Daughter of Sir Edmund Bell left issue three sons Gentlemen of signall accomplishments Heneage Finch Esquire of the Inner Temple London first son a Person of eminent abilities and candid integrity Francis Finch of the same House Barrester at Law second Son and John Finch third son hopefull and ingenious branches of this Noble Family Of this Family is also Sir John Finch Knight sometime Lord Keeper of the great Seal of England created Lord Finch of Fordwich the sixteenth of King Charles living 1659. son of Sir Henry Finch Knight second Brother of Sir Moyle above mentioned The Atchievement of an Earle HONI SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE VIRTVTIS LAVS ACTIO THis Atchievement thus marshalled is here set forth for the peculiar Ensigns of the Right Noble and truly Honourable Thomas Howard Earle of Arundell and Surrey Primier Earle of England Earle Marshall of the same Kingdom Lord Howard Mowbray Segrave Brus of Gower Fitz-Alan Clun Oswaldstre and Mautravers Knight of the most Noble order of the Garter and one of the Lords of his Majesties most honourable Privy Councel which noble Lord beareth Quarterly eight Coats The first whereof is Ruby on a Bend between six crosse croslets fitchee Pearl an Escocheon Topaz thereon a demy Lyon pierced through the mouth with an Arrow within a double Tressure counter-flowred of the first and is the paternall Coat of the noble flourishing Family of the Howards The second is Ruby Three Lyons passant gardant Topaz in chief a File of three points Pearl which was the Coat-armour of the Lord Thomas of Brotherton fifth son of King Edward the first and Earl of Norfolk and Suffolk The third is Checkey Topaz and Saphire which was the peculiar Armoriall Ensigns of the Earls of Warren The fourth is Ruby a Lyon Rampand Pearl Armed and Langued Saphire by the name of Mowbray The fifth is Ruby a Lyon Rampand Or Armed and Langued of the first by the name of Albaney The sixth is Pearl a Chief Saphire by the name of Clun The seventh is Diamond a Fret Topaz by the name of Mautravers The eighth is Pearl a Fesse and Canton Ruby by the name Woodvile all within the Garter And above the same upon an Helme a mantle Ruby doubled Ermine next upon which is placed on a mount Emerald within a Torce Topaz and Ruby a Horse passant Pearl holding in his mouth a slip of an Oake fructed Proper supported on the dexter side with a Lyon and on the sinister with an Horse both Pearl the last holding in his mouth an Oaken slip fructed Proper And for his Motto to make the same Atchievement absolute these words in a Scrole VIRTUTIS LAUS ACTIO This Atchievement is here proposed as instar Omnium for a patern of the Coat-Armours of Earls of which this Noble Lord is the Primier of England and therefore is his Lordships Atchievement the fittest to be here demonstrated besides whose Coat-Armour could more properly challenge a due place in a work of this nature than his who is not onely by his office of Earl Marshall proper Judge of Honour and Arms but also in his affection the most Honoured Maecenas and Noble Patron as of all learning in generall so more particularly of this of Armory which Earl some years since deceasing left these honours to Henry his eldest son who by Elizabeth Sister of James Stuart late Duke of Richmond and Lennox has left a hopefull issue viz. Thomas Earl of Arundel c. Henry second son in whom are concentred the Loyalty Courage Learning Generosity and what has else exalted the reputation of his Ancestors in the Kingdom Philip third son Charles fourth son Edward fifth son Francis sixth son and Bernard seventh son all living 1660. Of Earls The Title of an Earl is very ancient the dignity very honourable their calling being in sign of their greatness adorned with the lustre of a Coronet and themselves enobled with the stile of Princes Comites among the Ancient Romans were Counsellors and near Adherents to their highest Commanders which honour and Title being then but temporary and for life The flowers and points of a Marquess his Coronet are of even height The pearled points of the Earls Coronet are much longer than the intermixt flowers thereof is since by tract of time made perpetuall and hereditary The Saxons called them Ealdermen the Danes Earls they being as may seem at first selected out of the rest of the Nobility for commendation of their Gravity Wisdom and Experience The next degree above an Earl is a Marquess whose Atchievement I have omitted in respect that the same is chiefly differenced from that of an Earls in this that the Marquess his Coronet is Meslee that is part flowred and part Pyramidall pearled the flowers and points of equall height and the Earles is Pyramidall pointed and pearled having flowers intermixt but much shorter than the pearled points PIE REPONE TE THis is the Atchievement of the Right Honourable Henry Marquess of Dorchester Earl of Kingston upon Hull Viscount Newarke Lord Pierrepont and Maunvers and Herris and is thus blazoned His Lordship bears eight Coats quarterly First Pearle semy de Cinquefoiles Ruby a Lyon Rampant Diamond by the name of the Lord Pierrepont Secondly Pearl six Annulets Diamond by the name of the Lord Maunvers Thirdly Saphire three Hedg-hoggs Topaz by the name of the Lord Herris Fourthly Diamond a Lion Rampant Pearle Crowned Topaz which is the bearing of Lord Segrave Fiftly Ruby a Lion within a bordure Engrailed Topaz by the name of Rees ap Teuder Prince of South-Wales Sixtly Diamond three garbes Pearl being the Coat of the King of Lemster Seventhly Ruby three wheat sheaves Topaz a bordure of Scotland by the name of Coming Earle of Northumberland Eightly Ruby a lion rampant a la double queve Pearle by the name of the Lord Mantfort Earle of Lycester for his Crest on a helmet placed on a Marquesses crowne a Torce or Wreath of his colours thereon a Fox passant Ruby supported by two Lyons Diamond mantled Ruby doubled Ermine his motto PIE REPONE TE This noble Person not more illustrious by his quality then by the Advantages of nature and industry the great assertor of Learning in this Nation decended from a noble family of signall eminence out of which is Robert de Petraponte sive Pierpont who was cal'd by writ among the Peers of England to the Parliament by King Edw. 3. and afterwards in process of time Robert Pierpont was Created Viscount Newarke and Lord Pierpont afterwards Created Earle of Kingston upon Hull after whose death our Soveraign King Charles conferd the honour of Marquess of Dorchester on Henry Earle of Kingston his Son the present Inheritor of these Titles ennobled also by his Mother who was Gertrude Daughter and Coheir of Henry Talbot Son of George and brother to Gilbert Earle of Shrewsbury Lord Talbot Strange Furnivall Verdon and Lovetoft FOY POVR DEVOIR THis is the Atchievement of the Right Honourable William Seymour
Marquess and Earl of Hartford Baron Seymour and Beauchamp invested in the Title of Marquess Hartford by King Charles June the third 1641. in the seventeenth year of his reign Grandchild and Heir to Edward created Earl of Hartford in the first year of Queen Elizabeth by Katharine Daughter and Heir of Henry Grey Duke of Suffolk and Frances his Wife eldest Daughter and Coheir of Charles Brandon Duke of Suffolk and Mary his Wife Queen Dowager of France second Sister and at last Coheir of King Henry the eighth which Earl Edward was Son of Edward Seymour Duke of Somerset c. Brother to Queen Jane Mother of King Edward 6. to whom he was Protectour He bears six Coats quarterly First Topaz on a Pile Ruby between six Flowers de lis Saphire three Lyons of England which was an Agumentation of King Henry the eighth Secondly Ruby two wings impaled Topaz Milles calls them two wings volant Brook two wings conjoynd in Fesse and another two wings in Lure by the name of Seymour Thirdly Varry by the name of Beauchampe Fourthly Pearl three demy Lyons Rampant Ruby Fifthly per Bend Pearl and Ruby three Roses counter-changed Sixthly and lastly Pearl on a Bend Ruby three Leopards heads Topaz on which a Marquesses Crown thereon a Helmet of the same quality then for his Crest out of a Crown a Phoenix sacrificing her self all proper Mantled Ruby doubled Ermine Supported on the dexter side by an Unicorn Pearl gorged with a Crown chained Armed and Crined Topaz on the sinister side by a Bull Saphire gorged with a Crown and String reflexed Armed and Crined Topaz his Motto Foy pour devoir these have been the ancient quarterings of this noble Family and are continued though they have the same right as above appears to Grey Brandon and the Arms of England also with a due difference FIDEI COTICVLA CRVX THis is the Atchievement of the High and Mighty Prince George Duke Marquess and Earl of Buckingham Earl of Coventry Viscount Villiers and Baron of Whaddon whose Family were of signall note in Leicestershire for many hundred years whose Marshallings are thus blazoned He bears six Coats quarterly First Pearl on a Cross Ruby five Escallops Topaz which was an Augmentation as I am inform'd conferd upon one of this Family for service in the holy Land as appears by the bearing Secondly Diamond a Fesse between three Cinquefoyles Pearl by the name of Villiers Thirdly Topaz two Bars Saphire a Chief quarterly two Flowers de lis of France and a Lyon of England by the name of Manors Fourthly Ruby three Waterbougets Pearl Fifthly Saphire a Catherne Wheele Topaz Sixthly Topaz two Cheurons and a Border Ruby by the name of Trusbut a Martlet for a difference which foure last Coats are borne by his grace as the principall of many he may quarter in right of his Mother Katharine Daughter and sole heir of Francis Manors sixth Earl of Rutland Lord Roos of Hamelake Belvoir and Trusbut c. And for his Crest on a Crown Ducall and Helmet befitting that degree a Lyon Rampant Pearl Crowned Topaz standing on a Wreath or Torce of his colours Mantled Ruby and Ermine supported by a Horse on the dexter side daple Grey and on the sinister by a Stag Pearl Attired Proper his Motto Fidei coticula Crux The chief Attributes of God are his Power Wisdome Goodnesse in all which the nearer any King cometh to the imitation of that prime Idea the more truly doth he deserve that glorious name and expresse the noble nature of a King Which all Countries in part have shewed by the severall Titles given to their Soveraigns most Nations calling them Reges for government which cannot be as it should be without the said three Regall properties and the Saxons our ancestors call them Kings of Cynning a word signifying both cunning or wisdome and also Power whereby all Kings can do much more than good Kings will do The beginning of Kingly power was from the first created man who was made an absolute but fatherly Soveraign over all and the necessity of such a Chief was so great even in the eye of Nature that as there are no flocks or heards of beasts but have one leader of their own kind so there is no Nation so brutish or barbarous but have found the necessity and use of having a King over them to rule them and administer justice to them which is the prime office of a King and that such hath alwayes been the office of Kings of this our Island our own ancient and learnedst Lawyers testify For Rex saith Bracton non alius debet judicare si solus ad id sufficere posset c. Whence a latter learned Lawyer gathereth most truly that though the King substitute other to minister justice under him yet himself is not discharged of that authority when himself please as often as our Kings have done in person to sit and take notice of causes and likewise the Royall Oath at his Coronation runneth Facies fieri in omnibus judiciis tuis aequam certam justitiam c. And that such was the Kings absolute Jurisdiction in this Kingdom before the Conquest also the same Author so copiously proveth that it is ignorance to deny it and folly to enlarge the proof of it And yet saith Aeneas Silvius It is the manner of Kings in writing to use the plurall number as Mandamus Volumus Facimus c. As appeareth Epist 105. where he saith Reges cum scribunt etsi dominatum habent ut quicquid placet Legis vigorem habeat ea tamen moderatione utuntur cum scribunt ut aliquid praecipientes non se solos videri velint fecisse sed cum aliorum consilio They do temper their Soveraign Jurisdiction with such moderation that it may appear they prescribe and command not without counsell and advice of others Touching the greatnesse of the Kings of this Island and precedence before any other Kings these are two main reasons First that the King of this Land Lucius was the first Christian King of the world as also Constantine the first Emperour publickly planting Christianity Secondly for that of all Kings Christian the King of Britain is the most and indeed onely absolute Monarch he being no way subordinate to any Potentate Spirituall or Temporall in causes either Ecclesiasticall or Civill as other Kings are through their own default Moreover the King of England is both Anointed as no other King is but onely the French of Sicilie and of Jerusalem and he is also crowned which honour the Kings of Spain Portugall Arragon Navarre and many other Princes have not God grant that as our Country hath been blessed with prerogatives above all other Kingdoms and with the blessing both of all earthly felicities and Heavenly graces beyond any other and with more puissant victorious learned religious Kings than all the people whatsoever as the world seeth at this day so we may go beyond all Nations in thankfulnesse to so
markes by the said additions And very seldome should you see in those times Crescents Mollets or such small things borne for a difference or if any such were they were made so large that they might easily be discerned by the distance of forty foot Furthermore the Soveraign estate and dignity being compared with the quality of any Subject the difference will be found so great between them and the one so far surmounting the other of them as that reason it self willeth that so great a difference should be put between the Royall Ensignes and the Armes of a Subject as there is between their estates and degrees sith those Ensigns are the marks of their worthinesse and esteem For these and other respects it hath been and yet still is in use Honorable Ordinaries used for differences that in addition of differences to the Armes of Kings younger children the skilfull Heralds have given some of the Honourable Ordinaries for more apparent distinctions as a Fâ—sse Chief Bend Pile Bordure and such like as we may manifestly see in divers ancient Coats borne by such noble Personages as have descended from the collaterall lines of the Kings of England France Scotland c. Concerning those modern differences before expressed in the form of six rancks page 36. viz. Crescents Mollets Martlets c. Crescents Mollets c. notwithstanding their institution was ingenious yet hath tract of time discovered their use to be dangerous especially in Martiall affaires by reason of their darkness and unapparent formes occasioned by imposition of one difference upon another the perill whereof hath not a little extenuated their estimation Nevertheless their invention is not therefore to be condemned in as much as the events have not fallen out answerable to the intention of their first Deviser Neither can it be therefore justly said to be done without ground of reason as a certain Author noteth Si finis in intellectu operantis sit rationabilis etiamsi non sequatur quod intenditur non idcireo dicitur irrationabiliter operari Here it is to be observed Note No differences for daughters that differences doe in no wayes appertain unto Sisters for that they are reputed to be separated and divided from the Family whereof they are descended in as much as when they are once married they doe lose their own surname and doe receive their denomination from the Family whereof their Husbands are descended And so much doth the word Soror notifie unto us as Sosinus saith Soror est quasi seorsim nata à familia separata Armes of Daughters Why Daughters are not allowed differences To Daughters it is permitted to bear the Armes of their Father even as the elder brother doth after his Fathers decease without any scandall or challenge of their elder brother for that to daughters never were any differences allowed and that for three causes First because their Coats are never or very seldome advanced in the Field forasmuch as to that sex war is reputed odious Secondly for that the Coat-Armour is no longer borne by them than during their life for the same extendeth not to their Issue Lastly because so long as Issue continueth of any of the Brethrens Lines they are debarred from the inheritance Yet in some cases they shall bear the Coat-Armour to them and their heirs as in example If all the issue of the Brethren happen to become extinct then the Daughters shall Inherit the Land of their Ancestor In which case they may therewithall assume his Coat-Armour and bear the same by themselves and their heirs for ever But betwixt those Sisters be allowed no differences or badges of Pedegrees the reason whereof is for that sithence by them the Name of the House cannot be preserved therefore they are admitted to the Inheritance equally and are adjudged but one Heir to all intents and purposes in Lawes as well Martiall as Civill without any eminent prerogative either of Honour or Possesion betwixt Elder and Younger SECT I. CHAP. VII SO much of the Accidents of Armes viz. Tincture and Differences comprehended in the first part of our premised distribution Now of the second member thereof viz. Parts of Armes The parts of Armes are the Escocheon Ornaments without the Escocheon An Escocheon is the form or representation of a Shield of what kind soever and is so called of the Latine word Scutum which hath the same signification whence also an Esquire or Page takes his name of Scutiger signifying primarily a Target bearer And the Target is not unaptly deduced from the Latine word tergus a beasts hide whereof at first Shields were made whereupon Pliny saith Tergus ad scuta galeasque impenetrabile An impenetrable hide fit to make a Shield And the Poet Statius caesis clypeos vestire juvencis With bullocks hides they clad their Shields Whence Virgil calls Ajax his Buckler Septemplex for the seven-fold doublings of leather Camden Brittan as elsewhere he describes a Target-duo taurea terga made of two Oxe hides But the clearest star of our Profession Mr. Clarenceaux takes it from the British word Tarian and that from the French Thireos which Pausanius saith is the Buckler in use amongst the old Gaules If any here should ask me why then Escocheons should be used in Heraldry sith other men are invested with Ensignes of honour besides Martiall men I answer them that as to Military men that token is proper for reward of that kind of service so if others by their Vertues Arts or Actions Escocheon an Hieroglyphike of defence advance either the honour or the welfare of their Countrey their service is as behoovefull as the others and themselves as Defenders or Preservers of their Countries peace and happiness as I have formerly shewed deserve likewise the reward of the Escocheon being the Hieroglyphick or Emblem of defence and preserving In which respect that good Prophet Eliah was called The Chariots and Horsemen of Israel And by the Civill Law Imp. in L. Advoc. C. de Advoc. an Advocate is sayd to be Miles a martiall man and to have the same prerogatives in that they doe civium vitam patrimonium defendere defend the life and livelihood of the Subjects Advocate termed Miles Touching the divers formes of Shields I will not here speak every Country almost having their diverse makings amongst which the smallest were in use amongst our old Britans as being most manageable the greatest amongst the Romans and Grecians as may appear by Alexander who being to passe a river used his Sheild for his Boat and his Spear for his Ruther to guide himself over And it was ever held more dishonorable for a man to lose his Buckler than his sword in field because it is more praise-worthy to defend a friend than to hurt a foe as a Noble Generall once said Mallem unum Civem c. I had rather save one good Subject than kill an hundred enemies The Accidents in this Escocheon are Points
mind is the field intention the Tillage care the seed labour the harvest if thou Husband the field diligently thou shalt receive a plentifull harvest Sometime ease and quietnesse becometh restlesse and troublesome therefore ought we evermore to be in action and exercised in some good Arts or Studies as often as we find our selves ill affected with sloth and idlenesse which cannot abide it self Many are the Instruments pertaining to Husbandry I will make choyce of some of the chiefest and of most frequent use in Coat-Armour He giveth his mind to make Furrowes and is diligent to give the Kine fother Wheeles are the Instruments whereby Chariots Wagons and such like things are carryed both speedily and with great facility and they are so behoovefull for these uses as that if any one of them happen to fall off the whole carriage must either stand still or at least is forced forward with great difficulty As we may see Exod. 14. where God took off the Wheeles of the Chariots of the Aegyptians that vehemently prosecuted the Israelites as appeareth verse 25. And he took off their Chariot Wheeles and they drove them with much adoe so that the Aegyptians said I will flye from the face of Israel for the Lord fighteth for them against the Aegyptians The Wheele is called in Latin Rota à rotunditate or else as some hold a ruendo quia in declive faciliter â—uit because it rowleth down suddenly from the steep declining part of the ground Other sorts of Wheeles there are which albeit they are not meet for Husbandry yet I have held it fit to annex them to these in respect of their near resemblance as in these examples may be seen Under this Head may we aptly bestow all other Instruments pertaining either to Husbandry or to the severall Trades of Shepheards Vinedressers Bakers Brewers Vintners c. for that these are all grounded upon Agriculture or Husbandry SECT IV. CHAP. VII AGriculture is for meer necessity clothing is partly for it and partly for ornament and decency but had not Man sinned he had not needed clothing which were worth the considering by those who are so proud of their apparell As touching such Arts or Trades that we call Handycraft or Mechanicall professions so called perhaps of Moecha which signifieth an Harlot or an Adulterous person for that as an Harlot covnterfeiteth the modest behaviour of a modest Matrone so do Mechanicall Artizans labour to resemble the works of Nature In quantum possunt These are not performed so much by wit and invention like as the Arts Liberall are as they be by exercise of the Limbs and labour of the body And hereof they are thought to be called Arts ab artubus which properly do signifie the muscles sinewes or other ligaments of the Body but metaphorically it is often taken for the limbs themselves that are so combined and connected together How meanly soever we reckon of these in a Relative comparison to the Arts Liberall neverthelesse it is clear that these no lesse than those do proceed from the immediate gift of God as doth plainly appear by Bâ—zaleel and Aholiab Exod. 35.3 and are no lesse behovefull and necessary for mans use and for the support of humane traffick and society as we may see Ecclesiast 38.31 Where after he had made mention of the care and diligence the Carpenter Porter and Smith and other men of Trade do use in their severall professions he concludeth thus All these trust their hands and every one bestoweth his wisdome in his worke Without these cannot the Citties be maintained nor inhabited hereby we see the necessity of these Artificiall or Mechanicall Trades or professions With little reason may any man contemn the Tokens of Instruments pertaining to Mechanicall Trades or professions sithence they are express notes of Trades so very behoovefull for the use of mans life and their exquisite skil and knowledge issued out of the plentiful Fountain of Gods abundant Spirit In things Artificiall that manner of translation is reckoned the more worthy from which it is extracted than that whereunto it is transferred acording to that saying Transmutatio in rebus Artificialibus famosius dicitur esse de genere ejus ex quo quà m ad quod Under this Head must be reduced all manner of Tooles and Instruments borne in Coat-armour and pertaining to the severall Trades of Weaving Fulling Dying Sheering c. As also such as do pertain to the severall mysteries or occupations of Embroiderers Sempsters and such others Amongst Artificers and men of Trade saith Chassaneus this is a note of observation that each one is to be preferred before other according to the dignity of the Stuffe whereon he doth exercise his Trade Hereto we will annex some examples of Taylory As touching apparell we find that though the same be made chiefly to cloath our nakedness yet shall we find that they were not only ordained by the invention of Man but also allowed and for some speciall end expresly commanded by God himself to be made and provided as weâ— for glory as also for ornament and comelinesse as appeareth Exod. 2â— Likewise thou shalt embroider the fine linnen coat and thou shalt make the mitre of fine linnen and thou shalt make the girdle of needle-work And for Aarons sons thou shalt make coats and thou shalt make for them girdles and bonnets shalt thou make for them for glory and for beauty Rich Garments and costly Jewels are reckoned ornaments as appeareth 2 Sam. 1.24 Ye daughters of Israel weep over Saul who clothed you in scarlet with other delights who put on ornaments of gold upon your apparell And they be called Ornaments because they do illustrate and adorne or beautifie the person that is garnished with them To this head may be reduced all sorts of things whatsoever pertaining to the adorning decking or trimming of the body as Combes Glasses Head-brushes Curling-Bedkins c. And also Purses Knives c. Sir Thomas Palmer of Leigh near Tunbridge in Kent Knight Grandfather to the Elder Sir Henry Palmer Knight before recited was owner of the Mannors of Tottington and Eccles in Aylesford and Boxley adjoyning to Snodland aforesaid which came unto this Family by a match with a daughter of the Lord Poynings and Katharine Palmer this S. Thomas Palmers Sister was married to Jhon Roe of Boxley in Kent Gent. Father of Reginald Roe of Leigh aforesaid Gentleman ancestor to Sir Thomas Roe Knight now living 1632. whose worthy merit in the discharge of many Embassages wherein he hath been imployed by this state deserves to be remembred with an honourable Character Royalty of Coyning In respecct we are now come to speake of Stamps and Coines I hold it not impertinent by the way to give some little touch of the Royaltie of Coining It is therefore to be observed that the power to Coine money hath been evermore reckoned to be one of the Prerogatives that in our common Law we doe call Jura Regalia and pertaineth
of Covidius the Centurion which he used in the battel that he had against the Mysians was holden to be admirable that he bare upon his helmet a cup that one while did flash out flames of fire and other whiles would suck them in Many more examples could I give to prove as well the antiquity as the generall use of crests but holding this to be sufficient I will now proceed to give examples of things that are interposed between the mantle and the crest beginning with those of the inferiour reckoning and so to those of better worth and estimation HAving omitted in the former Sections some bearings of signall Note and Augmentations of honour bestowed for eminent service and some Presidents of bearing I have thought fit here to insert them though not in so good Method as I could wish and first I shall take notice of an eminent Addition the originall Patent being lately in my hands I shall in the next place shew you an example of a Gentleman bearing the Coat-armour of the Company he is free of impaled with his own wherein note that were he not of that quality yet he might bear the Coat of his Company in Seal Escocheon or otherwise I shall here not think it unnecessary to give you an account of the four Innes of Court or Collegia Juris consultorum being the head or chief of the residue which are called Innes of Chancery of whose Originall suppression opulency and other matters of moment I refer you to the survey of London Wevers funerall Monuments and others I shall onely give you an account of their Symbols or Arms and first of the two Temples of whom briefly thus It was an house of the Templarii or Knights Templars and after their suppression their other Lands were conferd on the Knights of Saint John of Jerusalem after called Knights of Rhodes and this house came to the hands of Thomas Plantagenet Earl of Lancaster on whose attainder it was by the Crown invested on Hugh Le Despencer Earl of Glocester after to Aymer de Valence Earl of Penbrook In Edward the thirds time the Students of the Law obtained a long Lease of it for the yearly Rent of ten pound a third part of this came through many hands to the late Earls of Essex by the Sister and coheir of the last Earl and possessour whereof it came to the possession of that worthy Gentleman William Marquesse of Hartford Lord Beauchampe the instant Proprietor The Arms of another third part of which House called the Middle Temple are thus blazond In the time of King Edward the third as is confidently averd Gentlemen Students took a grant of this house from the Lord Gray then Proprietor which Honourable Society bear for their Coat Sable a Griffon Sergeant or Rampant Or. I shall give you a President of a choyce singularity viz. the Coat-Armour of the Honourable Sir Gervas Clifton of Clifton in the County of Nottingham Knight and Baronet marshalled with his seven wives which are thus described or blazoned Gules on a Cheuron Argent between three paire of Garbes Saltire-waies Or three Tuns or Barrels Sable which is the Coat of the Company of Brewers of London who were incorporated by the said King Henry the sixth 1. Sir William Ryves Attorny Generall for the Kingdome of Ireland who marryed Dorothy Daughter of Sir Richard Waldron or Walrond Knight 2 Sir Thomas Rives the Kings Advocate married Elizabeth daughter of the said Sir Richard Walrond 3 Brune Rives Doctor of Divinity and Deane of Chichester married Katherine Daughter of the same Sir Richard Walrond Knight Of this Family is also that worthy Citizen Richard Rives of London Merchant Deputy of Dowgate Ward and his brother Jâ—hn Rives Merchant being all desce ded from the ancient Family of this sirname at Damerey court near Blandford in the County of Dorcet The second Topaz a Saltier and chiefe Ruby by the name of Bruc I shall for the better illustration of this give you another example or two of Widows and then treat of Maids And in this manner are those bearings to be marshalled where the woman being a Widow will make use of both her Husbands Coats Some may perhaps object that the Label should have been in cheif and extended to the sides of the Escocheon but let them know 't is a grand errour to draw or paint them so These Labels as in Prideaux Barington Hellesby c. being a charge and part of the Coat nor is there any reason we should make the eldest brothers difference so large when we alwayes draw the differences of the younger brothers as small as may be that of Labels being a very ancient bearing but these distinctions for brother's a new though necessary invention Thus much for the bearing of Widows who may on no pretence whatsoever beare either their paternall Coat or their Husbands Coate simple or alone for if in an Escocheon or Shield then all people take it for the bearing of a man If in a Lozenge then is it the bearing proper onely to a Maid as the following examples will demonstrate This is the proper Coat of Frances Seymor daughter of Francis Lord Seymor of Trowbridge by Frances daughter and Co-heire of Sir Gilbert Prinne Knight I shall double this example in a Cousin German of this Ladies SECT VI. CHAP. VI. Peculiar Ornaments THus far have I touched things placed above the Escocheon now I will proceed to such as are placed else-where of which some are Peculiar some more Generall By such as are peculiar I meane those that are appropriate to persons having Soveraign Jurisdicton and to such as we called Nobiles Majores of which Rank a Banneret or as some call them a Baronet is the lowest These have their name of a Banner for unto them it was granted in remuneration of their approved valour in Military services to bear a square Banner after the custome of Barons and therefore are called Knights Bannerets as Master Camden hath noted saying Baneretti qui allis Baronetti cum valvasorum nomen jam desierat à Baronibus secundi erant quibus inditum nomen a vexillo concessum enim erat illis militaris virtutis ergo quadrato vexillo perinde ac Barones uti unde Equites vexillarii a nonnullis vocantur c. This order of Knight-hood was much esteemed for the honour received in the Field for Military service with great solemnity under the banner Royall displayed in the presence of the Soveraign and this hath been reputed a middle degree between Nobiles majores minores but of this dignity none hath been known alive in England since Sir Ralph Sadler c. But amongst the particular Ornaments belonging to the Coat-armours of persons having either Supreme or Inferior dignity there are some that do environ the Coat-armour round about and do chiefly belong to persons exercising Soveraign Jurisdiction and to such others as they out of their speciall favour shall communicate the same unto by