The art of making devises treating of hieroglyphicks, symboles, emblemes, ænigma's, sentences, parables, reverses of medalls, armes, blazons, cimiers, cyphres and rebus / first written in French by Henry Estienne ... ; translated into English by Tho. Blount ...

TO THE NOBILITIE AND GENTRY of ENGLAND.

THis Piece (being sent me out of France, as a double rarity, both in respect of the subject and the qua∣lity of the Author) I had no sooner read, then (taken with its ingenuity) I was moved to cloathe it in an English habit, part∣ly out of envy, that other Nations should glo∣ry to have out-knowne us in any Art, especi∣ally ingenious, as is this of Devises, which be∣ing the proper badges of Gentlemen, Com∣manders, and persons of Honour, may justly

challenge their countenance and favour, whereunto tis sacred.

My Author affirmes himselfe to be the first hath written of this subject in his Mother∣tongue; and I might say the like here, were it not that I find a small parcell of it in Cam∣dens Remaines, under the title of Impreses, which are in effect the same with Devises. Thence, you may gather, that the Kings of England, with the Nobility and Gentry, have for some hundreds of yeeres (though Devises are yet of far greater Antiquity) both esteemed and made use of them: onely in former times they arrived not (as now) to that height of perfection; for they sometimes did (as the unskilfull still doe) make use of Mottoes with∣out figures, and figures without Mottoes. We read that Hen. the 3. (as liking well of Remu∣neration) commanded to be written (by way of Devise) in his Chamber at Woodstock,

Qui non dat quod amat, non accipit ille quod optat.

Edw. the 3. bore for his Devise the rayes of the Sunne streaming from a cloud without any Motto. Edmond of Langley, Duke of York, bore

a Faulcon in a Fetter-lock, implying, that he was locked up from all hope and possibility of the Kingdome. Hen. the 5. carryed a burn∣ing Cresset, sometimes a Beacon, and for Motto (but not appropriate thereunto) UNE SANS PLUS, one and no more. Edw the 4. bore the Sun, after the Battell of Mortimers-Crosse, where three Sunnes were seene immediately conjoy∣ning in one. Hen. the 7. in respect of the uni∣on of the two Houses of York and Lancaster, by his marriage, used the White Rose united with the Red, sometimes placed in the Sunne. But in the raigne of Hen. the 8. Devises grew more familiar, and somewhat more perfect, by adding Mottoes unto them, in imitation of the Italians and French (amongst whom there is hardly a private Gentleman, but hath his par∣ticular Devise) For Hen. the 8. at the inter∣view betweene him and King Francis the first, whereat Charles the fift was also present, used for his Devise an English Archer in a greene Coat drawing his Arrow to the head, with this Motto, CUI ADHaeREO, PRaeEST; when as at that time those mighty Princes banding one against another, wrought him for their owne particular.

To the honour of Queene Iane, (who dyed willingly to save her child King Edward) a Phenix Was represented in his Funerall fire with this Motto, NASCATUR UT ALTER. Queene Mary bore winged Time, drawing Truth out of a pit, with VERITAS TEMPORIS FILIA. Queene Elizabeth upon severall occasi∣ons used many Heroicall Devises, sometimes a Sive without a Motto, (as Camden relates) and at other times these words without figure, VI∣DEO, TACEO, and SEMPER EADEM. King Iames used a Thistle and a Rose united, and a Crown over them, with this Motto, HENRICUS ROSAS, REGNA JACOBUS. Pr. Henry (besides that Devise which is appropriate to the Princes of Wales) made use of this Motto, without fi∣gure, FAS EST ALIORUM QUaeRERE REGNA. And His Majestie that now is, that other of CHRISTO AUSPICE REGNO. Our Prince beares (as all the Princes of Wales have done since the black Prince) for his Devise (which we commonly, though corruptly call the Prin∣ces Armes) a Coronet beautified with three Ostrich feathers, and for Motto,* 1.1 ICH DIEN, i.e. I serve, in the Saxon tongue, alluding to

that of the Apostle, The heire while he is a childe, differeth nothing from a servant.

The late Earle of Essex, when he was cast downe with sorrow, and yet to be employed in Armes, bore a sable Shield without any fi∣gure, but inscribed, PAR NULLA FIGURA DOLORI. Sir Philip Sidney (to trouble you with no more) denoting that he persisted alwayes one, depainted out the Caspian Sea, surrounded with its shoares, which neither ebbeth nor floweth, and for Motto, SINE REFLUXU.

Some may object, that in regard Tiltings, Tournaments, and Masques, (where Devises were much in request) are for the present laid aside, therefore Devises are of lesse use.

Whereto I answer, that as those Justing or jesting Wars are disused, so have vve now an earnest, though much to be lamented Warre, vvhich renders them more usefull then ever, I meane for Cornets and Ensignes; And of these, let me also give you some examples out of the present times. On the Kings party, one beares for his Cornet-Devise Saint Michael kil∣ling the Dragon for the figure, and for Motto, QUIS UT DEUS? Another is so bold as to

beare the picture of a King Crowned and Ar∣med, vvith his Sword drawne, and this Motto, MELIUS EST MORI IN BELLO, QUAM VI∣DERE MALA GENTIS NOSTRAE. A third bears onely a Dye, vvith UTCUNQUE QUADRATUS. A fourth figures the beast called an* 1.2 Ermyne, vvith this Motto, MALLEM MORI QUAM Foe∣DARI. A fift represents five hands snatching at a Crown, defended by an armed hand and sword from a Cloud, with this Motto, RED∣DITE CaeSARI. A sixt figures a Landskip of a pleasant Country, vvith houses, corne, &c. invaded by beggerly people, and for Motto, BARBARUS HAS SEGETES? &c.

On the Parliaments party vve find one bea∣ring in his Cornet, the Sun breaking through a Cloud, with EXURGAT ET DISSIPABUNTUR. Another represents a Deaths-head, and a Law∣rell-Crown, vvith MORS VEL VICTORIA. A third figures an armed man, presenting a sword to a Bishops breast, with VISNE EPI∣SCOPARE? the Bishop answering, NOLO, NOLO, NOLO. A fourth sayes onely (with∣out any figure) TANDEM BONA CAUSA TRIUMPHAT. A fift represents the Sunne, dissipating a clou∣dy

storme, with POST NUBILA PHOEBUS. A sixt, figures an armed man, hewing off the corners of an University Cap with his sword, and this Motto, MUTO QUADRATA ROTUN∣DIS, &C.

Now though these Devises for the most part argue wit in the Composers, yet many of them are either imperfect or defective, which may be attributed to the want of the prescribed rules of this Art, which this Treatise doth af∣ford you, together with a Synopsis or short view of Hieroglyphicks, Emblemes, Reverses of Medalls, and all other inventions of vvit, vvhich any vvayes relate thereunto. I might also shew you here how many several waies Devises are useful (especially for Seals, being drawn from some essentiall part of the bearers Armes) but that I hold it not fit to forestall the Reader in a Pre∣face. I am onely to beg pardon for my lesse po∣lisht style,(which I shal the rather hope to ob∣tain, since things of this nature require a plain delivery, rather thē elegancy or affected phrase) not doubting but that the discovery of this Art will yeeld so great contentment to you, whose wits are elevate as farre above the vul∣gar,

as are your rankes and qualities that in some Academicall Session, you will decree the Author to be your President, the Art your Exercise.

Ex Aedib. Interioris Templi 27, Mart. 1646.

T. B.

Notes

• * 1.1

  A learned Brittan is of o∣pinion that it should be Eich dyn, i.e. your man, in the Brittish tongue.
• * 1.2

  The Natura∣lists say that this beast will rather choose to dye, then defile her su••e.