A display of heraldrie

SECT. III. CHAP. XXIII.

* 1.1THE Hardnesse of Scaly fish (whereof we have before spoken) is not Continuate, but Plated fitting for Motion; but there is another sort of hard covering, whieh is continuate: Of which sort, some are crusted, other some are shelled, as Examples shall shew.

[illustration] blazon or coat of arms

He beareth, Argent, a Cheuron,* 1.2 Sable, between three Crevices upright, Gules. I term these upright, because they wanting fins cannot without breach of the Rule formerly given be properly said to be Hau∣riant.

[illustration] blazon or coat of arms

He beareth, Gules, on a Bend, Or, a Lobster,* 1.3 Sable. Gongulo Argote de Molina, In his book entituled No∣bleza de Andalviza, noteth this for the Coat-armour of Grilla. It is noted by certain Naturalists, that the Lobst••r is subtill in acquiring his food, for he watch∣eth the Escallop, Oyster, and other like fishes that are fenced by nature with a stronger and more defen∣sible Coat than himself, to become a prey unto him, by observing when they do open their shell either to receive food or ayre, and in the mean time with his 〈◊〉〈◊〉 he taketh a stone, and casteth it between the shels of the Oyster, so 〈◊〉〈◊〉 neither save her self, nor annoy her foe; using his wit for a sup∣••••••s strengths defect, according to the old proverbe, Where the Ly∣•••••• is too scant, it must be peeced out with a Fox case.

[illustration] blazon or coat of arms

He beareth, Argent,* 1.4 a Lobsters Claw in Bend Sini∣ster, Saltire-like, surmounted of another Dexter∣wayes, Gules, by the name of Tregarthick. Those other Fishes which are said to be shelled, and are na∣turally inclosed in strong and thick walls, do di∣late and open their shels at certain seasons, either to receive the benefit of the ayre, or of food: and again contract them (at their pleasure) and so de∣fend themselves from all harme and violence. Of these, the Shels are of most frequent use in Armes, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 diversly borne, as well with Ordinaries between them, as 〈◊〉〈◊〉 upon Ordinaries, as by Example in the next Escocheons in part ••ppeare.

[illustration] blazon or coat of arms

He beareth, Barry Wavey of six, Or, and Gules, three Prawnes naiant in the first and of the second, by the name of Sea, alias, Atsea of Herne in Kent.

[illustration] blazon or coat of arms

He beareth, Argent, a Cheuron ingrailed, Sable▪ be∣tween three Sea crabs, Gules, by the name of Bridger. It is an observation amongst Fishermen, that when the Moon is in her Decrement or Wane (as we com∣monly call it) these sort of Fishes have little or no substance at all in them, which moveth them to for∣bear to fish for them in that season, in regard that the Moon is the naturall and secondary cause, that the Crabs of the Sea are either full and plum, or else sheare and (after a sort) empty.

The clawes of the fore-feet of this sort of fish are called forcipata brachia Cancrorum, of forceps, which signifieth a paire of Tongs or Pincers, or such like, alluding to their quality, which is to pinch and hold fast whatsoe∣ver they do seize upon.

* 1.5

[illustration] blazon or coat of arms

He beareth, Argent, an Escallop Shell, Gules, by the name of Prelate. This Coat standeth in the Abbey Church of Chirencester within the County of Glocester, and see∣meth to have been of long continuance there. The Escallop (according to Dioscorides) is ingendred of the Dew and Ayre,* 1.6 and hath no blood at all in it self, not∣withstanding in mans body (of any other food) it turneth soonest into blood. The eating of this fish ra•• is said to cure a surfeit.

[illustration] blazon or coat of arms

He beareth, Azure, a Cheuron, Ermine, b•• 3 Escallops, Argent, this is the Coat-Armour 〈◊〉〈◊〉 worthy and noble Gentleman Sir Horatio 〈…〉〈…〉 Baronet, son of Sir Roger Townesend, so crea•• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 16. 1617. by Mary Daughter and Co-heire 〈…〉〈…〉 Vere Baron of Tilbury, who is re-married to M•• Earle of Westmerland, and has by him severall ••∣dren

[illustration] blazon or coat of arms

He beareth, Pearle, a Lyon Rampant, Ruby▪ 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Chief, Diamond, three Escallop Shels of the first 〈◊〉〈◊〉 is the Paternal Coat of the Right Noble and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Family of the Russels, Earle of Bedford. Such 〈◊〉〈◊〉 beautifull shape that nature hath bestowed up•• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 shell, as that the Coller of the Order of S. Mic•• France, in the first institution thereof, was richl•• ••∣nished with certain pieces of gold artificially wro•• as near as the Artificer could by imitation exp•• the stamp of Nature.

Which institution doubtless was grounded upon great reason, to shew the steadfast amity and constant fidelity, that ought to be between bre∣thren and companions of one society and brother-hood: for take one of these fishes and divide the shels, and endeavour to sort them with (I will not say hundreds) but millions of other shels of fishes of the same kind, and you shall never match them throughout: therefore do they resemble the in dissoluble friendship that ought to be in fraternities and societies,

because there can be according to Cicero, Offic. 1. Nulla firma Amicitia nisi inter aequales. The consideration whereof (if I be not deceived) moved the first Founders of this Order to sort them in the coller of this order by couples, for that all others do disagree with them, Secundum magis vel mi∣nus, and none do concur together with them in all points, but onely those that nature hath conformed, and made agreeable to each other in all points.

[illustration] blazon or coat of arms

He beareth, Sable, six Escallop shels,* 1.7 Or, three, two, and one, by the name of Escott of Cornewall. Here I thinke it fit to note out of the number and position of the Charge of this Coat-armour two things: the one con∣cerning the number which you see is six, which some Armorists hold to be the best of Even and Articulate numbers, that can be borne in one Eseocheon; their rea∣son is, because none other even number under ten, can decrease in every rank, one, to the base point of the Es∣cocheon, and produce an odde one in the same point. Next touching this manner of the Position of this number; which suteth most aptly with the figure of a Triangular Escocheon, as in the Elements of Armories, pag. 181. is observed.

[illustration] blazon or coat of arms

He beareth, Azure, a Bend between six Escallops, Argent, by the name of Frechevile, a Family of very good account and antiquity in Darbishire.

[illustration] blazon or coat of arms

The Field is, Argent, on a Fesse, Azure, 3 Escallop shels of the first, a Bordure engrailed, as the second, in chief, a Cressant, Gules, for a difference of a second brother. This is the Coat-armour of that worthy gen∣tleman John Fenne; one of the Captains of the City of London:* 1.8 I read in a French Manuscript remaining in the Office of Armes, to this effect, that in bearing of the Escallop in Arms signifieth the first bearer of such Armes to have been a Commander, who by his vertues and valour had so gained the hearts and loves of his Souldiers and Companions in Armes, that they desired much to follow him even into dangers mouth, and that he in reciproca∣tion of their loves had ventred to sacrifice himself for their safeguards.

[illustration] blazon or coat of arms

He beareth, Argent, ten Escallops,* 1.9 4.3.2.1. Sable, on a Canton, Gules, a Mullet pierced, Or, by the name of Kingscot, in the County of Glocester. I do here Bla∣zon the charge to be ten Escallops, although there be but eight to be discerned; for such was the Coat before the addition of the super••acent Canton,* 1.10 which as it is indended, doth over-shadow those other two that are not seen.

* 1.11

[illustration] blazon or coat of arms

He beareth, Argent, a Heron volant, in Fesse, Azure, membred, Or, betweene three Escallops, Sable, by the name of Herondon. Here also you see one gesture of a Fowle volant, in the carriage of his legs, which was not before exemplified. Pliny saith, that all Fowles that stalke with long shanks, as they flie they do stretch out their legs, in length to their tailes; but such as are short legged, do draw them up to the middest of their bellies.

* 1.12

[illustration] blazon or coat of arms

He beareth, Sable, a Fesse engrailed betweene three Welkes, Or, by the name of Shelley. of which family is Sir Charles Shelley Baronet, & also Thomas Shelley of Greys-Inne Esquier, Who so shall advisedly view the infinite varietie of Natures workmanship, manifest even in the very shels of Fishes; shall doubtlesse find just cause to glorifie God, and admire his Omnipotencie & Wisdome, shewed in these things of meanest reckon∣ing. To this head must be reduced all other Shell fish∣es, of what kind soever, that are inclosed with hard Shels.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Scales of Fi∣shes not con∣tinuate.
• * 1.2

  Cheuron be∣tween three Crevices.
• * 1.3

  A Lobster up∣on a Bend.
• * 1.4

  Lobsters pawes.
• * 1.5

  Escallop shell Gules.
• * 1.6

  The nutritive quality of the Escallop.
• * 1.7

  Six Escallops.
• * 1.8

  MS. M. 1••. fol. 116.
• * 1.9

  Ten Escallops.
• * 1.10

  Rule.
• * 1.11

  A Heron vo∣lant.
• * 1.12

  A Fesse be∣tween three Welks.