A display of heraldrie

SECT. IV. CHAP. XVIII.

TO these Martial Armorials we may adde as an Appendix of necessary use in warlike businesses, the Water-bowgets, which in ancient times were used to carry and conserve in the Camp that usefull element of Wa∣ter. In such vessels some suppose that Davids three worthies, which brake into the Host of the Philistimes, and drew water out of the well of Bethle∣hem, brought to their King that water he so much longed for. These three mighty men deserved to have been remunerated with such Armo∣rall marks in their Coat-Armours for their valour.

The usuall depicting of these Water-bowgets in Escocheons of our present age, if we shall compare them with those of former times, we shall find these and them much differing in form, as by these three next Escocheons, the first being according to our modern form, and the other two agreeing with the ancient, evidently appeareth.

[illustration] blazon or coat of arms

The Field is Ruby, three Water-bowgets, Pearle. This was the Coat-armour of Sir William Roos, a Ba∣ron of this Kingdom, who lived in the time of our two first Edwards after tne Conquest.

[illustration] blazon or coat of arms

These Water-bowgets were anciently depicted and portraied in Coat-Armour according to the form in this present Escocheon demonstrated, witnesse old Rolls of Arms and Monuments of stone. The Anci∣ents themselves did some what differ in the portrai∣ture of this Water-bowget, for I find in a very ancient Roll in the custody of the before mentioned Sir Ri∣chard St. George Clarenceux (who I must with a thank∣full acknowledgment confesse hath been very free in communicating such his collections to the fur∣therance of this present second Edition) that Robert de Roos, son of the late mentioned William de Roos, did beare these Water-bowgets depicted, as in this next Escocheon, with a File of five lambeaux or points.

[illustration] blazon or coat of arms

This is the true figure both of the Escocheon and charge, as they be in the said Roll, which is written in a hand of that time or very near; and these ex∣amples may suffice for Water-bowgets of the ancient form, now I will shew you another Escocheon with a Crosse Engrailed between foure of these Water-bowgets of the modern form, yet are the Arms very ancient.

[illustration] blazon or coat of arms

The Field is Pearle, a Crosse Engrailed, Ruby, be∣tween foure Water-bowgets, Diamond. This was the Paternal Coat-Armour of that Honourable family of the Bourchiers, sometimes Earles of Ew in Normandy, from whom are descended the Bourchiers Earles of Bathe. And that truly noble Knight Sir Henry Bour∣chier, a carefull and diligent searcher out of the hid∣den Antiquities not only of this Kingdom but of Ireland also. Leigh in his Accidens of Armory, p. 127. calleth these Water-bowgets, and pa. 176. he termeth this kind of Charge a Gorge.

[illustration] blazon or coat of arms

He beareth, Argent, a Fesse, Varry, Or, and Gules, between three Water-bowgets, Sable, by the name of Dethick, of which family is Sir John Dethick Knight, late Lord Mayor, as also those two ingenious Gen∣tlemen, Thomas Dethick who hath long resided at Li∣gorne, and Henry Dethick of Poylers near London, sons of Henry Dethick, son of Sir William Dethick Knight, son of Sir Gilbert Dethick Knight, both principall Kings of Armes, by the Title of Garter.

[illustration] blazon or coat of arms

He beareth, Gules, a Fesse between three Water-bowgets, Ermine, by the name of Meeres of Lincoln∣shire, a very ancient family of which is Master Meeres who lately marryed the Daughter of Sir Erasmus de la Fountain.

[illustration] blazon or coat of arms

He bears Argent, a Cheuron, between three Wa∣ter-bowgets, Sable, by the name of Hill, and is borne by those two accomplisht Ornaments to this City, Abraham and Thomas Hill, sons of John Hill Esquire, sometimes Alderman of London, living 1659. descen∣ded from an ancient Family of this surname at Shil∣ston in Devonshire, which Abraham Hill not long since marryed Anne Daughter of Bulstrode Whitlock (Com∣missioner of the great Seal) by Frances Daughter of William Lord Willoughby of Parham.

[illustration] blazon or coat of arms

He beareth, Argent, on a Chief, Sable, three cove∣red Cups, Or. This is the Coat of Sir Oliver Butler or Botiler of Teston in Kent, Baronet.