The crosses
Fol. 28r Le. Why do ye call it S. Georges crosse? Sith Harding doth write, that Ioseph of Aramathia, who came into this Realme with Vespasian the Emperour, and instructing Arviragus, (then the king of this land) in the faith, christened him, and gaue vnto him this shield: which was 200. yeres before Saint George was borne, Ge. Ye say true, For Lucius, the seconde christened king of this Realme, bare the same. And also king Arthure, which afterwarde (although other christened kings beside of this Realme, before the Conquest bare not, but did beare other sortes of Crosses, and left this) yet was it afterward taken againe of Saint George, who bare the same. And furthermore, euerie Prince may take vnto him for his patron whom he please, as it pleased that victorious king Edward the thirde, to take vnto his patron, that valiant knight Saint George, and to beare that shield in his name. Who in all his cries, vsed the same against Saint Dyonisse, and Saint Andrewe: By vertue whereof, eyther they were chased, slaine, or taken prisoners. And if you read Sir Iohn Froysart, you shall finde that the Naueroy s borrowed that crie against the Frenchmen, and put the Frenchmen to flight. For the which cause, that famous king of most worthie memory, translated from the knighthoode of the red lace, to his most honorable knighthoode of the blewe garter, and founded the same within his royal chappell of Windsore, the yeere of our Lorde God 1344. which order excelleth all other orders of knighthood, both of knights of religion, and of habitte, as appeareth not only by the first founders, Fol. 28v but by their successors, with their Chapters and statutes. Le. Bee there any other orders of Knighthood founded by temporal princes? Ge. Yea many. Of the which I will rehearse some of them, but none so auntient as the first. The order of the Annunciades founded An. 1350. by Amye, surnamed the greene Erle of Sauoy. Also the knighthood of Saint Owen, otherwise called the knights of the starre, begun by the French king Iohn. And knights of the golden fleece, erected by Philip duke of Burgain. Also knights of Saint Michaell, otherwise of the Scalloppe, celebrate by Lewes, the xj. of that name French king. All which foundations, with their orders, are not to be compared to this, as appeareth by the continuance of the same, from the beginning. And nowe here is another crosse for your learning, and is thus blazed.
The field is _Argent_, a plain crosse _Geules_, voided of the first. **Le.** Voyded of the first. What mean you by that? **Ge.** If I should haue sayde voyded of the field, it had beene a fault in blazonne. And therefore I sayde, voyded of the first, because _Argent_ was the first that was named. And here you shall learne a rule, that is. There are fower woords, whereof you may not name any of them twise in the blazon of one cote, and these be they. Of, Fol. 29r Of, On, And, With. These may not be spoken any more then once, in one cote, if they be, it is accõted such a fault, as he that committed the same, is not worthie to blaze a cote.
The field of this scocheon is _Argent_, a plain Crosse waue, _Azure_. This hath no other signification, but for the difference. As ye shall haue other plain crosses, with their differences, because you shall be readier in blazon of them.
The field of this, is _Geuls_ a plain crosse, Frette _Azure_. As ye haue this fret: So shal you haue some diaper & some Semies, of diuers things, that I can not speake of here, least al the booke onely shoulde be of crosses. **Le.** Me thinketh it should be a token of sorrowe to the bearer. For it is a signe of tribulation, and worldly heauines, as I take it. **Ge.** Saint Paul writing to the Galathians, sayth. God forbid, that I should reioyce, but in the crosse of our Lord.
He beareth _Azure_, a plain crosse, countercompone, _Argẽt_ & _Geules_. This is as much to mean, as a crosse compounded of two sundrie colours, or three, But that is seldome seene, & is thought not to bee good armory, Now if I thought you were perfit in the blazon of crosses, and that of those that are plaine: I would trouble you with no moe. **Le.** Proue me, _Gerard_. Howe say you by this? tell me what it is.
**Le.** The field is _Geules_, a crosse countercompany, _Argent_ and _Sable_, **Gerard.** There you misse, For if you marke it, this is not like that that went before. Therefore, to knowe the difference herein, and to blaze right, you must tell the number of the panes. For looke when there are three panes or aboue: then is it named Checkey. And so shal you blaze it, He beareth _Geules_, a plain crosse Checkey, _Argẽt_, & _Sable_. And this rule you shall vse also to bordures, bendes, and all other.
He bereth _Sable_, and _Argent_ quartered, a playne Crosse, counterquartered of the fielde. If that word counterquartered, were left out, it were the better blazed, to be called quartered of the field. For the shorter you tell the thing, the better the blazon is.
He beareth _Argẽt_, a plain crosse _Sable_, quarter persed of the fielde. If that worde, quarter, were not spoken, but persed onely without more, then were the persing in the middest rounde, as the persing of a mollet or cinkfoyll. Therefore ye must take good heede to the words in blazon.
The field of this Escocheon is _Purpure_, a playne crosse humette, _Argent_. This is called an equal crosse, because there is no Staffe of it longer then other. It hath bin said, that this crosse _Cõstantin_ the great displaied in the field against _Maxentius_, which hath Fol. 30v beene taught from heauen to haue bin reueled to him, with this superscription, _In hoc Signo vince_. This because I find, but in maner of a glose, I referre the iudgement of the truth thereof to eche man, as hee listeth giue credite thereto. Thus _Constantine_ ouercomming his enemie, decreed for a Law, that no man from thence foorth, should suffer death vpon a crosse. The portraiture of this crosse is stamped on some Portegwes, with the superscription also. There bee Crewsados likewise, that in their print carrie the like portraiture, But to proceede.
Hee beareth _Geules_, a plaine Crosse, Varrye. Here you shall name no colours of the Crosse, because it is one of the nyne furres, and hath that proper name, The fielde of this is _Azure_, a plain crosse corded _Or_, and _Sable_. **Le.** I would haue thought, there had neuer beene such Armes, **Ge.** There is nothing that is, but may be borne in Armes. He Fol. 31r He beareth _Geules_, a plain crosse Nebule, _Argent_, and _Azure_.
**L.** You haue shewed me so much of plain crosses that I suppose if you would set foorth all, that are borne of sundrie sorts, it will be a tedious worke. But I praie you proceede yet a little more.
The field of this Scocheõ is _Sable_, a crosse of fower batunes, in true loue, _Or_. So for troubling you any further, I end for this time with plaine crosses, & wil proceede to other of sundrie fashion.
The fielde of this, is _Or_, a crosse engrailed _Sable_. Though this cote come hindermost: yet is it of honor, next vnto the plaine crosse, & is verie good Armorie. He Fol. 31v He beareth _Sable_, a crosse enuecked _Argent_. A crosse of this fashion, is verie seldome seene in an English cote Armor; but elsewhere, it is commonlie borne, especially of Dutchmen, and is good armorie, although it be not auntient. **Le.** Are there yet any more crosses to be blased? **Ge.** I wil shew you some more yet and of sundrie fashions, as here after followeth.
He beareth _Geules_, a long crosse, ragged and trunked _Argent_.
Of this, the field is _Azure_, a crosse portate in his proper colour. **Le.** Wherefore call you the same portate? **Ge.** For on this fashion, it lay on Christes shoulder, who bare the same to the mount of Caluery as witnesseth Fol. 32r nesseth, S. Iohn the Euangelist, S. Luke, and Simon of Sirene, who helped him to beare the same.
Hee beareth _Argent_, a crosse croslet crossed _Or_. This is otherwise called a Ierusalem crosse, and was borne of _Godfrey of Bulleine_.
He bereth _Geules_, a crosse croslet _Ermine_. **Le.** Is this lawful Armory? **Ge.** It is. You haue sayd to me, it was not lawfull, to beare colour vpon colour. **Ger.** You must vnderstãd, that _Ermine_ is no colour of him selfe: but a compound with a mettal, and serueth as mettall onely, without breaking of any Rule, and is speciall good armes, both of it selfe, and with other. The Fol. 32v The field is _Argent_, a crosse-botone, _Geules_. This, if a mã should interprete it, is as much to say, as a crosse budded.
He beareth argẽt a crosse botone Fitche, _Sable_. This is not vnlike the other Crosse. The pyke which it hath to pitch into the ground, onely differeth it.
The field of this is Azure, a crosse batone Fitch, Or. Ethelred, king of the most pt of this realme, a man much trobled in his time with the Danes, bare this crosse.
Hee beareth _Azure_, a Crosse formy vecked _Argent_.
The Fol. 33r The fielde _Azure_ a crosse formye fitched, _Or_. This was the shielde of blessed _Cadwallader_, the last king of Britaines. Hee slue _Lothayre_, king of Kent, and _Aethelwold_, king of south Saxons.
He beareth _Or_, a crosse formy formed fytched azure. This was the shield of king _Edmonde_ surnamed _Ironside_, who raigned ioinctlye in this realme, with _Canutus_ the Dane.
Hee beareth _Or_, a Crosse formye flurte, _Sable_.
The Fol. 33v The field _Ermine_, a crosse formy sable. **L.** You bring in so many crosses, & of so sundrie fashions, that you make me in a maner wery of them. I had thought verely to my iudgment, that there were not so manie crosses borne in armes of gentleme. **Ge.** Many more crosses are borne, & that by right good gentlemen of birth and ancestry. The which for lack of time, but chiefly for that I would not werie you herein too much: I purpose to passe ouer for the nonce. Yet because I would not haue you altogether ignorant herein: I will proceede a little further, assuring you, that when I haue done, yet shall you want the knowledge of as many mo, as you haue already hard me embelaze to you.
Hee beareth _Sanguine_, a crosse batune, set on degrees _Argent_.
He beareth _Azure_, a crosse flurte _Or_. These were the Armes of _Edwine_, the firste Christian King of Northumberland.
The fielde _Azure_, a Crosse flurte engrailed _Argent_.
He beareth _Geules_, a cros patonce _Or_. _Harding_ writeth that king _Egbert_ bare this crosse in his left hand in battell, & in his banner likewise, at what time he ouercame his enemies. But the colour of his banner was _Azure_, this crosse _Or_. The Fol. 34v The fielde _Or_, a crosse Sarcele _Geules_.
He beareth azure, a cros Molyn, _Or_. If this stood Saltier wyse then yee should cal it a Ferdemolene, which is as much to say, as a Milrind.
The fielde is Or, a crosse Furth, Geules.
Hee beareth purpure, a crosse double pitchee, _Argent_.
He Fol. 35r Hee beareth _Geules_, a Crosse nowye degraded fitche _Argent_. And now I will shewe you not onely a rare Cote to bee blazed, but that which shall be also good Armory.
And lawful. Partie per Pale. _Or_, and _Geules_, a base point pointed _Ermyne_, ouer all a crosse Tau _Azure_. This crosse is the token of peace, For the Prophet _Ezechiell_ sayeth, God sayd to his Angell, passe thorough the middest of the Citie of Ierusalem, and make the signe of Tau vpon the foreheades of men. Kill not all them vpon whom ye shall see the letter Tau. He Fol. 35v He beareth _Vert_ a crosse Masculy _Argent_.
Hee beareth _Argent_, a crosse Masculy, voided of the field _Azure_.
He beareth Tenne, a crosse vrdee, Or.
Hee beareth _Argent_, a crosse pomel _Sable_. This is so termed for the roundnes thereof at the endes and is faire Armorie.
He Fol. 36r He beareth argent a crosse entrailed. The colour is not named here, for it is alwaies _Sable_, and is no bigger, then touched with a pensell, or tricked with a penne.
He beareth Vert, xiiij. beasants in crosse.
Here you must note, if it were any thing els, to the number of tenne, ye should vse this worde (Te) and not tel the number. But these and crownes are excepted, for if you haue xx. of these in one fielde, and that they might be setal whole, you shal not say besaunt, but tell how many there be of them, In like case you shall do with crownes. But ye shalbe sure of Crownes, wheresoeuer they bee they are all whole, or else the Armory is not good, for a crowne may not be rebated.
He beareth _Argent_ a crosse of iiiij. Queens de Ermins. As this is a crosse, & good Armorie, so shal you haue all other things borne in the like case.
The field of this is Partie p Saltier, _Geules_, & azure on a beisaunt, a crosse botoney _Or_. This was the banner of _Adelstane_, that in expelling the Danes, subduing the Scots, and quieting the welch mẽ, broght this land to one Monarchy who well might haue the name of an Emperor.
He bereth _Azure_, a moud _Argent_ enuironed, and a Crosse botoney _Or_. The French Herehaughts calleth this crosse vpon all the world. He Fol. 37r He beareth _Geules_, semie de Crosses flurte, _Or_. If there were but vij. & that the halfe of some of them, were out of the fielde (as appeareth by the Escocheon) yet it should be called Semi. But if there were x. and al within the edges of the Escocheõ, they should be nũbred. But when they may bee numbred, then it is called of olde Herehaughtes geratting, of the which there are ix, sundrie Badges.
Badges of Geratting.
The first are Crosses, whereof ioure are most ancient, that is to say, crosses floures, crosses Crosielets, and crosses Potonces, as they are properly of themselues and all sorts fitched.
2 The second badge are Flowre-deluces.
3 The third badge are Roselettes, that is to say, single Roses, that haue but v. leaues a peece.
4 The fourth badge is Quater-foiles, otherwise called, prime-Roses.
5 The fift badge are Cinquefoiles. Of the which fort, there are persed and whole.
6 The sixt badge are Diacles, commonly called Scopperelles.
7 The seuenth badge is called Chappelettes, which in the olde time, was a wretch of pearle, and golde. Such one did king Edward the third weare on his head.
Fol. 37v 8 The eight badge, are Molets of fiue points either whole or persed.
9 The ninth badge, are cressants. Although you shall see at this daie fields of cote Armour gerated with diuers other things, yet these nine are most antient of all other. For the cote wherein any of these do occupie the field, if they be orderlie set, is counted for a faire cote Armour.
The field of this shield, is _Azure_, a Saltier, _Or_. **Le.** Why do ye so terme it? **G.** This in the old time was of the height of a man, & was borne of such as vsed to scale the wals of townes. For it was driuen ful of pinnes, necessary to that purpose. And walles of Townes were then but lowe, as appeared by the wals of Roome, which were such, that _Remus_ easily leaped ouer them. Witnesseth also the same, the citie of Winchester, whose walles were ouer-looked of _Colbrande_, Chieftaine of the Danes, who were slaine by Sir _Guy_, Earle of Warwicke, and champion for King _Ethilstane_. **Le.** _Nicholas Vpton_ saith that a Saltier was an engine to take wilde beasts. And therefore, saith he, it was giuen to riche and couetous people, such as would not willingly depart with their substance.