Remaines concerning Britain their languages, names, surnames, allusions, anagrammes, armories, monies, empreses, apparell, artillarie, wise speeches, proverbs, poesies, epitaphs / written by William Camden ...

Armories.

WHereas somewhat hath been said of Allusions and Anagrams which re∣sult out of names, I think it shall not be impertinent to adde also somewhat of Armories or Armes, which as silent names do distin∣guish families. But with this pre∣face, Salvo semper meliori judicio, and that I will but touch it lightly and slightly without of∣fence to such as have, or prejudice to them that will un∣dertake this matter more seriously.

Armes, as ensigns of honour among military men in the general signification, have been as anciently used in this Realm as in any other; for as necessitie bred the use of them in managing of militarie affairs for order and distinction both of whole companies and particular persons amongst other nations, that their valour might thereby be more conspicuous to other; so likewise no doubt among the inha∣bitants of this Iland, who alwayes have been as martiall as any other people whatsoever. In so much as unless we would conceive hardly of our own progenitors, we cannot think but that in martiall services, they had their conceits in their ensigns both for distinction, direction, and decency.

He that would shew variety of reading in this argument, might note out of the sacred Scripture, that every Tribe of Israel pitched under their own Standard; out of prophane authors, that the Carians, who were the first mercenarie soul∣diers, first also bare marks in their shields: that the Lacede∣monians bare the Greek letter A. the Messonians M. &c.

But to come home, some give the first honour of the in∣vention of the Armories in this part of the world to the ancient Picts and Britains, who going naked to the wars, adorned their bodies with figures and blazons of divers colours, which they conjecture to have been severall for particular families, as they fought divided by kin∣dreds.

When this Isle was under the command of the Romans, their troupes and bands had their severall signs, As the Britanniciam in their shield a Carbuncle, Britannici a Plat party per Saltier. Stablesiani a Plate within an annulet, Secundani an Annulet upon a cross. For particular persons among the Grecians Ulysses bare in his shield a Dolphin. Among the Romans Julius Caesar, the head of Venus. Crix∣us the French Captain, a man weighing gold; A Saguntine Spaniard an hundred snakes: so I onely reade among the Britains that the victorious Arthur bare our Lady in his shield, which I do the rather remember, for that Ne••nius, who lived not long after, recordeth the same.

In the Saxon Heptarchie I find little noted of Armes, albeit the Germans of whom they descended, used shields, as Tacitus saith, colore fucata, which I know not whether I may call Armes or no, neither know I whether I may referre hither out of Beda, how Edwin King of Northum∣berland had alwaies one ensign carried before him called in English a Tuffe, which Vegetius reckoneth among military ensigns, or how King Oswald had a banneroll of gold and purple interwoven palie or bendie, set over his tomb at Bard∣ney Abbey in Lincolnshire; or how Cuthred King of West-sex bare in his banner a golden Dragon at the battail of Bureford, as Hovedon noteth, and the Danes in their stan∣dard a Raven, as Asserius reporteth.

Hitherto of Armes in the generall signification, now somewhat of them in the restrict signification, as we de∣fine, or rather describe them, viz. That Armes are Ensigns of honour born in banners, shields, coats, for notice and distinction of Families one from the other, and descen∣dable,

as hereditary to posterity.

Here might divers enquiries be made when they began to be hereditary, which was very anciently, if we relie up∣on the Poets credit. For to overpass other, Virgil saith, that Aventinus, Hercules son, bare an hundred snakes, his fathers Armes.

Clypeoque insigne paternum, Centum angues, cinct••mque gerit serpentibus hydram.

Also whether some have aptly applied this verse of Lu∣cretius to Armes of this kinde:

Arma antiqua manus, ungues dentesque fuerunt.

And whether these places of Suetonius may be referred to Armes of this sort, where he sayth that Caligula the Em∣perour

Familiaria insignia nobilissimo cuique ademit, Torquato, torquem, Cincinnato, crinem. And that the house of Fla∣via was obscure, sine ullis armorum imaginibus.

Whatsoever some discourse out of the Kings seals of he∣reditary Armes in England, certain it is, that the Lyons were the Armes of our Kings in the time of Henry the first. For John of Marmonstier in Touraine, who then lived, re∣cordeth that when the said King chose Geffray son of Foulk Earl of Anjou, Tourain and Maine, to be his son in law, by marrying to him his onely daughter and heir, Mawde, and made him Knight after the bathing and other solemn rites, boots embrodered with golden Lyons were drawn on his legs, and a shield with golden Lyons therein hung about his neck.

That King Richard the first, his grand-childe, bare Lyons, appeareth by his Seal, as also by these verses in Philippeidos uttered in the person of Monsieur William de Barr, ready to encounter Richard, when as yet he was but Earl of Poi∣cton:

Ecce comes Pictav••s agro nos provocat, ecce Nos ad bella vocat; rictus agnosco Leonum

Illius in clypeo, stat ibi quasi ferrea turris, Francorum nomen blasphemans ore protervo.

It is clear also by that authour, that Arundell bare then Swallows in his shield, as his posterity in Cornewall do at this day. For of him he writeth, when he was upon the shock with the said William de Barr,

Vidit hirundela velocior alite quae dat Hoc agnomen ei, fert cujus in aegide signum, Se rapit agminibus mediis clypeoque nitenti, Quem sibi Guillelmus laeva praetenderat ulna, Immergit validam praeacutae cuspid's hastam.

About this time the estimation of Aims began in the ex∣peditions to the Holy Land, and afterward by little and little became hereditary, when it was accounted most ho∣nourable to carry those Armes which had been displayed in the Holy land in that holy service against the professed ene∣mies of Christianity. To this time doth Petre Pithaeu and other learned French men referre the originall of heredi∣tary Arms in France; and in my opinion without preju∣dice to other, about that time we received the hereditary use of them, which was not fully established, untill the time of King Henry the third. For the last Earls of Chester, the two Quincyes Earls of Winchester, the two Lacyes Earls of Lincoln, varied still the Father from the son, as might be particularly proved.

In these holy wars many arms were altered, and new assumed upon divers occasions, as the Veres Earls of Oxford, who bare before quarterly Gules and Or, inserted a Mollet in the first quarter, for that a shooting star fell thereon, when one of them served in the Holy land. The L. Barkleys, who bare first Gules a Cheveron Arg. after one of them had taken upon him the Cross, (for that was then the phrase) to serve in those wars, inserted ten Crosses pattè in his shield. So Geffray of Boullion the glo∣rious

General in those wars, at one draught of his bow, shooting against Davids Tower in Hierusalem broched three feetless birds called Allerions upon his arrow, and thereupon assumed in a shield Or three Allerions Argent on a Bend Gueles, which the house of Loraine, descending from his race, continueth to this day. So Leopold the fifth Marques of Austria, who bare formerly six Larks Or in Azure, when his coat-Armour at the siege of Acres in the Holy-land was all dyed in blood, save his belt, he took for his arms, Gueles, a white Belt, or a Fesse Argent, (which is the same) in memory thereof.

About this time did many Gentlemen begin to bear arms by borrowing from their Lords arms of whom they held in Fee, or to whom they were most devoted. So whereas the Earl of Chester bare Garbes, or wheat sheafs, many Gentleman of that Country took wheat sheafs. Whereas the old Earls of Warwick bare Chequy Or and Azure a Cheveron Ermin, many thereabout took Ermin and Chequie. In Leicestershire and the Countrey confi∣ning, divers bare Cinquefoyles, for that the antient Earls of Leicester bare Gueles a Cinquefoile Ermin. In Cumberland and thereabouts, where the old Baron of Kendall bare Argent two barres Gueles and a Lion pas∣sant Or in a Can••on of the second; many Gentlemen thereabout took the same in different colours and char∣ges in the Canton.

[illustration] blazon or coat of arms

Hughbert de Burgo Earl of Kent who bare for his arms in a Shield, Gules seven Lozenges vaire, 3, 3, 1. Granted lands to Anselme de Guise in the Counties of Buckingham and Gloucester.

[illustration] blazon or coat of arms

Whereupon the said Anselmus de Guise bare the same Coat with a Canton Or, charged with a Mullet of six points pierced Sable,

[illustration] blazon or coat of arms

[illustration] blazon or coat of arms

The antient Family of Hardres in Kent, bears Gules, a Lyon rampant, Ermine debrused, with a Cheveron Or, denoting that they held their said Mannor of Hardres by Knights service of the Castle of Tunbridge in Kent, which was the antient Seig∣niory of the Clares, Earls of Glou∣cester, who did bear for their arms in a field Or, 3. Cheverons Gules: and the Lord Stafford, that was after Lord of the same place, bore Or a cheveron gules.

[illustration] blazon or coat of arms

This great Family of the Clares being resident for the most part at their Castle of Tunbridge in Kent, to which they had a Liberty called the Loway, containing three miles every way from the centre, answer∣able to that which belonged to their Seigniory of Bryony in Nor∣mandy, which they exchanged for this here (as writeth Gemeticensis) gave occasion to many of the anti∣entest Families in Kent, to take up Coats, alluding to these Lords of Tunbridge.

[illustration] blazon or coat of arms

Simon de Abrincis, Albranc, or Averinges, (for by all these names he is written in Record) Lord of Folkstone, and one of those eight Barons, to each of whom many Knights Fees were assigned in de∣fence of Dover Castle, and each of them to maintain a Tower there, Gave Or 5. Cheverons Gules.

And was imitated by Evering of Evering, that held a Knights Fee of him, by changing the Cheverons into Azure.

[illustration] blazon or coat of arms

And Robert de Hougham, who was his next neighbour, bare in al∣lusion to him the same charge, but differing in colours, viz. in a Field Argent, 5. Cheverons Sable.

[illustration] blazon or coat of arms

Ralph de Curva Spina, or Crey∣thorne, descended from an Ancestor well landed in Kent, in the 20. of William the Conquerour, bare in imitation of the former charge A∣zure 5. Cheverons Or, a Labell of 5. points Gules.

[illustration] blazon or coat of arms

Then Cryoll or Keryell the great landed man of Kent, he bare Or, 2. Cheverons, and a Canten Gules. And in imitation of him,

[illustration] blazon or coat of arms

Sir Robert of Rumney.

[illustration] blazon or coat of arms

Sir Robert Orlanston of Orlanston.

[illustration] blazon or coat of arms

Howdlow of Bellerikey,

The said Bertram de Cryoll was Lord of Ostenhanger, and those that know that Country, know that all these before mentioned, inhabited in the same ••ath of Shep∣wey.

[illustration] blazon or coat of arms

At the other side of Kent, the Lord Leybourne of Leybourne Castle, was the great man. Sir Roger Leybourne was a great agent in the Barons wars, and William was a Parliamen∣tarie Baron in the time of King Edward the first.

[illustration] blazon or coat of arms

Sir Robert de Sherland, of Sher∣land in Shepey, Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports, the female heir of which Family being married to Cheyney, which is the Coat of Sher∣land, they many ages bore this Coat in the first place.

[illustration] blazon or coat of arms

Sir Richard Rockisley of Rocki∣sley in Kent, from whose heir gene∣rall, the Lord Marquess of Winche∣ster is descended, bare the Lord Leybournes Coat, with a Fesse Gules.

[illustration] blazon or coat of arms

William Kirkby of Horton Kirkby in Kent, not many miles from Leybourne Castle, bare the same Coat with a Canton and Mullet, and is quartered by the Stonards, of Stonard in Oxford∣shire, who married the heir generall of Kirkby.

[illustration] blazon or coat of arms

The Family of the Culpeppers of Kent, as it is one of the most numerous fa∣milies, for I have noted at one time there we••e twelve Knights and Baro∣nets alive of this house together. So certainly it is reckoned of as much an∣tiquity and good allyance as any Fa∣mily in that tract. They bare for their arms Argent a Bend ingreyled, Gules.

[illustration] blazon or coat of arms

Halden of Halden, in the parish of Rolvinden in Kent, whose heir ge∣nerall was marryed into the Guild∣fares Family, bare the same Coat with a Chief Sables.

[illustration] blazon or coat of arms

And one of the name of Malmanis in Kent bare Argent a Bend ingrey∣led purple.

[illustration] blazon or coat of arms

The Lord Sey was a Baron of am∣ple possessions at Birlinge in Kent, and very many other places from thence to Deptford, where Says Court that came from the Lord Magminot by his heir generall, Gave quarterly Or and Gules.

[illustration] blazon or coat of arms

Peckham of Peckham and Yald∣ham, bar•• it thus in Chief.

[illustration] blazon or coat of arms

Parrock of Parrock neer Graves∣end, bare it as in the margent.

[illustration] blazon or coat of arms

And Saint Nicholas of Saint Nicho∣las in Thanet, came as neer as could be to that of Peckham, so that we conceive they were at first all one family, else some question would in so many ages have been raised for bearing the same blazon, as in divers other Families up∣on the like ground hath been observed.

Touching the granting of Arms from some great Earls, and passing of Coats from one private person to another, some president••, not impertinent to this sub∣ject, are here inserted, which were all before the redu∣ction of the Heralds under one regulation.

[illustration] blazon or coat of arms

Humfry Count de Staff. & de Perche seigneur de Tunbrigg & de Caux, a tous ceux qui cestes presentes lettres verront ou orront salutes; Saches que nous considerans lez merites que deyvent estre attribues a toutes per∣sonnes issues de bone lieu & excer∣santez bones meures & vertues eux conduisantes termis d'onneur & gen∣tilese ycelle, a consideration a nous a∣move d'augmenter en honneur & noblesse noble home Ro∣bert Whitgreve, luy avoir donne & donons per icestes presentes, pour memory d'onneur perpetuell, auportre set armes ensigne de Noblesse un Escue, de azure, a quatre points d'or, quatre Cheverons de Gules; & luy de partire as autres persones nobles de son linage en descent avecques les differences de Descent au dit blazon, & pour de tout armoyor & revestire son dit blazon & en honneur le re∣parer avous avecque celuy ordeine & attribue Helme & Timbre, cest assavoyr le Helme ove mantle de bloy, fur∣re d' Ermines, au une Coronne un demy Antelope d'or: Et pour ceste nostre lettre patente de dit donne verifier, en tesmoigne la nous fait seeler du seele de nos properes Armes, le xiii. jour d' August l'an du reigne le Roy Henry le sisme puis le conquest vintisme.

[illustration] blazon or coat of arms

A touz ceux que ceste presente let∣tre verront ou orront, Thomas Gren∣dale de Fenton, cosyn & heir a Johan Beaumeys jadys de Sautre saluz en Dieu. Come les Armes d'ancestrye du dit Johan, apres le jour de son moriant, soient par loy & droit d'eri∣tage a moy eschaietz, com a son pros∣chein heir du son linage: Sachetz moy l'avant-dit Thomas, avoir don∣nee & grantee per ycestes, les entiers avantdites Armes, ove leur appurtenantz a William Moigne Chivaller, quel∣les Armes cestascavoir sont d'argent ove une Crois d'asure ove cin{que} Garbes d'or, en le Crois; A avoir & tenir touz lez avantdites Armes ove le••r appurtenantz au dit Mon∣sieur William a ces heires & assignes a tous iours. En tes∣moignance de quelle chose acestez presentes lettres j'ay mis mon saelx. Donne a Sautre le vint seconde iour de No∣vembre, l'an du regne le Roy Richard seconde, quin∣zisme.

[illustration] blazon or coat of arms

A touz ceux que ceste lettres verront ou orront, Roberte de Morle, Maris∣call D' Irlande saluz en dieu. Saches moi avoir donne & grante a mon bon amee Robert de Corby, & a ces hei∣res, les Armes que mesont descenduz per voie de Heritage apres le deces Monsieur Baldwine de Manoires, cestascavoir d' Argent, ove une Sal∣tier engraile de Sable: avoir & porter entirement les Armes jusdits au dit Robert de Corby & ses heires a tout jours, sans impechment ou challenge du moy ou de mes hei∣res apres ses heures. Et moy avant dit Robert de Morley & mes heires, au dit Robert de Corby & a ces heires, les Armes avant-dites, en quanq en nous est, envers

toutz homes a touz ioures garranterons. En tesmoignance de quel chose a cestes mes lettres overtees iaimis mon seale Donne au Chasteau de Risinge, le Iour de la Tiffa∣nie, le sisme I'our de Ianuare l'an du regne Edward tiers puis le Conq, d'Engleterre 22. & de France, neofisme.

Noverint universi per praesentes, me Ioannam nuper uxo∣rem Will••elmi Lee de Knightley, dominam & rectam hae redem de Knightley, dedisse, concessisse & hac praesenti carta mea confirmasse Ricardo Peshale filio Humfridi Peshale scutum Armorum meorum; Habend, & tenend. ac portand, & utend. ubicunque voluerit sibi & haered. suis imperpetuum: Ita quod nec ego, nec aliquis alius nomine meo, aliquod jus vel clamium seu calumpniam in praedicto scuto habere potuerimus, sed per praesentes sumus exclusi imperpetuum. In cujus rei testimonium Sigillum meum apposui, Dat. apud Knightley die Mercurii, prox. post festum Paschae, Anno regni regis Henrici sextii post conquestum quartodecimo.

A Writ out of the Court of Chivalry.

Iehan filz, frere, & uncle au Roys, Duc de Bedford, ••onte de Richmond & de Kendall, & Connestable d' Ang∣leterre, a nostre trescher cousin Iehan Duc de Northfolk Mareschal d'Angleterre saluz. Nous vous mandons & ••hargeons que vouz facez arrestre & venir devant nous ou nostre Lieutenant a Westminster, a la quinsieme du saint Hillari, prochain venant, William Clopton du Conte de Suff. Esquier, pour adonques respondre devant nous ou nostre Lieutenant en la Courte de Chivalree, a Robert Dland Esquier du Counte de Nicholl, de ce que le dit Ro∣bert adonques luy surmettra par voie darmes, touchant ce, q'uil fauxment & encontre honeste & gentilesse d'armes, ad mis & appose le seel de ses armes a un faux & forgé fait, as dammages dudit Robert, de Ci. & plus; a ce

q'uil di remandantz par devers nous a dit iour ou iceste no∣stre mandement, cout ce que vous en aurez faitz. Donne soubz le seal de nostre office, le xxiii. iour de November, l'an du regne nostre Seigneur le Roy Henry sisme, puis le conquest a'Anglettre, cetisme.

¶Sciant praesentes & futuri quod ego Thomas de Clan∣vowe chival••er, dedi concessi & hac praeserti carta mea con∣firmavi, Willielmo Criketot consanguineo meo, Arma mea, & jus eadem gerendi quae mihi jure haereditar••o, descende∣runt: Habend. & tenend. praedicta Arma mea & jus ea∣dem gerendi praefato Willielmo haeredibus & assignatis suis, absque reclamatione mei▪ vel haeredum meorum imperpetu∣um. Et ego praed••ctus Thomas & haeredes mei praedicti, Arma & jus eadem gerendi, praefato Willielmo, haeredibus & assignatis suis, contra omnes gentes warrantizabimus imperpetuum. In cujus rei testimonium praesenti cartae meae sigillum meum apposui. Dat: apud Hergast, in festo Corporis Christi, Anno regni regis Henrici quarti, post conquestum, undecimo.

In this and the succeeding ages, at every expedition such as were Gentlemen of bloud, would repaire to the Earle Marshall, and by his authority take coates of Armes, which were registred alwaies by officers of Armes in the Rolles of Armes, made at every service, whereof many yet remain: as that of the siege of Caer-laveroc, the battail of Sterling, the siege of Calice, and divers Tourniaments. At this time there was a distinction of Gentlemen of bloud, and Gen∣tlemen of coate-armour, and the third from him that first had coate-armour, was to all purposes held a Gentleman of bloud.

Well, whosoever would note the manners of our pro∣genitours in this nge, in wearing their coate armours over their harnesse, and bearing their Armes in their shields, in their Banners and Penons; and in what formall manner

they were made Bannerets and had licence to rear their Banner of Armes, which they presented rolled up to the Prince, who unfolded; and redelivered it with happy wishes; I doubt not, but that he will judge, that our ancestors were as valiant and gallant as they have been since they left off their Armes, and used the colours and curtaines of their Mistris beds in sted of them.

Now what a large field would lie open to him that should seriously enter into this matter, he might say much, to omit Charges which seeme infinite, of the differences in Armes of them which descended of one House by the male; I doe not meane Labell for the first Sonne while the Father surviveth; the Crescent for the second, the Mul∣let unpierced, for the third; the Martlet for the fourth; an Annulet for the fifth; a Flour de lys for the sixt; and the rest, according as it pleased the King of Armes. These saving the first, were not in use in elder times; but began about the time of King Richard the second: and now, when Families are very far propagated are not sufficient for that use: For many should bear a Mullet within a Crescent, and an Annulet and Martlet thereupon very confusedly: But in past ages, they which were descended from one stemme, reserving the principall charge and commonly the colour of the Coate, took Borders, Bends, Quarters, Bendelets, Crossets, or some other addition or alteration. As for example. The first Lord Clifford, bare Chequy Or and Azure, a Bendelet Geules, which the elder brethren kept as long as they continued; a second Son turned the Ben∣delet into a bend Geules, and thereon placed three Lioneux passant Or; from whom the Cliffords of Frampton descen∣ded. Roger Clifford a second Son of Walter Clifford the first, for the Bendelet took a Fesse Geules; as the Earle of Cumberland, from him descended, beareth now; and the Cliffords of Kent, branched out of that House took the same with a border Geules. Likewise the eldest House of Stafford bare Or, a Cheveron Geules, but the younger de∣cended from them, tooke divers differences, as they of

Pipe, did set about their Cheveron three Martlets sable, another placed three plates upon the Cheveron; they of Southwike added a border Sable, they of Grafton; a Quar∣ter Ermin; they of Frome a border Geules; whereas also the Lord Cobham did bear Geules on a Cheveron Or, three Lioneux rampant sable, the younger brethren of that house, viz. Cobham of Sterborrow, of Blackburg, of Biluncho took for the three Lioneux, three Estoiles, three Eaglets, and three Crescents: So of the descendants from the Lords Barkley, they of Stoke, Gifford and Ʋesey, added Ermines in the Cheveron; they of Beverston a border of Argent; they of Wimondham in the County of Leicester, changed their ten Crosses into as many Cinquefoiles.

As for the difference of Bastards, none in old time bare the Fathers Armes, with a bend sinister, unless they were avowed and bare also their Fathers surname; but other coates were commonly devised for them; As Sir Roger of Clarendon, bastard son of the Black Prince, bare Or on a bend sable three feathers Argent, which was borrowed from his fathers devise: John de Clarence base son to Thomas Duke of Clarence, who valiantly recovered from the ••nemy the Corps of his Father slain at the battail of Ba∣voy, bare partie per Cheveron Geules and Azure two lyon adverse and Saliant Gardant Or, in the chief, and a Floure-de-lis Or, in base point: John Beauford, a base Son of the house of Somerset bare party per pale Argent and Azure a bend of England with a labell of France, &c.

These Armes were for a long time borne single, after∣ward two were quartered, then more marshalled together, to notifie from what houses the bearers were descended by heirs generall.

Quartering of Coates, began, first, (as far as I have ob∣served) in Spaine, in the Armes of Castile and Leon, when those two kingdomes were conjoyned; which our King Edward the third next imitated when he quartered France and England, (for I omit his mother Queen Isabel who joyned in her seal England, France, Navarre, and

Champaine.) He in this first quartering varied, sometime pla∣cing France, sometime England in the first quarter; whether to please either nation, I know not. But at the last he re∣solved to place France first, whether as more honourable, or of which he held great and rich territories, let others determine. All Kings hitherto sueceeding, have continued the same. Yea and when King Charles the sixt of France changed the semeé Flour-de-lys, into three, our King Henry the fifth did the like, and so it continueth.

The first of the Nobilitie that quartered another Coate was Hastings Earl of Pembroke, who quartered his own coate with that of Valence of the house of Lusignian, in whose right he had that Earldome: And shortly after Ma∣tild, sister and heir to Anthony Lord Lucy, gave a great part of her lands, to the heir male of the Lord Percy, her second husband, conditionally, that her Armes being three Lucyes and Geules, should be quartered alwaies with Per∣cyes Lyon Azure, rampant Or; and hereupon was a Fine leavied in the time of King Richard the second. After these times every gentleman began to quarter the coate of the chief heir with whom his progenitour had matched, and often preferred that in the first place, if she were honou∣rable. But after that divers were marshalled together for the honour of Queen Elizabeth wife to King Edward the fourth (who first of all our Kings since the Conquest mar∣ried his subject,) so many in imitation did the like, which so increased, that now of late some have packed fifty in one shield. And thi•• is to shew their right. For it was objected against Richard Duke of York, when he claymed the Crown as heir to Lionell Duke of Clarence, that he did not bear the said Dukes Arms: But he answered thereunto, that he might lawfully have done it, but forbare it for a time; as he did from making his claim to the Crown.

For Augmentations, some were of meer grace, some of merit. Richard the second choosing Saint Edward the Confessor to be his Patron, empaled his Coate with the Arms of England, and of his meer grace granted to Thomas

Duke of Surrey to empale likewise the same Saint Edward's Arms in a Border Ermine with his own; and to Thomas Mowbray Duke of Norfolk the same holy Kings Arms in∣tirely. Notwithstanding Henry Howard, Earl of Surry line∣ally descended from him, was attainted, among other pre∣tences, for so bearing the same. The said King Richard also granted to his Favorite Robert Vere, Earl of Oxford, and Duke of Ireland, that he should bear during his life Azure 3. Crowns Or within a border Argent. In like manner and respect, to omit many; King Henry the eight, granted to the familie of Manours, now Earls of Rutland, the Flowr-de-Lys, and Lyons which he beareth in chief, for that they descended from a sister of King Edward the fourth. He honoured his second wife, Queen Anne Bollen with three Coats; his third wife, Queen Jane, with one; Ka∣tharine Howard, his fifth wife, with tvvo; his last wife, Ka∣tharine Par, with one, by vvay of Augmentation.

For merit he granted to Thomas Howard Duke of Nor∣folk, and his posterity, for his victory at Flodden field, wherein King James the 4. of Scotland, was slain, a demy Lyon Geules, pierced through the mouth with an arrow, within a double treasure floured of the same, in the midst of the bend of the Howards Arms. And about the same time he rewarded Sir John Clerk, of Buckinghamshire, who did take the D. of Longvile at the battail of Spurs, with a Can∣ton Azure, therein a demy Ram salient Argent, two Flour-de-lys Or in chief; over all a baston truncked in the sini∣ster point of his own Arms (as appeareth upon his Monu∣ment at Tame in Oxfordshire) for that no Christian may bear entirely the Arms of a Christian, whom he taketh in war. In like manner Ferdinand, King of Spain, honoured Sir Henry Guilford with a Canton of Granado; and Charls the fifth, Peter Read of Grimingham, with a Canton of Barbarie for his service at Tunis.

An Inscocheon of arms may have place amongst aug∣mentations, which is the arms of a wife being an heir gene∣rall, inserted in the centre or middle of her Husbands Coats

after he hath issue by her, to manifest the apparent right of her inheritance, transmissiable to his and her issue. Other∣wise if she be not heir, he may but onely empale it with his own.

Creasts being the Ornaments set on the eminent top of the Healm, and called Tymbres by the French, I know not why, were used antiently to terrifie the enemy, and there∣fore were strange devises or figures of terrible shapes, as that monstr••us horrib••e Chimera, outbreathing flames up∣on Turnus Healm in Virgil.

—Galea alta Chimerum Sustinet Aetneos efflantem naribus ignem.

Of which sort many might be remembred, but when as Papirius said of the Samnites Creasts, when he encouraged his souldiers against them, Cristae vulnera non faciunt: mil∣der were used, as the Corvus or Raven by the family of Corvinus, for that while he fought against his enemy, a Ra∣ven pearched upon his Healm, and so seconded him with his bee, and fluttering wings, that he gained the victory; whereupon he assumed both his surname, and his Creast, as Silius Italicus thus remembreth:

— Nomenque superbum Corvinus, Phoebea sedet cui casside fulva, Ostentans ales proavitae insignia pugnae.

And by this verse of the same Poet.

Casside cornigera dependens insula.

We learn that horns were in use upon Helmets for Creasts, and that a riband depended from the Helm, as mantles are painted now.

The first Christians used no other blazon in their shields then the name of Christ, and a cross for their Creast, wher∣upon Prudentius:

—Clypeorum insignia Christus Scripserat ••rdebat summis crux addita cristis.

Many years were these Creasts arbitrary, taken up at every mans pleasure, after they began to be hereditary, and appropriated to families. Here in England first, as I have hitherto observed, about the time of King Edward the second. Of what esteem Creasts were in the time of King Edward the third may appear by record in the 13. year of his reign, when the said King gave an Eagle which he himself had formerly born for a Creast to Wil∣liam Montacute Earl of Salisbury, he also gave to him the Mannours of Woodton, Frome, Whitfield, Mershwood, Worth and Pole (which came to his hand by the forfeiture of Iohn Matravars) to the maintenance thereof. And the said Earl regranted the said Creast to Lionell the Kings son, and his Godson with much honour. What carefull consideration was then of Creasts may also appear by re∣cord among the Patents 17. of K. Richard 2. who granted that whereas Thomas Mowbray Earl Marshall and Not∣tingham might lawfully bear a Leopard Or with a Labell Argent about his neck, which might lawfully appertain to the Kings son and heir, that he should in place of that Labell bear a Crown Argent. More might be hereunto added of Helms, Creasts, Mantles, and Supporters: but for them and such like I leave the reader to Edmond Bolton, who learnedly and judiciously hath discovered the first E∣lements of Armory, to Gerrard Leigh, John Ferne, John Guillim Portismouth, Pursivants of Arms, who have dili∣gently laboured therein, and to others that have written, or vvill vvrite hereafter in this argument, lest I should seem to glean from the one, or prevent the other.

Notes

• Notitia Pro∣vinciarum.
• Ph. Moreau.
• In Caligula, cap. 35.
• In Vespasinno.
• Guil. Brit. l. 3.
• Genealogiae antiquae.
• Arms granted to Robert Whit∣greve by Hum∣phrey Earl of Stafford.
• Arms granted to William Morgne by Thomas Gren∣dall.
• Arms granted by Rob. de Morle Mar∣shall of Ire∣land to Sir Baldw. de Ma∣noires.
• Arms assigned by this Instru∣ment from Ioane Lee to Richard Pishal∣la.
• A grant of Arms by Tho∣mas de Clan∣vow to Will. Criketot.
• Quartering.
• Esc. 22. R. 2. n. 38.
• Rot. Parlam. 39 Henr. 6.
• Augmenta∣tion.
• Pat. 9. Ric. 2.
• Pat. 9. R. 2. p. 1. m. 1.
• Pat. 5. H. 8. p. 2. m. 18.
• Inscocheon.
• Livius.
• Insula.
• Pat. 17. R. 2. p. 1. m. 2.