The gentlemans academie. Or, The booke of S. Albans containing three most exact and excellent bookes: the first of hawking, the second of all the proper termes of hunting, and the last of armorie: all compiled by Iuliana Barnes, in the yere from the incarnation of Christ 1486. And now reduced into a better method, by G.M.

¶ Here beginneth the Blazing of Armes.

I Haue shewed to you in the for∣mer Booke how Gentlemen be∣ganne, and howe armes were first ordained, and how many colours there bee in coate-armours, and the difference of coate-armours, with many other things which heere are needelesse, to be rehearsed. And now I entend to proceede to coates caried in Armes, and the blazing of all armes: But by the way, should I stand vpon all sundrie de∣uises borne in Armes, as the Peacocke, the Pie, the Dragon, the Lion, the Dolphine, with leaues and flowers, I should rather cumber and tire the Reader with friuolous circumstance, than any way instruct him in that which I vndertake: Therefore I shall shortly and truely teach you to blaze all Armes: if you giue diligent intention to the rules that I doe prescribe which shall not be many, but passing ef∣fectuall: And because the Crosse is the most wor∣thie coate or marke which is carried in Armes, I wil beginne with the Crosse, in which the renowmed and valiant Prince king Arthur had such great trust, so that he left his armes which hee bare of the three dragons, and another coat he bare of three crownes and tooke to his armes, a Crosse of siluer in a fielde of vert, and on the right side an Image of the virgin

Mary with her Sonne in her armes, and vnder that signe of the crosse he atchieued many great & won∣derfull conquests: of which our Chronicles at this day make mention: also I haue read this signe of the crosse to be sent from God to that blessed man Mer∣curie, as Vincentius saith in his Speculo historiali of the maruellous and strange death of Iulian the apo∣stata emperour lib. 15. saith, that an Angell brought to the aforesaid Mercury, al armour necessary, with a shield of azure, and a crosse flouery with foure Roses of golde in this manner as is here set downe:

[illustration] blazon or coat of arms

and I neuer heard that euer any Armes came from heauen, but in them was the signe of the Crosse, except onely the Armes of France, which Armes were sent by an An∣gell from heauen, three floures in maner of swords in a shield of azure, which Armes were giuen to the King of France in signe of euer-lasting trouble, that he and his successors should euer be punished with wars and ciuill broiles.

[illustration] blazon or coat of arms

Of Armes in which are carried the signe of the Crosse.

Now I turne againe to the signe of the Crosse and aske a question, how many Crosses be borne in armes? To which question, vnder any certaine num∣ber I dare not answere, for Crosses innumerable are now borne daily: but descending to euery Crosse which I haue seene before, and heere meane to set downe, the plaine crosse shall be first described, of which crosse more doubts be made than of many o∣ther Crosses. Forasmuch as wise men in blazing of Armes hold for a certaine rule that you must begin to blaze at the lowest point of the shield. If the point be of one colour: and so that colour that is in the point of the sheelde is the fielde of the armes.

But in that rule to remooue away all doubtes ye must very diligently obserue, that that same rule is true with a little addition, that is to wit, that in Armes to be blazed, it is alwayes to beginne at the point of the shield, if the point bee of one colour, then that is true: if the colour of the point be more copious or greater in those Armes, and then with∣out doubt you shall beginne there, or else not. And when the colours be equall parted, either in length or ouerthwart, then euermore you shall beginne to blaze those Armes in the right side, and in that case you shall haue no respect to the point.

And if it be asked, how beareth Saint George? it is to be knowen that hee beareth: Portat vnum scu∣tum de argento cum quadam cruce plana de rubio. in French, Il port d'argent vn cros plain de gules, in English, hee beareth a field of siluer with a plaine Crosse of gules, as here appeareth in these Armes.

[illustration] blazon or coat of arms

And in the same man∣ner all Armes, hauing a plaine Crosse, are to bee blazed: Therefore they that say S. George beares the fielde of gules with foure quarters of siluer do erre, for by those reasons a plaine Crosse should neuer be found in armes, nor well nie any difference in armes.

Of a Crosse of an equall length in euery part.

A plaine crosse is found in armes differing from the first: and it is of an equall length on euery parte, as it appeareth here:

[illustration] blazon or coat of arms

and these armes be harder than the other to blaze, for the ends of this crosse touch not the hemmes or vtter part of the shield in no part, in which you shall say, that he that bea∣reth these armes, in Latin

Ille portat de asuro cum vna cruce plana aurea aequalis lon∣gitudinis ex omni parte: in French, Il port d'azure vn cros plain d'un longre per tont: in English he bea∣reth azure with a plaine crosse or of equall length on euery part. And this is the difference in blazing, that the endes of this crosse are in equall length, which cannot be saide in the plaine crosse before where the foote is the longest part if it be well made. And this difference shal appeare better in a coate-armour then it doth in a shield, And this is the euident difference betweene the crosses aforesaide.

Of a plaine crosse straight.

There is an other crosse equaller straight in the middest then in the ends, as in this coate with open corners, and not touching the border and vtmost part of the sheeld in any part, and it is called a crosse patent.

[illustration] blazon or coat of arms

And you shall blaze it in this maner in La∣tine, Ille portat vnam crucem argentatam patentem in campo nigro: in French, Il port de sable vn cros pate d'ar∣gent, in English, he doth beare sable a crosse paty of siluer.

Of a crosse patent fixible.

This crosse patent is made sharpe in the foote of the same: and it is called a crosse patent fixible, be∣cause it may be fixed in the earth, in the which crosse three partes are open in the corners and broader than in the middest: and the foote thus pointed to be fastened in the earth:

[illustration] blazon or coat of arms

thus to be bla∣zed, in latine, Portat de rubeo cum vna cruce fugitiua de albo: in French, Il port de gules vn cros patee fichie argent, in English, Hee beareth gules a Crosse paty fixible of siluer: And there bee many crosses which may be made fixible, as it shall be shewed to you in diuers examples heereafter fol∣lowing.

Of a plaine Crosse cordid.

Amongst other Crosses one is found called a cor∣ded crosse, as is shewed in this coate insuing, which is called a corded crosse, for it is made of cordes, the which I lately sawe carried by a noble man, whose auncester indeede was of mechanicall trade, and a Roper by his occupation, as hee himselfe reported vnto mee: the which Armes I doe blaze thus in la∣tine,

Ille portat gules cum vna cruc•• plana cordata de ar∣gento, in French, Il port de gules vn cros plein cordee d'argent, in English, Hee doeth beare gules a Crosse plaine corded of siluer.

[illustration] blazon or coat of arms

Of a Crosse plaine perforated.

There is an other crosse which differeth maruel∣lously from the crosse of Saint George. And heere it is to bee noted, that the opinion of such is to be reprehended, which doe affirme, that this coate is checkered, for Armes may not bee checkered, but at the least in the number of foure, but more vsu∣all in a greater number, as heereafter shall bee she∣wed.

[illustration] blazon or coat of arms

Therefore this coate is to be blazed thus, in Latine, Ille portat vnam crucem argenteam perforatam in campo nigro, and in French, Il port de sable vn cros d'ar∣gent partee, in English, he beareth sable a crosse perfo∣rated of siluer.

Of a besanted Crosse.

We haue another crosse carried in Armes which is called a besanted crosse, for it is made of all be∣sants: as for besant in this coate:

[illustration] blazon or coat of arms

And the co∣lour of example shall not bee expressed in blazing, for it is needlesse to say, a besant of gold, for except they be of golde they bee not besants: Therefore such a coate is thus to be blazed in Latine, Ille portat vnam crucem talentatam in campo rubeo: in French, Il port de gules vn cros besantee▪ in English he beareth gules a crosse besanted.

A crosse floury fixible.

Now followeth an other crosse floury which is so called, because it hath floures on the point of eue∣ry of the crosses, and this crosse flourie is sometime borne in armes, fixible as in this coate, and then we properly call it a crosse floury fixible, for in three of his endes hee is flourishing, and in the foote picha∣ble or fixible.

[illustration] blazon or coat of arms

Therefore we truely blaze it, in La∣tine, Portat vnam crucem auream floridam in campo a sur••o, in French, Il port d'azure vn cros floritee d'or, in English, hee bea∣reth azure a crosse flourie of golde.

Of a crosse floury patent in armes.

Now followeth a crosse which is called a crosse floury patent: and it is so called, because it hath the endes open, and in the midst of euery end appeares a threed in manner of a flower, as is shewed in this coate:

[illustration] blazon or coat of arms

therefore it shall be saide, that hee which bea∣reth these Armes beareth in this wise, in Latin, Por∣tat vnam crucem floridam pa∣tentem in campo asureo, in French, Il port d'azure vn patee floritee d'or, in En∣glish, he beares azure with a crosse patent flouerie of golde.

Of a crosse wauie or vndie.

Moreouer you shall vnderstand that there is ano∣ther plaine crosse which is called wauy or vndy, for it is made in the maner of water troubled with the wind, as is shewed in this coate heere sette foorth:

[illustration] blazon or coat of arms

Therefore he which bea∣reth this coate shall be said to beare it thus, in Latine Portat vnam crucem planam vndosam de argento in campo rubeo, in French, Il port de gules vn cros plain vndee d'argent, in English,

he beareth gules a plaine watery crosse of siluer: or a plaine crosse vndy of siluer.

Of the crosse inuecked.

In armes also there are found crosses of colours inuecked or indented, as here in this coate appeeres, and it is called a crosse in∣uecked, because it hath two colours one put or lincked within another:

[illustration] blazon or coat of arms

and of him that beareth these Armes it shal be said he beareth thus, in Latine, Portat vnam cru∣cem planam inuectam de colori∣bus albis & nigris in campo rubeo, in French, Il port de gules vn cros plein verre d'argent et sable, in Eng∣lish, he beares gules a crosse of siluer and sable inuec∣ked.

Of the crosse croslet.

Now followeth an other crosse which is called a crosse crosset or croslet, & he is called crosset because at euery end he is crossed as appeares by this coate:

[illustration] blazon or coat of arms

but this crosse is not borne so oft in armes by himselfe as o∣ther crosses neuertheles many times it is borne in diminu∣tiues, that is to say, in little crosses crosset, and then the armes are poudred with litle crosses cruciated and of him which beareth these armes you shall say, hee beareth

thus, in Latine, Portat vnam crucem cruciatam de argento in campo asureo, in French, Il port d'azure vn cros cro∣cee d'argent, and in English, he beares azure a crosse crosset of siluer: and when such crosses diminutiues are borne without any certain number, they are cal∣led in French Crossets.

A Crosse masculet.

There is an other crosse which is called a Crosse masculet, as is shewed in this coate which here I set down, which is made of masculies, of which I will speake more at large when I speake of mas∣cules and lozenges:

[illustration] blazon or coat of arms

and thus I blaze this coate, first in latin, Portat vnam crucem masculatam de argento in campo asureo, and in French, Il port d'a∣zure vn cros masculee d'argent, in English, he bea∣reth azure a crosse masculet of siluer.

Of a crosse masculet and perforated.

And this crosse masculet is sometime borne per∣forated in the mascules, as is shewed in this coate,

[illustration] blazon or coat of arms

and is thus to be blazed, first in Latine in this wise, Portat vnam crucem perforatam de rubeo in scuto argenteo. in French, Il port d'argent vn cros de gules masculee persee, in English, he beareth siluer with a crosse of gules masculet peersed.

Of the Millers Crosse or mill Nut.

There is a crosse which is called the Millers cros, for it is made in the proportion of a certaine instru∣ment of yron which beares the mil-stone, by which the stone in his course is born equaly that he fal not, nor decline to the right side, nor to the left: and hath beene giuen to Iudges to beare in their armes, signi∣fying thereby, that as that instrument supporteth the mill stone equally that it fall not vnto one parte more than to another, so these Iudges are bound to giue equally euery one his right.

[illustration] blazon or coat of arms

And thus it shall be blazed in Latine, Portat crucem molendinariam argen∣team in cāpo rubeo, in french Il port gules vn crois mo∣lein d'argent, in English, he beareth gules a Millers crosse of siluer.

Of a crosse returned.

There is a crosse which is called a crosse turned, because the endes of this crosse on euerie side turne backe with a kinde of bending like to the horne of a Ram:

[illustration] blazon or coat of arms

he that beareth these armes is said to beare them thus, in Latin, Portat crucem vnā auream reuersam in scute a∣sureo, in French, Il port d'a∣zure vn cros recercilee d'or in English, he beareth azure with a cros reuersed of gold

Of a crosse forked.

There be some which beare in their Armes a cer∣taine forked crosse, and it is called forked, bicause the endes of it are clouen and forked.

[illustration] blazon or coat of arms

Therefore hee which beareth this coate shal be saide to beare this, first in latin, portat vnā cru∣cem furcotam de auro in campo Asureo, In French, il port d'azure vn cros d'or, in English: he beareth Azure with a Crosse forked of golde.

Of a crosse engrayled or engraded.

Also there be some which in their coate armours cary a crosse engrayled or engraded, it is called en∣grayled, because it is en∣dented all ouer, as well ouer the length, as ouer the breadth,

[illustration] blazon or coat of arms

but in the blazing of Armes wee doe saie, this crosse is en∣grailed, not endented, and thus we blaze such a coate in latin, portat vnam crucem ingradatam de albo in campo

Rubeo, in french, Il port de Gules vn crois ingrailee d'argent: in English, he beares gules a crosse engrai∣led of siluer.

Of a ragged or trunca∣ted crosse.

There is an other crosse borne which is called a crosse truncated or Ragged crosse because it is in maner of two lopped trees.

[illustration] blazon or coat of arms

Therefore it is saide: He which beareth this armes beareth thus, in Latine, portat vnam crucem truncata∣num, de argento in campo rubeo, in French, Il port de gules vn crois recompee d'ar∣gent, in english, he beareth Gules with A crosse trun∣cated of siluer.

Of a knottie crosse.

There is an other crosse borne in Armes which is called a knottie crosse, because on euerie end of the same crosse it hath certain knottes in forme of this coate which heere I set downe:

[illustration] blazon or coat of arms

which is thus blazed, in latin, portat vnam crucem auream nodulatam in scuto Asureo: in french, Il port d'azure vn crois

Botone d'or: he beareth azure with a crosse knot∣ty of golde.

And this crosse is found sometimes fixible, as I haue shewed in other coates before.

Of a crosse flourie knotted.

There is another crosse which is called a flourie knotted crosse, as is this coat which here I set down hauing both flowers and knots on euerie end of ech crosse.

[illustration] blazon or coat of arms

And of him which beareth this coat, it is said he beareth thus: in latine, portat crucem▪ nodulatam, flori∣dam, auream in campo de asuro, in French, Il port d'azure vn crois floritee botone d'or, in English, he beareth azure a crosse floury knotty of gold.

Of a crosse double parted.

There is also founde in diuerse coate armours a double partited crosse, and it is so called dou∣ble parted, for if it bee deuided or parted after the longe waie, or the broade vvaie, yet it

is still a double crosse as we see heere, and of this crosse manie doubtes haue risen, and questions growne of this Armorie, yet by Generall opinion at length alowed.

[illustration] blazon or coat of arms

There∣fore hee which beareth these armes is said to bear thus in latin, in campo nigro, in french, il port sable vn cros double petty d'argēt, in English: hee beareth sa∣ble, a crosse double parti∣ted of Siluer.

Of a crosse double parted flourished.

This crosse double parted is varyed sometimes and then it is a crosse double parted florished as here:

[illustration] blazon or coat of arms

neuerthelesse it is called a crosse flourie, improperlie as some do hold, for it fai∣leth in the midst of the flower, as you shall see in the next armes following which certaine midst by no maner of wise may be in the crosse double parti∣ted, therefore hee which beareth these armes, is saide to beare them thus: in latine: portat crucem duplam partitam auream in campo Ru∣beo, il port de Gules vn crois double partie flouretee

d'or: hee beareth a gules a Crosse double partited floury of gold.

Of a crosse tripartited florished.

As before I haue shewed you the Coate double florised for there faileth in the midst of the crosse, by which the crosse florished is made perfect, but as in this coate amidst put thereto it shall bee rightlie called a crosse tripartited, florished, and so it is right∣ly blazed, for diuide it by the length or breadth, it is euerie waie three folde in the midst of the crosse, and open in the pointes:

[illustration] blazon or coat of arms

and therefore hee which bea∣reth these armes, beareth thus first in latin: portat cru∣cem tripartitam de argento in campo de asuro: in french, Il port d'azure vn crois trefois partee floritee d'ar∣gent: in English he beareth azure with a crosse tri∣partited floury of siluer.

Of the mill nut or millers crosse shadowed or vmbrated.

There hath beene made a doubte of this vmbra∣ted crosse, and it is called a shaddowed or vmbrated

crosse, because the shadow is euermore of blacke, of what colour soeuer the field bee of, and the bodie of the shadow is of the same colour of the fielde:

[illustration] blazon or coat of arms

Ther∣fore hee which beareth these armes, is said to bear in latin, portat crucem vmbra∣tam in campo aureo in french, Il port d'azure vn crois molein vmbree: hee bea∣reth golde with a millers crosse vmbrated or shad∣dowed.

Of a crosse floury Patent vmbrated.

Now this coate I here set downe for the vmbra∣tion of a certaine crosse, and this crosse is called, a crosse floury vmbrated, as here appeareth,

[illustration] blazon or coat of arms

but indeed it is no Crosse, but a sha∣dow of such a crosse, & the reason is, for the body of the same crosse is of the colour of the field and so the colour in the fielde sheweth by all the bodie of the said shaddow: and he that beareth these armes, is said to beare in latine, por∣tat crucem floridam patentem vmbratam in campo rubeo, in French, Il port de Gules vn crois patee floritee vmbree, in english he beareth Gules, a crosse patent floury vmbrated.

Of a crosse floury patent vmbrated and perforated.

And also this crosse which here I set downe is ca∣ried in coate armours which blasing rightly, they say it is floury patent vmbrated and perforated.

[illustration] blazon or coat of arms

And it shall bee saide, that hee which beareth this coate, in latin, portat crucem flori∣dam patentem vmbra am perfo∣ratam cum rubeo in cāpo aureo, in French, Il port d'or vn cros patee floritee vmbree partee de Gules: English, he beares gold, a crosse pa∣tent, floury shadowed, and perced with Gules.

Therefore they which will vndertake to blaze, must beware of these armes vmbrated, of which ma∣nie rules be shewed before: for there be manie fami∣lies in England to this day which beare shaddowes (diuersly in their coate armours) of the Lyon, the Antelop, and other beasts Therefore lest the igno∣raunt or vnskilfull shoulde by this mistake the rule mentioned before of colours transmuted, hee which beareth such a Lyon in his coate, shalbe said to beare: in latine, Portat voum leonem vmbratum in campo aureo: in french, Il port d'or vn leon vmbree, in English, he beareth of golde a Lyon vmbrated: and there bee some skilfull in armorie which are of opinion, that such as doe carrie these vmbrated Armes,

had their auncesters carrying the same whole, and without shadow at all, but their possessions and pa∣trimonies descending to other men, their nephewes and kinsemen, onely hauing the honour without the land, bare the Armes vmbrated, leauing all o∣ther differences, disguising their coates in such sort, thinking it better to beare the armes vmbrated then whollie, vntill fortune should againe raise them to the estate of their progenitors: bearing it rather as some diuice or Empreze, then a coate in armes.

Of the hemmed or borde∣red crosse.

There hath risen some question, amongst he∣raldes of the difference betwixt this crosse fimbra∣ted or bordered as heere appeareth, and the foresaid crosse vmbrated, because they are so much like, and at the first sight seeme to bee all one.

[illustration] blazon or coat of arms

But if a man behold them well he shall finde great difference, for the border of this crosse is varied as well from the colour of the Crosse, as from the colour of the field. And therefore it shall be said of him which beares these armes in latine, portat crucem nigram per∣foratam floridam patentem fimbriatam siue borduratam cum argento in campo Rubeo: in french, Il port de Gules vn

crois floritee patee percee de sable bordure d'argent: in English, he beareth gules with a crosse floury pa∣tent pearsed of sable bordered with siluer.

Of the Ermine crosse.

There is an ermine crosse, of which there happe∣ned a disputation at London betweene a Herauld of Brittaine and one of our nation, betwixt whome it was prooued and determined, that this Crosse in armes could be of no other colour than it is here set downe:

[illustration] blazon or coat of arms

and hee which beares these Armes shall be saide to beare them thus, in Latine, Portat crucem er∣minalem, in the French. Il port vn crois erminee: in English, He doth beare a crosse ermines, without other circumstance in bla∣zing of the same, because they must be only blacke and white, which is their proper colour.