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¶ Here is expounded the mysterie of the Armes & cognisances of the Romane Bishops bearing brauely in their scutchions a triple crowne with a payre of Keyes.
BEfore I depart from hence, I will glauncingly and bréefly set forth the thinges which séeme to perteine pe∣culiarly to the keyes, not of the kingdome of heauen, but the keyes which the Bishops of Rome take to them selues, and which they blaze abroad in their Armes, that is to wit, by painting and stamping them commonly in a scutchion and vnder an helmet, yea and by fastening them vnto all their Bulls. For vnder those armes and cognisances of theirs, after the maner and fashion of scutchions and hel∣mets, doe they shadowe the fulnesse of their power, and blaze it abroad to the knowledge of all men. For the scut∣chion it selfe beareth the armes of the house of the Bishop that sitteth in the Sea. And ouer the scutchion stand two keyes a crosse, so set, that in stead of an helmet or crest, they beare vp, or haue set vpon the shéeld and keyes a triple crowne or cap of mainteinance, which (according to the in∣terpretation of Austin Steuchus) they them selues call their Royaltie. The cap of mainteinance it selfe sheddeth out little Labells such as are hanging at Bishops Miters. And all these thinges, which were vtterly vnknowen to the Apostles and the first Bishops of the Romane Sea, are according to the arte of Haraldrie, made significatiue to shew forth the puissance or power of this king & kingdome of all other the greatest.
The shéeld it selfe which beareth the armes of the Bi∣shops linage, sheweth that the kingdome, and the power of the kingdome belongeth to him whose armes those be, and which presently sitteth in that Sea. And the two keyes set crosse aloft vpon the shéeld (like as also their two swordes) doe (according to their holy and misticall diuinitie) beto∣ken that vnmeasurable power of theirs which extendeth it