A display of heraldrie

SECT. IV. CHAP. II.

* 1.1HAving in the former Chapter discoursed of things Honorary, repre∣senting Estate or Dignity Temporall: Let us now consider of such Ornaments as bear a representation of Estate or Dignity Ecclesiasticall, according to the distribution thereof, of which sort are these ensuing examples.

[illustration] blazon or coat of arms

The Field is Gules, a Papall Insula,* 1.2 Insigned with a Treble Crown and a Crosse Patee, Or, two Labels pendant, Argent. This kind of Insula or Miter, is worne by the Antichristian Prelate of Rome, to signifie the three-fold Jurisdiction that he doth arrogate to himself as Christs Vicar generall in Heaven, in Earth, and in his supposed Purgatory. Guido Duke of Ʋrbin in Italy, who was elected Knight of the most Honourable Order of the Garter,* 1.3 Anno 23. Henry 7. did beare this Coat quartered next to his own. As touching the installa∣tion of this Duke, Sir Gilbert Talbot Knight, Sir Richard Bere Abbat of Gla∣stenbury, and Doctor Robert Sherbourne Dean of Pauls, being sent Ambassa∣dours to Rome unto Pope Julius, did bear the Collar and Habit of this Order unto the Duke;* 1.4 who receiving the same, sent Balthazar Castalio, Knight (a Mantuan borne) to the King, which Balthazar was installed in his room according to the usuall Ordinance.

[illustration] blazon or coat of arms

Azure, three Clouds radiated, Proper, each a∣dorned with a triple Crown, Or, and is the Coat of the Right Worshipfull Company of the Drapers of London, not a little dignified by having Henry Fitz Alwin Knight, Noble by Birth, a Brother of their Company, who was the first Lord Mayor of this City, in which Dignity he continued twenty foure years and a half, he dyed 1212. aged 72.

[illustration] blazon or coat of arms

Ermines, on a Chief, Gules, three Crowns, Or, with Caps thereunto of the first, and is the Coat of the Right Worshipfull Company of Skinners. This Company hath been highly enobled by six Kings, five Queens, one Prince, nine Dukes, two Earles, and one Lord, who have desired to be admitted into the Freedome of this worthy Society.

[illustration] blazon or coat of arms

The Field is Argent, a Cardinals Hat,* 1.5 with strings pendant and platted in True love, the ends meeting in Base, ••ules, these are the Armes of Sclavonia a Regi∣on in the Sea Hadriaticum, and is commonly called W••ndeshmarke,* 1.6 Pope Innocentius the fourth, ordained that Cardinals should weare red Hats, whereby he would signifie, that those that entred into that Order ought to be prepared to expose themselves even to the shedding of their blood, and hazard of their lives (if need so required) in the defence of the Ecclesiasticall liberty. And this Institution was made (according to Chassa.) at the councel holden at Lyons, 1273. But they have ever since so far digressed from it, as that they have more justly deserved that censure of a learned man, thus:

Semiviros quicunque patres radiante Galero Conspicis, &c.* 1.7

Whoever makes our carnall Cardinals Weeds, Their Hat, and pandant Robe of purple staine; Beleeve me, 'tis no crimson juyce which breedes This sanguine hew, nor costly scarlet graine: But 'tis the guiltlesse blood of martyr'd Saints, Wherein their thirsty vestures they have dy'de; Or else 'tis blushing, which their Weedes depaints, As shaming at the shamelesse beasts they hide.

* 1.8

[illustration] blazon or coat of arms

The Feld is Jupiter, a Staffe in Pale, Sol, and there∣upon a Crosse Patee, Luna, surmounted of a Pall of the last, charged by 4. other like Crosses Fitched, Saturne, edged and fringed as the second. This Coate belong∣eth to the Archiepiscopall See of Canturbury, which hath annexed with it the title of Primate and Metropo∣litan of all England;* 1.9 to whose high place it of right ap∣pertaineth to Crowne and Inaugurate the Soveraigne Monarkes of this Kingdome. This Ornament is cal∣led in Latine Pallium, Quia ex eo pleni••udo dignitatis Archiepiscopatus in gestante, palam fit omnibus. What a Pall is, Chassaneus sheweth in these words, Pallium est quoddam ornamentum admodum Stolae Sacerdotalis cum quibusdam crucibus nigris contextis, quod desertur super alia ornamenta, circundans pectus & humeros, admodum coronae dependens. In ancient time it was (through the intolerable pride and tyrannie of the Roman Bi∣shop) not lawfull for any to take upon him the title of an Arch-Bishop,* 1.10 be∣fore he had received from the Pope this Ornament which we call a Pall, and that was reckoned to be a manifest demonstration of the lawfulness and fulness of his Archiepiscopall Jurisdiction. Besides, he was to take a Corporal oath,* 1.11 to hold faith and obedience to the Church of Rome, at the receiving of this Pall. No man ought to lend his Pall to any other, but contrariwise the same to be buried with the possessor and owner.

* 1.12

[illustration] blazon or coat of arms

He beareth, Sable, a Miter with two Labels pendant, Argent, garnished, Or. This Coat standeth in S. Thomas Church in Nantwich, otherwise called Wich Mulbanke. Amongst the sundry ornaments ordained for the illu∣stration of the Bishops dignity, Polydore Virgil recko∣neth the Miter for one, and affirmeth the same to have been received from the Hebrewes. And as touching the forked shape thereof,* 1.13 he writeth in this manner, Adduntur bina cornua, quoniam Moses acceptis tabulis, qui∣bus Mandata Dei inscripta erant, visus est suis cornu••us.

* 1.14

[illustration] blazon or coat of arms

The Field is Gules, on a Lyon Rampand, Argent, a Bi∣shops Croysier in Bend sinister, Or, borne by Odo Bishop of Bayon, halfe brother to William Conqueror, by whom he was created Earle of Kent. This Staffe (accor∣ding to Polydore Virgil) was given to Bishops to cha∣stise the vices of the people: and it is called Baculus pa∣storalis, as given to them in respect of their Pastorall Charge, and superintendency over their flock, as well for feeding them with wholesome Doctrine, and for defending them from the violent incursions of the Wo f, wherein they do imitate the good and watchfull Shepherd, of whose

Crook this Croysier hath a resemblance. Besides these Ornaments, the same Author speaketh of a Ring given to a Bishop, in signification of the conjun∣ction or marriage of Christ with his Church, whereof the Ring is a pledge: and of his Gloves, that betokened cleannesse of hands, free from all conta∣gious corruption: and lastly, his Sandals, that betokened his industrious vigilancy over his Flock: all which are said to have been instituted by the Decrees of Pope Clement.

In Blazon here you shall not say, debruised or oppressed, both in respect the Croysier extendeth not to the extremities of the Escocheon, as also in respect of the slender substance thereof, whereby it may be intended, the Lyon may easily free himself thereof, if it were extended throughout to the Corners of the Escocheon. Howsoever most true it is, that those who are advanced to the calling represented by the Croysier, ought to be like Lyons, both for courage and vigilancy, in execution of that great authority and jurisdiction, wherewith Christ and his Church have honoured them, for the repressing of obstinate offenders, and preservation of the Churches Peace and Discipline.

[illustration] blazon or coat of arms

He beareth, Argent, on a Bend, Vert, between six crosse croslets fitched, Gules, three Croysiers, Or, by the name of Weare, of Weare Gifford in Com. Devon. And is quartered by Fortescue of Filley. This Coat standeth in a care Church in com. predict.

To this head must be referred all other Ornaments properly pertaining to persons of Ecclesiasticall Dig∣nity or Function. But this is sufficient in this place to shew their use in Coat-Armour.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Ensignes Ec∣clesiasticall.
• * 1.2

  A Papall Insu∣la.
• * 1.3

  An. 13. Hen. 7.
• * 1.4

  Holinshed, p. 1461.
• * 1.5

  A Cardinals Hat.
• * 1.6

  Anno 1251. Onuph. Veron∣de Cardinal. Institut. p. 162. Chassa. Cat. G. M. part. 1. Conclus. 4.
• * 1.7

  Cardinals Robes.
• * 1.8

  Armes of the Archbishop of Canturbury.
• * 1.9

  Title of Me∣tropolitan of England.
• * 1.10

  Ancient Usage
• * 1.11

  Corporall oath exacted.
• * 1.12

  Sable, a Bishops Miter Argent.
• * 1.13

  The forked shape thereof.
• * 1.14

  A Lyon Ram∣pand with a Bishops Cro∣sier.