A display of heraldrie

SECTION II. CHAP. I.

HAving formerly handled in the first Section the Common Acci¦dents of an Escocheon, viz. Points and Abatements: Now will I proceed to shew their severall kinds.

Escocheons are either of

• ...One Tincture.
• ...More than one.

Those Escocheons are said to be of one Tincture that have onely some one Metall, Colour, or Furre, appearing in the Shield of any Nobl••man, or Gentleman. Concerning this forme of bearing, it hath been holden of some Writers a matter doubtfull, whether one Metall, Colour or Furre borne a∣lone in a Shield be ancient or honourable: Sir John Ferne affirmeth, such Bearing to be false Armes, and not worth the receiving, except in some speciall cases; being perhaps thereunto induced, because it was reckoned among the Romans a thing reproachfull to bear a naked Shield without any Portraicture, in regard it was an usuall thing with men of valour and courage to have their Shields painted.

[illustration] example of blazon or coat of arms

White Shields were accustomed to be bestowed up∣on such as were Novices in Martiall affaires, or (as we commonly call them) Freshwater Souldiers, to the end they might in future time merit to have them garni∣shed with the titles and testimonies of their valo∣rous deserts, untill which time such Shields were reckoned inglorious: as Virgil noteth in his Aeneidos lib. 11.

Ense levis nudo, parmaque inglorius alba:

Quick he was with naked Sword, But white Shield did no praise afford.

Contrariwise, Leigh reckoneth such unportraicted bearing to be good, and withall very ancient, grounding his assertion (if I be not deceived) upon the 1 Kings 10.16. where it is said, that King Salomon made 200 Targets of beaten gold, and that 600 Sheckles of gold went to a Target; as also that he made 300. Shields of beaten gold, and that three pound of gold went to one Shield.

Also we read, that Simon, the High Priest of the Jewes, sent Numenius with a Shield of great value to the Roman state, to confirme the league of friendship between them, as appeareth in 1 Macchab. 14.24. in these words; After this Simon sent Numenius to Rome, with a great Shield of gold of a thousand pound weight, to confirme the friendship with them: And in the letter of Lucius the Consull mention is againe made of the thousand pound weight of this golden Shield, 1 Macchab. 15, 16, 17, 18.

[illustration] example of blazon or coat of arms

That these Shields were void of Portraictures, it may be probably conjectured, in that there is no mention of any; for otherwise, such might have been the curiousnesse and excellency of their workmanship, as that it might have been prised above the worth of the gold it self: an example whereof, Ovid in M ta∣mor. lib. 2. giveth, where describing the glorious beauty of the Palace of the Sun, he saith,

Argentei bifores radiabant lumine valvae, Materiam superabat opus; nam Mulciber ille, &c.

The two leaved silver gates bright raies did cast, Rich stuffe, but Vulcans Art therein surpast.

Furthermore we read that Alex. Severus the Emperour had certain gol∣den Shields, whose Bearers were named Chrysoaspides, the golden Shield Bea∣rers. And as touching the Bearers of Shields made of clean Silver, we read that Alex. Macedo had such, whose Bearers were named Argiroaspides, Sil∣ver-Shield Bearers, which manner of bearing (saith Alex. ab Alex.) they borrowed of the Samnites. Neither is there any mention that these were garnished with any Emb••ssements, Graving, or Portraictures.

Now to prove, that not onely Metals, but Colours also have been anci∣ently borne alone in Shields: I will note unto you the words of the Pro∣phet N hum, Chap. 2. where it is said Clypeus potentum ejus rubricatus, bellato∣res coccinati, &c. The Shield of the mighty ones were red, &c. alluding to their bloudy fights.

We also find that the Grecians used Russet Shields; the people of Lu∣cania in Italy, scituated between Calabria and Apulia, had their Shields wrought of Osiers, or twigges, and covered over with leather. It was the manner of the Scythians, Medes and Persians, to have their Shields of Red colour, to the end that the effusion of their blood should not easily be dis∣covered (when they received any wound) either to the discouragement of themselves, or animating of their enemies. Moreover, these Nations used Scarlet and Red colours i•• their Military garments, and Shields, to the end they might thereby strike the greater terror and astonishment into the hearts of their enemies.

[illustration] example of blazon or coat of arms

Of this sort of Bearing, I find in a note worthy of credit, amongst the Coat-Armours of many Noble Personages, and valorous gentlemen, that did attend the person of King Edward the first (in his Expediti∣on that he made into the parts of Scotland to the siege of Kalavero••k) that one Eumenius de la Brect, did bear in his Shield onely, Gules. Finally, that Furres also have been alone in Shields (without any Charge) as well as Metals and colours (besides the Coat Armour of the Duke of Britain) I could produce many exam∣ples even to this day; were not the use hereof so vulgar, as that it is al∣together impertinent to give instance therein.

[illustration] blazon or coat of arms

You have received a Rule before pag. 23. and 25. how you ought to Blazon a Furre of this sort. This kind of bearing of a Furre without any other Charge in the Field, is both ancient and good, saith Leigh. And this kind of Furre is much in use with persons Nobly descended, and gentlemen of good reputa∣tion have long borne the same, as Ferrars of Chart∣ley, Beauchamp, Somerset, Marmion, Staunton, and o∣thers.

Yet will I note unto you three Coat-Armours consisting of Furres, for their beauty and rarity, and those of no vulgar bearing, as you may see in these next Escocheons following.

[illustration] blazon or coat of arms

He beareth Varey, a Chief, Or, by the name of Tich∣borne, of Tichborne in the County of Southampton, at this time dignified with the title of Baronet.

[illustration] blazon or coat of arms

He beareth verrey, Ermyne and Gules, by the name of Gresly of Drakelow in the County of Darby. Some∣times you may Observe in this kind of bearing, the Metall part charged with some other thing than Er∣mine, viz. with Drops or such like. Of this Family is the honourable Sir Thomas Gresly of Drakelow Baro∣net now living, 1658.

[illustration] blazon or coat of arms

He beareth Gules, a Fesse between two Cheverons Vaire, which is the Coat of the ancient Family of Good-yere of Hadley in the County of Middlesex. Hythrope in Com. Oxford, and P••ulsworth in Warwick-shire.

Notes

• Severall kinds of Escocheons.
• Escocheons of one Tincture.
• White Shields.
• Virgil▪
• Golden Shields.
• Alex. Severus Impe.
• Alex. Macedo.
• Shields of Colours.
• Eumenius de la Brect.
• Only Furres. borne in Shields.