Rod added by Henry the eighth Their habit is a Cassock of Crimson Velvet and a Mantle of Purple Velvet lined with white Sarcenet on the left shoulder whereof is an Escutcheon of S. George embroydered within a Garter with the Motto the Escutcheon is Argent a plain Crosse Gules Above all about the neck they wear a collar of the Order weighing thirty ounces of Gold Troy weight composed of Garters and Knots enamel'd and with Roses red and white and since the coming in of King James there hath been an intermixture of Thistles At this collar hangeth the Image of St. George on horseback enriched with precious stones And about the left leg they wear a Garter enamelled and enriched with gold pearl and stones of great value with the same Motto of Hony soit qui mal y pens For their ordinary Ensign they wear a blew ribbon over their left shoulder and another on their left leg and a Star of silver embroy dery on the same side of their cloak with the Scutcheon of St. George in the Center of it And sometimes at their Ribbon a George also and then they wear it about their necks Their feast is yearly at Windsor Castle on St. Georges day In which place upon the foundation of it was a Church erected with Dean and Prebends as also thirteen poor
Azure by the Lord Brudenell Of Mechanical things THe last example that I shall insert is of other more ordinary Mechanical things The first is Arg. a Cheveron between three Palmers scrips Sables the tassels and buckles Or by Sir Henry Palmer of Kent The second is Gules a Cheveron between three Irish Broges Or. The third is Sables three Pickaxes Argent by the name of Pigot The fourth is Arg. a fesse between three pheans Sables by the name of Rowdon of Yorkshire The sixth is Sables three bels Arg. by the name of Porter The sixth is Azure three Howboys between as many crosse crosselets Or by the name of Bourden The seventh is Or on a bend Az. three Katherine Wheels Arg. by the name of Rudhall The eighth Az. three levels with their plumets Or by the name of 〈◊〉 The ninth is Arg. three bezants on a chief 〈◊〉 by the name of 〈◊〉 And here we are to take notice that if these roundals are charged in counter-changes as before then they are only called Roundals but if any other 〈◊〉 as in this example they are of a various blazon according to their colors as thus If they are Or then they are called Bezants Argent Plates Sables Pellets Gules Vorteuxes Ligh-tblew Hurts Vert Pomeyes Purpure Golps Teune Oranges Sanguine Gules And thus much I think sufficient to be said of the examples of Charges in Coat-Armor In the next place I am to shew the differences of Helms which distingnish in some part the honor of the bearer in his degree The Crowns and 〈◊〉 differing more particularly the highest degrees of Nobility I shall also exemplifie in the conclusion of this discourse and I hope shall raise in some measure a relation to the old proverb Finis coronat opus Of Helmets THe differences of Helms is always exprest when the Crest is given and by this difference a Gentleman is known in his degree by his hatchment as much as these following examples 〈◊〉 These Helmets are sometimes called cask and timbers by the French Helenum by the Romans Cassidem by the Greeks Galeam a Covering for the head in time of war and our manner of bearing crests on them is from their ancient fancy of adorning their Helmets with some kind of monstrous Device as the Head or mouth of a Lyon the paws or horns of certain beasts to appear more terrible And that which we call Mantle is not as some doe ridiculously suppose the Vestment which they usually had to wear over their atms in War or as some would have it to secure their shield from weather but from this originall that Princes and chief Commanders used to adorn their Helmets according to their qualities with rich buckles studs and circlets of gold garnished with rich and costly stones and on the top or crests of them wreaths of corded 〈◊〉 being the Liveries of their Ladies and Mistrisses as also some curled 〈◊〉 of hair and those Cordons like waving scarfs dangled down behinde them on the Cruppers of their Horses the ends being fairly tasselled and enriched many times with Pearls and precious Stones and thus especially they rid upon dayes of Triumph But in Germany and many other places where the laws of Honour and Armory are severely obsetved a mean Gentleman or new Atchiever is not permitted to bear Helm Mantle or Crest but by special favour The first differs from the 2. in that it is a side standing helmet with the Beaver close which is for all Esquires and Gentlemen The second is the common fashion of Knights which is a helmet standing direct forward with the 〈◊〉 open without guards The third is a side-helmet open-faced guardevisure which is proper for all persons of the Nobility beneath a Duke and above a Knight The fourth is the Helmet of Persons executing Soveraign Authority which is a Helmet which is full forward open-faced guarde-visure which belongeth also to Princes and Dukes In this manner are all Degrees obviously differenced to every mans judgement in all hatchments And if they be above the degree of a Knight that these do not distinguish to particulars then they are also understood by their 〈◊〉 and Crowns Of Crowns and Coronets The first whereof is the Crown of the Empire of Germany which is but little different from that of England in the second which is Emperial too The third is that Coronet of the Prince which is the same with the Kings only the arches mound and crosse wanting The fourth is the Crownet of an Archduke which is the same with a Duke the Arch only added The fifth is a Crownet floral only proper to a Duke The sixth is the Crownet of a Marquesse which differs thus It is of leaves and points the leaves or flowers above the points The seventh is proper to an Earl which hath points and flowers but the points are above the flowers The eighth is due to a Viscount which is a Circulet or Coronet pearled and neither flowers nor points The last is the form of that Crown which is found to be in fashion in the time of William the Conqueror Which I have inserted to shew the difference betwixt the Crown Imperial of England then and now As to the antiquity of these Crowns or Diadems as notes of Regality I finde not any where a just authority to assure me of their Origination but that there were Crowns long before Tragedies were in use is to me very evident though Sir William Segar is of opinion the use of them came from thence Yet that the use of them in these parts of the World might come from the giving of Crowns in Triumph and Lawrels or Wreaths for Vertue is very probable which was a thing very frequent and of very great antiquity among the Romans and hath continued and been exercised in the Empire since the translation to Germany and that with much Ceremony as in the example of Joannes Crusius his receiving the Laurel as Stratsburgh an 1616. See Mr. Selden his Titles of Honor where it is at large fol. 402. Which custom hath since been in these parts and indeed long before that time were Crowns given to Poets here as witnesse the example in St. Mary Overies Church where one John Gower a Poet in Richard the seconds time hath a Statue crowned with Ivie mixed with Roses but since it is more commonly used of Laurel Though the Crown of Laurel or Bayes was first appropriated to him that triumphed for victory in the field At which time distinctions of Crowns were observed according to the variety of merit As Corona Muralis this was due to him that was first seen upon the Wall of the Enemy Corona Castrensis for him that made a breach in the Castle of the Enemy the first a Crown embattail'd or made with battailment being of Gold the other of Towers And then they had Corona Navalis garnished with Fore-castles for service at Sea made of Gold too Then Corona Ovalis of Myrtle for victory gotten
much honor of all men and maintained out of the Publique Treasury In Rome and most other places they carryed as Ensignes of their Office 〈◊〉 Rods in imitation of the Poeticall fiction of Mercury who is styled the Herald of the Gods those of Rome wreathed with two Serpents and the ancient Druides of wreaths of Vervine imitating the same In France where a long time this office hath been in much honor not only 〈◊〉 St. Dennis the principal King of Arms but the other Heralds and Pursevants are to be of noble 〈◊〉 and Mountjoy to be of three descents as well of his Fathers as of his Mothers side of Noble linage and Coat-Armor Their Office or Colledge is in the Church of St. Anthony the lesse in Paris And they are allowed the priviledge of entrance into any Prince's Court and an injury offered to them is a publique injury in all parts of the world But I do not finde they were in this 〈◊〉 and establishment till the time of Philip de Valloys The revenues of them in France was very great as to Mountjoy in particular 2000. l. Lands in free tenure and 1000 pound per annum stipend as Favin relates And the others 1000 pound per annum stipend besides other profits and they are many besides their priviledges are very great which in the same Author are at large set down in which Author I cannot but observe the ridiculousnesse of their humor in the christening of their Pursevants for they call it christening and the Ceremony is performed with the powring a pot of Wine on their heads they name them at their own pleasure and some they call Plain-way Jolly-heart No-lyar Tell-troth Chearfulnesse Fair-seeming Loftyfoot and the like But to come neerer to our own concernment I think to proceed with the same Office in our own Nation where they are now in lesse esteem I confesse then they have been in former ages yet have ever been honored with messages between Potentates for matter of Honor and Arms. Ceremoniarum Ministri as in the Coronation of Kings and Queens enstalment of Princes and creation of Noble dignities of honor in Triumphs Justs Combats Marriages Christenings Interments and to attend all solemn Assemblies of State and honor and by some of them ought the proclamations of all great matters of State to be promulged causes of Chivalry and Gentility are referred to their care as in the right of bearing of Arms in Shields Scutcheons Targets Banners Penons Coats and such like correcting of Arms in visitations and observing descents and pedigrees of Noblemen and Gentlemen They are the Protonotaries Griffiers and Registers of all acts and proceedings in the Court of the High 〈◊〉 and Lord Marshall of Engiand or of such as have their authority and in their books and Records they are to preserve to perpetuall memory all facts and memorable designments of honor and Arms. They have been long establisht in England but I find not that they were incorporated into a Collegiate Society till Richard the third's time when they were incorporated by Charter and placed at Coleharbor from whence they often removed untill they became setled where now at this time they are placed by the honorable endeavour of that Illustrious family of the Howards formerly Dukes of Norfolk and Earls Marshals of England the house being before called Darby house Which was established to them in the time of King Philip and Queen Mary and in these tearms incorporated by the names of Garter King of Arms of England Clarenceux King of Arms of the South parts and the Heralds and Pursevants for ever and to have and use a common Seal to purchase Lands to sue and be sued by Edward the sixth in his third year granted them many priviledges viz. In these words Forasmuch as sundry records and testimonies of great antiquity and of no lesse credit have now lately reduced to our perfect knowledge the Kings of Armes Heralds and 〈◊〉 of Arms elected as persons vertuous and for their good qualites knowledge and experience to serve in the affairs of the Common-wealth have been alwayes heretofore by Emperors Kings and Princes of Christian Realms upon most worthy and just considerations not only maintained and supported as well with yearly stipends and pensions as daily profits advantages and commodities sufficient to the necessity of the decent and convenient living of them and theirs in honest state Which daily profits advantages and commodities are now lately much decayed to their hindrance especially in this our Realm but also have been by the said Emperors Kings and Princes enriched and adorned time out of mans memory with divers kinds of priviledges liberties and franchises as among others that they and every of them be free exempt quite and discharged not only from subsidies dismes fifths tenths reliefs contributions taxes profits grants benevolences and generally from all other manner of charges as well in time of War as Peace in all such Realms and Dominions wherein they made their demour but also in all Market Towns and all other places from Tolls Fines Customes Impositions and Demands and aswell from Watch and Ward in all Cities Towns and Castles Borroughs and Villages and from the election or appointment to any Office of Mayor Sheriff Bayliffe Constable Scavenger Church-warden or any other publick Office in Citties Towns Castles 〈◊〉 and Villages whatsoever And forasmuch also as we understand all Kings of Arms Heralds c. have alwayes heretofore from the beginning of the Office of Arms enjoyed and do presently enjoy all and singular the priviledges liberties and franchises aforesaid with many other in all Christian Realms without any disturbance 〈◊〉 or molestation We therefore considering the same and earnestly minding as well the advancement of the said Office of Arms as the quiet and honest supportance of our Servants and Ministers thereof do of our speciall Grace certain knowledge and meer motion by the advice and consent of our most dearly beloved Uncle Edward Duke of Somerset and our Protector of our Realms and Dominions and Subjects and of the rest of our Councel by these 〈◊〉 not only confesse and generally approve give grant and confirm to the said Kings Heralds c. and to every of them and their successors for ever for us and our Successors all and singular the premises before recited although here not recited as have been of honorable antiquity upon just 〈◊〉 to them granted by Emperors Kings and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 right famous memory heretofore But 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 especially by these presents pardon 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 utterly for us and our heires release the said Kings of Arms Heralds c. aswell all 〈◊〉 sums of money and demands whatsoever 〈◊〉 assessed c. The Officers are thus distinguished Kings of Arms Garter General indefinite Of the south p. of Eng. Beyond Trent northw 〈◊〉 Norroy Heralds York sometimes styled Dukes of Arms. 〈◊〉 Windsor Lancaste Richmond Chester Pursevants Portcullis  Blewmantle  Raugh dragon  〈◊〉 croixe Â
deeds in the possession of the late right honorable Gilbert Earl of Shrewbury doth appear Bernards Inne Beareth party per pale indented Ermin and Sab. a Cheveron Gul. fretty This house was in the thirteenth year of the reign of King Henry the sixth a messuage belonging to one John Mackworth then Dean of the Cathedral Church of Lincoln and in that time in the holding of one Lyonel Bernard who next before the conversion thereof into an Inne of Chancery dwelt there And it hath ever since retained the name of Bernards Inne or Bernards house Staple Inne Port de vert un pacquet de doyne Arg. This House was sometimes belonging to the English Merchants of the Staple as it hath been by ancient Tradition held It is of late adorned with a convenient large Garden-plot to walk in and is at this day rightly esteemed for the most ample and beautifull Inne of Chancery within this Academy Clifford's Inne Reareth Checky Or Azure of fesse Gul. within a bordure of the third charged with a Bezanet This House albeit it followeth in an after rank from the former yet it is worthy to be reputed amongst the formest as being in reputation with the best both for conveniency and quiet situation thereof as for worth and good government It was also sometime the dwelling house of Maccoln de Hersey and came to the King for debts and was after sometimes the house of the Lord Clifford as by Inquisition which was taken that year and remaining on Record doth appeare which hath these words Isabella quae fuit Roberti Clifford 〈◊〉 cum pertinent quod Robertus habuit in parochia Sancti Dunstani West ' in suburb Londini c. tenuit illud demisit post mortem dicti Roberti 〈◊〉 de Bancho pro 〈◊〉 l. per annum c. ut pat per Inquisitionem cap. 18. Edwardi 3. post mortem dict Roberti Clifford This House at this day is the Inheritance of that antient and right honorable family of Cliffords Earls of Cumberland for which there is an annual Rent still rendered to the Earles of Cumberland for the time being Clements Inne Beareth Argent Anchor without a stock in pale proper entertaining a C. for Clement into the body thereof This House sometimes was a messuage belonging to the Parish Church of St. Clement Danes from whence it took its denomination neer to this house is that Fountain which is called Clements Well This Anchor is engraven in stone over the gate of the first entrance into the house and is an Hieroglyphick figuring thereby that Pope Clement as he was Pope was reputed Caput Ecclesiae Romanae for the Roman Priesthood or Anchorage of Christendome figured by the Anchor and by the text C. the Sacerdotal dignity Some hold that the device of the Anchor was rather invented upon this reason of the Martyrdome of Pope Clement as Jacobus de Voragia writeth that he received his Martyrdome being bound to a great Anchor and cast into the Sea by the command of the Emperor Trajane New Inne Beareth Vert a Flower-pot Arg. maintaining Jully flowers Gules This house is so called by reason of its then late or new Creation being in the reign of King Henry the seventh therefore the same is not of late a foundation as some imagine which is that the late dissolution of Strond Inne being by the Duke of Somerset Uncle to King Edward the sixth this house in lieu thereof was instituted for the dispersed Gentlemen Professors and Students of the Common Laws of this Realm It is certain that Sir Thomas Moor Knight Lord Chancellor of England in the reign of King Henry the seventh was a fellow student of this Society and in the reign of King Henry the eighth removed his study into that of Lincolns Inne This house was sometimes called by the name of our Ladies Inne for that the Picture of our Lady was pourtraicted at the doore thereof And in the reign of King Edward the fourth was 〈◊〉 by Sir John Fyncaullxe Knight Chief Justice of England or of the Kings Bench or 6. l. per annum wherein he placed Students and practisers of the Common Lawes who before that time had a house in the 〈◊〉 Bayly called St. Georges Inne the passage thereunto was over against St. Sepulchers Church and by some is reputed to be the first and most ancient of all other Innes of Chancery but the same house at this day is converted into severall Tenements and Garden plots Lyons Inne Beareth Checkie Or and Arg a Lyon Saliant Sab. langued and armed Gules This house received its foundation of modern time and lately before the acquiring thereof it was a dwelling house known by the name of the Black Lyon and in the reign of King Henry the seventh was purchased by divers Gentlemen Students and Professors of the common Lawes The first Treasurer of this Society was one John Bidwell The greatest number of this Society are the natives of the West parts viz Devonshire and Cornwall but for the most part Devonshire Gentlemen Chesters Inne or Strond Inne Beareth Azure within a bordure Gules three garbes Or in a bend of the second In the reign of King Henry the eighth this house for that Sir Bevis St. Marrour Knight Duke of Somerset kept there his Court was an Inne of Chancery called Strond Inne and before that time belonged to the Bishop of Chester after to the Bishop of Worcester and unto the Bishop of Landaffe with the Parochiall Church of St. Maries adjoyning thereunto All which were swallowed up in An Dom. 1549. for to build an ample and spacious Edifice to the use of the said Duke the maternall Uncle to King Edward the sixth The Six Clerkes Office otherwise called Riderminster's Inne Beareth Azure two Cheveronels Or between three Bezants Arg. charged with eight pellets This House though it be not saluted by the name of an Inne of Chancery as the others are which are of like name and nature yet is the same more properly to be called an Inne of Chancery then any of the rest for that the Chancery Officers do there reside namely Attourneys commonly called the Six Clerks of the Chancery and are to this day a society of Gentlemen well learned in the Laws These were at the first Sacerdotall and therefore called Clerks And in those days when the Institution of them was first established they were all of them Church-men This house was acquired and gotten for the society by one John Riderminster Esquire a member thereof who in his time was a very skilfull and well Learned man and both faithfull and just as well to his Client as to his friend It was antiently the Inne or the Mansion of the Abbot of Norton in Lincolnshire and since that time it hath been the dwelling-house of one Andrew Hersfleet and is most proper to be called an Inne of Chancery for the Officers of Chancery only reside there the House is situate in Chancery lane where the causes appertaining to