Ancient funerall monuments within the vnited monarchie of Great Britaine, Ireland, and the islands adiacent with the dissolued monasteries therein contained: their founders, and what eminent persons haue beene in the same interred. As also the death and buriall of certaine of the bloud royall; the nobilitie and gentrie of these kingdomes entombed in forraine nations. A worke reuiuing the dead memory of the royall progenie, the nobilitie, gentrie, and communaltie, of these his Maiesties dominions. Intermixed and illustrated with variety of historicall obseruations, annotations, and briefe notes, extracted out of approued authors ... Whereunto is prefixed a discourse of funerall monuments ... Composed by the studie and trauels of Iohn Weeuer.

The Oath of the Herald at the time of his cre∣ation before his Soueraigne.

First, ye shall sweare that ye shall be true to the most high and mighty Prince the King, our Soueraigne Lord. And if you haue any knowledge, or heare any imagination of treason, or language, or words that might sound to the derogation or hurt of his estate and highnesse (which God defend) ye shall in that case as hastily, and as soone as it is to you possible, discouer and shew it vnto his highnesse, or to his noble and discreet Councell: and to conceale it in no wise.

Also, ye shall promise and sweare that ye shall bee conuersant, and ser∣uiceable to all Gentlemen, to doe their commands to their worship and knighthood, by your good counsell that God hath sent you, and euer ready to offer your seruice vnto them.

Also ye shall promise and sweare to be secret, and to keepe the secrets of

Knights, Esquires, Ladies, and Gentlewomen, as a confessour of armes; and not to discouer them in any wise, except it bee for treason, as it is be∣fore said.

Also ye shall promise and sweare, if fortune fall you in diuers Lands and Countries wherein you goe or ride, that you finde any gentleman of name, and of armes, that hath lost his goods in worship and knighthood, in the Kings seruice, or in any other place of worship, and is fallen into pouertie, ye shall aide, support, and succour him in that ye may, and if he aske you of your good to his sustenance, ye shall giue him part of such good as God hath sent you, to your power, and as you may beare.

Also ye shall promise and sweare, if you be in any place, that you heare any language betweene party and party, that is not worshipfull, profitable, nor vertuous, that you keepe your mouth close, and report it not forth, but to their worship, and the best.

Also ye shall promise and sweare, if so be you be in any place, that you heare any debate or language dishonest betweene gentleman and gentlewo∣man, the which ye be priuy to, if so be ye be required by Prince, Iudge, or any othere to beare witnesse, vnlesse that the law will needs compell you so to doe: you shall not without licence of both parties; and when yee haue leaue, ye shall not for any fauour, loue, or awe, but say the sooth to your knowledge.

Also ye shall promise and sweare, to be true and secret to all gentlewo∣men, widdowes, and maydens, and in case that any man would doe them wrong, or force them, or disinherite them of their Liuelyhood, and they haue no good to pursue them for their right to Princes, or Iudges: if they require you of supportation, ye shall support them, with your good wise∣dome and counsell to Princes and Iudges.

Also ye shall promise and sweare, that you shall forsake all places of dis∣honesty, the play of Hazardy, and the common haunt of going vnto Ta∣uernes, and other places of debates, eschuing vices, and taking you to ver∣tues to your power. This article, and all other articles aboue said, ye shall truly keepe, so God you helpe, and holydoome, and by this Booke, and Crosse of this Sword, that belongeth to Knighthood.