O much of the Accidents of Armes, viz. Tinctures and Differences, comprehended in the first part of our premised distribution. Now of the second member thereof, viz. Parts of Armes.

The parts of Armes are the

{ Escocheon,
{
{ Ornaments without the Escocheon.

An Escocheon is the forme or representation of a Shield of what kind soever, and is so called of the Latine word Scutum, which hath the same signification: whence also an Esquire or Page, takes his name, of Scutiger, signifying primarily a Target-bearer. And the Target is not unaptly deduced from the Latine word tergus, a beasts hide, whereof at first Shields were made: whereupon Pliny saith, Tergus ad scuta galeasque impenetrabile, An impenetrable hide fit to make a Shield. And the Poet Statius: --- cæsis clypeos uestire ivvencis: With bullocks hides they clad their shields. Whence Virgil cals Ajax his Buckler, Septemplex, for the seven-fold doublings of leather: as elsewhere he describes a Target, --- duo taurea terga: made of two Oxe-hides. But the Clearest Starre of our Profession, M^r.Clarenceaux takes it from the British word Tarian, and that from the French Thireos, which Pausanias saith, is the Buckler in use amongst the old Gaules. If any here should aske me, why then Escocheons should bee used in Heraldrie, sith other men are invested with Ensignes of honour, besides Martiall men; I answer them, that as to Militarie men that token is proper for reward of that kinde of service; so if others by their Vertues, Arts, or Actions, advance either the honour or the welfare of their Country, their service is as behoovefull as the others, and themselves as Defenders or Preservers of their Countries peace and happinesse, deserve likewise the reward of the Escocheon, being the Hieroglyphicke or Embleme of defense and preserving. In which respect, that good Prophet Eliah was called The Chariots and Horsemen of Israel. And by the Civill Law, (Imp.in L.Advoc. C.de Advoc.) an Advocate is said to be Miles, a Martiall man, and to have the same prerogatives, in that they doe civium vitam & patrimonium defendere, defend the life and livelihood of the Subjects. Touching the divers formes of Shields, I will not heere speake; every Countrey almost having their divers makings: amongst which, the smallest were in use amongst our old Britaines, as being most manageable; and the greatest amongst the Romans and Grecians, as may appeare by Alexander, who being to passe a river, used his Shield for his Boat, and his Speare for his Ruther to guide himselfe over. And it was ever held more dishonorable for a man to lose his Buckler, then his sword in field, because it is more praise-worthy to defend a friend then to hurt a foe, as a Noble Generall once said: Mallem unum Civem, &c. I had rather save one good Subject, then kill an hundred enemies.

The Accidents in this Escocheon are

{ Points.
{
{ Abatements.

Points are certaine places in an Escocheon diversly named according to their severall Positions.

Whereof some are

{ Middle.
{
{ Remote.

The Middle Points are those that have their location in or neere to the Center of the Escocheon.

Such are these, viz. the

{ Honour
{ Fesse
{ Nombrill

}
} Points
}

The Fesse Point is the exact Center of the Escocheon. The Honour Point is the next above the same in a direct line. The Nombrill is next underneath the Fesse Point, answering in a like distance from the Fesse Point, as Gerard Leigh hath set them downe.

Remote Points are those that have their situation naturally in places further distant from the Center of the Escocheon.

Of these some are

{ Superior.
{
{ Inferior.

The Superior Remote Points are those that have their being in the upper part of the Escocheon.

Of these there are

{ Middle,
{
{ Extremes.

The Superior Middle Point doth occupie the precise Middest of the Cheefe betweene the two Extremes. The two Superior Extreme Points do possesse the Corners of the Cheefe part of the Escocheon.

And are termed

{ Dexter,
{
{ Sinister.

The Superior Dexter Point hath his beginning neere unto the Right Corner of the Escocheon in the Cheefe thereof. The Superior Sinister Point is placed nere the Left Angle of the Cheefe, in opposition to the Dexter Cheefe; whereunto, as also to the Middle Cheefe Point, it answereth in a direct line.

The Inferior Points doe occupie the Base of the Escocheon, and thereof have their denomination, and are called Inferior, because they are seated in the lower parts thereof.

Of these also there are both

{ Middle,
{
{ Remote.

Note, that each of these doe answer in opposition unto the severall Superior Cheefe Points above mentioned, in a direct line, insomuch as by them the location of these might be easily conceived without any further description of them, quia posito uno contrariorum, ponitur & alter. Neverthelesse, because those things that are delivered dividedly, are best conceived and understood, I will particularize these as I have done the former, beginning with the Middle Point.

The Middle Base Point doth occupie the exact Middest of the Base of the Escocheon, and answereth perpendicularly to the Middle Superior and Inferior Points. And in like sort doe both the Inferior Base Extremes answer in an equi-distant proportion to the Extremes of the Superior Points placed in the Corner of the Escocheon. That Extreme Base Point on the right hand is named the Dexter Base Point, and that on the left hand is the Sinister Base. And for the better explanation of that which hath beene heere delivered touching the Points of an Escocheon, I have heere (because examples adde light) expressed the same by manifest demonstartions, placing severall letters upon every of the said Points, accordingly to the description before mentioned. As there is a preheminence in the priority of nomination of things, so is there also in their locall distribution: wherefore you must have respect unto the points of an Escocheon, for therein also consisteth a dignity, in asmuch as one point or place of the Escocheon, is more worthy then another, whereunto you must have regard in blazoning, Qui à dignioribus semper est incipiendum. What those points of an Escocheon are, appeareth in the last precedent Escocheon.

{ A
{ B
{ C
{ D
{ E
{ F
{ G
{ H
{ I

}
}
}
}
} Signifieth
}
}
}
}

{ Dexter Chiefe
{ Precise Middest
{ Sinister Chiefe
{ Honour
{ Fesse
{ Nombrill
{ Dexter Base
{ Exact Middest
{ Sinister Base

}
}
}
}
}Points.
}
}
}
}

The knowledge of these Points is very requisit, in respect, that when divers of these Points are occupied with sundry things of different kinds (as oft-times it falleth out in some Escocheons) you may bee able thereby to assigne unto each Point his apt and peculiar name, according to the dignity of his place. For no man can perfectly Blazon any such Coate, unlesse he doth rightlie understand the particular Points of the Escocheon.