The colours
As a Smaradge that is set in Gold, so is the Fol. 9r the mirth of Musicke, by the mirth of Wine. By which comparison you may see, that Verte in Or is glorious to behold, and glittering of it selfe. And now to the fourth colour.
Verte.
That is greene and blazed Verte: Of the which all Authors agree, that it is much comfortable to the sight of man, and of all colours most ioyfull to the hart. And therfore in May (the pleasauntest month of all the yeere) when the groundes are clad all in their naturall colour and kinde what ioy trow ye is it to the beholder? Dooth it not, euen while hee reioyseth, rauish him of all his sense? _Esay_ sayeth: take your pleasure vnder all greene trees, with much more commendation, (whereof I could speake) mentioned in the Scriptures. **Le.** Let that passe. I pray you what planet belongeth to this colour? **Gerard.** _Venus_, which as _Messahala_ the olde Astrologer saith, is a femynine planet, and of complexion temperatelie colde and moyst. _Isidore_ writeth, that the Planet exciteth to loue wonderfully, especially betweene man and woman. But that I commit wholly to the iudgment of worthy _Gower_, & of that famous sir _Geff. Chaucer_, whole workes do yet remaine as greene as the Lawrell Fol. 9v Lawrel tree, comparable in euerie point with those which haue deserued chiefest praise. And nowe to the Smaradge, a precious stone, otherwise called the Emerawde, which hath in it selfe singular vertue. _Dioscorides_ saieth, it comforteth the vitall spirites. _Ecclesiastes_, in commendation thereof, maketh a comparison, with these wordes. As the mirth of Musicke comforteth the spirites, so the Smaradge comforteth the sight, whereby the hart receiueth ioy. Also it represseth motions of lust, and helpeth against illusions. _Isidore_ saith, that this stone passeth all other colours in greenness, either of tree, hearbe, or grasse of the fielde. And in the Sonne shining, rayseth of it selfe a beame in the ayre. _Dioscorides_ saith, it encreaseth riches, and preuaileth in playe. _Ambrosius_ affirmeth, that it ceaseth tempest, and stencheth bloud: but who that readeth the Apocalips, shall find there a raine-bowe about the seat of God, of Smaradge only. Of the which colour, planet, and precious stone, I leaue off. And now to the significations, First of it selfe,
It signifieth ioyfull loue, bountifull mirthe, and gladnesse, with continuance of the same.
2 With Or, all in pleasure and ioy.
3 With Argent, a sure liuetenant.
4 With Geules, no wether stoppeth his will.
5 With Azure, too merry and glad.
6 With Sable, moderate of mirth.
7 With Purpure, after good fortune, euill lucke.
8 With Tenne, to delight in bloudshed.
9 With Sanguine, to laugh, and weepe at once.
The Fol. 10r
The which color in armes is purple, and is blazed by this word, Purpure, which is a princely color. _Isidore_ saith, there are many other colours, that Dyers and Painters do occupie, but this colour (saieth he) of them all is most noble. And that is well declared by the answere of _Plato_, to _Dionisius_ who at a banquet, commanding a maske to be made in that colour, Purpure, esteeming the same according to the worthines, said: Sithence it was a colour for kings and Princes, to bee vsed in Maiestie, it were not meete, to abase the same in vaine sporte and wantonnes. _Plinie_ eke, writing thereof, faithe, that wooll died into Purpure, is a remedie against incurable diseases. _Valerius_ affirmeth, that _Hostilius_ was the first King, that euer ware purpure. I read, that _Salomons_ seat was of the same colour whereof I leaue, and wil speake of the planet appropriated thereto, and that hight Mercury. _Mesahala_ writeth, that it is of a goodlie temperature, & is of qualitie good with the good, and goeth with the euill for companies sake. And in his coniunctions, agreeth with all the other planetes. The Poets call him, the God of Orators. _Ptholomeus_ nameth him to be a kalker, and writer of Characters, numbers and figures. The stone like vnto this planet is the Amatist, a verie precious stone, & one of them that was set in the breaste of Aaron. This Fol. 10v (as _Isidore_ sheweth) is enemie to drunkennes, and giddie braines, & causeth a man to haue good forecast, & a quicke mind, remoueth idle thoughts, and encreaseth good vnderstanding. Thus ending with this colour, planet and stone: I will shew you the signification of the bearer thereof.
Simplie, First it sheweth iurisdiction, a ruler of lawes, and in Iustice to be equall with a Prince.
2 With Or, sage and rich.
3 With Argent, loueth quietnes.
4 With Gules, politike in warres.
5 With Azure, a iust seruitour, but not luckie.
6 With Sable, as lamentable as the lapwing.
7 With Verte, Scorpion like.
8 With Tenne, good in fireworke, and to runne away by the light.
9 With Sanguine, such a Souldior, as at Kings Richards field, caused his man to brace him in a male and laie him in a ditch. Such bearers of armes there are some times, of whom I am wearie to write.
And now to the sixt colour, which we call Tawney, and is blazed by this worde, Tenne. It is a worshipfull colour, and is of some Herehaughts called Bruske, & is most cõmonlie born of French gentlemen. But verie few Englishmen bear the same: yet it is armorie, and so are all colours. Fol. 11r colours, that are not staynandes. And because I finde no author to commende this colour, and againe, I haue not vsed hetherto to speake any thing of my selfe, but all out of good authors, I wil speake but a woord of it, and so passe ouer. **Le.** What can yee say in commendation thereof? **Ge.** It is the surest colour that is, of so bright a hewe, being compounded; for it is made of two bright colours, which is Redde and Yellowe. And yee shal not haue any colour to made amongst all that may be deuised and not to be staynand. This colour, Tenne, is cõpared to the Dragons head, which although it bee not a planet, yet is it such a starre, as in some respect hath the nature of a Planet, and keepeth likewise such course in the Zodiake, as he resteth a certaine time in euerie of the twelue signes, as the planettes do. _Haly_ calleth it a good starre, with whom when the Moone hath coniunction, it presageth good fortune. **Le.** You haue made harde shift to take a Planettes fellowe, in the stead of a Planet. And simple though it be, it standeth in good stead, and is not against reason. But how will ye do for a precious stone? **Ger.** There is a very precious stone that answereth to this colour and Planet, which hath to name the Iacinth. A stone of singular vertue, for he maketh the eye messsenger to beare hasty gladnesse to the hart. _Isidore_ saieth, it putteth away sorrow, and encreaseth mirth. Being bound next vnto the skinne of a man or woman, it putteth away pestilent ayre, and giueth strength to the members, as liuelinesse to the sinewes, and maketh good sauour sweete and holsome. Fol. 11v
1 The signification simplie of this colour, to the bearer thereof, is glorie of himselfe.
2 With Or, venterous for wealth.
3 With Argent, prosperous on water.
4 With Gules, maker of enmitie.
5 With Azure, so hastie, as ready to take hurt.
6 With Sable, a good enginer for warres.
7 With Verte, rather to bid battell, then do it.
8 With Purpure, his counsell is best.
9 With Sanguine, neither dooer, or sufferer.
Le. Sir if it might not offend you, I pray you, is not this colour of your owne deuising. Ge. It is not so. Neither would I haue you think, that I should bee a corrupter of honour, with deuises of mine owne head. The colour was first deuised and vsed in Lidia, and euen heere in cote armour is it often seen, as in French cotes, yea & some English cotes also. But now you compel me to shewe some names, which is contrarie to my promise. There is of the name of Hunzaker, and one other called Finers, I dare say, they are right Englishmen, and haue born that colour of long time, For they are both of auntient houses. Thus ending with this colour, mettall & stone, I purpose to proceed with the seuenth colour, or (as I may saie) the last of all coulours of Armorie, which is called Murrey.
Sanguine.
This is blazed Sanguin, & is a princely color, For so we must call it, because it is one of the colours, appertaining of antient time to the Prince of Wales, I pray god send vs one such. This color is of great estimation and very stately, & is the aparrel of the knights of the Bathe, as also of the Sericants of the Law at their solemne feastes. The heauenly starre appertaining to this colour, is the Dragons taile. Which though, (as I said of the hed) it be no Planet, Yet in his workings and mouings, hath the effect of a planet, through all the twelue signes in his aspects of the Zodiake, and is euer opposite to the head aforesaid. And as the Moone is enemie to some planets: so the taile of the dragon is enemy to the Moone in their coniunctions and oppositions. The precious stone to this colour annexed, is the Sardonix, the which (as _Isidore_ telleth) hath a most pure vertue in it towards the bearer thereof. It putteth away letcherie, and embraceth chastitie. Saint Iohn writeth of this, saying, that this stone Sardonix, shall bee the sixt stone of the foundation of the heauenly Ierusalem. In the which Citie (I pray God) I may serue as a Purseuant and so I ende of this colour, starre, and stone, shewing you that it signifieth of it selfe to the bearer thereof, not to be hastie in battell, and yet a victor.
2 With Fol. 12v Or, victorious in youth.
3 With Argent, rather die then be captiue.
4 With Geules, hot in loue and soone cold.
5 With Azure, whom no man resisteth.
6 With Sable, disloyaltie.
7 With Verte, as lieue be hated as loued.
8 With Purpure, keepeth good hospitalitie.
9 With Tenne, euery day a new faith.
Le. Now I perceiue the nine fields are ended, & I do not remember that you took any order, whereof you would speake next: Therefore except yee haue any matter to ioyne to this, my desire is, to learne what they were, to whom Armes first were giuen, and by what name ye terme them. Ge. You speake both of good matter and in good time. Noblenes (according as authours haue written of the same) is a dignitie and excellencie of birth, and lignage. For when priuate possessions, were giuen by the consent of the people (who then had all things in common, and were equall without degree) they gaue both the one and the other to him at whose vertue they maruelled, and of whom they receiued a common benefit. And this benignitie is called in English, gentlenesse, and there of were they called gentlemen. Of whom issued children who being brought vp in vertue, and perceiuing the aduancement of their progenitors, endeuoured themselues to walke their parents steppes, and still reteyned the fauour, and reuerence of the people. Thus for the goodnes proceeded of such generation, the state of them were called good kinde.