The arte of English poesie Contriued into three bookes: the first of poets and poesie, the second of proportion, the third of ornament.

Of the deuice or embleme, and that other which the Greekes call Anagramma, and we the Posie transposed.

ANd besides all the remembred points of Metricall proportiō, ye haue yet two other sorts of some affinitie with them, which also first issued out of the Poets head, and whereof the Courtly ma∣ker was the principall artificer, hauing many high conceites and curious imaginations, with leasure inough to attend his idle inuen∣tions: and these be the short, quicke and sententious propositions, such as be at these dayes all your deuices of armes and other amo∣rous inscriptions which courtiers vse to giue and also to weare in liuerie for the honour of their ladies, and commonly containe but two or three words of wittie sentence or secrete conceit till they

vnfolded or explaned by some interpretatiō. For which cause they be commonly accompanied with a figure or purtraict of ocular re∣presentation, the words so aptly corresponding to the subtilitie of the figure, that aswel the eye is therwith recreated as the eare or the mind. The Greekes call it Emblema, the Italiens Impresa, and we, a Deuice, such as a man may put into letters of gold and sende to his mistresses for a token, or cause to be embrodered in scutchions of armes, or in any bordure of a rich garment to giue by his noueltie maruell to the beholder. Such were the figures and inscriptions the Romane Emperours gaue in their money and coignes of lar∣gesse, and in other great medailles of siluer and gold, as that of the Emperour Augustus, an arrow entangled by the fish Remora, with these words, Festina lento, signifying that celeritie is to be vsed with deliberation: all great enterprises being for the most part either o∣uerthrowen with hast, or hindred by delay, in which case leasure in th'aduice, and speed in th'execution make a very good match for a glorious successe.

Th'Emperour Heliogabalus by his name alluding to the sunne, which in Greeke is Helios, gaue for his deuice, the coelestial sunne, with these words [Solimuicto] the subtilitie lyeth in the word [soli] which hath a double sense, viz. to the Sunne, and to him onely.

We our selues attributing that most excellent figure, for his in∣comparable beauty and light, to the person of our Soueraigne lady altring the mot, made it farre passe that of Th'Emperour Helioga∣balus both for subtilitie and multiplicitie of sense, thus, [Soli nun∣quam deficienti] to her onely that neuer failes, viz. in bountie and munificence toward all hers that deserue, or else thus, To her onely (whose glorie and good fortune may neuer decay or wane. And so it inureth as a wish by way of resemblaunce in [Simile dissimile] which is also a subtillitie, likening her Maiestie to the Sunne for his brightnesse, but not to him for his passion, which is ordinarily to go to glade, and sometime to suffer eclypse.

King Edvvarde the thirde, her Maiesties most noble progenitour, first founder of the famous order of the Gar∣ter, gaue this posie with it. Hony soit qui mal y pense, com∣monly thus Englished, Ill be to him that thinketh ill, but in mine opinion better thus, Dishonored be he, who meanes vnho∣norably.

There can not be a more excellent deuise, nor that could containe larger intendment, nor greater subtilitie, nor (as a mā may say) more vertue or Princely generosite. For first he did by it mild∣ly & grauely reproue the peruers construction of such noble men in his court, as imputed the kings wearing about his neck the gar∣ter of the lady with whom he danced, to some amorous alliance be∣twixt them, which was not true. He also iustly defended his owne integritie, saued the noble womans good renowme, which by licē∣tious speeches might haue bene empaired, and liberally recompen∣ced her iniurie with an honor, such as none could haue bin deuised greater nor more glorious or permanent vpon her and all the po∣steritie of her house. It inureth also as a worthy lesson and disci∣pline for all Princely personages, whose actions, imaginations, coū∣tenances and speeches, should euermore correspond in all trueth and honorable simplicitie.

Charles the fift Emperour, euen in his yong yeares shewing his valour and honorable ambition, gaue for his new order, the golden Fleece, vsurping it vpon Prince Iason & his Argonants rich spoile brought from Cholcos. But for his deuice two pillers with this mot Plus vltra, as one not content to be restrained within the limits that Hercules had set for an vttermost bound to all his trauailes, viz. two pillers in the mouth of the straight Gibraltare, but would go fur∣der: which came fortunately to passe, and whereof the good suc∣cesse gaue great commendation to his deuice: for by the valiancy of his Captaines before he died he conquered great part of the west Indias, neuer knowen to Hercules or any of our world before.

In the same time (seeming that the heauens and starres had con∣spired to replenish the earth with Princes and gouernours of great courage, and most famous conquerous) Selim Emperour of Tur∣kie gaue for his deuice a croissant or new moone, promising to him self increase of glory and enlargemēt of empire, til he had brought all Asia vnder his subiection, which he reasonably well accompli∣shed. For in lesse then eight yeres which he raigned, he conquered all Syria and Egypt, and layd it to his dominion. This deuice after∣ward was vsurped by Henry the second French king, with this mot Donec totum compleat orbem, till he be at his full: meaning it not so largely as did Selim, but onely that his friendes should knowe

how vnable he was to do them good, and to shew benificence vntil he attained the crowne of France vnto which he aspired as next successour.

King Levvis the twelfth, a valiant and magnanimous prince, who because hee was on euery side enuironed with mightie neighbours, and most of them his enemies, to let them perceiue that they should not finde him vnable or vnfurnished (incase they should offer any vnlawfull hostillitie) of suffificient forces of his owne, aswell to offende as to defend, and to reuenge an in∣iurie as to repulse it. He gaue for his deuice the Porkespick with this posie pres & loign, both farre and neare. For the Purpentines nature is, to such as stand aloofe, to dart her prickles from her, and if they come neare her, with the same as they sticke fast to wound them that hurt her.

But of late yeares in the ransacke of the Cities of Cartagena and S. Dominico in the West Indias, manfully put in execution by the prowesse of her Maiesties men, there was found a deuice made per∣aduenture without King Philips knowledge, wrought al in massiue copper, a king sitting on horsebacke vpon a monde or world, the horse prauncing forward with his forelegges as if he would leape of, with this inscription, Non sufficit orbis, meaning, as it is to be cō∣ceaued, that one whole world could not content him. This immea∣surable ambition of the Spaniards, if her Maiestie by Gods proui∣dence, had not with her forces, prouidently stayed and retranched, no man knoweth what inconuenience might in time haue insued to all the Princes and common wealthes in Christendome, who haue founde them selues long annoyed with his excessiue great∣nesse.

Atila king of the Huns, inuading Frāce with an army of 300000. fighting men, as it is reported, thinking vtterly to abbase the glory of the Romane Empire, gaue for his deuice of armes, a sword with a firie point and these words, Ferro & flamma, with sword and fire. This very deuice being as ye see onely accommodate to a king or conquerour and not a coillen or any meane souldier, a certaine base man of England being knowen euen at that time a bricklayer or mason by his science, gaue for his crest: whom it had better be∣come to beare a truell full of morter then a sword and fire, which

is onely the reuenge of a Prince, and lieth not in any other mans a∣bilitie to performe, vnlesse ye will allow it to euery poore knaue that is able to set fire on a thacht house. The heraldes ought to vse great discretion in such matters: for neither any rule of their arte doth warrant such absurdities, nor though such a coat or crest were gained by a prisoner taken in the field, or by a flag found in some ditch & neuer fought for (as many times happens) yet is it no more allowable then it were to beare the deuice of Tamerlan an Em∣perour in Tartary, who gaue the lightning of heauen, with a posie in that language purporting these words, Ira Dei, which also ap∣peared well to answer his fortune. For from a sturdie shepeheard he became a most mighty Emperour, and with his innumerable great armies desolated so many countreyes and people, as he might iustly be called [the vvrath of God.] It appeared also by his strange ende: for in the midst of his greatnesse and prosperitie he died so∣dainly, & left no child or kinred for a successour to so large an Em∣pire, nor any memory after him more then of his great puissance and crueltie.

But that of the king of China in the fardest part of the Orient, though it be not so terrible is no lesse admirable, & of much sharp∣nesse and good implication, worthy for the greatest king and con∣querour: and it is, two strange serpents entertangled in their amo∣rous congresse, the lesser creeping with his head into the greaters mouth, with words purporting [ama & time] loue & feare. Which posie with maruellous much reason and subtillity implieth the du∣tie of euery subiect to his Prince, and of euery Prince to his subiect, and that without either of them both, no subiect could be sayd en∣tirely to performe his liegeance, nor the Prince his part of lawfull gouernement. For without feare and loue the soueraigne authority could not be vpholden, nor without iustice and mercy the Prince be renowmed and honored of his subiect. All which parts are dis∣couered in this figure: loue by the serpents amorous entertangling: obedience and feare by putting the inferiours head into the others mouth hauing puissance to destroy. On th'other side, iustice in the greater to prepare and manace death and destruction to offenders. And if he spare it, then betokeneth it mercie, and a grateful recom∣pence of the loue and obedience which the soueraigne receaueth.

It is also worth the telling, how the king vseth the same in polli∣cie, he giueth it in his ordinarie liueries to be worne in euery vpper garment of all his noblest men and greatest Magistrats & the rest of his officers and seruants, which are either embrodered vpon the breast and the back with siluer or gold or pearle or stone more or lesse richly, according to euery mans dignitie and calling, and they may not presume to be seene in publick without them: nor also in any place where by the kings commission they vse to sit in iustice, or any other publike affaire, wherby the king is highly both hono∣red and serued, the common people retained in dutie and admira∣tion of his greatnesse: the noblemen, magistrats and officers euery one in his degree so much esteemed & reuerenced, as in their good and loyall seruice they want vnto their persons litle lesse honour for the kings sake, then can be almost due or exhibited to the king him selfe.

I could not forbeare to adde this forraine example to accōplish our discourse touching deuices. For the beauty and gallantnesse of it, besides the subtillitie of the conceit, and princely pollicy in the vse, more exact then can be remēbred in any other of any European Prince, whose deuises I will not say but many of them be loftie and ingenious, many of them louely and beautifull, many other ambi∣tious and arrogant, and the chiefest of them terrible and ful of hor∣ror to the nature of man, but that any of them be comparable with it, for wit, vertue, grauitie, and if ye list brauerie, honour and mag∣nificence, not vsurping vpon the peculiars of the gods. In my con∣ceipt there is none to be found.

This may suffice for deuices, a terme which includes in his ge∣nerality all those other, viz. liueries, cognizāces, emblemes, enseigns and impreses. For though the termes be diuers, the vse and intent is but one whether they rest in colour or figure or both, or in word or in muet shew, and that is to insinuat some secret, wittie, morall and braue purpose presented to the beholder, either to recreate his eye, or please his phantasie, or examine his iudgement, or occupie his braine or to manage his will either by hope or by dread, euery of which respectes be of no litle moment to the interest and orna∣ment of the ciuill life: and therefore giue them no litle commenda∣tion. Then hauing produced so many worthy and wise founders

of these deuices, and so many puissant patrons and protectours of them, I feare no reproch in this discourse, which otherwise the veni∣mous appetite of enuie by detraction or scorne would peraduen∣ture not sticke to offer me.