A display of heraldrie

SECT. III. CHAP. XXVII.

UNto this will I adde some sorts of Animals, which although they be duly shaped, and therefore may seem to agree with those of the same kind formerly treated of, yet do they much differ from them, either in their unnaturall postures and gestures; or else being with some liberty-de∣barring instrument by mans industry and invention, restrained of their na∣turall freedome, as by a chain, or the like; and therefore could not ac∣cording to Methods strict rule have been handled promiscuously among the former. Some few examples of this kind of bearing of Animals of this sort in Coat-armour, I here present unto your view.

[illustration] blazon or coat of arms

He beareth, Or, a Lyon Rampand, Regardant, Sa∣ble, Armed, Gules, by the name of Gway the Voyde, sometime Lord of Cardagan in Wales. This action doth manifest an inward and degenerate perturbation of the mind, which is meerly repugnant to the most couragious nature of the Lyon, Cujus natura est imper∣territa, according to the saying, Leo fortissimus besti∣arum ad nullius pavebit occursum.

The form of bearing of the Lyon Regardant, albeit in respect of his courage & magnanimity, it be contrary to his natural quality, for that it may be thought, and is indeed generally holden to be a chief note of timorousnesse, which is meerly contrary to his generous nature; yet nevertheless it is good Armory, not only in him, but also in all other Animals of like bearing, so long as they are borne signifi∣cantly; and it fitteth our profession, to interpret all sorts of bearing to the best, that is to say, to the most honour of their bearers. To the end there∣fore that I may give some satisfaction touching the commendable

bearing thereof, to such as do hold the contrary, I hold the same forme of bearing to be borne (not onely in the Lyon, but in whatsoever other Animals) significantly, and therefore commendably: Forasmuch as such action betokeneth a diligent circumspection, or regardfull consi∣deration of fore-passed events of things, and comparing of them with things present, that he may give a conjecturall guesse of the effects of things yet to come, and resting in deliberation, which proprieties are pe∣culiar to men that are carefull and considerate of such businesses as they do undertake.

[illustration] blazon or coat of arms

He beareth, Argent, a Lyon Rampand, coward, Pur∣pure, by the name of Rowch. This is termed a Lyon Coward, for that in cowardly sort he clappeth his tail between his legs, which is proper to all kind of beasts (having tails) in case of extremity and fear, than which nothing is more contrary to the magna∣nimity and noble stomack of the Lyon, who will not shrink or be abashed at any encounter, so valiant and resolute is he of nature.

Other sorts of bearing of Animals there be, whose naturall actions are hindred by reason of the apposition of certain Artifi∣ciall Impediments. As shall appeare hereafter in these next following Escocheons.

[illustration] blazon or coat of arms

He beareth, Argent, a Lyon Rampand, Sable, Gor∣ged with a Collar and a Chain thereto affixed, reflexing over his back, Or, by the name of Meredith. Such forme of bearing may signifie some Bearer thereof to be captivated by such an one as was of greater power than himself.

No beast can be truly said to be free that is tied a∣bout the neck, which Aristotle observeth, saying, Nullum animal tunc est liberum, quando collum suum vin∣culis habet solutum.

[illustration] blazon or coat of arms

The Field is, Gules, a Boare, Argent, Armed, gris∣led, Collared and Chained, Or, tyed to an Holly bush on a mount in base, both proper. This was the paternall Coat-armour of George Owen Esquire, deceased, a singu∣lar lover, and an industrious Collector of Antiquities, as learned Master Camden writeth in the description of Pembroke-shire. He was owner of the Barony of Keimes in the said County, which as the same Master Camden there noteth, consisteth of twenty Knights fees, and twenty six Parishes, over and above the three Burroughes of Newport, Fishgard, and Saint Dogmaels. By this Master Owens industry, the printed Map of the said County, was, as you may see in the said Master Camdens description, composed.

[illustration] blazon or coat of arms

He beareth, Sable, a Horse passant, Argent, Spance∣led on both legs of the nearer side, Gules, by the name of Percivall. Albeit this Horse be now Spanceled as you see, yet must you not account him to be of so base and dejected nature, as that he hath been forced to this subjection, but rather won thereunto by tra∣ctable usage: for such is the quality of noble spirits, as that they are rather brought to conformity by gentlenesse than by severity, according to the memo∣rable saying of Seneca, Generosus animus facilius ducitur quam trahitur. For it is with irrationall Animals, as with the Rationall, who are rather drawn by the Eares than by the Cloake: That is, they are sooner won by perswasion, than forced by compulsary means, which being taken in this sense, the imposition of this Artificiall note of restraint, doth no way derogate from the worth of the Bearer.

In the closing up of this third Section of Irrationall Animals, I will note unto you some few examples (not unworthy your observation) of some other sorts of bearing than have been hitherto spoken of, for that I would not willingly omit any thing worthy of note, that may serve for your better information: for I had rather you were ill furnished at my hands, than that I should leave you altogether disfurnished. The things that I purpose to note unto you in this place, are briefly these: to wit, That there are some Coat-Armours, whose Fields (besides their grand charge) do admit some petite charge to be annexed to the primer charge. Others there are, wherein the field being freed of such petty Charges, the same are im∣posed upon the charge it selfe. Hence it is, that we have so many Lyons and other living things borne Gutte, Billette, Escalloppe, Pellette, &c. as by this that ensueth in part may be seen.

[illustration] blazon or coat of arms

He beareth, Azure, a Lyon Rampand, between eight Crosse Croslets, Fitched, 3.2.2. and 1. Or, char∣ged on the shoulder with a Cressant, Gules, a chief of the second, by the name of Jordane. A like bearing to this (the chief excepted) hath the Lord Delaware for his second Coat, which is Gules, crusule botonne fitchee, a Lyon Rampand, Argent, by the name of Laware, which I do note unto you for a further instance of such bearing.

[illustration] blazon or coat of arms

The Field is, Diamond, a Lyon Rampand between eight Crosses Croslets, Pearle. This Coat-armour per∣taineth to the Ancient Family of Long of Wiltshire: whereof that Honourable and vertuous Baronnesse, the Lady Russell, sometime wife to the late right Ho∣nourable and thrice worthy Sir William Russell, Lord Russell of Thornhaw, deceased, was descended: whose severall vertues deserve to be published by a more skilfull pen. Yet can I not, but shew my dutifull af∣fection unto them for those many honourable re∣spects touching my own particular.

[illustration] blazon or coat of arms

The Field is Gules, two Lyoncels passant, Argent, be∣tween nine crosses croslets Fitched, Or, an Inescocheon of the second, charged with a Sinister hand couped at the wrist as the first, in chief one Cressant surmounted by another (for a difference of a second Brother of a se∣cond.) This Coat-Armour belongeth to Sir William Acton Knight and Baronet, Alderman of the City of London, who is descended of the Actons of Aldenham in the County of Salop, a Family of good worth and note there. I do here in the blazon mention nine crosse croslets Fitched, although the one of them by reason of the addition of the superjacent Inescocheon is little discerned, and another of them is by the Cressants somewhat obscured: A like Blazon of an undiscerned Charge you may see in the 23. Chap. of this third Section, in the Coat-armour of King∣scot, page 239.

[illustration] blazon or coat of arms

He beareth, Azure, a Lyon Rampant, in Chief, three Escallops, Argent, by the name of Clutterbuck.

[illustration] blazon or coat of arms

He beareth, Argent, a Lyon Rampant, Sable, Gutte, Or, by the name Bromwich. As this Charge is borne Gutte, so shall the carefull observer find other Charges borne Billette, Pellette, &c. And so concluding this third Section, I will hasten to the next.

Notes

• Of degenerate and monstrous Natures.
• A Lyon Ram∣pand Regar∣dant.
• A Lyon Ram∣pand, coward.
• A Lyon Ram∣pand chained.
• A Horse pas∣sant Spance∣led.
• A Lyon be∣tween Cros∣lets.
• A Lyon Ram∣pand, and Croslets.
• A Lyon Ram∣pand▪ Gutte.