The ordinaries
Whereunto Saint Augustine answereth, that Fol. 61r that they are fedde with the dew of heauen, all the while that they be naked. The Rauen saieth Fulgentius, hath 64. sundry chaunges of her voice, and is verie guileful, and will both steale and hide. Ari-stotle affirmeth that Rauens will gather together on sides, and campe & fight for victorie, and they that be ouercome, will euer after be obedient to the vi-ctors. The Rauen is frend to the Foxe, and enemy to the brocke, and fighteth with him oft, in the Foxes quarrell.
The field is _Geuls_, a Griffin Sergreant _Or_. **L.** where-fore say you Sergreant? **G.** For that he is halfe birde, halfe beast. It is a terme appropriated to him, and to none other. The Iewishe Rabbies vpon the xiiij. of Deutronomion do write that this is a fierse beast, & keepeth the Hyperborian Mountaines, where are precious stones, as the Smaradges, & Iaspis, and will not suffer them to be taken from thence. _Isidore_ saith, that they beare great enmity to man & horse, and are themselues of such a marueilous strength, that though the man be ar-med, and on horsebacke, yet they take the one with the other quite from the ground, and carrie them cleane away. I thinke they are of a great hugenes, for I haue a clawe of one of their pawes, which should shew them to be as bigge as two Lyons.
He beareath _Sable_, a Cock-atrice displaied, _Argent_, This though he bee but at the most a foote of length, yet is hee king of all Ser-pentes of whom they are most afraid, and fly from. For with his breath and fight he flieth all things that come within a speares length of him. He infecteth the water that he commeth neere, His enemy is the weasel, who when he goeth to fight with the cock-atrice eateth the herbe, commonly called rew, and so in fight biting him he dieth, and the wesel there-with dieth also. And though the cockatrice bee ve-nome, without remedie whilst he liueth, yet when he is dead and burnt to ashes, he looseth all his ma-lice, and the ashes of him are good for Alcumistes, and namely in turning and changing of mettall. I haue not seene the proofe thereof, and yet I haue bin one of _Iebers_ cockes. **Le.** Now you haue done with these, I pray you what shall I learne next? **Ge.** I will tel you of nine honorable ordinaries, especial-lie which are so called in armes. **Le.** What are they? **Ge.** They are such, as a cote of armes is both enrich-ed and honored by. Such also they bee, as Empe-rours, Kings and pincès, do add to any gentlemans cote armour, for some notable acte by him done, or to be done. To the which there appertaine nine es-peciall reioysings as incident thereto.
Fol. 62r 1 A gentleman to be made knight, at battaile.
2 To be endowed with liuelyhood for his man-hood.
3 To do chiualrie before his soueraigne.
4 To be made Embassador for his wisedome.
5 To doe prowes of knighthood before Aliants, in honour of his renowne.
6 A poore Knight, to be married to the bloud Royall.
7 To haue perpetuall thanke of his Soueraigne.
8 To keep his cote armour vnshamed in tryall.
9 To keepe all points of his knighthood.
The first of the nine honourable ordinaries, espe-cially of the crosse, of the which I haue spoken of before. The content thereof, is the fift part of the fielde, except it be charged, then it must containe the third part.
The second.
The fielde is _Geules_, a Chiefe _Or_. This containeth the third part of the field, and is the second of the honourable ordinaries, and before the passion of Christ, it was the first. This signifieth a Senatour, or honourable man. And ye shall vnder-stande, that the chiefe may bee diminished, and then they call it by an other name, Fol. 62v name, but the chiefe may not bee emeaded or halfed.
He beareth _Or_, a fillet pur-pure. This conteineath the fourth parte of the chiefe and standeth no where but only vpon the chiefe point.
The field is _Tenne_, a chief Shapournet, _Or_, and _Er-mines_. Though there bee many counter coloring in the chiefe ofte times, yet for the rarenes thereof, and for your ease, at this time I haue left them all out, and onely teach you this.
Fol. 63r The third.
He beareth _Argent_, a Pale, _Geules_. This is the third, and containeth the thirde part of the fielde, this maie not be enlarged, though it be charged. And here ye shal learne, that if a Pale be vpon a Lion, or any other beast, then shal ye say, he is debrused with a Pale. But if the beast be on the Pale, then that beast is supported of the same pale.
He beareth _Sable_, a pallet, _Geules_. This is the halfe of the pale aforesaid, & is neuer char-ged with any thing quicke or dead, neither may it be parted.
The field is Ermin, an En-dorce, _Geules_. This in bredth is the fowerth part of the pallet, a-boue spoken, and is not v-sed but when a pale is be-tweene two of them.
The fourth.
The fourth of thẽ is thus. He beareth _Verte_, a bend _Argent_. This conteyneth in bredth the fift part of the field, Of all the other, there is none so deuided, as this is, as hereafter appeareth.
He beareth _Argent_, a Gar-tiere tenne. This conteyneth halfe the bende aforesaid, and maie not bee charged but with flowers or foiles.
The fielde _Geules_, a cost, _Or_. This is the fourth part of the Bend, and halfe the gartiere, and is called at some time a Cotis, at some other time a Batune, as by practise yee shal the rather know when it is called the one, and when the other.
He beareth _Or_, a Rybande _Geuls_. This conteineath in bredth the eight part of the bend, & viij. of these make a bend, This is also called a Fissure, and then it parteth the field into two colours, and is of it selfe mettal, and then it is a secret of secrets.
The field is _Ermine_, a ben-delet, _Ermins_. This is to be noted of pain-ters, that this is no bende, whether it be bigge or little nor hath any other name then this, and at the most cõtaineth but the sixt part of the field. In this cote refraine to put fishe.
He beareth _Argent_, a Bend Sinister, _Azure_. **Le.** Seeing you call this a Bende Sinister, wherefore did you not call the other dexter Bend? **Ge.** Because it is knowne to all Herehaughtes, if it bee named a bend & no more to be a bende dexter. And here I tell you by the waie, that you may haue two bendes in one fielde: that is to saie, both dexter and sinister, which to beholde, then is not much vnlike a Saultier, if they be both of one colour: but whether of them that lieth next to the fielde, that must be first named. Therefore, when you blaze a cote, it is a Rule, that you must aduise you well, or euer you speake. For it is a great fault in an Herehaught to bee ouer hastie in blazonne. **Le.** I knowe what is meant by this bende Sinyster. **Ger.** What is your opinion thereof? **Le.** He that beareth it, is a bastard. **Ge.** A bastarde quod you: I neuer taught you that, who that learned you so to terme it, did giue you wrong instructions. Count it there-fore an errour of Armes, the which with as much speede as you may, I would you shoulde forget. Knowe that this conteineath as much in breadth, as the dexter bende doth, The halfe whereof is called a Scarpe, and no bastards marke, neither may it be charged with any thing. The bastard shal beare the fourth part of this, which must bee called a batune sinister, Euery bastard also may haue his Batune, of what Fol. 65r what colour he will, but not of mettall. For mettal is for the bastards of Princes. This likewise learne, that the bastardes Sonne lawfully begotten, shall chaunge his fathers marke, to the right side. And what time as it shall please the Prince the same may be enlarged or broken, as followeth.
He beareth _Azure_, a bende double daunce, _Argent_. This shall neuer bee called other then a Bende, after that it is thus parted, but bastards haue other marks euery one according vnto their vnlawfull begetting: which marks I wil not disclose, For those with hun-dredes of others, are the secretes of Herehaughts, which things they haue so-lemnely vowed not to open, though it were to an Emperour, sauing alwaies that that belongeth to the seruice of him & honour of gentilitie. For if the Herehaught do know an Emperour, by fortune to be (as sometimes some of his poore subiectes are) yet may he not accuse the Empresse, nor disclose the acte, for defaming of the gentlewoman, and for for-swearing of himselfe.
He beareth _Or_, a bend be-tweene two Cotises, Sa-ble. This doe I shewe you because you shall knowe, when to call this a Cotise, and when to name it a ba-tune.
The fift.
The field _Argent_, a Fesse, _Azure_. This is the fifth ho-norable ordinarie, contai-ning in bredth the thirde part of the fielde, and may not bee diminished, al-though the French Here-haughtes doe blaze three barres Gemews for a Fesse of vj. peeces, as you shall perceiue the better, in the cote next to the barulet. The Fesse hath beene ta-ken of olde for a girdle of honor, which standeth with good reason. For in the cote armour, it is in the middest betweene two equall partes.
Fol. 66r The sixt.
He beareth _Tenne_, a Sco-cheon _Argent_. This is the sixth of the same ordinaries, and con-taineth the fift part of the fielde, and may not be di-minished.
The seuenth.
The field is _Or_, a Cheurõ, _Geuls_. This is the seuenth and containeth the fift part of the field. _Nicholas Vpton_ saieth, that a Cheuron, is made of Carpenters, and is the highest part of the house. For sayeth he, the house is not finished, vntil the cheurõ be set vp. Car-penters call it at this day, the barge couples, In the old time it was a certaine attier for the heads of women priestes.
He beareth purpure, a che- uernell, _Argent_. This containeth halfe the Cheuron aboue said, and you may haue no mo, but three in one fielde except partition.
Hee beareth Vert a Cou-pleclose, _Argent_. This containeth the fowerth part of the Cheuron, and is not borne but by payers, except there be a Cheuron, betweene two of them.
The field Sable, two che-uerons, _Argẽt_. These kepe their quantity, with order of the rule aforesaid, and are verie good Armoric, because euerie of them cõtaine a fift part.
He beareth _Azure_, a Che-ueron on chiefe _Or_, I shew you this for the rarenesse thereof, though it be aun-cient. The ancesters of the bearer thereof, haue borne it otherwise, which was for some good purpose remo-ued, although it were bet-ter to bee borne, after the common bearing of Che-uerons, as is abouesaid.
Fol. 67r The eight.
The eight honorable ordinary is, a salterie, which must conteine the fift part of the field, except it be charged with any thing, then shall it conteine the third part of the scocheon.
The ninth.
The field tenne, a barr Ar-gent, This is the ninth honora-ble ordinarie, and contei-neth the fift parte of the fielde, which is of more e-stimation, then is well con-sidered of many, that beare the same.
Hee beareth _Or_, a closset, _Sanguine_. This is the half of the barr abouesaid, Of these, v. may be in one field, and are ve-rie good armorie, as here-after shalbe shewed.
He beareth x. clossets _Or_, and _Geules_. This is a notable mixture, whatsoeuer the mettall, or colour be of, it is verie an-cient.
The field is sanguin a Bar-rulet, _Or_. This is the fourth part of the barre afore re-hersed. These (except they be parted with a barre of Fesse) must stand alwaies by couples, as in the next Scocheon more plainclie doth appeare.
He beareth _Or_, three bars gemewes, _Azure_. This is right blazonne of thẽ, especially where they stand by couples, as these doo.
The field _Or_, two barres Gemews, one on the chief, the other on the bast, _A-zure_.
He beareth _Azure_, two barres _Argent_. This is the cote I spoke of in the place of a barre, By this you may see, the cote equally deui-ded into v. partes, accor-ding to the Rule.
Ordinaries generall.
Here ensueth nine honorable Ordinaries generall.
The first.
The fielde _Sanguine_, one Geronne from the chiefe dexter point, _Or_.
Hee beareth Geronne, of twelue peeces, _Ermines_, & _Tenne_.
The second.
Hee beareth _Or_, and vrle, _Sable_. If there be two of these it is called a double tressure. If this one were flowred, then should it be called a tressure, which must conteine the fift part of the field.
The third.
He beareth _Azure_, a pile, _Ermine_. When there is but one pile, it must con-teine the third part of the field, at the chiefe.
The fielde _Or_, iij. piles in point _Geules_. The pile is an ancient ad-dition to Armorie, and is a thing that maketh all foundations vpon vnsure grounde, to bee verye firme.
Hee beareth _Geules_, one pyle in point, _Or_. Some time yee shall haue them waues or endented, though there bee three in one Escocheon.
The field _Azure_, a Pile in Bende _Or_. In some scocheon, ye shal haue a pile in this place, that shalbe engrailed, En-uecked, or otherwise. Be-cause I am in Pyles, you shall haue a cote to learne by, the like thereof is seldome seene.
Partie per Fesse, waue geu-les and _Argent_. Three piles on chiefe, as the first, and of the second. **L.** what mean you by these words as the first, and of the se-cond. **G.** I say so because I woulde breake no rule in naminge of one thinge twise in one cote.
The fourth.
He beareth _Gules_, a quar-ter _Ermin_. This is a rewarde of an Emperour or king, to bee geuen to a Baron, at the least for good seruice by him done.
The fift.
The fift is a quarter sinister, the which also is the kings reward, and honorable.
The sixt.
He beareth _Ermine_, a Can-ton _Geules_. This is the rewarde of a Prince to a Knight or Es-quire in like case for ser-uice.
The seventh.
The seventh, is a Canton Sinister, and in like case, the one of these is as good as the other.
The eight.
The field _Or_, ij. Flasques, _Azure_. This rewarde is to be giuen of a King, and is giuen only for vertue and learning, especially in ser-uice of Ambassadge. For there the Gentleman may serue his soueraigne, as well as the knight doth in the fielde.
He beareth Ermin ij. Flaũ-ches, _Vert_. This is one de-gree vnder the aforesaide Flasques, & yet is it good armory and noble, In those ij. Flaũches may be borne two sundry cotes, but ther-in lyeth a mistery.
He beareth _Tenne_, two voyders, _Or_. This is the rewarde of a Gentlewoman for seruice by her done to the prince, or princes, but thẽ the voi-ders shoulde be of one of the nine furs or dublings. Such rewarde might the Dutches of Moũford haue giuen to her gentilwomen who serued her most diligently, not onely while she kept the Towne of Hanibot, but also when she rode armed into the field, & scarred the Frenchmẽ from the siege thereof. O worthie Princesse, most worthy to be had in perpetuall remembrance. There are nine rebatings of Armes, which for nine sundry vngentlemanly deedes done, are resem-bled, as hereafter followeth. When Lucifer with his adherents were expelled heauen, they were disseuered Fol. 71r seuered into nine (I cannot wel say orders) but tru-lier call them horrible horrors, as followeth. The first false messengers, The second liers. The thirde, vessels of iniquity. The fourth, plagues of plaguers. The fift, collucioners. The sixt, corrupters of the aire, The seventh, sedicioners. The eight accusers. The ninth tempters: these although they are inui-sible, yet they drawe visibie creatures to them, but chiefly such, as by nature they perceiue wil soonest yeeld to any light prouocation. Which if they do, (especially being gentiles) that beare shield of ho-nour, they abase the same, as by example hereafter followeth. Which although I set them here vnder as good armorie, yet when any of these peeces bee rebated, there must be some stainanden colour put in the same place, and no mettal, neither must it be charged with any thing: for so it is an addition of worship. These I say, may be reworshipped againe, with somthing of mettall set vpon them. For as _Al-ciatus_ saith, the Father may dishonour himselfe, but not his sonne. For when the Father is dead it may please the Prince to adde againe to the sonne that, that was rebated from the Father, But not so to the father during his life, without some especiall desert by himselfe done, in recompence thereof.
Fol. 71v The first.
He beareth _Tenne_, a point dexter parted, _Or_. This may be for too much boasting of himselfe in mã-hood and marciall actes. Such one was Sir _William Pounder_, much bragging of his knighthood, who se-med to bee a Lyon by his countenance, but in his heart, was no lesse then a fearefull Hare. If a man be of deede doughtie, yet is it not gentleman like to boast thereof.
The second.
He beareth a point cham-pine, _Or_, in a fielde _Tenne_. Who so killeth his prisoner (to him humbly yeelding) with his owne hand, reba-teth his honor. And yet in extreme need, it is allowed by the Law of Armes, yea rather to kill, then to ha-zarde himselfe to be killed. Alwayes (sayeth Sir _Iohn Froysart_) by right of armes, a man ought to griue his enemie, But he saieth also, that good company of Armes is, mercy to knights, and Souldiers.
Fol. 72r The third.
He beareth a point plain e, Geules, in a field Or. This is for him that telleth lyes to his Soueraignes, for if light eare, encline to light lippes harme ensueth. For when misreport, and light of credence, meete toge-ther, warre is then easily begun.
The fourth.
Hee beareth a point, in point Or, in a field Sable. This is for them that are too slouthful in wars. For Sir Iohn Froisart sayth, to doo deedes of Armes, all knights and Esquires to a-uance their bodies, should entende. **Le.** Methink you alter from your olde kind of blazon. **Ger.** The bla-zon, which I haue vsed to these three cotes afore-said, is only appropriated to them, and to no mo, ex-cept they were charged with some thing
Fol. 72v The fift.
Hee beareth Argent, two Gussets Sable. But in rebating, there is but one Gusset, That is to say, if he be too letcherous, the Gusset on the right side: If he commit Idola-trie to Bacchus, then the gusset on the left side, if both, then bothe like vnto this.
The sixt.
He beareath Argent, a Gore Sinister Sable. He that is a coward to his enemie, must beare this, But if it be a dexter Gore, although of Staynand co-lour, yet it is a good cote, for a gentlewoman. But if there bee both dexter and sinister, that is too bad to be borne, for although it be charged, it dishonoreth the thing that is on it.
The seuenth.
He beareth Argent a delss, Geules. To him that re-uoketh his own challeng, as commonly we cal it ca-ting his worde, this is gi-uen in token thereof.
The eight.
He beareth Sable, an esco-cheon, reuersed Ermines. He that discourteously en-treateth either Maide, or Widowe against her will, or flieth from his soueraig-nes banner, he shall beare his Armes on this wise: vntill such time, as he haue don some valiant act, wor-thie to bee noted of the Herehaughtes. Vpon whose true report, it may please the Prince to restore him to his former bea-ring, which admission must be done in no lesse pri-uate place, then in the mustering of a Campe.
He beareth light blew 4. Mollets yellow two in the Fesse parte, and two on e-uery chiefe point. This cote must be blazed at the bast part first, which nowe standeth highest: because the whole scocheon is re-uersed. He that beareth on this fashion, is a Traitour: So was he that ought these Armes, which was by name, Sir _Armerie of Pauie_ a Lumbard borne, and an vnworthy Capytaine of Callais, and traytour to king _Edwarde the third_, in selling the same to Sir _Giffrey Charney_ for twenty thousand crownes, who had deliuered the Towne if priuie intelligence had not come to the king, then flowre of chiualrie, who with his son the prince of knights, came to Callis vnsent for, on the French-mens part, to the receit of the aboue named mony. Where the king and the prince both, did so much honour the banner of Syr _Gautlier of Manny_, that the like therof hath not bin hitherto seene, since the time that the Emperour _Maximilian_ serued for wa-ges vnder the banner of that most victorious prince king _Henrie the eight_, as his foul dior, wearing vp-on his liuery a Crosse of Saint George, with a Rose embrodered in the middest thereof, attending vp-on the king at the siege of Tirwine and Tournaye. There was much honour in this Knight sir _Gual-tier of Mannya_. For besides diuers deedes that hee did Fol. 74r did, I note one especiall, that he gaue vnto an olde man an hundred crownes, to shewe him where his fathers Tombe was: nothing accounting his tra-uaile, in visiting the same.
This is a rebatement, and yet none of the nine, nor to any of these effects, but is rebated onely for doubt of challenge, and I set it here for none other pur-pose, but onely for your learning of blazonne. Al-though it being whole, it was the Cote of the selfe same Sir _Geffrey Charney_ which in this fort must bee blazed. The fielde is Geules, three Escocheons Argent, one rebated on the sinister point. Though one be rebated, as appeareth on this Es-cocheon before blazed, yet on the next Escoche-on you must not take it to be the like case, For it is a persite cote, and verie good Armory.
He beareth argẽt, on chiefe iij. water-bowgets Geules. This cote had neuer moe then these, For on some Scocheons you shall haue but one like signe, in the point of the same. Sometime also there is reproch, in ad-dition of signes. **Le.** Is there much dishonor in rebating of Fol. 74v of Escocheons, as you haue spoken of in the nine last. **Ge.** I say it is as much shame to the bearer there-of, as it is to a woman that goeth naked. **Le.** A wo-man may go naked for a good purpose, without shame: which by example I will plainly prooue vnto you. _Godwina_ the wife of _Leofricus_, Duke of March, requesting of her Lorde freedome for the towne of Couentre, the franchisement was graun-ted to her vpon condition, that shee shoulde ride naked through the same Citie: who for the loue that she bare to the inhabitantes thereof, and shee would for euer be remembred to be their patrones, minded to doe the same, so that shee might choose the time, which was determined to be in the fore-noone. Whereupon all householders, with their families, were commanded to shut their doores and keepe their windowes close, whiles the Dutches was dooing this good deed, her horse neighed by chaunce, whereat one ruder then the rest, or other wise perchance desirous to see the strangenes of the case, let downe a windowe, and looked out. In re-membrance whereof, whether it were for the lub-bers sake that looked out, or for that the horse did neigh, as the cause thereof: though all the towne were franchised, yet horses are not toll-free to this day.