O much of such notes are necessary to be observed, for the better understanding of these things that shall bee heereafter delivered, touching the subject of this worke. Now wee proceed to the practique exercise of these Armoriall tokens which pertaine to the function of Heralds, and is termed Armorie, and may be thus defined. Armory is an Art rightly prescribing the true knowledge and use of Armes.

Now like as in things natural the effects do evermore immediatly ensue their causes, even so division which is a demonstration of the extent & power of things, must by immediate consequence follow difinition, which doth expresse the nature of the thing defined. Division is a distribution of things common, into things particular or lesse common. The use thereof consisteth heerein, that by the assistance of this division, words of large intendment and signification, are reduced to their definite and determinate sense and meaning, that so the mind of the learner be not misled through the ambiguity of words, either of manifold or uncertaine interpretations. Moreover it serveth to illuminate the understanding of the learner, and to make him more capable of such things as are delivered, Ea enim quæ divisum traduntur facilius intelliguntur.

The practise hereof shal be manifested in the distribution of the skil of Armory, withal the parts and complements therof throughout this whole work.

This skill of Armory consisteth,

{ Blazoning,
{ and
{ Marshalling.

Blazon is taken, either strictly for an explication of Armes in apt and significant termes: or else, it is taken largely for a display of the vertues of the bearers of Armes: in which sense Cassaneus defineth the same in this manner, Blazonia est quasi alicuius vera laudatio sub quibusdam signis, secundum prudentiam, justitiam, fortudinem & temperantiam. A certaine French Armorist, saith, that to blazon is to expresse what the shapes, kinds, and colour of things born in Armes are together with their apt significations.

Like as definitions are forerunners of divisions, even so divisions also have precedence of rules. To speake properly of a rule: It may be said to be any straight or levell thing, whereby lines are drawne in a direct and even forme. In resemblance whereof, we heere understand it, to be a briefe precept or instruction for knowing or doing of things aright, as witnesseth Calepine, saying Regula per translationem dicitur brevis rerum æceptio, that is to say, a compendious or ready instruction of matters. It followeth therefore, by due order of consequence, that I should annex such rules as are peculiar to blazon in genere. For other particular rules must be reserved to more proper places.

The aptest rules for this place, are these immediatly following: In Blazoning you must use an advised deliberation before you enter thereunto, for having once begun, to recall the same, doth argue an inconsiderate forwardnesse meriting just reprehension.

The more compendious your Blazon is, by so much is it holden the more commendable, Quia quod brevius est semper delect abilius habetur. Therefore you must shun multiplicity of impertinent words in your Blazon, Frustraenim fit per plura quod fieri potest per pauciora. But herein you must observe this Caution that whilst you labour to bee compendious, you omit nothing materiall or necessary to be expressed: for as the one doth ecclipse the understanding, so the other is offensive to memory, as Aristotle noteth, saying, Omnis sermo si sit brevior quam oportet, obscurat intellectum, si autem longior difficile erit retentioni.

You must take speciall heed to words in Blazon, for a different forme of Blazoning maketh the Armes cease to be the same; Diversias enim nominis inducit diversitatem rei, in tantum quod nomina sunt significativa rerum.

You must not be too full of conceits in Blazon, nor over forward in speech.

You must use no iteration or repetition of words, in blazoning of one Coate.

Especially of any of these foure words, viz.

{ Of.
{ Or.
{ And.
{ With.

{ For the doubling of any of these,
{ is counted a great fault, insomuch
{ as the offender heerein is deemed
{ unworthy to blazon a coate Armour.

In Blazoning you must have regard of the things that are borne in Armes: as also whereunto they may bee resembled, whether they bee naturall or artificiall and so to commend them accordingly.

In the Blazoning of any Coate, you must evermore observe this speciall rule. First to beginne with the field, and then to proceed to the blazon of the Charge, if any be. Moreover if the Field bee occupied with sundry things, whether the same be of one or divers kinds: you must first nominate that which lieth next and immediately upon the field, and then blazon that which is more remote from the same. What Field and Charge are, shall bee shewed in their proper places. Interim oportet discentem credere.

Cassaneus holdeth, that where the chiefe of an Escocheon is of one colour, or mettle, or more, you should blazon the chiefe first; but I hold it more consonant to reason, to begin with the Field (because of the priority thereof in nature, as also in respect that it is the continent) rather then with the Charge, which is the thing contained, and so consequently last in nature. Neverthelesse the French Armorists for the most part doe blazon, the Charge first and the Field after, which is a course meerely repugnant to nature: by whose prescript order, the place must have precedence of the thing placed, and the continent of the thing contained: wherefore our Heralds manner of blazon is more agreeable to reason then theirs. Out of the sundry formes of blazon (used by other Authors) I have made speciall choise of three that are most ancient and necessary; viz. the first, by Metals and Colours; the second, by precious stones; and the third, by the celestiall planets; in respect that these of all other doe best fit my purpose; which is, to apply to each particular state of Gentry, a blazon correspondent. As for example, to Gentlemen having no title of dignity, blazon by Metale and Colours: to persons ennoblished by the Soveraigne, by precious stones: and to Emperours, Monarchs, Kings and Princes, blazon by planets.

The two last of these three selected formes, are not to bee used in the blazoning of the Coate-armors of Gentlemen that are not advanced to some degree of Nobility, unlesse they be rarely qualified, or of speciall desert.

These selected formes of blazon, doe seeme to imply a necessity of their invention; to the end, that aswell by Blazon; as by degree, noble men might be distinguished, from gentlemen; and persons of Majesty, from those of noble linage; that so a due Decorum may be observed in each degree, according to the dignity of their persons: for that it is a thing unfitting, either to handle a meane argument in a lofty stile, or a stately argument in a meane.