Colours of a Coat of Arms.

13. SHields at the first (as you have heard) were of one Colour, but when Devices were put upon them, then more Colours were added, to make the same more compleat; that is to say, the colour of the continent▪ and the colour of the thing contained: The colour of the Field, and the colour of the Partition, the Ordinary, or the Charge of the Field.

14. So that two colours or more, are absolutely neces∣sary to the making of a perfect Coat of Arms. Note, But withal, they are to be ordered according to the grounds of Art and Knowledg: For if there be two colours, one must be a Mettle; for no Armories are proper, without one of the two: Neither are they said to be good and honourable bearing. According to that vulgar Saying of all, and used as a Proverb, for a thing done, and wrong done.

15. Shields consisting of Colours and Mettles are ho∣nourable; and things of the least worth, are worthy bear∣ings: With this Rule of Priority, wherein we must ac∣count the Female less honourable than the Male; the Ser∣vant less than the Master; the Subject than the Prince: And things Sensitive less honourable than the Rational; and the Vegitive than the Sesitive. Yet every thing hath its due Honour, thereby denoting the dignity of the Bearer by the thing born.

16. Though I do confess, contrary to this ground, there are some Coats which plead Antiquity, which have in them Colour upon Colour, and Mettle upon Mettle, and yet are from the Bearers, accounted honourable: But these we shall pass over, and place them in a Rule by themselves, like to Heter clites, or Extravagants, as not tryable by the general Rule, and tract of Armory. And so proceed to the rules of Blazon.