O much of the definition and generall rules of Blazon. Now will I proceed to the distribution thereof.

The Blazon of Armes consisteth in their

{ Accidents,
{ and
{ Parts.

I call those notes or markes, Accidents of Armes that have no inherent qualitie or participation of the substance or Essence of them, but may bee annexed unto them, or taken from them, their substance still remaining; for so doth Porphyrius define the same, saying, Accidens potest adesse & abesse sine subjecti interitu. Accidents may be said to be cosen Germans to no thing: For so after a sort doth Aristotle reckon of them saying, Accidens videtur esse propinquum non enti, Metaph.6. For they have no being of themselves but as they are in things of being, or annexed to them. As the same Author further noteth, Metaph.7. Accidentia non sunt entia, nisi quia sunt entis.

Such Accidents as are heere meant are these. Viz.

{ Tincture,
{ and
{ Differences.

Tincture is a variable hew of Armes and is common aswell to Differences of Armes as to the Armes themselves.

And the same is distributed into

{ Colours,
{ and
{ Furres.

Colour, may be said to be an externall die, wherewith any thing is coloured or stained, or else it may be said to be the glosse of a body beutified with light.

And this colour heere mentioned is both

{ Generall,
{ and
{ Speciall.

By generall Colour, I understand the proper and natural colour of each particular thing, whether the same be Naturall or Artificiall, of what kind soever that are depicted and set foorth in their externall and proper beauty. In this respect all colours whatsoever (without exception) may seeme to pertaine to this Art, for so much as there is nothing in this world subjected to the sight of man, but either is, or aptly may be borne in Armes; so spacious and generall is the scope of Armory. In blazoning of things borne in their naturall or proper colour, you shall onely tearme them to be borne proper, which is a blazon sufficient for things of that kind, and well fitting their property or nature, for their are no terme of blazon allowed to things borne after that sort.

By speciall colours, I meane such colours, as by a certaine peculiar propertie (as it were) doe belong to this Art of Armory.

These are both

{ Simple,
{ and
{ Mixt.

Simple colours are those, whose existence is of such absolute perfection (in their kinde) as that they neede not the participation of any other colour to make them absolute, but doe communicate their naturall qualities to all other colours, to make them perfect, in which respect they are called elementa coloris, as shall be shewed heereafter.

And those are

{ White,
{ and
{ Blacke.

To these in right belongeth the first place amongst colours, because in the order of nature they were before al other colours: Priora enim sunt compositis incomposita: and are of Aristotle called, Elementa cælorum, saying, Albus & niger sunt elementa cælorum mediorum. Onely White and Blacke are accounted simple colours, because all other colours whatsoever are raised either of an equall or unequall mixture or composition of these two, which are (as I may tearme them) their common parents. These are said to be the common parents of all colours, in respect they have their originall being from them and so proceed to the rest that wee call colores Medii in respect of their participation of both. Now forasmuch as practise is the scope of Doctrines, (to the end those things that are, or shall bee delivered, may bee the better concerned and borne in memory) I have thought good to manifest them by particular examples of ocular demonstration, in the plainest manner that I can devise, Quia qualis est rerum demonstratio, talis futura est hominum scientia.

White is a colour that consisteth of very much light; as it is of Scribonius defined, Albedo est color simplex in corpore tenuiore multa lumanositate constans: to which black is contrary. Note, as colours may be resembled to things of greatest Nobility or reputation, so is their worthiness accounted of accordingly.

The colour white is resembled to the light, and the dignity thereof reckoned more worthy then the blacke, by how much the light and the day is of more esteeme then darknesse and the night, whereunto blacke is likened. Furthermore white is accounted more worthy then blacke, in respect of the more worthy use thereof. For men in ancient time were accustomed to note things well and laudably performed (and esteemed worthy to be kept in memorie) with white, and contrarywise whatsoever was holden reprochful or dishonourable, was noted with blacke, as the Poet noteth, saying:

Quæ laudanda forent, & quæ culpauda vicissim,
Illa prius creta, mox hæc carbone notasti.

Moreover white challengeth the precedency of blacke (according to Upton) in respect of the priority of time, for that it was in nature before blacke, which is a deprivation thereof. Like as darknesse whereunto blacke is resembled, is an exemption of light, Omnis enim privatio præsupponit habitum. Finally Upton Preferreth white before blacke, in regard that white is more easily discerned and furthest seene in the Field.

This colour is most commonly taken in Blazon for the metall Silver, and is termed Argent, wheresoever the same is found, either in Field or Charge. In composition of Armes it is accounted a fault worthy blame to blazon it otherwise; but in doubling of Mantles it is not so taken: for therein it is not understood to be a metall, but the skinne or furre of a little beast called a Lytuite, so named (as I conceive) Lithuania now called Luten a part of Sarmatia, consining upon Polonia. This Furre hath beene heeretofore much used by the antient Matrons of the honourable Citie of London, even by those that were of the chiefest account, who ware the same in a kind of Bonnet called corruptly a Lettice Cappe.

Blacke is a color contrary to White, having little participation of light, and is of Scribonius thus defined, Nigredo est color in corpore crassiore exiguæ luminocsiatis particeps. Whereby it is apparent that blacke is of lesse perfection then white. This colour is called in blazon Sable of the latine word Sabulum, which signifieth, grosse, sand or gravell, in respect of the heavy and earthy substance, wherein it aboundeth above all others. And this colour is reputed farre inferior in dignity to white, and is likened to darknesse called in latine Tenebræ eò quod teneant, id est, impediant oculos, & visum prohibeant. Note that the rest of those speciall colours before mentioned, besides white and blacke, are called Colores medii, that they have their primary Essence from these, either by an equall or unevenfor corporation or mixture of these two together: and in regard of these two extremes from which they have their being, cannot properly be called Colores, nisi per participationem.

Now as touching Colores medii, or mixed Colours; it is to be understood, that they are raised by the contemperation or mixture of the two Simples formerlie handled, as may appeare by the Definition of Scribonius, who saith, Mixtus color est, qui ex Simplicium contemperatione producitur.

Of these according to Scribonius, some are

{ Exactly compounded of both the Simples.
{ Declining more to the one then to the other, in an
{   unequall proportion.

That Colour which is said to bee exactly compounded, doth participate of the two Simples indifferently, in a just proportion, as Red; which Scribonius thus defineth: Rubedo est color æquali simul Albedinis & Nigredinis combinatione constans. This colour representeth Fire, which is the chiefest of the Elements, and the lightsomest and cleerest, and in blazoning is termed Gules.

This Colour is bright Yellow, which is compounded of much White, and a little Red, as if you should take two parts of White, and but one of Red. This Colour in Armes is blazed by the name of Or, which is as much to say as Aurum, which is Gold: and it is commonly called Gold Yellow, because it doth lively represent that most excellent Metall, the possession whereof inchanteth the hearts of fooles, and the colour whereof blindeth the eies of the wise. Of the excellencie of this metal, Hesiodus hath this saying: Aurum est in corporibus sicut Sol inter stellas. And therefore such is the worthinesse of this Colour which doth resemble it, that (as Christine de Pice holdeth) none ought to beare the same in Armes, but Emperours and Kings, and such as be of the Bloud Royall, though indeed it be in use more common. And as this metall excelleth all other in value, puritie, and finenesse; so ought the Bearer (as much as in him lieth) indevour to surpasse all other in Prowesse and Vertue.

This Colour is Greene, which consisteth of more Blacke, and of lesse Red, as appeareth by the Definition: Viridus est color Nigredine copiosiore, & Rubedine minore contemperatus. This color is blazoned Vert, and is called in Latine Viridus, à vigore, in regard of the strength, freshnesse, and livelinesse thereof; and therefore best resembleth youth, in that most vegitables, so long as they flourish, are beautified with this verdure: and is a colour most wholsome and pleasant to the eie, except it be in a young Gentlewomans face.

Blew is a Colour which consisteth of much Red, and of little White, and doth represent the colour of the Skie in a cleere Sunne-shining day. This in Blazon is termed Azure.

Purpure is a Colour that consisteth of much Red, and of a small quantitie of Blacke, and is thus defined: Purpureus color est, qui à multa Rubedine, & pauciore Nigredine commiscetur. Cassàneus having formerly handled those former six Colours, viz. White, Blacke, Red, Yellow, Greene, and Blew, saith that of them all (being compounded and mixed together according to proportion) this Purpure Colour is raised. This Colour usually hath no other name in Blazon.

Tawney (saith Leigh) is a Colour of worship, and of some Heralds it is called Bruske, and is most commonly borne of French Gentlemen, but very few doe beare it in England. In Blazon it is knowen by the name of Tenne. It is (saith he) the surest colour that is (or so bright a hew being compounded) for it is made of two bright colours, which are Red and Yellow: neither shall you have any Colour so made among all that may be devised; and not to be stainand.

The last of the seven mixed colours, we doe commonly call Murrey, but in Blazon, Sanguine, and is (as most truly saith Leigh) a Princeley Colour, being indeed one of the colors appertaining of ancient time to the Prince of Wales. It is a colour of great estimation, and very stately, and is of use in certaine roabes of the Knights of the Bath. Some Heralds of approved judgement doe hardly admit these two last mentioned for Colours of Fields, in regard they are reckoned Staynand Colours. Yet some Coats of Armes there are, and those of reverend antiquitie, whose Fields are of those Colours, for which respect they have beene allowed for Colours of Fields, as Sir John Ferne in his Glorie of Generositie noteth. This kinde of bearing, Leigh doth instance in two English Gentlemen of ancient Houses, that have of long time borne Tawney in their Armes: the one of them he nameth Hounzaker, and the other Finers.