A display of heraldrie

SECT I. CHAP. II.

SO much of such notes as are necessary to be observed for the better understanding of these things that shall be hereafter delivered, touching the subject of this work. Now we proceed to the practick exercise of these Armoriall tokens, which pertain to the function of Heralds, and is termed Armory, and may be thus defined: Armory is an Art rightly prescribing the true knowledge and use of Armes.

Now like as in things naturall the effects doe evermore immediately en∣sue their causes, even so division which is a demonstration of the extent and power of things, must by immediate consequence follow definition, which doth express the nature of the thing defined. Division is a distribution of things common, into things particular or lesse common. The use thereof con∣sisteth herein, that by the assistance of this division, words of large intend∣ment and signification, are reduced to their definite and determinate sense and meaning, that so the mind of the learner be not misled through the ambiguity of words, either of manifold or uncertain interpretations. Moreover it serveth to illuminate the understanding of the learner, and to make him more capable of such things as are delivered, Ea enim quae di∣visim traduntur facilius intelliguntur.

The practise hereof shall be manifested in the distribution of the skill of Armory, with all the parts and complements thereof throughout this whole work.

This skill of Armo∣ry consisteth of

• Blazoning, and
• ...Marshalling.

Albeit I doe here make mention of the Marshalling, or conjoyning of di∣verse Armes in one Shield, or Escocheon; nevertheless, sithence it is far be∣sides my purpose, (for the present to have further to doe with them, (in this place) than onely to nominate them, for distributions sake) I will re∣serve this kind, of Marshalling, or conjoyning of the Armes of distinct Fa∣milies in one Escocheon, unto a more convenient time and place, peculiarly destinated to that purpose, and I will proceed to the explication of those

things which doe concern the first member of this distribution, viz. Bla∣zoning.

Blazon is taken, either strictly for an explication of Armes in apt and sig∣nificant terms, or else, it is taken largely for a display of the vertues of the Bearers of Armes: in which sense Chassaneus defineth the same in this manner, Blazonia est quasi alicujus vera laudatio sub quibusdam signis, secun∣dum prudentiam, justitiam, fortitudinem & temperantiam. A certain French Armorist saith, that to Blazon is to express what the shapes, kindes, and colour of things born in Armes are, together with their apt significations.

Like as definitions are forerunners of divisions, even so divisions also have precedence of rules. To speak properly of a rule: It may be said to be a∣ny straight or levell thing, whereby lines are drawn in a direct and even form. In resemblance whereof, we here understand it, to be a briefe pre∣cept or instruction for knowing or doing of things aright, as witnesseth Calepine, saying, Regula per translationem dicitur, brevis rerum praeceptio, that is to say, a compendious or ready instruction of matters.

Rules are taken for brief documents prescribed for the delivery, or ap∣prehension of some Art or Science, by these the wits and inventions of men are much comforted and quickened, according to that saying of Se∣neca, Ingenii vis praeceptis alitur & crescit, non aliter quam scintilla flatu levi adjuta, novasque persuasiones adjicit innatas, & depravatas corrigit. The force of wit is nourished and augmented by Rules or Precepts; like as a spark is kindled with a soft and gentle fire, and doe adde new inducements and perswasions to those that are already apprehended, and correcteth such as are depraved and vicious.

It followeth therefore, by due order of consequence, that I should annex such rules as are peculiar to blazon in genere. For other particular rules must be reserved to more proper places.

The aptest rules for this place, are these immediately following: In Bla∣zoning [Rule 1] you must use an advised deliberation before you enter thereunto, for having once begun, to recall the same, doth argue an unconsiderate forwardnesse meriting just reprehension.

The more compendious your Blazon is, by so much is it holden the more [Rule 2] commendable, Quia quod brevius est semper delectabilius habetur. Therefore you must shun multiplicity of impertinent words in your Blazon, Frustra enim fit per plura quod fieri potest per pauciora. But herein you must observe this Caution, that whilst you labour to be compendious, you omit no∣thing materiall or necessary to be expressed: for as the one doth eclipse the understanding, so the other is offensive to memory, as Aristotle noteth, saying, Omnis sermo, si sit brevior quam oportet, obscurat intellectum, si autem longior, difficile erit retentioni.

You must take speciall heed to words in Blazon, for a different form of [Rule 3] Blazoning maketh the Armes cease to be the same; Diversitas enim nomi∣nis inducet diversitatem rei, in tantum quod nomina sunt significativa rerum.

You must not be too full of conceits in Blazon, nor over-forward in [Rule 4] speech.

You must use no iteration or repetition of words, in Blazoning of one [Rule 5] Coat:

Especially of any of these four words, viz.

• ...Of.
• ...Or.
• ...And.
• ...With.

For the doubling of any of these, is counted a great fault, insomuch as the offender herein is deemed unworthy to Blazon a Coat-Armour.

[Rule 6] In Blazoning you must have regard of the things that are borne in Armes: as also whereunto they may be resembled, whether they be naturall or artificiall, and so to commend them accordingly.

[Rule 7] In the Blazoning of any Coat, you must evermore observe this speciall rule. First to begin with the Field, and then proceed to the blazon of the Charge, if any be. Moreover if the Field be occupied with sundry things, whether the same be of one or diverse kindes: you must first nominate that which lyeth next and immediately upon the Field, and then blazon that which is more remote from the same. What Field and Charge are, shall be shewed in their proper places; interim oportet discentem credere.

Chassan••us holdeth, that where the Chiefe of an Escocheon is of one colour or metall, or more, you should blazon the chief first; but I hold it more consonant to reason, to begin with the Field (because of the priority there∣of in nature, as also in respect that it is the continent) rather than with the Charge, which is the thing contained, and so consequently last in nature. Nevertheless the French Armorists for the most part doe blazon the Charge first, and the Field after, which is a course meerly repugnant to nature: by whose prescript order, the place must have precedence of the thing placed, and the continent of the thing contained: wherefore our Heralds manner of blazon is more agreeable to reason than theirs. There be divers forms of blazon: A certain Dutchman who lived in the time of King Henry the fifth, used to blaze Armes by the principall parts of mans body, as Ab. Fra. writeth, pag. 63. Malorques a French man made use of flowers for this purpose: Faucon an English man, who lived in the time of King Ed∣ward the third, performed it by the dayes of the week; but in former times their predecessors used onely these three kinds following: first, or Metals and Colours, secondly, by precious Stones, and thirdly, by the the celestiall Planets. Out of which sundry forms, I have made choice of these three last which are most ancient and necessary, in respect that these above all other doe best fit my purpose; which is, to apply to each particular state of Gentry, a blazon correspondent. As for example, to Gentlemen having no title of dignity, blazon by Metals and colours: to persons ennoblished by the Soveraign, by precious Stones: and to Em∣perors, Monarchs, Kings and Princes, blazon by Planets.

[Rule 8] The two last of these three selected formes are not to be used in the blazoning of the Coat-Armours of Gentlemen that are not advanced to some degree of Nobility, unlesse they be rarely qualified, or of speciall desert.

These selected formes of blazon, doe seem to imply a necessity of their invention; to the end that as well by Blazon; as by degree, Noble men might be distinguished from Gentlemen; and persons of majesty, from those of noble linage, that so a due Decorum may be observed in each de∣gree, according to the dignity of their persons: for that it is a thing un∣fitting, either to handle a mean argument in a lofty stile, or a stately ar∣gument in a mean.

Notes

• Definition of Armory.
• Of Division and Use.
• Distribution.
• Definition of Blazon.
• Of a rule.
• Rules of Bla∣zon in genere.
• Preposterous Blazons
• Selected Kinds of Bla∣zoning.