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CHAP. LXXXI.
Of Heraldry.
NObility was the Foundation of that noble Art of Heraldry, and Philosophy has been very much employ'd in designing and ordering the Arms of No∣blemen, for whom it is unlawful to bear in their Coats an Ox, a Calf, a Sheep, a Lamb, a Capon, a Hen, or any of those Creatures which are necessary for the use of Mankind; but they must all carry for the Ensignes of their Nobility, the resemblances of cruel Monsters, and Birds of Prey. Thus the Romans chose to carry an Eagle, the most rapacious of all Birds: the Phry∣gians a Boar, a most pernicious Animal: the Thracians, Mars: the Goths, a Bear: and the Vandals invading Spain, carried a Cat, a creature most greedy, and trea∣cherous withal: the ancient Franks, a Lion: the Sax∣ons, the same. Afterwards the Franks remaining in Gallia, chose the Owl: the Saxons a Horse, a most warlike creature. The Cymbrians had for their En∣signe a Bull, the Emblem of strength and good for∣tune. Antiochus had for his Imprese an Eagle holding a Dragon in her pounces. Pompey bare in his Shield a
Page 277
Lion; Attila, a crowned Basilisk. The Romans, whose Capitol was preserv'd from the Gauls by the Geese that were fed therein, yet could not be perswaded to carry a Goose for their Shield. There are that admit Cocks and Goats into their Shields, because those crea∣tures are known to be proud and lustful. For the same reason Peacocks are receiv'd, because of their pride; and the Lapwing or Heath-hen, for that she seems to carry the Emblem of Majesty, wearing the resemblance of a Crown on her head: Nor is she re∣fus'd, because she makes her Neast in Excrements, for we know that Vespatian impos'd a tribute upon Piss, acknowledging, That the smell of Gain was always sweet. There be many of smaller Animals also that claim a prerogative in the Shields of great men, provided they be the Documentors of mischief: Such are Coneys, Moles, Frogs, Locusts, Mice, Serpents, Salpeges, Sco∣lopenders; through the multitude of which sort of A∣nimals, as Pliny testifies, people have been forc'd to forsake their Habitations, and Cities have been for∣saken: For the same reason, some have not been a∣sham'd to bear Lice, Fleas, and Flies; and some there are that count it a great honour to be mark'd with Blains and Botches, while there are those that hold them for the best Gentlemen that have been most pep∣per'd with the French Pox. Some there are that bear for their Arms Swords, Daggers, Faulcheons, Towers, Battlements, Engines of War, Fire-works, and what∣soever other Instruments of Murther and Mischief. The Scythians carry Thunder for their Arms, the Per∣sians a Bow and Arrows, the Coralli Wheels. Thus a∣mong the Gods Jupiter carried Thunder, Neptune a Trident, Mars a Spear, Bacchus a Thyrse, Hercules a Club, and Saturn a Scithe. And these Ensignes of Ar∣mory, as they are the Emblems of Cruelty, Rapine, Violence, Fortitude, Rashness, and other Heroick Ver∣tues,
Page 278
are by the judgment of the Heralds, some nobler than others. Now those Shields that are blazo••d with things that are less noxious, as Trees, Flowers, Stars, as the Harp of Apollo▪ the Caduceus of Mercury, or are otherwise distinguish'd onely by variety of Co∣lours, these are accompted much more modern, and less noble than the other, as not being acquir'd by any Acts of War, or other Artifices of Ruine and Destru∣ction. However, 'tis a wonder to see how foolishly and idly these applauded Heralds play the Philosophers, Astrologers, and Divines, while they ascribe black and brown to Saturn; and therefore Perseverance, Pati∣ence, and Taciturnity to him also: But Saphyr, and Azure, Faith and Zeal, belongs to Jupiter. Over Red, which signifies Anger and Revenge, they give Mars dominion. The Golden Colour they dedicate to the Sun; and by reason of the Price of the one, and the Lustre of the other, think it signifies desire and joy. Over Green and Purple Venus is made chief Ruler; to Purple by reason of its Rosie beautie, ascribing the sig∣nification of Love, though the French will have it to denote Treachery: but Green by the consent of all, was the Emblem of Hope, seeing that from the green Fields Fruit is expected at the end of the year. White is ascrib'd to the Moon, which being simple without mixture, yet is it capable of all mixture, and there∣fore they will have it to denote Purity, Docility, and Simplicity of heart. All other mixt Colours they as∣sign'd 〈◊〉Mercury, who being himself inconstant and of several humours, so they observe that those humours signifie the various Affections of the Minde: As Ash-colour being neer to Black, signifies Trouble: Flesh-co∣lour inward Grief of the Soul, or secret and hidden Thoughts: Straw-colour, Desperation and Suspition, or Jealousie. Too long it would be to repeat their Trifles of the same nature, feigned and digested into Emblems,
Page 279
from the Water, Days, corners of the World, Winds, Wood, Planets, Plants, Stones, and the very Mysteries and Sacraments of Religion: Nay, they have translated all the Apocalypse into Fables and Trifles of their own in∣vention: And this is that Heroick Philosophy of the Heralds. And here I had made an end of this Discourse, had I not met with the Original of these Heralds. Aeneas Sylvnius deduces the Original of the Heralds from the Heroes. Now these Heroes were old Souldiers, which they ought also to be; and Harald the Teutonick word, signifies an old man in Arms, or a Veterane Souldier. But now every Servile and Mechanick-fellow, fecial Messengers, and Caduceators, frequently are admitted to the Employment. However, the Priviledges and Offices of Heralds remain inviolable to this very day. Their first Institutor was Father Bacchus, who having conquer'd India, gave them their first beginning, in these words: This day I free you from War and Labour; I will that ye be called Veterane Souldiers and Heroes. Your busi∣ness shall be now to take care of the Commonwealth, to punish the bad and cherish the good. From other Offices ye shall be free, in whatever part of the world ye shall be found. Your Diet and Clothing shall be at the King's Charge: Ye shall be honourable among all men; Princes shall send ye Gifts: Firm credit and authority shall be given to your words; ye shall abhor Lying, ye shall sit and judge Tratyors; those who ill entreat their Wives, ye shall adjudge infamous: Ye shall be free in all Countries, secure in Travel and Habitation: Whosoever shall molest or injure any of you, shall be put to death. Alexander the Great, after many Ages following, added very much to their Priviledges, giving them liberty to wear Garments of Gold, Purple, and Scarlet; as also to bear Royal Coats and Escutch•ons in whatsoever part of the world they inhabited. If any person struck them, or injur'd them in words, they forfeited their Goods as guilty of Trea∣son.
Page 280
All which Thucydides, Herodotus, Didymus, Maga∣sthones, and Xenophon have related, as the same Aeneas reports. Thirdly, Octavianus Augustus, being settled in the Roman Empire, incorporated them, and gave them several Laws: Whoever thou art that has serv'd us in the Wars ten years, provided thou art forty years of age, whether thou wert a Footman or a Horseman, after that thou shalt be free from farther service; let him be a Heroe and a Veterane: Let free access be given thee to all Cities, Pleading-places, Temples, publick and private Houses: Let no man accuse thee of any Crime, impose any Burthen on thee, or exact any Money from thee. If thou hast done amiss, onely expect to be punish'd by Cae∣sar: Whatever foul act men commit, let them expect thee their Judge, and the Proclaimer of their Miscarriages, whether private or publick persons: what thou shalt af∣firm or say▪ let no man contradict, whether Prince or private person. Let all High-ways and places be open to thee. In the houses of Great men let there be a Table provided for thee. Sufficient to keep thee and thy Fami∣ly, receive out of the publick Treasury. Let thy lawful Wife take place of other women. Whom thou shalt contemn and name for infamous, let him be contemn'd, and esteem'd infamous. Let a Heroe bear the Ensignes, Arms, Names and Ornaments of Kings. What thou hast a minde to do or say, that do or say in any part of the World, in any Country or Nation whatsoever: be that injures thee, let him want a head. At last Charles the Great ha∣ving obtain'd the name of the Empire into Germany, and being stil'd Caesar Augustus, after he had overcome the Saxons and Lombards, honour'd them as follows: My fellow-Souldiers, said he, ye shall be call'd Heroes, Companions of Kings, and Judges of Crimes: Live henceforward free from Labour, consult and advise with Kings for the Publick good, reprehend soul Actions; be kinde to Women, and be tender over Orphans; encompass
Page 281
Princes with your counsels: From them demand your Food. Apparel▪ and Wages; whoever denies ye, let him be dishonourable and infamous: He that offers ye injury, let him confess himself guilty of High Treason. And for your parts, take you heed, that so great Honours, so great Priviledges acquir'd by the labours of War, that ye stain them not, nor defile them with Drunkenness, or any other Vice: that what we give for your Glory, may not redound to your Punishment; the infliction whereof, if ye exceed your bounds, we reserve to our selves and our Successors Kings of the Romans. And this is the mag∣nificent Degree of Heraldry, for which by ancient Custom, they esteem themselves so great.
Of Heraldry.
NObility was the Foundation of that noble Art of Heraldry, and Philosophy has been very much employ'd in designing and ordering the Arms of No∣blemen, for whom it is unlawful to bear in their Coats an Ox, a Calf, a Sheep, a Lamb, a Capon, a Hen, or any of those Creatures which are necessary for the use of Mankind; but they must all carry for the Ensignes of their Nobility, the resemblances of cruel Monsters, and Birds of Prey. Thus the Romans chose to carry an Eagle, the most rapacious of all Birds: the Phry∣gians a Boar, a most pernicious Animal: the Thracians, Mars: the Goths, a Bear: and the Vandals invading Spain, carried a Cat, a creature most greedy, and trea∣cherous withal: the ancient Franks, a Lion: the Sax∣ons, the same. Afterwards the Franks remaining in Gallia, chose the Owl: the Saxons a Horse, a most warlike creature. The Cymbrians had for their En∣signe a Bull, the Emblem of strength and good for∣tune. Antiochus had for his Imprese an Eagle holding a Dragon in her pounces. Pompey bare in his Shield a
Page 277
Lion; Attila, a crowned Basilisk. The Romans, whose Capitol was preserv'd from the Gauls by the Geese that were fed therein, yet could not be perswaded to carry a Goose for their Shield. There are that admit Cocks and Goats into their Shields, because those crea∣tures are known to be proud and lustful. For the same reason Peacocks are receiv'd, because of their pride; and the Lapwing or Heath-hen, for that she seems to carry the Emblem of Majesty, wearing the resemblance of a Crown on her head: Nor is she re∣fus'd, because she makes her Neast in Excrements, for we know that Vespatian impos'd a tribute upon Piss, acknowledging, That the smell of Gain was always sweet. There be many of smaller Animals also that claim a prerogative in the Shields of great men, provided they be the Documentors of mischief: Such are Coneys, Moles, Frogs, Locusts, Mice, Serpents, Salpeges, Sco∣lopenders; through the multitude of which sort of A∣nimals, as Pliny testifies, people have been forc'd to forsake their Habitations, and Cities have been for∣saken: For the same reason, some have not been a∣sham'd to bear Lice, Fleas, and Flies; and some there are that count it a great honour to be mark'd with Blains and Botches, while there are those that hold them for the best Gentlemen that have been most pep∣per'd with the French Pox. Some there are that bear for their Arms Swords, Daggers, Faulcheons, Towers, Battlements, Engines of War, Fire-works, and what∣soever other Instruments of Murther and Mischief. The Scythians carry Thunder for their Arms, the Per∣sians a Bow and Arrows, the Coralli Wheels. Thus a∣mong the Gods Jupiter carried Thunder, Neptune a Trident, Mars a Spear, Bacchus a Thyrse, Hercules a Club, and Saturn a Scithe. And these Ensignes of Ar∣mory, as they are the Emblems of Cruelty, Rapine, Violence, Fortitude, Rashness, and other Heroick Ver∣tues,
Page 278
are by the judgment of the Heralds, some nobler than others. Now those Shields that are blazo••d with things that are less noxious, as Trees, Flowers, Stars, as the Harp of Apollo▪ the Caduceus of Mercury, or are otherwise distinguish'd onely by variety of Co∣lours, these are accompted much more modern, and less noble than the other, as not being acquir'd by any Acts of War, or other Artifices of Ruine and Destru∣ction. However, 'tis a wonder to see how foolishly and idly these applauded Heralds play the Philosophers, Astrologers, and Divines, while they ascribe black and brown to Saturn; and therefore Perseverance, Pati∣ence, and Taciturnity to him also: But Saphyr, and Azure, Faith and Zeal, belongs to Jupiter. Over Red, which signifies Anger and Revenge, they give Mars dominion. The Golden Colour they dedicate to the Sun; and by reason of the Price of the one, and the Lustre of the other, think it signifies desire and joy. Over Green and Purple Venus is made chief Ruler; to Purple by reason of its Rosie beautie, ascribing the sig∣nification of Love, though the French will have it to denote Treachery: but Green by the consent of all, was the Emblem of Hope, seeing that from the green Fields Fruit is expected at the end of the year. White is ascrib'd to the Moon, which being simple without mixture, yet is it capable of all mixture, and there∣fore they will have it to denote Purity, Docility, and Simplicity of heart. All other mixt Colours they as∣sign'd 〈◊〉Mercury, who being himself inconstant and of several humours, so they observe that those humours signifie the various Affections of the Minde: As Ash-colour being neer to Black, signifies Trouble: Flesh-co∣lour inward Grief of the Soul, or secret and hidden Thoughts: Straw-colour, Desperation and Suspition, or Jealousie. Too long it would be to repeat their Trifles of the same nature, feigned and digested into Emblems,
Page 279
from the Water, Days, corners of the World, Winds, Wood, Planets, Plants, Stones, and the very Mysteries and Sacraments of Religion: Nay, they have translated all the Apocalypse into Fables and Trifles of their own in∣vention: And this is that Heroick Philosophy of the Heralds. And here I had made an end of this Discourse, had I not met with the Original of these Heralds. Aeneas Sylvnius deduces the Original of the Heralds from the Heroes. Now these Heroes were old Souldiers, which they ought also to be; and Harald the Teutonick word, signifies an old man in Arms, or a Veterane Souldier. But now every Servile and Mechanick-fellow, fecial Messengers, and Caduceators, frequently are admitted to the Employment. However, the Priviledges and Offices of Heralds remain inviolable to this very day. Their first Institutor was Father Bacchus, who having conquer'd India, gave them their first beginning, in these words: This day I free you from War and Labour; I will that ye be called Veterane Souldiers and Heroes. Your busi∣ness shall be now to take care of the Commonwealth, to punish the bad and cherish the good. From other Offices ye shall be free, in whatever part of the world ye shall be found. Your Diet and Clothing shall be at the King's Charge: Ye shall be honourable among all men; Princes shall send ye Gifts: Firm credit and authority shall be given to your words; ye shall abhor Lying, ye shall sit and judge Tratyors; those who ill entreat their Wives, ye shall adjudge infamous: Ye shall be free in all Countries, secure in Travel and Habitation: Whosoever shall molest or injure any of you, shall be put to death. Alexander the Great, after many Ages following, added very much to their Priviledges, giving them liberty to wear Garments of Gold, Purple, and Scarlet; as also to bear Royal Coats and Escutch•ons in whatsoever part of the world they inhabited. If any person struck them, or injur'd them in words, they forfeited their Goods as guilty of Trea∣son.
Page 280
All which Thucydides, Herodotus, Didymus, Maga∣sthones, and Xenophon have related, as the same Aeneas reports. Thirdly, Octavianus Augustus, being settled in the Roman Empire, incorporated them, and gave them several Laws: Whoever thou art that has serv'd us in the Wars ten years, provided thou art forty years of age, whether thou wert a Footman or a Horseman, after that thou shalt be free from farther service; let him be a Heroe and a Veterane: Let free access be given thee to all Cities, Pleading-places, Temples, publick and private Houses: Let no man accuse thee of any Crime, impose any Burthen on thee, or exact any Money from thee. If thou hast done amiss, onely expect to be punish'd by Cae∣sar: Whatever foul act men commit, let them expect thee their Judge, and the Proclaimer of their Miscarriages, whether private or publick persons: what thou shalt af∣firm or say▪ let no man contradict, whether Prince or private person. Let all High-ways and places be open to thee. In the houses of Great men let there be a Table provided for thee. Sufficient to keep thee and thy Fami∣ly, receive out of the publick Treasury. Let thy lawful Wife take place of other women. Whom thou shalt contemn and name for infamous, let him be contemn'd, and esteem'd infamous. Let a Heroe bear the Ensignes, Arms, Names and Ornaments of Kings. What thou hast a minde to do or say, that do or say in any part of the World, in any Country or Nation whatsoever: be that injures thee, let him want a head. At last Charles the Great ha∣ving obtain'd the name of the Empire into Germany, and being stil'd Caesar Augustus, after he had overcome the Saxons and Lombards, honour'd them as follows: My fellow-Souldiers, said he, ye shall be call'd Heroes, Companions of Kings, and Judges of Crimes: Live henceforward free from Labour, consult and advise with Kings for the Publick good, reprehend soul Actions; be kinde to Women, and be tender over Orphans; encompass
Page 281
Princes with your counsels: From them demand your Food. Apparel▪ and Wages; whoever denies ye, let him be dishonourable and infamous: He that offers ye injury, let him confess himself guilty of High Treason. And for your parts, take you heed, that so great Honours, so great Priviledges acquir'd by the labours of War, that ye stain them not, nor defile them with Drunkenness, or any other Vice: that what we give for your Glory, may not redound to your Punishment; the infliction whereof, if ye exceed your bounds, we reserve to our selves and our Successors Kings of the Romans. And this is the mag∣nificent Degree of Heraldry, for which by ancient Custom, they esteem themselves so great.