Armilogia, sive, Ars chromocritica The language of arms by the colours & metals being analogically handled according to the nature of things, and fitted with apt motto's to the heroical science of herauldry in the symbolical world : whereby is discovered what is signified by every honourable partition, ordinary, or charge, usually born in coat-armour, and mythologized to the heroical theam [sic] of Homer on the shield of Achilles : a work of this nature never yet extant / by Sylvanus Morgan ...

To the READER.

A Gentleman of the first Head,* 1.1 saith one, (except while the Spaniard swells, in being the Son of his own right hand) is seldome known to refuse the Herauld, more than the Nobles of Rome could Virgil, after he had so solemnly sung their Extraction from Elysium; and Caesar's from the Gods.

—Deus Nobis haec otia fecit.* 1.2

And, if in my Armilogia I have seemed to gra∣tifie all, and flattred many, by the opinions of Good Bearings; I hope they will bear also with Me, if I take Leave to talk of whole Fields of Gold and Silver possessed by the Heroes: I hope they will accept of the Golden Branch from Si∣bylla; Painters and Poets are to be excused upon Ben Johnsons account;

— Poet never Credit gain'd By writing Truth; but things like truth well fain'd.

Mira canunt, sed non credenda Poetae.

There were three most noted Epoches, or Computations of Times amongst the Antients; higher than which Profane Story gives no light.

The first was the Expedition of the Argonau∣tes to Colchis for the Golden Fleece,* 1.3 which hap∣ned in the fifteenth year of Gideon, and of the World 2743: and before our Saviour 1260.

The second was from the Theban Warr, which was 42 years after: and the last from the Trojan War, which was undertaken by the Greekes, in the 19th year of Iair, Judge of Israel, in the year of the World 2812, before Christs time 1191: These three Memorable Expeditions administred Matter to the Heroick Muses of divers famous Witts; the Gests of the first were celebrated by the Greek Muse of Apollonius Rhodius, and by the La∣tine of Valerius Flaccus; the Theban War was sung by the Sublime Papinius Statius; and the Trojan War was the Theme of the Great Homer, a Sub∣ject of Armes and Blazon.

Shields Thickned with opposed Shields, Targets to Targets Nail'd, Healmes stuck to Healmes, and Man to Man, grew they so close assail'd.

And afterwards imitated by Virgil, the Prince

of the Latine Poets, in whose Aeneis you have a Patterne of Virtue, and of Armes, the Ensignes of Virtue and Nobility; Mille vides Galeas, Cly∣peosque, insignia mille: you have also in Homer the Lineall Genealogies of Greeks and Trojans, wherein Aeneas himself Sings his Genealogy from Iove, which Married Electra, Sister of Morges, King of Italy; which Jupiter was called Cambo Blascon, and was King of Italy, by the Gift of Morges his Wifes Brother; he was Son of Atlas, or Ke∣tim, or Jupiter of Creet, called Italus; he was the Son of Dodoneus, who was called Saturne of Creet; and he was the Son of Tharsus, who was the Son of Ketim or Helisan; he was the Son of Javan, Father of the Graecians, whom Berosus calleth Ion; and Iavan was Son of Iaphet, second Son of Noah; he was also called Iapetus: and the Britains, by their antient manner of Fight, seem to derive their Genealogy from Aeneas, as well as the English, who claime to be descended of the antient Saxons: and though I have heard that bruit of Brute cryed down by many, well seen in Antiquity, as well as the Tale of Troy; yet Virgil being so perfect an Idiome of Heroi∣call Actions, I cannot but allow both in my He∣rauldy: Though I must confess, with Dr. Case, that Ruina Bangoriensi gloria Walliae nebulata fuit:* 1.4 And Chronologers scarcely agree, when Troy was taken. If there be any so valiant as the Greekes, as

to wage War against the Britains, as Trojans, for their usurpation of the Lady Truth, and Prevail; yet I fear they will hardly find her there: though in the Story of Jeffery of Monmouth there be a brave Theme for one that would much vindicate the Reputation of his Countrey-Men; and, whe∣ther the Britaines have had the same Fortune of the Trojans, I shall leave to Chronologie,

* 1.5Aut venit, aut videt, aut vicit Brutus! Amoenoe Albioni impositum à Bruto Brytania Nomen.

Whether

Brute at Brutania anchor cast, Coasted or Ken'd, or conquered last.

Or whether the Trojans were the Planters of Italy, shall not trouble; me only, if it gratifie Cae∣sar and the Romans, as an Exhortation from Ef∣feminacy, and stir up to Manly Exercises, it is the Proper Work of Herauldry; and Armes do Speak, there being nothing borne in Armes but may be found on that Shield of Achilles; nor any thing, of Noble Extraction, but is Sung by the Bard Virgil in the Genealogy of Aeneas; and if I have not the Applause of a Pencil, that Painting is able to teach others to Paint; I may assume that of a Cole, that draws the dead Lines, which first

pourfoil the Designe; which, though they be ex∣punged by the Colours, and lost in the Picture, yet they lose not their Vertue of prescribing Order to the Colours, and giving a Rule to the Design. In Magnis voluisse sat est; Ajax wore his Shield of Hides without Ornament; horridly negligent Achilles, that had his Studded with Diamonds, was not therefore less strong, because more beau∣tifull: none is to abandon the Enterprise for the Difficulty in the beginning; If I, like Geo∣graphers, in their Protractions upon Maps, make the same use, as Plutarch doth (in the Life of The∣seus) in excuse of his Pen, draw obscure Lines at Random, and Write Terra incognita; I may very well obtain your favour, having so many Fields to Surveigh (for when he began to Write of the Lives of the Noble Hero's, he could not one by one particularize the Enterprizes with which they acquired the Grandure of their Names, and the Glory of Immortals, because Antiquity, and Oblivion its follower, rendred ma∣ny places unknowne, many parts of their Lives hid and obscure) even my Sphear of Gentry hath moved it self round.

Think no more on what is past, Since Time in Motion makes such hast, It hath no leisure to discry The Errors which are passed by.

I have purposely writ this small Tract as a Supplement to that Sphere of Gentry, and by the way have brought in those Mottoes, used by the Abbot of Picinelli in his Mondo Symbolico, because the whole Art of Herauldry is nothing else but the Symbolical World, and every Charge on the Shield is the Language of the Creature, not understood till they were most judiciously Blazoned by the Natural Philosophy of Solomon in his words that he spake of the Heavens 99. the Earth 97. the Ele∣ments 101. the Sun 141. Moon 142. Stars 148. Pla∣nets 141. Comets 155. Meteors 154. Beasts 177. Birds 163. Fish 172. Fowl 169. Insects and Herbs with Trees 130. Plants 132. Mines 136. Minerals 134, &c.

* 1.6Skill in Armoury, although it be a thing now almost proper to the Heraulds of Arms, who were in old Times called Feciales or Caduceatores, be∣cause they were messengers of war and peace; yet the ground they have is from the Civil Law, to whom belongeth the ranging every man into his Room of Honour, according as his place requi∣reth, onely the Heraulds do give Notes as it were of their Ranks and Degrees, noting by those En∣signes, as it were, the Law Civil, in respect of Treaties between Prince and Prince, in Marshal Causes, concerning Captains and Souldiers, and concerning the Bearing of Arms, as some being of publick Dignity and Office, as of Bishops, Ad∣mirals,

&c. or of especial Dignities, as of Kings and Princes; so lastly of private men.

As by Trumpets and Drums; That there be So∣lemne Denouncing of the War intended, to the end, that all dissenters may withdraw in time: and, to divert other Nations from adhearing, that it be prosecuted by just and Honourable wayes; without Treachery, Corruption, Breach of Faith, Poyson, or Secret Assassination; which the Gal∣lant Romans did disdain to act, though for never so great a Victory. By Crosses and Saltires; That all Articles and Capitulations made, be strictly kept and observed by Christians, even towards Turks, Pagans, Jewes, or Infidells. By plain lines; That they be Interpreted in the plainest and most equitable sence, without any Art, or subtilty at all. By Honourable Ordinaries; That an Enemy, after he hath yeilded himself, be not killed; but kept alive for Ransome: that, what is gotten from the Enemy, is good and lawfull Purchase, though it was newly taken from some of our own Peo∣ple, or Confederates; so that it was once brought safe into the Enemies quarters. Quartring Coats; As Right to Kingdomes, or Provinces by Donati∣on, last Will, Successor, or Marriage. Portcullises; Community, or Property of the Sea, and the Right of Fishing and Trading. By Checkers, Cantons, &c. That the Enemies Countrey, when it offers to yeild, be not lay'd Wast, Burnt or De∣stroyed.

By Battlements; That when a Towne is to be stormed, Women, Children, Aged, Eccle∣siastical Persons, so far as is possible, may be spa∣red. By Torteauxes; Plates, Besants, Gunstones, &c. That it be free to Friends, or Confederates, to Trade with the Enemy, so they carry neither Vi∣ctualls, Money, Armes, or Ammunition. By Fretts and Frette; That Strictness and Severity of Dis∣cipline, greater than in Peace, be maintained within the Camp; and that neither Friends Goods, coming in an Enemies Bottome, nor a Friends Ship, though carrying Enemies Goods in Her, be taken as Prize. By Augmentations and se∣verall sorts of Armes; That Priviledges be grant∣ed to Souldiers beyond other men; and that the Valiant be advanced to Honour, and admitted to pertake of the Spoyle, which he did help to get. By Rebatements; That the Cowardly be disgra∣ced, the Disobedient rigorously Chastised; the Incorrigible cashiered: and, that Military Of∣fences, or Contracts and Promises made be∣tween Souldier and Souldier, the Cognizance thereof be in the Court-Marshall, and to be Try∣ed by the Lawes of Armes only. By Pa••••y, Bendy, and such like; Latitude of Territory and Iuris∣diction, by Sea or Land. By Crownes and Gar∣lands; That the Aged and Worne-out Souldier be dismissed to ease, with Reward and Honour: And lastly, By Doves, Green Branches, and such

like Ensigns of Peace; That Heraulds., or Mes∣sengers, sent from the Enemy, be received, and dis∣missed with safety.

And though in the Beginning Arms and Co∣lours were proper to men of War,* 1.7 to avoid confusion in the Host, to discern one Company from another pag. 13. yet when it came to be a matter of Honour, it was challenged no less by men of peace 103. and as these signs were taken from things natural, as is noted before: so also from things artificial, as Colours simple 5. and mixed 18. divided by half 26. or quarters 27. or by lines direct cross 28. overthwart 29. wherein Art must follow Nature, as is shewed in the se∣cond Chapter, this whole Book being nothing else then an account of what Silvester de Petra Sancta in his Epistle gives you in these words, Dum universam artem tesserariam expositurus, stu∣dui indagare originem ejus, dividere ac decussare Scu∣tiariam 25. taenias & lemniscos 5. in ea varios ducere, Aves 157. Feras 177. Ʋndas 29. Nubes 34. Astra 145. Stirpes 132 Flores 121. Arma 23.2 Moles 209. Machinas 212. & quas non alias rerum formas exarare, aptare, insuper galeas 2••2. seu apertas seu clatratas 231. seu rectas 231. seu versas & obliquatas 231. fastigiare Serto seu Corona 122. inumbruare plumis & corimbis 168. Crucibus 76. Monilibusque 137. & Vexillis inor∣nare munire Atlantibus 164. Denique Palliolis 232. atque tentoriis prorsus ad Majestatis specimen velare.

In all which things you may find out the Civil u∣sage of these so commonly called Coats under the military word Arms, of which Sir Henry Spelman hath learnedly treated of in Latine, and under the Greek name of Aspilogia, and joyned with Ʋpton de studio Militari in four Books, and also a Trea∣tise of Johannes de* 1.8 Vado Aureo, of Arms, all which are commented on by Sir Edward Bishe, now Clarenceaux King of Arms: but because the Ti∣tle of the former doth not differ from mine, so much as Palma to Pugnus, part of the same thing more large, onely the same thing perhaps much less to be considered, in relation to the underta∣ker, wherein I do not so much insist upon the rightness of the way, as the virtue of the race, which is directly contrary to Antiquity, as leaving the rules of Blazon to what is already published (onely in the margin I have done that also) and in this, labouring to signifie the occult Qualities of the Bearers; For the bearing of Images was the proper Ensign of Nobility among the Ro∣mans, Arms having took their original from those Images, and Colours being much used in civil En∣tertainments at home, were also used in the Cir∣cellan playes, and also were of much use in war∣like Expeditions, as to distinction of the well∣born: so also for excitation of others to noble Exercises, every Chapter beginning with a several Colour, Shield and Border, with the Letter that stands for that Colour.

Felix qui tantis animum natalibus aequas, Et partemtituli non summam ponis in illis.

Now as they are things without us, and per∣haps at first, and now too often assumed either without advice of the Judges of Arms, the Kings and Heralds, or upon mens voluntary assumption, it is not possible I should find out the cause of the Bearing, or a mystery in all Arms, least like Chry∣sippus, in labouring to find out a Stoical assertion of Philosophy in every fiction of the Poets, I should light on a labour in vain. Nevertheless I have in some given thee the probable reason, in o∣thers the absolute reason of the Bearing, and in the sympathy betwixt the Arms and the Bearer I have bent the Shield of Achilles, as the Standard through this Work, having on it the example of all Bearings, the use of which was the same of Arms to preserve the memory of the Dead, the same that Thetis craved, and Vulcan wished to ac∣complish:

To hide him from his heavy death, when fate shall seek for him, As well as with renowned Arms to fit his goodly Limb.

For as Dr. Fuller observeth, that through time or sacriledge many a dumb monument hath lost his Tongue (the Epitaph) yet by the Escutcheous it hath spoke and told you who lay there.

In the Translation of Virgil I have made use of Mr. Ogleby, and of Horace, Stapletons Translation: neither have I omitted to make use of Mr. Sands his Translation of Ovids Metamorphosis. I have at the end annexed a Table of the material things borne in Armes, as in the whole Field of Nature, from the Empereal Heaven, succeeding through the seven Orbes of the Planets, and the four Eliments, according to the Dayes Workes of the Creation, till the Honourable Man was made; who, in Imita∣tion of Nature, doth adorne his Shield with all the preceding things; and also his adornments by liberall Sciences, not omitting his Mechanick, whereby he becomes usefull to the World.

It is a Saying of Divine Plato, that Man is Natures Horizon, dividing between the upper Hemisphere of immaterial Intellects, and this lower of Corporiety, and Nobility, is that upper Hemisphere, bedecked with Glorious Bodies, dif∣fering in degrees (as the Apostle speaks) where∣as Gentry is that lower Rank, which also are differed from the rest by Coat Armour; and hath this Prerogative in it, that it makes them differ from the baser sort of People: Now, the King, as the Horizon is the limiter of our sight, and honour is the Meddal of Majesty, thrown abroad among the people, some of Gold, and others of meaner Mettal.

Vulcans rich Present, take the like before; Ne're Human Eyes beheld, nor Mortall wore.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Hermaelogi••
• * 1.2

  Aeneid. 6.
• * 1.3

  Dr. Symson.
• * 1.4

  ••a Praeface ad Ethick.
• * 1.5

  Palae Albion▪
• * 1.6

  Ridley's View.
• * 1.7

  Ʋse of Arms.
• * 1.8

  Os Guil∣ford in a M. S. of the Bishop of Canter∣bury.