sharpenesse and so become lesse able to attach and rend his prey And this property seemeth not to be peculiar to a Lyon but common to all beasts of Rapine as Pliny ascribeth the same property to Leopards Panthers and such other as well as to the Lyon Defective production of beasts of rapine Natures foresight herein Not onely Lyons but also all other beasts of ravenous kind according to Bekenhawb do bring forth their young in some part defective as Lyons do produce their whelps dead Dogges bring them forth blind Beares deformed and shapelesse c. For Nature would not that they should attaâ—â— perfection in the wombe in regard of the safety of their Damme least in their production they should spoyl and rent her wombe by their teeth and tâ—llons Other more particular Rules there are concerning the divers kinds and peculiar actions of beasts of Rapine which shall follow in their more convenient places In the meane time let us proceed to Examples that may give life and approbation to those premised Rules Praecepta enim quantumvis bona concinna mortua sunt nisi ipse auditor variis exemplis ea percipiat Good and fit precepts are but dead unlesse examples give them life Of which opinion was Leo the Tenth when he sayd Plus valent exempla quam praecepta Et melius docemur vita quam verbo Examples are more forcible than Precepts And our lives teach more than our words A like Lyon in a Field Azure was borne by Lewellya aur Dorchock Lord of Yale in Wales Ancestor to Gruffith of Bromfield ap Cadwgan from whom is descended Edward Bromfield Alderman of London Now that Lyons and Lyoncels are borne in Armes the first with interposition of some of the Ordinaries the other charged upon Ordinaries the following examples will make it manifest and in Blazoning of such Coat-Armours care must be taken to observe and remember what concerning this point of their difference I have even now delivered Now I will shew unto you one other Lyon Rampand which in regard of the Pale upon which he is charged is worth your observation In a very old Roll in my custody about the time of Henry the third or Edward the first I find one Sir Robert Pierpound doubtlesse of this Family for his Armes are Argent Semy de Roses or thus Argent within an Orle of Roses Gules a Lyon Rampant Sable Now that Roses for Cinquefoiles è contra are promiscuously used is very obvious perhaps it s sometimes Vitium pictoris There are yet other formes of bearing the Lyon than are hitherto expressed as in these next Escocheons may be seen A Lyon Jessant borne in Coat-Armour is where the Coat is first charged with a Chief or other Ordinary and after by some occasion some Animal is added thereunto but is not subjected to the primary charge but is borne over both the Field and Charge and is therefore called a Lyon Jessant à jacendo because of such lying all over Some Blazon this Coat Azure a Chief Gules over all a Lyon Rampand his tail forked Or. The Lyon beareth his Taile after a diverse manner insomuch as we may thereby if not certainly know yet give a near guesse what a moode he is in for the present viz. whether he be furiously bent or peaceable or majestically affected And these qualities are manifestly discerned by the Inversion Eversion or Extention c. of his Taile Here may rise a question Whether the bearing of the Taile of the Lyon in any of these severall manners be a sufficient difference to prevent all causes of challenge For my own part albeit I have not read or seen in Gerard Leigh Boswell Ferne or any other Armoriall Writers the state of this question handled I hold that they be differences sufficient to debar all challenge my reasons are these first Sufficit quod inter Arma mea tua talis sit differentia qua detur diversitas And again Nova forma dat novum esse rei I hold them not onely to be differences secundum quid but simpliciter that is to say absolute and essentiall differences Furthermore Data una dissimilitudine etiam paria judicabuntur diversa Moreover experience sheweth us that the least addition or substraction in Armoriall signes maketh them cease to be the same that they were Omnia Arma Arithmeticis figuris sunt simillima quibus si quid addas vel subtrahas non remanet eadem species as I have formerly shewed Finally for approbation of these my opinions I will add this infallible assertion Ea differunt quorum definitiones differunt These are my reasons that induce me to be of this opinion that the diverse manner of bearing of the Taile of the Lyon as aforesaid are or may be without exception essentiall differences which neverthelesse I referre to the Iudicious censure of the learned in this profession who perhaps may convince me with more forceable grounds But because demonstration is the best of Arguments to convince the incredulous it is apparant that Buxtons Coat before mentioned differs not from that of Smeres but only in the manner of the bearing of the tail both of them being Argent a Lyon Rampand Sable onely in Buxtones Coat the taile is elevated and turned over the head of the Lyon as it more plainly appeares before in this present Chapter Now as touching particularizing of the before-mentioned assertion I say that the Eversion of the taile of the Lyon is an expresse token of his placabilitie or tractablenesse as contrariwise the Inversion of his taile is a note of his wrath and fury especially if he doe beate the backe therewith and doe roare withall of this property of the Lyon Catullus maketh mention in these words Age coede terga cauda tua verbera pateant Face cunctá mugienti fremitu loca retonent The gate of a Lyon when he is passant is an apparant note of his jurisdiction and regall authoritie and Soveragnitie wherewith the extension of his taile doth fitly quadrate and agree inasmuch as when hee hunteth after his prey he roareth vehemently whereat the Beasts being astonished doe make a stand whilest hee with his taile maketh a circle about them in the sand which circle they dare not transgresse which done out of them he maketh choise of his prey at his pleasure Thus ending with the Wolfe I will perclose this tract of beasts of fierce nature comprehending all others of this kind as Ounces Lynxes Hyenaes Panthers c. under these before handled Forasmuch as the greatest part of the generall Rules as also of the sundry formes of bearing attributed unto Lyons and Wolves may be aptly applyed to all or the greatest part of other Beasts of like nature SECT III. CHAP. XVI HAving given examples of Ravenous and Fierce kind that by main force do prosecute and obtain their prey I will now proceed to the handling of beasts lesse Fell and harmfull of which number some are Wilde and Savage
services especially if they be ancient and bestowed by a Noble and renowned Prince and this is according to their use in the time of Alexander the Great and since untill of later times 3. Difinition of them But according to their modern I mean since the time of Charles the fourth and present use Arms may be said to be Hieroglyphicall or Enigmaticall Symboles or Signs testifying and demonstrating the Nobility or Gentry acquired by the vertue and good service performed by their Bearer or some of his Ancestors either in martiall exploits abroad or by their learning and wisdom which they attained to by spending their bodies and spirits in continuall study to make themselves fit for the patronage and defence of the Weal-publick at home How great the dignity and estimation of Arms ever hath been and yet is we may easily conceive by this that they do delight the beholders and greatly grace and beautifie the places wherin they are erected so also they do occasion their spectators to make serious inquisition whose they are who is the owner of the house wherein they are set up of what family their Bearer is descended and who were his next and who is his remote parents or ancestors Armes externall demonstrations of the mind It is very probable that these Signs which we call Arms at this day howsoever in former Ages they have been named whether Emblems or Pictures graven painted or embossed or notes representing some secret or hidden Mystery as Hieroglyphicks or Enigmaticall or hidden conceits they were externall notes of the inward disposition of the mind manifesting in some sort the naturall qualities of their Bearers yet so as they were hidden from the vulgar sort and known to the judicious onely experimented in the knowledge of the naturall vertues and dispositions of bodies Celestiall of Animals and of Vegetables c. Armes abstracts of Nature These in their begining and first institution were not bestowed upon vulgar persons neither were their intendments fitted for common capacity but such as were extracted out of the bowels very intrals of nature and were neither obscure to the learned nor over-familiar to the common sort Their conformity with Names Between Arms and Names there is a certain conformity so that as it is a thing unlawfull for a man but upon great occasion to change his name Sic neque arma saith Chass mutare licet nisi magna honorifica causa accesserit and another saith A nominibus ad arma bonum deducitur Argumentum There are sometimes Arms borne that may seem to have been devised in their first institution according to the Sirnames of the Bearers as a Bear for Vrsonne three Castles for Castleton three Conies for Conesby c. Whether these be either better or more ancient than other Arms it is a question of more difficulty to be resolved than commodious if it were known If there were two distinct families of one Sirname yet bearing severall Coat-Armours it is no consequence that they are originally issued from the same Ancestors for their agreement of their Sirnames may be said to be a probability but yet it is no proof that they are both extracted from the same Ancestors unlesse there be withall a resemblance of their Coat-Armours which are the expresse notes of distinction In case where there are two families diverse in name and issued from severall parents and both of them do bear one and the selfesame Coat-Armour and the name of one of them is agreeable to the Coat-Armour and the other dissonant from the same The same being in question to whether of them this Coat doth properly appertain it may be probably conjectured that he is interessed in the Coat-Armour whose appellation is agreeable therewith rather than his whose name hath no conformity with it For names were instituted for differencing of each person from other severally according to the saying Sicut nomina inventa sunt ad cognoscendos homines Ita Arma insignia ad recognoscendum homines sunt inventa If two men of severall Families shall bear one Coat-Armour and have their abode in one Country or Territory and one of them can produce no more proof why he doth arrogate the propriety thereof than the other can In such case the cause shall be questioned before the Soveraign or before such as do from him derive their authority for the hearing examining and determining cases of this nature Otherwise if either of them can prove that his Ancestors received the same of the Kings gift as a remuneration for service done the Arms shall be adjudged to be his The sympathy of Arms with their Bearers Also there is between these Arms and their Bearers a kind of Sympathy or naturall participation of qualities in so much as who so dishonourably or unreverently useth the Arms of any man seemeth to have offered indignity to the person of their Bearer so according to some Authors their owner shall right himself against such an offender or wrong-doer Actione injuriarum As touching the antiquity of these signs which we call Arms The Antiquity of Arms and Ensigns Armoriall Diodorus Siculus maketh mention that Osyris surnamed Jupiter the just son to Cham the cursed son of Noah called of the Gentiles Janus being banished from the blessed Tents of Shem and Japhet by reason of the curse fallen upon his father was constrained to seek some remote place wherein he might settle himself his children and people for which purpose he assembled a great army and appointed Hercules his eldest son Captain And in this so ancient an expedition of wars as well Osyris himself as Hercules Macedon and Annubis his sons and others did paint certain signs upon their shields bucklers and other weapons which signs were after called Arms As for example Osyris bare a Scepter royall insigned on the top with an Eye Hercules a Lyon rampant holding a Battle-axe Macedon a Wolf and Annubis a Dog And we find in Homer and in Virgil that the Heroes had their signs or marks whereby their persons were distinctly known and discerned in Battell as well as their Kings and commons had their publick Ensigns For the Athenians bare the Owle The Persians an Ancher or Sagitary stamped in their coynes The Romans bare an Eagle Minotaure and sundry other shapes which according to Pliny they bare in Battell unto the time of Marius who bare in his Ensign an Eagle Argent figured and embossed Sus une haute longue as may be seen in ancient Medals and chiefly in which is found this word Allocutio Paulus Emilius saith That anciently the French Kings did beare Argent The ancient Arms of the French Kings three Diadems Gules Others say they bare three Toads Sable in a field Vert alias Sinople which cannot be good Armory as the Masters of that Mystery do hold because of Colour upon Colour Whence they received those Arms it is not certainly known unless they had them from the Romans
excuse my self in two things before I enter into the Exemplifying of them The one that there is no cause that any man should expect at my hands an expresse demonstration of each particular species of them And that I should run through and display their manifold and almost innumerable kinds for that would be a tedious travell and besides an infinite and unnecessary charge and cost and withall far wide from the project of my prefixed purpose The other thing and the same more pertinent to that I do intend is That in handling of vegetables and Sensitives I purpose onely to distribute their severall ranks of Distribution according to their Order to them prescribed by Nature which to expresse is my chiefest drift and the principall scope that I do aime at Of the perfect sort of Creatures there are many kinds whereof some are of more perfection and more worthy than others according to their more excellent kind of life or worthinesse of soul Of these the lesse perfect sort of bodies were first created and then such as were of more perfection Plants are more worthy than Metals and Animals of more reckoning than Plants therefore were these first created and those afterwards Of Animals wherewith God did adorne the Aire the Waters and the Earth there are divers kinds whereof some were more worthy than others in the Creation of these did God observe the same order Between the Creation of Plants and Animals it pleased God in his unsearchable wisedome to interpose the Creation of the Stars wherewith he beautified the Heavens he did it to this end to give us to understand that albeit the Sun with his light and motion together with the Stars do concur in the generation of Plants and Animals neverthelesse their generation is not to be attributed simply to the influence and power of these Celestiall bodies but onely to the Omnipotency of God inasmuch as by his powerfull Word he commanded the Earth to produce all sorts of Plants and their fruits before the Stars were created From the most fertile and pleasant Garden of Eden unto the most barren and desolate Wildernesse may we see and behold the great and wonderfull Works of God and take occasion to extoll his Omnipotency Wisdome and Mercy As we may observe Esay 41.19 I will set in the Wildernesse the Cedar the Shittah tree and the Myrre tree and the Pine tree and I will set in the Wildernesse the Firre tree the Elme and the Box together Therefore let them see and know and let them consider and understand together that the hand of the Lord hath done this and that the Holy one of Israel hath created it Verse 20. Hence we may gather that there is no object so mean that presenteth it self to our view but will minister some just occasion to glorifie God Men are accustomed to attribute the propagation of these either to the influence of nature or to the travell and industry of man but these were produced before any other of like kind could be found upon the face of the Earth whereof it might be imagined they might receive being for as yet there had never fallen any raine to fructifie the Earth whereby it might produce green herbs nor as yet was Man created that might manure and till the ground for that purpose therefore neither were they produced naturally or of their own accord nor yet by the Art Skill or industry of Man but by the immediate Word and commandment of God The reason that moved Moses to give an instance of Plants and Herbs how that they were produced by the vertue and power of Gods word onely and not naturally or by the skill and industry of man neither yet of Animals nor of any other of the infinite number of things created Genesis 1.11 was this because the generation of Plants and Herbs might be much more doubted of than the originall of other things Of the first springing of Trees in the Creation Moses saith Et germinare fecerat Jehova Elohim è terra omnem arborem concupiscibilem id est visu bonam ad escam which words do comprehend all the desireable qualities of fruit trees for in them we expect that their fruits should be either delightfull to the Eye or that they should be fit for food and wholesome and that they be also fragrant and sweet smelling For the fruits of Trees the better they be the more odoriferous they are That the Trees wherewith Paradise was planted had all these qualities it is manifest by the words of Moses in that he saith Concupiscibilem ad visum bonam ad escam whereby we gather that the sight is delighted with things beautifull and glorious the smell with sweet and pleasant savours and the palate with things of sweet and pleasant taste And none of these are in themselves evill for such was the constitution of Adam before he transgressed that he might have delighted himself in them all without offence and to that end did God create them that he should use them with thanksgiving Moses describeth unto us two principall qualities of the Garden of Paradise whereby he layeth before us the pleasantnesse of the scituation thereof and also the beauty and fertility of the soil The first of these qualities was that it was replenished with all sorts of Trees not onely most pleasant and delightfull to the Eye but also most pleasant to the taste for that they produced the best and sweetest fruits The other quality was that the whole circumference of the Garden of Paradise was surrounded and invironed with a River being distributed into four heads which did highly beautifie the same and made it most pleasant to the view In this description Moses maketh mention of two Trees of speciall qualities that were planted in the middest of Paradise The one named the Tree of Life the other the Tree of Knowledge of good and evill The first of these had a vivificant power in it self the fruit whereof was ordained to this end That being eaten it would enable a Man never to feel sicknesse feeblenesse old Age or Death but should evermore continue in the same state of strength and agility of body This was the efficacy and power that was given to this Tree whereof it was never yet deprived Therefore was this quality after a sort naturall thereunto For this cause was there a Cherub set at the entrance of Paradise to keep out such as would enter the same and eate of the fruit of the Tree of Life that he should not alwayes live that kind of life How behovefull the knowledge of the vertues and operations of Trees Plants Herbs and other vegetables are for the extolling and manifesting the Omnipotency Wisdome Mercy loving favour and fatherly providence of our most gracious God towards sinfull Man is in that he hath created for the behoof and use of man as well touching his necessary food and rayment as for recreation and delight we may evidently perceive by Solomons
so by the other we might magnifie his goodnesse towards man on whom he hath bestowed Fruit for Meat and Leaves for Medicine SECT III. CHAP. XI HAving hitherto handled that part of our distribution which comprehendeth things Vegetable proceed we now to the other Things Sensitive concerning things senstive which are all sorts of Animals or Creatures indued with senses The senses as likewise the sensitive soul are things in themselves not visible and therefore estranged from the Heralds uses but because they reside in Bodies of differing parts and qualities from any other before mentioned therefore in handling of these sensitive Creatures I hold it requisite to begin with their parts for of them the whole is raised and these are either the parts contained or containing or sustaining But sithence we are now to speak of things Sensitive and amongst them first of Terrestial Animals and their parts it shall not be impertinent to produce some few causes amongst many why these Terrestial Animals and Man were created in one day viz. the sixth day First because God had appointed the Earth to be the joynt habitation of Man and Beast together Secondly in respect of the near resemblance both of bodily parts and naturall properties that these Terrestrials have of Man in respect either of Fowles or of Fishes Lastly for that very many of them were to serve for mans ease and necessary use as Oxen to till the ground Horses for his ease in travell Dogs to be watchfull keepers of his House and others for other his necessary and domesticall uses There is no Animal but hath at the least these parts viz. Head wherewithall to receive food and wherein their senses have their residence a Belly to receive and concoct his meat intrals whereby to eject the supperfluities or excrements of aliment members also serving for the use and exercise of the Senses and others ordained for motion from place to place for without these members he cannot receive food or nutriment neither feel nor move Therefore there is neither labouring beast or beast of savage kind domesticall reptiles or other that can be with these bodily parts By the name of Soul and Life wherewith all sorts of Animals are endued from God Moses teacheth us Natural bloud or supplementall Humour that there is no living Creature to be found that hath not either true and natural bloud or at the least some kind of hot humour that is to it instead of bloud Anima enim cujusque Animalis in sanguine est as Moses teacheth Leviticus 17. and in sundry other places And in the common received opinion of all men In humido calido consistit vita That which is spoken of divers kindes of Insecta that there is no bloud to be found in them it is to be understood to be meant of true perfect and naturall bloud but of necessitie they must have in stead thereof some kind of humour in them that hath the qualitie of bloud viz. that is both hot and moist as aforesaid else can they not live Concerning Animals in generall it is not to be doubted but that all sorts of them as well those of savage and ravenous kind as those of domisticall and labouring kind as also venemous Serpents of themselves and of their owne nature were themselves good and might be good to others and profitable for mans use forasmuch as it is said Et vidit Elohim quod bonum But in that they are now become noisome and painefull to man that is per Accidens for this is occasioned by the sinne and transgression of Man whereby all things became accursed for his sake The utilitie or benefit that commeth to Man by these Terrestriall Animals is twofold the one pertaining to the body the other to the Soule The corporall benefit that commeth to man by them who knoweth not For daily experience sheweth us how beneficiall the use of Horses Oxen Kine Calves Sheep and other sorts of Beast and Cattel of all sorts are for the service of Man whereof some serve us for food some for rayment some for carriage some for tillage and other for divers other uses Of this use of them Moses saith That God hath subjected all things to man Omnia subjecisti sub pedibus ejus c. And made him Ruler over the Fishes of the Sea the Fouls of the ayre and the Beasts of the Land whereby he giveth us to understand that all sorts of Animals were created for the divers uses of man and each one of them ordained to a severall end But their spirituall use is far more noble and excellent by how much the soule surpasseth the body in dignity and worthiness And their use consisteth not alone in this that by the consideration of them we are led to the knowledg of God and of his wisedome power and goodnesse for this use hath all things else that are created as appeareth Rom. 1. and elsewhere But also that in these Animals God hath proposed to us such notable examples of imitation in respect of vices to be eschewed that the sacred Scriptures excepted there is no morall precepts can better instruct us than these Animals do which are daily in our view and of which we have daily use amongst these we may produce some examples of Fishes and Foules but many more may we gather from Terrestriall Animals And to the end we should shunne the ignorance of things Psal 32. such especially as are celestiall David the kingly Prophet proposeth to us for examples the Horse and Mule saying Non eritis sicut Equus Mulus in quibus non est intellectus Like as naturall Philosophy consisteth in other things so doth it chiefely in the knowledg of Animals viz. in the understanding of their wisedome natures and properties which knowledge hath beene approved by God himselfe from the beginning and not onely approved but also ordained and given to Adam for Moses saith God brought these Animals unto Adam to the end that he should advisedly view and consider them To the end that Adam should give them names answerable to their shapes natures proportion and qualities And that the imposition of these names should not be casually or at adventure for God abhoreth all disorder and confusion but deliberately and according to reason So as every thing might be aptly distinguished from other by their particular names and according to their severall natures and dispositions And that for our benefit That we hearing their names and understanding their significations may be led to the understanding of their naturall properties for which Etymologie or true interpretation and derivation of words is very behovefull and of great use The Parts contained are Humours and Spirits whereof onely the first is used in Coat-armours wherein are represented sometimes Drops of bloud Humors and sometimes Tears which both are naturally Humors contained though in Armory they are supposed no longer to be contained but shed forth The Bearing of this Humour Bloud Bloud
kinde that live by Prey and spoyle but such also as are of timorous nature whose chiefest safety consisteth rather in swiftnesse of foot than in any other mâ—anes as Foxes Hares Conies and others of lesse harmâ—full kinde whereof I will give particular examples but first I will â—â—er unto your â—eedâ—ull observation certaine notes as well of generall as oâ— particular use concerning beasts of this kind not forgetting by the way such rules and observations as have been already commended to your regard that especially touching mixt bearing of Ordinaries and common charges which must serve for a regular direction throughout our whole Worke. And in delivery of these Observations and Examples I hold it fit to begin with Beasts of fierce nature and first with the Lyon reckoned the King of beasts Dignioribus enim digniora loca sunt danda Highest person highest place Some French Armorists are of opinion that the Lyon should never be made Gardant or full faced Opiniâ—â— of 〈◊〉 French Armâ—â—â—â—ts affirming that to be proper to the Leopard wherein they offer great indignity to that royall beast in that they will not admit him saith Vpton to shew his full face the sight whereof doth terrifie and astonish all the beasts of the field and wherein consisteth his chiefest majesty and therefore may not be denyed that prerogative Quia omnia Animalia debent depingi designari in suo ferociori actu ex illis enim actibus Rulâ— generall magis vigorem suum ostendunt All Beasts should be set forth in their most generous action for therein they shew their chiefest vigor As concerning the true Note whereby the Leopard is distinguished from the Lyon Vpton lib. de Armis writeth thus Cognoscitur Leopardus à Leone quia Leopardus ubique depingâ—ur habens naturaliter maculas nigras Difference betweene the Lyon and Leopard cum grosso capite est Animal planum non hispidum Leo vero habet unum colorem continuum cum pectore hispiâ—â— cum certis jubis in cauda The Leopard is portraied with black spots and a great head and no where shaggie whereas the Lyon is one colour shaggy brested with a certain â—uft of haire in his traine So that it is evident that the Leopard is notably distinguisht both in shape and colour and not by his full faced countenance as they dream Moreover Vpton saith that he had often observed Leopards borne by diverse noble men as well half faced as gardant It is observed that the generous nature of the Lyon is discerned by his plentifull shaggy locks that do cover his neck and shoulders which are infallible tokens of his noble courage especially if those his locks be crisped and curled and short withall Such Lyons were those whereof Saint Hirome maketh mention In vita Pauli cremitae saying Talia in anima voluente ecce duo Leones ex interioris Eremi parte currentes volantibus per colla jubis ferebantur Two Lyons came running with their shaggie looks wavering about their shoulders Moreover the thicknesse of the Lyons Mane Lyons snaggy Locks is a testimony of his generous birth and by the same he is distinguished from the degenerate and Bastard race of Leopards begotten between the Adulterous Lyonesse and the Parde which are naturally deprived of this noble mark and not onely so but they are also bereft of that bold and invincible courage that the generous sort of Lyons have For these respects the degenerate brood of Lyons are called in Latine Imbelles Leones that is Heartlesse or Cowardly Lyons whereas the true Lyon is termed in Latine Generosus Leo Cowardly Lyons which Quia generosum est quod à natura sua non degeneravit That is generous which degenerateth not from his kind by which reason a man of noble discent and ignoble conditions is not truly generous because he degenerateth from the vertues of his Ancestors Lyons Bears Wolves and other Beasts of ravening kind Rule 1. when they are borne in Armes feeding you must term them in Blazon Raping and tell whereon To all beasts of prey Nature hath assigned teeth and tallons of crooked shape and therewithall of great sharpnesse to the end they may strongly seaze upon and detain their Prey and speedily rend and divide the same And therefore in Blazoning of beasts of this kind you must not omit to mention their Teeth and Tallons which are their onely Armour Rule 2. for by them they are distinguished from those tame and harmlesse beasts that have their Teeth knocked out and their Nailes pared so near to the quick as that they can neither bite nor scratch with much harme Those Teeth and Tallons are for the most part in Coat-armours made of a different colour from the bodies of the Beasts and therefore in Blazoning of Beasts of this kinde when you speake of their Teeth or Tallons you shall say they are thus or thus Armed So likewise if you please to speake of their Tongues you shall say they are thus or thus Langued To beare a Lyon or whatsoever Animal in a diverse colour from his kindly or naturall colour as to bare a blew green red purple Lyon Bear Bearing of Beasts in a diverse Colour from that which is naturall whence taken c. or whatsoever other colour different from that which is Natural unto him is not a bearing reproachfull though disagreeing to his nature if we consider of the occasion of their primary constitution for that the custom of such bearing seemeth to have proceeded from eminent persons who habiting themselves either for their sports of Hunting or for military services as best fitted their fantasies would withall sute their Armours and habiliments with Colours answerable to their habits with the shapes and portraitures of forged and counterfeit Animals Or else perhaps by occasion of some civill tumults as that between the Guelphi and the Gibelini in Italy they perhaps of each faction bearing Lyons Beares and Wolves or other Animals to avoid confusion and to the end the one of them should not be entrapped by the other of the contrary faction when they were intermixed one with another and that their valorous actions might be more particularly discerned from the other they distinguished themselves by different and unlike coloured garments that so each Governour and Leader might know those that were of his owne faction The like may we observe to have beene of late yeares used amongst our selves when private factions have sprung amongst us one sort was knowne from others of the contrary faction by a Carnation Râ—band worne about or in his hat or by a Crimson feather or other thing the contrary faction wearing like thing but in a different colour or fashion Property of Beasts of Rapine The Lyon saith Vpton passing thorow stony places doth contract his Tallons within his flesh and so walketh on his feet as if he had no Tallons at all keeping them exceeding choisely lest he should dull and blunt their
charge borne by a Family in this Kingdome Bara in his Book intituled Les Blazones dez Armories giveth an example of two Lizards erected one against another as if they were Combatand and termeth them Rampand a terme very unfitly applyed to Reptiles to whom the terms of mounting leaping or skipping are much more proper To this head must be reduced Crocodyles Salamanders Camelions Ewtes Lizards and whatsoever other Egge-bearing Reptile having onely four feet as to their naturall and proper place There resteth yet one other sort of this kind of Reptiles which are diversly shaped from all the former and are called in Latine Insecta Animalia because that being divided in their body between their head and belly their parts do seem so divided as if they hanged onely together by small strings having no flesh blood sinewes c. And there are also insecta which flye Insects that live upon the earth but here we speak onely of Terrestrials leaving the other to their due place and because such bearing is rare I am inforced rather than to passe them over with silence to use Coats of Device for expressing their sundry formes as in example What understood by the Spider Vpton saith that he hath seen Spiders borne in Coat-armour by a certain Lombard By the Spider we may understand a painfull and industrious person occupied in some honest and necessary businesse a man carefull of his private estate and of good foresight in repairing of small decayes and preventing of wracks The Spider her self is poysonfull and deadly yet is her web reckoned an Antidote against poyson notwithstanding the same is extracted out of her wombe In like sort saith Aelianus out of the poysonfull contagion and infectious venome of sin and transgression the Soveraign powers do take occasion to extract and establish wholesome and profitable lawes Pro. 30.28 against such notorious crimes Of the Spider Salomon writeth in this manner The Spider taketh hold with her hands and is in Kings Palaces Example touching procreation A very remarkable note doth Farnesius propose unto us taken from this poore despised creature the Spider touching the procreation of Children It is a matter of great consequence of what Parents a man is descended If we desire saith he to have a good rase of Horses a litter of speciall good Hounds for game choice Plants and stocks to plant our Orchards and Gardens with delectable fruits do we not use our uttermost endeavour to effect them How much greater should our care and providence be in the procreation of our children The first instruction that the children receive is in the veines and bowels of their Parents whereof we may take an Example from Spiders which are no sooner hatched and excluded out of their Egs but forthwith they practise to make webs as if they had brought with them even out of their Mothers wombe together with their life the Artificiall skill of webbing Holy and reverent is that piety that we owe to our Parents Parens enim est genitor parens patria parens denique est ipse Deus For he that begot us is our parent our Country is our parent and lastly God himself is our parent It hath been often questioned why the Father loveth the Son more deâ—â—ly tenderly and affectionately than the Son doth the Father The reason is this Quia patris amor in filium a natura est filii in parentem ab officio The affectionate love of the Father proceedeth of Nature that of the son of duty Therefore the sacred Law hath decreed Amabis patrem matrem tuam Thou shalt love thy Father and thy Mother but not contrariwise for where the Law of Nature speaketh there is no need it should be assisted by Commandement Notwithstanding even naturally the love of the son to the Father is great We may learn saith Zanchius by these minute Animals how many and how great instructions we may receive from the universall number of creatures that God hath given us for instructors and teachers of Morall Discipline so that we will open our eyes to behold them and listen to Gods disciplining us in them Admirable doubtlesse is the Omnipotency of God in these his creatures for as Saint Hierome saith Epist ad Heliod Creatorem non in Coelo tantum miramur c. We do not admire Gods power in Heaven only and in earth the Sun Elephants Camels Oxen Boares Lyons c. but also in his smallest creatures the Ant Flea Flye and small Worme and others of like kind whose bodies or shapes are better known unto us than their names So much were the Israelites assotted in Idolatry as that they esteemed beasts for Gods as appeareth Wisdome 12.24 For they went astray farre in the wayes of errour and esteemed the beasts which their enemies despised for gods being abused after the manner of children that have no understanding So long is any Animal or living creature said to have life Breathing a token of life as he hath breath and the exercise thereof And this rule holdeth not onely in four-footed Animals but also in those that we call Insecta and in gliding Animals also As both Galen and Pliny do teach though Aristotle denieth these latter to have breath but therein he speaketh comparatively viz. in respect of other Animals that do attract and deliver their breath more strongly and more sensibly they seem to have no breath at all One example more I will propose which shall be of the Emmet is in this next Escocheon The examples hitherto produced are taken onely from Reptiles gressible and though of that kind which hath more than four feet I have alleadged only the two last Examples of Insecta yet there are some other of many feet which are not insecta as the Palmer-worme Cheeslip Kitchinbobs which being touched gather themselves round like a Ball and such like which must be referred to the same head And besides all these there are yet other some which be both Gressible and volant such are these that having their livelihood onely upon the earth by the help of a kind of wings they oftentimes change their place for the acquiring of their sustenance as in example Vagipennae why so called There are other of this kind whose wings are lesse manifest than the Grashoppers because they are closed in a kind of case that can hardly be discerned but when they are preparing to flye for which respect they are called vagipennae saith Calipine Quia alas vaginis quibusdam inclusas habent for carrying their wings sheathed as the Hartflye Beetle Lady-cow c. which together with Locusts and such other as are both Gressible and volant and many-legged are to be reduced to this head as to their proper and naturall place I will close up all these with one example of the Scorpion which Aeianus and others report to be winged in Aegypt and India though he doubts whether they are not rather bred by the heat of
some Noble Family yet are they themselves but ignoble persons Foure parts of Nobility In which respect Aristotle discoursing of nobility makes foure parts thereof the first of Riches the second of Bloud the third of Learning the fourth of Vertue and to the two last he ascribeth the first place of true Gentry because Boores may be rich and Rake-hels may be of ancient bloud but vertue and knowledge cannot harbour but where God and nature hath left their noble endowments Which made Bartholus to say that good men and wise men were nobles in Gods sight as rich men and great men were nobles in mens eyes Threefold Nobility according to Bartho Yet the same Bartholus ascribeth the due honour unto each kind of Nobility which he maketh to be three-fold Theologicall Naturall Politicall the first and chief consisteth in Piety and vertues of grace the second in the noble qualities of Nature the third in the degrees of estimation in the Common-wealth This last is it we here chiefly meddle with not that we reject the two former but that we suppose we live in such a State where the two first kinds of Nobility are rewarded with the last kind and thereby made more illustrious The common phrase of forrain Nations is different from ours Different phrase of Nations concerning the Titles of men of reputation they esteeming every man Noble which hath any excellency remarkable above others so saith Iodocus Clicthovius Nobilitas est generis vel alterius rei excellentia ac dignitas whereas we English repute none noble under the degree of a Baron and with them Generosus is a greater title than Nobilis whereas with us it is much inferiour The truth is that the two titles of Nobility and Gentry are of equall esteem in the use of Heraldry though custom hath equally divided them and applyed the first to Gentry of the highest degree and the latter to Nobles of the lowest rank Distinct orders of Gentry And amongst these Gentlemen of low note there are also sundry Orders as some by bloud some by office some by possessions some by sacred Academicall dignity all which come not within the verge of this our purpose till the State hath honoured them with the bearing of Coat-Armours as the Ensigns of their worth CONCILII NVTRIX TACI TVRNIAS The Atchievement of a Gentleman HE beareth two Coats quarterly first Argent a Fesse Ermine cottised Sable by the name of Harlstone secondly Sable a Cheuron between three Leopards heads Or by the name of Wentworth and for his Crest on a Helmet befitting his degree mantled Gules doubled Argent out of a Crown Or a Stags Head Ermine attired Or bearing a Hawthorne bush with berries proper And for his Motto Concilii nutrix taciturnitas This is the Atchievement or Bearing of Robert Harlestone now Secretary to the Right Honourable William Lenthall Esquire Master of the Rolls and Speaker of the Parliament begun the third of November 1640. second Son of John Harlestone of South Osindon in the County of Essex and of Jane Daughter and Coheire of Philip Wentworth a younger Brother of the Lord Wentworth of Netlested Of this Family have been divers eminent persons as Sir John Harl ston Governour of Hauure-du-grace in the time of Edward the fourth Richard Harleston Valectus de Camera to the King and conquered for the Crown of England the Islands of Garnesey and Jersey COLENS DEVM ET REGEM The Atchievement of an Esquire HE beareth two Coats impaled Baron and Femme the first Gules on a Bend Or three Martlets Sable by the name of Collins the second Azure a Fesse between three Chesse-rooks Or by the name of Bodenham ensigned with Helmets befitting the persons quality on Wreaths of the Colours of the Coats on the first a demy Griffon Or collered Argent the second a Dragons head erased Sable The Motto Colens deum regem This is the bearing of Samuel Collins Doctor in Physick late Fellow of Trinity Colledge in Cambridge onely Son of John Collins late Parson of Retherfield in Sussex descended from the ancient Family of the Collins of the Counties of Somerset and Devon which Doctor marryed Anne eldest Daughter of John Bodenham Esquire lineally descended from the Knightly and ancient Family of the Bodenhams of Wiltshire and Herefordshire alli'd to divers of the ancient Families of the Nobility and Gentry The Dignity of an Esquire is the second degree of Gentry the reason of whose denomination we gave elsewhere As in the first rank of Gentry so in this there are sundry kinds according to the custom of this Kingdom concerning which point you may read learned Master Cambden in his Britannia and by the custom of England Doctors whether of Divinity Civil Law or Physick are esteemed Esquires HE bears two Coats quarterly viz. First Argent three Bears heads erased Sable musled Or by the name of Langham Secondly Ermine a Cheuron Gules within a Bordure engrailed Sable by the name of Revel the Creast on a Helmet befitting his quality and Wreath of his Colours a Bears head erased Sable musled Or mantled Gules doubled Argent which is the bearing of that worthy Gentleman John Langham of London and Cottesbrook in the County of Northampton Esquire descended in a direct male line from Henry de Langham who probably took the denomination deriv'd to his posterity from Langham in the County of Rutland for his son William de Langham held three Caracuts of Land in Langham in that County who by his son William was Grandfather of Robert Langham living the forty fourth of Edward the third who marryed Margaret Daughter and Heir of Sir John Revell of Newbold in Warwick-shire relict of Sir Stephen Mallory of Leicestershire Knight which John Langham by Elizabeth his wife 30. Ed. 1. Daughter of James Bunce Esquire is the happy Father of a hopefull and accomplisht issue viz. James Langham Esquire William Stephen and Thomas Langham and as many daughters Elizabeth lately deceased wife of Philip Botiler of Woodhall in Hertford-shire Esquire Anne wife of Sir Martin Lumley Baronet Rebecca and Sarah unmarried 1659. FE MID VN BVEN HIDALGO The Atchievement of a Knight HE beareth eighteen Coats quartered The first Azure a Fesse between three Chesse-rooks Or by the name of Bodenham Second Or on a Fesse Sable a Lyon passant Argent by the name of Huish Third Gules three Bars gobony Argent and Sable by the name of Delabau Fourth Sable a Bucks head cabossed Or by the name of Wells Fifth Or a Lyon Rampant Vert a la double queve by the name of Dudley Sixth Argent a quarter Sable a Cressent Gules by the name of Sutten Seventh Or two Lyons passant Azure by the name of Somery Eighth Azure a Crosse patee Argent by the name of Lexington Ninth Sable three Garbes Argent banded Gules by the name of _____ Tenth Gules a Cinque-foyle Ermine Bellamont Eleventh Argent three Bars embattilee Gules Barry Twelfth Or on a Fesse Gules
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