A display of heraldrie

SECT. II. CHAP. V.

HItherto hath our Pencill drawn out to your view, a single line,* 1.1 which doth create an Ordinary, or some other of the Charges last mentioned: it resteth, that I shew what a Manifold line is, and the use thereof according to the project of our prefixed method. I call that a Manifold line, when as more than one Line are required to the perfecting of an Ordinary.

Manifold lines are

• ...Twofold,
• ...More than twofold.

Twofold lines I understand to be there, where is constituted an Ordinary of two lines. Of which kind of Ordinaries are these onely, viz. The Pale, Bend, Fesse, Bar, Quarter, Canton, and their like, as shall appear by example in their severall places, first of a Pale.

A Pale is an Ordinary consisting of two lines drawn perpendiculary from the Top to the base of the Escocheon, comprehending the third part of the Escocheon. The content of the Pale must not be inlarged▪ ••hether it be charged or not.

* 1.2

[illustration] blazon or coat of arms

He beareth Gules, a Pale, Or: which Coat was borne very anciently by Hugh de Grandemesnill Lord of Kinkley in Leicester Shire, and Lord High Steward of England, in the time of King Henry the first.

This Ordinary is subdivided into

• ...Pallet,
• ...Endorse.

* 1.3A Pallet is the moyety or one halfe of the Pale, and thereof receiveth his name of Diminution, as being a Demy or little Pale. And an Endorse is the fourth part of a Pallet.* 1.4 Example of each ensueth.

[illustration] blazon or coat of arms

He beareth Azure, a Pallet, Argent. The Pallet is never charged with any thing, either quick or dead, neither may it be parted in any case into two, as some Armorists doe hold: but that it may be parted into four,* 1.5 Leigh maketh no question; for he giveth an ex∣ample of the bearing of the fourth part thereof, which he tearmeth an Endorse; as in this next Escocheon ap∣peareth: But Sir John Ferne saith, it containeth the eighth part of the Pale, which in effect is all one with the fourth part of the Pallet.

* 1.6

[illustration] blazon or coat of arms

He beareth, Or, an Endorse, Gules. This Endorse (saith Leigh) is not used but when a Pale is between two of them. But Sir John Ferne saith, he was very confident and bold to set down such Rules of Blazon.* 1.7 And that an Endorse may very well be borne in any Coat-Armour between Birds, Fishes, Fowles, Beasts, &c. But then (saith he) it sheweth that the same Coat hath been sometimes two Coats of Armes,* 1.8 and after conjoyned within one Escocheon, for some Mystery or secret of Armes. And for the approbation of such bea∣ring,* 1.9 he giveth an instance of an Escocheon of pretence, or Engislet, (so he tearmeth it) borne over these four Coats, viz. of Austria, Burgundy, Sieile and Flanders; which is, Or, an Endorse between a Lyon saliant, and an Eagle displaied. Gules.

Now from the Pale, and the severall Subdivisions thereof, let us come to the bend, and the distinct parts of the same. A bend is an Ordinary consi∣sting also of twofold Lines drawn overthwart the Escocheon, from the Dex∣ter chief to the Sinister base point, of the same, so that the exact point of the Dexter and Sinicter corners thereof, may answer to the precise Middest of those equidistant Lines, whereof the bend is made, as in example.

* 1.10

[illustration] blazon or coat of arms

He beareth, Or, a bend, Sable. Which Armes were an∣ciently borne by Peter de Mololacu or Mawley, a noble Baron of this Kingdom; in the time of King Edward the 3. The bend containeth in bredth the first part of the Field,* 1.11 as it is uncharged; but if it be charged, then shall it con∣tain the third part thereof. Of all the Ordinaries there is none divided like this, as by example shall hereafter appear.

The Bend seemeth to have his Denomination from the French word Ben∣der,* 1.12 which signifieth to stretch forth, because it is extended betwixt those opposite points of the Escocheon, viz. the Dexter chief, and the Sinister base. Yet in ancient Rolls I find the Bend drawn somewhat Archwise, or after the resemblance of the Bent of a Bow. Notwithstanding,* 1.13 according to some Armorists, it doth represent a Ladder set aslope on this manner, to scale the Walles of any Castle or City, as shall be shewed hereafter, and betokeneth the Bearer to have been one of the first that mounted upon the enemies walls. This Bend drawn from the right side to the left, is called a bend dex∣ter; but you shall also find a bend exactly drawn like to this on the con∣trary side, having his beginning from the left corner of the chief, and his termination in the Dexter base point of the Escocheon,* 1.14 for which cause it is named a Bend Sinister, as in example hereafter shall illustrate. In Blazoning of bends, if the same be Dexter, you shall onely say, he bears a bend, not using the word Dexter; but if it be drawn from the Sinister chief to the Dexter base, then you must in blazon by no means omit the word Sinister.

Note that the bend, and divers other Ordinaries following,* 1.15 are subject to exemption or voiding. Voiding (as earst we shewed) is the exemption of some part of the inward substance of things voidable, by occasion whereof the Field is transparent through the charge, leaving onely the outward edges, bearing the colour and quantity of the charge, as appeareth in this next Es∣cocheon.

[illustration] blazon or coat of arms

He beareth, Ermyne, a bend voided, Gules,* 1.16 by the name of Ireton. Note that if the void part of the bend, were of a different metall, colour or furre, from the Field, then should you tearm the same, a bend bordu∣red, Gules (according to the opinion of some Armo∣rists:) but I am of opinion that it were better blazon∣ed, a bend of such and such metall, colour or furre, edged. For this difference doe I put between them, that when it is blazoned edged, it must be understood, to be an edge or hemme, running along the sides onely; but if it were tearmed in blazon bordured, then must it be conceived that the bend is invironed round, as well the ends as the edges.

[illustration] blazon or coat of arms

The late Right Honourable Henry Earle of Sussex,* 1.17 Viscount Fitz-water, Lord of Egremont, Burnell and Botatoart,* 1.18 Knight of the most noble order of the Gar∣ter, beareth, Pearl, a bend ingrailed, Diamond. This Ordinary is composed of divers other of the formes of Lines, before mentioned, as sundry other of the Ordinaries are, as by these next, and other subse∣quent examples in their due places shall appear.

[illustration] blazon or coat of arms

He beareth Argent, a Bend engrailed, Gules, which is the Coat-Armour of that right ancient and worthy Family of Colepepper of Kent, now existing in the Per∣sons of one Baron, two Baronets, and severall Knights and Gentlemen of much worth and esteem.

* 1.19

[illustration] blazon or coat of arms

He beareth, Argent, a Bend, Wavey, Sable. This Coat-armour peratineth to Sir Henry Wallop of Farleigh Wal∣lop in the County of Southampton Knight. This is tear∣med Wavey, or waved, in respect it beareth a Repre∣sentation of the Swelling Wave or Billow of the Sea, which being tossed by contrary flawes of wind doe rise and fall after this manner: and this also by some is called unde, of the Latine word unda.

This forme of bearing may put us in mind of the manifold (and those inevitable, yet profitable) affli∣ctions, which doe attend this mortall state of ours, for so hath God or∣dained that they should be means to win and bring us to himselfe, there∣fore must we receive them patiently, as the evident tokens of Gods great love and mercy.* 1.20 As the Preacher admonisheth us, saying, Whatsoever cometh unto thee receive it patiently, and be patient in the change of thine afflictions, for as Gold and Silver is tryed in the fire, even so are men acceptable in the furnace of adversity. Beleive in God and he will help thee, order thy way aright, and trust in him, hold fast his feare, and grow old therein.

* 1.21

[illustration] blazon or coat of arms

He beareth, Azure, a Bend Crenelle, Argent, by the name of Walleyes: what Crenelle is I have before shew∣ed. After this manner, Souldiers in default of scaling Ladders, used to nick or score a piece of Timber with their Swords (for want of better Tooles) and so found means to ascend the walls, and surprise the enemies.

* 1.22

[illustration] blazon or coat of arms

He beareth Sable, a Bend, Flory, Argent, by the Name of Highlord or Helord, and is the Coat-Armour of Highlord of Moreden in Surrey Gent. and of Tho. Highlord of London Merchant.

* 1.23The parts of a bend are

• ...Such as are duduced from it.
• ...Bendelet.

Such as are derived from a bend doe containe

• ...Halfe.
• ...Lesse then halfe.

[illustration] blazon or coat of arms

He beareth Azure, three Bendlets, Argent, a Chief, Ermine. This is the Coat of Sir William Martin of Woodford in the County of Essex Knight.

[illustration] blazon or coat of arms

He beareth Argent, a Bend between two Mullets, Sable, pierced, this is the Coat of Walter Pell Esquire, Merchant Adventurer of London.

That which containeth half the bend is called a Gartier,* 1.24 whereof you have here an example in this Escocheon.

[illustration] blazon or coat of arms

He beareth Or, a Gartier, Gules.* 1.25 This is derived ei∣ther from the French word Jartier, or else from the Norman word Gartier, both which are the same that we call in English a Gartier, the forme whereof this Charge doth represent. It is a name of Honourable esteem in English Heraldry, and it gave beginning to the most renowned order of Knight wood, of which Colledge and Society have been more Kings and Princes, and Princely Peeres, than of all the Knightly orders be∣sides in Christendome. This containeth half the bend in bignesse.

Such as doe contain lesse than half the Bend, are

• ...Cost,
• ...Riband:

Both which be exemplified in these next Escocheons.

[illustration] blazon or coat of arms

The Field is Gules, a Cost, Or.* 1.26 The content of this is the fourth part of the Bend, and halfe the Gartier, and is sometime called a Cotise, and also a Batune (as Leigh noteth:) But Bara maketh a Cotise and the Ba∣tune two distinct things. This word Cost or Cotise is derived from the Latine word Costa,* 1.27 which signifieth a Rib, either of man or beast. And Farnesius saith, Costae a custodiendo sunt dictae. Farn. 1.45. When one of these is borne alone, as in this Escocheon, then shall you tearm it in Blazon a Cost; but if they be borne by couples in any Coat (which is never, saith Leigh, but when a Bend is placed between two of them) then you may name them Cotises, as in Example.

[illustration] blazon or coat of arms

He beareth, Or, a Bend, verrey,* 1.28 between two Cotises or Costs, Gules. This Coat pertaineth to Sir Edmund Boyer of Camberwell in the County of Surrey Knight. Not unfittly are these so tearmed Costs or Cotises, in re∣spect they are placed upon each side of the Bend, and doe inclose the same, as the ribs of man or of beast doe bound and defend their intrailes. And concer∣ning such Charges or Fields composed of verrey. I refer you (for the avoiding of needlesse repetition) to the Rules before delivered. Note, that as well the Sub∣divisions of Ordinaries, as the Ordinaries themselves are formed of the se∣verall sorts of lines before expressed, as may be gathered out of Ʋpton,* 1.29 whose opinion you shall hear when we come to speak of Batunes.

[illustration] blazon or coat of arms

He beareth Or, a Riband, Gules.* 1.30 This is that other Subdivsion that is derived from a bend, and doth con∣tain the eighth part therof. The Name accordeth well with the forme and quantity of the same, in that it is long and narrow, which is the right shape of a Riband.

Thus much may suffice touching the Benddexter,* 1.31 & the Subdivision thereof: let us now consider the Bend sinister, and how the same is subdivided. A Bend Sinister is an Ordinary consisting of a twofold line, drawn tra∣verse the Escocheon, from the Sinister chief corner to the Dexter base point; and differeth (as we said) from the Dexter Bend onely in this, that it is placed on the opposite part of the Escocheon, as in example.

* 1.32

[illustration] blazon or coat of arms

He beareth Argent, a Bend sinister, Vert. You may perhaps sometimes finde this Bend borne joyntly with the Bend dexter in one Escocheon, which to look up∣on are much like unto a Saltire. In Coats of such bea∣ring, you must carefully observe which of them lyeth next to the Field, and that must be first named. And this Rule holdeth not alone herein, but also in all o∣ther Coat-armours formed of divers charges, whereof the one lieth nearer to the Field than the other, accor∣ding to the sixth Rule of Blazon formerly given.

The Bend sinister is subdivided into a

• ...Scarpe.
• ...Batune.

* 1.33A Scarpe (as Leigh noteth) is that kind of ornament (much in use with Commanders in the Field) which we do usually call a Scarfe, as may be gathered by the derivation therof from the French word Escharpe, signify∣ing that ornament which usually is worn by Martiall men after the same manner from the left shoulder overthwart the body, and so under the arme on the right side, as in Example.

[illustration] blazon or coat of arms

He beareth Argent, a Scarpe, Azure. You need not in Blazon thereof make any mention of this word Si∣nister, because it is never borne otherwise than thus. Notwithstanding this Charge hath some resemblance of the common Note of Illegitimation; yet it is not the same, neither hath it any such signification, for that it agreeth not with the Content thereof, nor with the manner of bearing the same, as is plaine by this next Escocheon.

* 1.34

[illustration] blazon or coat of arms

He bearth Or, a Batune, Gules. This word Batune is derived from the French word Baston, which signi∣fieth a wand or a cudgell. The French men do usually bear their Batune (as it were) couped after this man∣ner; Whereof I do better allow than of that forme which is commonly used among us in England, be∣cause the same being so borne, doth better resemble the shape or form of a Cudgell or Batune. And though this hath the forme and quantity of a Cost, yet it dif∣fereth from the same, in that the Cost is extended to the extremities of the Escocheon,* 1.35 whereas the Batune shell be Couped, and touch no part of the same, as by this Escocheon appeareth. This is the proper and most usuall note of Illegitimation (perhaps for the affinitie betwixt Baston and Bastards; or else for that bastards lost the priviledge of freemen, and so were subject to the servile stroke:) and it containeth the fourth part of the bend sinister; and being thus borne, differeth from all the subdivisions of the Ordinaries before manifested sufficiently, what conformity soever any of them may seeme to have therewith. This Marke was devised both to restraine men truly generous,* 1.36 from the filthy staine of this base (but com∣mon) sinne, when they consider, that such accusation to themselves, and shame to their issue, shall never be severed from their Coat-Armour, which should be the blazon of their honour. For let the spuriours birth have ne∣ver so noble a father, yet he is base-borne; and base will be ever the first

syllable in a Bastards name, till by his owne Vertues hee hath washed off the staines of his Fathers vice, as many high spirits have done;* 1.37 who though so borne, have attained to the highest pitch of glory. Every bastard may have his batune of what colour he will, but not of metall,* 1.38 which is for the bastards of Princes. At the first, bastards were prohibited to beare the Armes of their reputed fathers. Then (saith Sir Iohn Ferne in his Glory of Generositie) they did by suit obtaine a toleration from Soveraignes and Kings, to be made le∣gitimate, and to be matriculated by the Kings Grant, as children lawfully born; which Grant did enable them to be capable of many immunities and prerogatives which others lawfully begotten do enjoy: and so by such legitimation they are discharged of all those dishonours which in for∣mer time they were subject unto, and were acquitted from the staine of their bastardy, Excepto quod ex tali legitimatione non admittebantur ad Jura Sanguinis cum aliis filiis: Except only, that they had not the right of blood and inheritance thereby; to participate with the lawfull inheritance of their Father, as appeareth Judg. 11. And when the Womans children were come to age, they thrust out Jepthah, saying, Thou shalt not inherit in our Fathers house, for thou art the son of a strange Woman. By pretence of these legitimations, they bear the Coat-Armour of their reputed Ancestors, with a sign of bastardy, now commonly known to every man, by reason of frequent use: which Mark (as some do hold) neither they nor their children shall ever remove or lay aside, Ne sordes per errorem inter praecipuos reputentur; Least the fruits of lust should by error gain the estimation of Generosity.

It is not lawfull for those that are base born to usurp the Armes of their reputed Fathers, unlesse it be branded with certain notes or marks pro∣per to men illegitimate, devised of set purpose to separate and distinguish them from such as proceed from lawfull Matrimony. Moreover it is often questioned, whether such as be illegitimated (by Act of Parliament, or whatsoever other means) may bear, or assume the bearing of the Arms of their reputed Fathers? Some are of opinion they may: Others do hold the contrary, unlesse they do bear them with the apposition of some of the before mentioned notes appropriated to the quality of their illegiti∣mate generation and procreation. By legitimate issue, is not to be under∣stood legitimate onely, that is to say, such as be adopted Children: For there is in such but a bare imitation of nature, of such we have no use in this Land of Adoption or Arrogation. But of such as are both naturall and legitimate; naturall so termed, Quia naturaliter generati; legitimate, Ex Legitima parentum conjunctione approbata per Leges. Such as are otherwise be∣gotten are bastards, and the issue of an unlawfull bed.

Consanguinity, is a bond or link of persons descended of the same stocke, derived from Carnall propagation: So called, Consanguinitas, quasi sangui∣nis unitas, viz. the unity or community of blood.

To discern priority or nearenesse in blood, two things must be regarded principally; viz. Linea and Gradus, the line is that, that gathereth together the persons containing their degrees, and distinguishing them in their numbers. This is called Collectio personarum. The other, viz. Gradus, shew∣eth the state or condition of the distant persons, how near they be, or how far distant asunder (in themselves) from their common Stock, or either from other. This is called, Habitudo distantium personarum. Et dicetur Gradus, ad similitudinem sclarum graduum, sive locorum proclivium; quia ita gradimur, de proximo ad proximum.

This before mentioned Line is threefold, viz.

• ...Ascending,
• ...Descending,
• ...Collaterall.

The Ascending Line is, from me to my Father, Grandfather, and so up∣wards.

The Descending Line is, from me to my Son, Nephew, his Son, down∣wards.

The Collaterall Line is placed on either side.

This Line also is twofold, viz.

• ...Equall,
• ...Ʋnequall.

The equall collaterall is that, where equally the persons differ from their Common Stock: as Brothers and Sisters be equally distant from their Fa∣ther; As also Brothers and Sisters children from their Grandfather.

The unequall collaterall is, where one precedeth another: Such are bro∣thers, and their brothers and sisters children.

Affinity is (after the lawes) personarum proximitas proveniens ex justis nup∣tiis; A nearness of persons proceeding from lawfull marriage. So called Af∣finitas, quasi duorum ad unum finem unitas; A union or consolidation of two that be of divers Kindreds by marriage or other copulation conjoyned.

By this, Affinity is contracted two manner of waies, viz.

By

• ...Lawfull Marriage,
• ...Ʋnlawfull Knowledge.

The first is thus contracted; My brother and I are Consanguine in the first degree, He taketh a Wife, her they call, personam additam personae per carnis copulam. This is the first kind of Affinity (contracted by means of my brother) viz. between his Wife and me, and the first degree; for thus they be the kindred and degrees) discerned in Affinity, viz. by the persons that be in consanguinity, or blood, either nearer or farther off. As for example.

My brother is in the first degree to me in consanguinity; his wife in Affi∣nity: My brorhers son in the second, his Nephew in the third, his Ne∣phewes son in the fourth. They in consanguinity: their Wives in the same degrees, second, third, or fourth unto me, but they in Affinity.

Note that they attain not (in me) by their addition, that that I have at∣tained (by blood) in the persons to whom they be added. For herein, that is to say, in Attinency we be distinguished in Consanguinity and Affinity. To make it plain. My brother is my Consanguine, his Wife my Affine, onely they retain and participate with me the degree, whether it be first, second, third or fourth; that I have with the persons that they be car∣nally known by, the which they alter not.

Consequently, they shall be every person in Consanguinity to my wife, in Affinity to me, in what degree in the one, in that degree in the other. But alwaies in the first kind, be they Brother, Sister, Nephew, Neece, &c. But to return to our Batune. Ʋpton calleth this baston or batune, a Fissure: and making mention of the variable formes thereof, saith, Istae Fissurae tot modis variantur, quot modis fiunt bendae: These Fissures have as many varieties of formes as the bends have.

* 1.39For there are of them (saith he)

• ...Planae,
• ...Ingrediatae,
• ...Invectae,
• ...Fusilatae,
• ...Gobonatae.

• Plain.
• Ingrailed.
• Invecked.
• Fusile.
• Gobonated.

And (he saith) it is commonly called a Fissure (which is a cut or rent) pro eo quod findit Arma paterna in duas partes; quia ipse basterdus finditur & di∣viditur à patrimonio patris sui: in that it cuts or rents the Coat-armour in twain, because the bastard is cut off from his fathers Inheritance. In some Countries they used to distinguish these from the lawfull begotten, by setting of two letters upon their garments, S. and P. quasi, Sine Patre, without Father.

Cui pater est populus, pater est huic nullis & omnis.

Brats are priviledg'd above any: We have but one Sire; they have many.

And perhaps S. P. did signifie Situs Populo, the Sanne of the People.* 1.40 Chas∣saneus saith, that bastards are not capable of their Fathers patrimony, ei∣ther by law or custome, Quia filius Ancillae non erat haeres cum filio Liberae: The servants child must not part stakes with her Mistresses. Leigh is of opinion, that the lawfull son of a bastard shall change his Fathers Mark to the right side, observing still the quantity thereof: for so I doe understand him, in respect that he addeth immediately, that the same may at the pleasure of the Prince be inlarged, or broken after this manner.

[illustration] blazon or coat of arms

He beareth, Azure, a Bend, double Dauncette,* 1.41 Ar∣gent, by the name of Lorks. This (saith Leigh) shall ne∣ver be called other than a bend, after it is thus parted: but bastards (saith he) have sundry other marks, eve∣ry one according to their unlawfull begettings; which with hundreds of others are the Secrets of Heralds.

Besides those bearings bendwise above demonstrated,* 1.42 we mentioned another by the name of a bendlet, which hath greater resemblance with a bend than a∣ny of the rest, and by the name it may seem to be some subdivision of the bend. It hath yet no certain quantity, but contain∣eth evermore a sixth part of the Field, (according to the observation of Leigh) whereof you have an example in this next Escocheon.

[illustration] blazon or coat of arms

The Field is Argent, a bendlet, Gules.* 1.43 Two manner of waies doth this charge differ from the bend: the one, that the bend containeth the fifth part of the Field un∣charged, and the third part thereof charged. And this is limited to the sixth part of the Field, which it may not exceed. Secondly, it is distinguished from the bend, se∣cundum locationem, in place, in as much as the bend is so placed, as that the corner of the Escocheon doth answer to the just middle of the same, between the upper and nether lines thereof: but the bendlet beginneth in the exact corner of the point of the Escocheon; so as the lower line is distant from the corner thereof the full breadth of the bendlet.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Manifold Lines.
• * 1.2

  Pale.
• * 1.3

  Pallet.
• * 1.4

  Leigh.
• * 1.5

  Leigh.
• * 1.6

  Endorse.
• * 1.7

  Ferne.
• * 1.8

  Endorse may be borne a∣lone.
• * 1.9

  Instance of such bearing.
• * 1.10

  Bend.
• * 1.11

  Content.
• * 1.12

  Denominati∣on.
• * 1.13

  Representati∣on of a scaling ladder.
• * 1.14

  Bend Sinister. Rule.
• * 1.15

  Voiding what.
• * 1.16

  Bend Voided.
• * 1.17

  Henry Earle of Sussex.
• * 1.18

  Engrailed.
• * 1.19

  Wavey.
• * 1.20

  Eccl. 2.4, 5, 6.
• * 1.21

  Crenelle.
• * 1.22

  Flory.
• * 1.23

  Parts of a Bend.
• * 1.24

  Gartier.
• * 1.25

  Derivation of a Gartier.
• * 1.26

  Cost what, and the content thereof.
• * 1.27

  Why named a Cost.
• * 1.28

  Bend verrey.
• * 1.29

  Notes.
• * 1.30

  Riband what, and the con∣tent thereof.
• * 1.31

  Bend Sinister what.
• * 1.32

  Rule.
• * 1.33

  Scarpe what.
• * 1.34

  Batune what.
• * 1.35

  Note of illegi∣timation.
• * 1.36

  The use of this marke.
• * 1.37

  Leigh.
• * 1.38

  Legitimation of Bastards.
• * 1.39

  Severall formes of Fissure.
• * 1.40

  Signification of the letters S.P.
• * 1.41

  Sundry notes of bastardy.
• * 1.42

  Bendlet.
• * 1.43

  Difference of the bend and bendlet.