The science of herauldry, treated as a part of the civil law, and law of nations wherein reasons are given for its principles, and etymologies for its harder terms.

CHAP. XXX. Of CROWNS. (Book 30)

THe first Origine of Crowns in Arms, was from the Romans, App. lib. 2. de Bell. Civil. For they rewarded the great Actions of their Citizens and Warriours, with different and suitable Crowns, which I have set down out of ingenious Mr. Cartwright. Corona Muralis, this was due to him that was first seen upon the Wall of the Enemy. Corona Castren∣sis, for him that made a breach in the Wall of the Enemy; The first, a Crown embattail'd, or made with Battlement, being of Gold; the other, of Towers. And then they had Corona Navalis, garnish'd with Fore-Castle, for Service at Sea, made of Gold too.

Then Corona Ovalis, of Mirtle, for Victorie gotten with little hazard; Corona Obsidialis, which was made of Grass, for him that preserved an Army besieged. Corona Civica, for him that saved a Citizen from the Ene∣my, made of Oaken boughs. Corona Olivaris of Olive leaves, for Victory in the Olympick Games; and Corona Populea, for young men that were found Industrious, and Studious in the Exercises of Virtues: But I find that a∣mongst these Rewards of Honor, that of Ivie, called Corona Hederalis, was only appropriated to the Poets.

Crowns were still the infallible Mark of Kingly Power, and therefore Sue••on in Calligula's Life, observes, Parum abfuit, quin Diadema sumeret, & speciem Principatus, in Regnum converteret; which Expression I have set down, to show, that the Roman Emperours were then less than Kings in their Titles, though greater in their Power.

As to the Crowns now born, they differ not only according to the Quality of the Bearer••, but according to the Nation wherein they are born; for England and France differ much in this, though the English acknowledge that they owe their Heraldry to the French.

I have here set down the different Shapes of the English Crowns.

The first whereof is the Crown of the Empire of Germany, which is but little different from that of England, in the second, which is Imperial too▪

The third is a Coronet of the Prince, which is the same with the Kings, only the Arches, Mound, and Cross, wanting.

The fourth is a Crownet of an Arch-Duke, which is the same with a Duke, the Arch only added.

The fifth is a Crownet Florial, only proper to a Duke

The sixth is the Crownet of a Marquess, which differs thus; It is of Leaves and Points, the Leaves or Flowers above the points.

The seventh is proper to an Earl, which hath Points and Flowers; but the Points are above the Flowers.

The eighth is due to a Viscount, which is a Circulet pearl'd, and neither Flowers nor points.

As to the French, the French Kings Crown is closs above, like the Im∣perial, and rais'd into eight Demy-Diadems, enriched with Diamonds, &c.

The Dolphine Crown differs only from the Kings, in that it rises up∣on four Demy-Diadems, the Kings upon eight.

The Circle of their Ducal Crown is enriched with Stones and Pearles, and is raised with eight Flowers.

Their Marquess Crown has its Circle adorned only with Pearles (tempeste) de Perls, and raised into four Flowers betwixt 12 Points or Pearls, as the French call them.

Their Counts carry only a Circle of Gold, raised unto nine Points, ane Cercle d' or garny de pier reries rehausse de 9 grosses perle de Comte.

The Viscount has only a Circle of Gold plain or enambled, and rais'd unto four Points, or as the French term them, four Pearls.

Baro••s have also in France, a Circle of Gold enambled, mounted by a Bracelet of Pearls.

Of late, both the Barons in England, and Lords in Scotland, have got Coronets by His Majesties concession.

The Bannerets carried only a plain Circle of Gold, adorn'd with three ordinar Pearls. Our Baronets cary no crown nor circle

The Regal Crown of Scotland hath Arches, Mound, and Cross, like to that of England, adorned with precious Stones and Pearls, and having four Flowers. de. lis, and as many Crosses pat••é interchanged, Farme, pag. 79.

The ninth Figure here represented, is by Silvanus Morgan said to be than Crown which is born by Homager Kings, and by Iohn Baliol, when he held the Crown of Scotland of Edward the First; but I begg the Gentle∣mans pardon to tell him, that of old the Roman Emperours carried no o∣ther than these, after their Apotheosis, and being numbred amongst the the gods, Lucan.

Fulminibus Manes radiisque ornabit & Astris.

And generally all the Kings of Christendom carryed theirs of that

[illustration]

A Lords Coronet.

shape, (as L'oseau observes) till of late that Dukes, Marquesses, &c. were allowed to bear Crowns: which allowance had this Rise; The child∣ren of Kings were of old, in France, Kings, and so carryed the Crown; but thereafter they were forced to take Dutchies, and Earldoms for their shares, yet they still retained their Crowns, to declare their Extraction: Whereupon other Dukes and Earls did think they might like∣wise assume the same, being in the same Degree, which obliged the Kings of France to distinguish the Forms of these Crowns, as we now see, L' oseau, chap. 5. des Seigneuries; and from this also did proceed his calling all such of the Nobility as bear Crowns, his Cousens, as the same Au∣thor observes.