Aving formerly handled in the first Section the Common Accidents of an Escocheon, viz. Points and Abatements: Now will I proceede to shew their severall kinds.

Escocheons are either of

{ One Tincture.
{
{ More then one.

Those Escocheons are said to be of one Tincture that hath onely some one Metall, Colour or Furre, appearing in the Shield of any Nobleman or Gentleman. Concerning this forme of Bearing, it hath beene holden of some writers a matter doubtfull, whether one Metall, Colour or Furre borne alone in a Shield be ancient or honourable: S^r. John Ferne affirmeth such Bearing to be false Armes, and not worth the receiving, except in some speciall cases; being perhaps thereunto induced, because it was reckoned among the Romans a thing reprochfull to beare a naked Shield without any Portraicture, in regard it was a usuall thing with men of valour and courage to have their Shields painted.

White Shields were accustomed to be bestowed upon such as were Novices in Martiall Affaires, or (as wee commonly call them) Freshwater Souldiers, to the end they might in future time merit to have them garnished with the titles and testimonies of their valourous deserts, untill which time such Shields were reckoned inglorious: as Virgil noteth in his Æneidos lib.II.
            Ense levis nudo, parmaque inglorius alba:
                       Quick he was with naked sword,
                       But white Shield did no praise afford.

Contrariwise, Leigh reckoneth such unportraicted bearing to bee good, and withall very ancient, grounding his assertion (if I be not deceived) upon the I. Kings 10.16. where it is said that King Salomon made 200. Targets of beaten gold, and that 600. Sheckles of gold went to a Target; as also that he made 300. Shields of beaten gold, and that three pound of gold went to one Shield.

That these Shields were void of Portraictures, it may be probably conjectured, in that there is no mention of any; for otherwise, such might have been the curiousnesse and excellency of their workmanship, as that it might have beene prized above the worth of the gold it selfe: an example wherof, Ovid in Metamor. lib. 2. giveth, where describing the glorious beauty of the Palace of the Sunne, he saith,
            Argentei bifores radiabant lumine valuæ,
            Materiam superbat opus: nam Mulciber ille, &c.
                       The two leav'd silver gates bright raies did cast,
                       Rich stuffe, but Vulcans Art therein surpast.

Furthermore we reade that Alex. Severus the Emperour had certaine golden Shields, whose bearers were named Chrysoaspides, the Golden-shield-bearers. And as touching the Bearers of Shields made of cleane Silver, we reade that Alex.Macedo had such whose Bearers were named Argyroaspides, Silver-shield-bearers, which manner of bearing (saith Alex. ab Alex.) they borrowed of the Samnites. Neither is there any mention that these were garnished with any Embossements, Graving, or Portraictures.

Now to prove, that not onely Metals, but Colours also have beene anciently borne alone in Shields: I will note unto you the words of the Prophet Nahum, Chap.2. where it is said, Clypeus potentum eius rubricatus, bellatores coccinati, &c. The shield of the mighty ones were redde, &c. alluding to their bloody fights.

It was the manner of the Scythians, Medes, and Persians, to have their Shields of Redde colour, to the end that the effusion of their blood should not easily bee discovered (when they received any wound) either to the discouragement of themselves, or animating of their enemies. Moreover, these Nations used Scarlet and Red colors in their Military garments, and Shields, to the end they might therby strike the greater terror & astonishment into the hearts of their Enemies. Of this sort of Bearing, I find in a note worthy of credit, amongst the Coat-Armours of many Noble Personages, and valorous Gentlemen, that did attend the person of K.Edward I. (in his Expedition that he made into the parts of Scotland to the siege of Kalaverock) that one Fumenius de la Brect, did beare in his Shield onely Gules. Finally, that Furres also have been borne alone in Shields (without any Charge) aswell as Metals, and Colours (besides the Coate-armour of the Duke of Britaine) I could produce many examples even to this day; were not the use heereof so vulgar, as that it is altogether impertinent to give instance therein.

This kind of bearing, is of Leigh termed Simple bearing, and is much in use with persons nobly descended, and Gentlemen of good reputation have long borne the same, as Ferrars of Chartley, Beauchamp, Somerset, Marmion, Staunton, and others.