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ARms seem to have been Jure Divino, to the Jews, and their use is great both in War and Peace; without them an Army neither has Method, nor strikes terror, and in peace Arms distinguish one Man from another. Arms assumed according to one's
fancy are but personal, but Arms assigned by Princes are Hereditary. The plainer the Coat is, the more Ancient and Honourable; two Colours are necessary and most highly honourable, tho both may be bla∣zoned with one word, as Varrey, (formerly born by the Beauchamps of Hatch in Wiltshire, and still quar∣tered by the Duke of Somerset) three are very ho∣nourable, four Commendable▪ five Excuseable, more disgraceful. One said of a Coat, that it was so well Victualled that it might endure a Siege, such was the Plenty and Variety of Fowl, Flesh and Fish there∣in. Or and Azure are the richest, Argent and Sable the fairest Coats. The Lion and Eagle are the most Honourable, the Cross the most Religious bearing; a Bend the best Ordinarie, being a Belt athwart, as a Fess is the same about the middle. Herbs Vert (being natural) are better then Or. There are Rea∣sons rendred for some bearings. Thus whereas the Earls of Oxford anciently gave their Coat plain, quarterly Gules and Or, they took afterwards in the first a Mallet or Star Argent, because the Chief of the House had a Falling-Star, (as is said) alighting on his Shield as he was fighting in the Holy-land. Now for the Arms of Sheriffs, we have added them, ever since the first of King Richard 2. I will con∣clude this Discourse with a Memorable Record.
Claus. 5 H. 5. Membr. 15 in the Tower.
The King to the Sheriff Health▪ &c. because there are divers Men, as we are informed, which before these times in the Voyages made by us have assumed to themselves Arms and Coat-Armours, where neither they, nor their Ancestors in times past used such Arms, &c. and Propound with themselves to use and exercise the same in this present Voyage,
which God willing we intend to make. And altho the Omnipotent disposeth his favours in things Na∣tural, as he pleaseth, equally to the Rich and Poor; yet We willing, that every one of our Liege Subjects should be Esteemed and Treated in due manner, according to the Exigency of his State and Condi∣tion: We Command thee, that in every place with∣in thy Bailiwick, where by our Writ we have lately shewn, you cause to be Proclaimed, that no Man, of what State, Degree or Condition soever he be, shall take upon him such Arms or Coats of Arms, save he alone, who doth possess, or ought to possess the same, by the right of his Ancestors, or by Donation and grant of some, who had sufficient power to assign him the same; and that he that useth such Arms or Coats of Arms, shall, on the day of his Muster, manifestly shew to such Persons assigned, or to be assigned by us, for that purpose, by vertue of whose gift he enjoyeth the same, those only ex∣cepted who carried Arms with us at the Battle of Agincourt; under the penalties not to be admitted to go with us, in our aforesaid Voyages, under his Command, by whom he is for the present retained, and of the loss of his wages, as also of the rasing out and breaking off the said Arms called Coat-Armours, at the time of his Muster aforesaid, if they shall be shewn upon him or found about him. And this you shall in no case omit. Witness the King, at the City of New Sarum, June the S••∣cond.