Rom Shields or Escocheons consisting of one Tincture onely, wee come to such as have more Tinctures then one. Such Escocheon is that, wherein divers colours are represented to our sight.

Of this some have Tincture

{ Predominating,
{
{ Not Predominating.

Tincture is said to predominate, when some one Metall, Colour, or Furre, is spread, or (at least) understood to bee spread all over the Superfices or Surface of the Escocheon, which we usually call the Field thereof. In such Escocheons as have in them more Tinctures then one (as is usuall with the greatest number of them)

We must observe the

{ Field;
{
{ Charge.

The Field is the whole Surface (if I may so call it) of the Shield overspread with some Metall, Colour, or Furre, and comprehendeth in it the Charge, if it hath any. Looke how many Metals, Colours, and Furres there are before named, so many severall Fields of Armes there be. In Blazoning of any Armes, you must first expresse the Metall, Colour, or Furre of the Field, but you must not name this word Field, saying, He beareth a field, Gold, Silver, Gules, Azure, &c. but you shall onely name the Metall, Colour, or Furre; thus, Hee beareth Or, Argent, Vert, Azure, &c. and then proceede to the blazon of the charge, if there be any. For the first Colour, Metall, or Furre that you beginne to blaze withall, is alwaies understood to bee the Field. Also in Blazoning of Armes composed of Field and Charge, if there be severall charges, whereof the one lieth neerer to the Field then the other, after you have nominated the Metall, Colour, or Furre of the Field, then must you proceed to the immediate charge that lieth next to the Field, and after to that which is more remote.

Whereas I have formerly made mention of the Tinctures or colours, when I speake of the Tinctures or colours of Fields, I understand thereby, those speciall colours before named, which as by a certaine peculiar right belongeth to the Art-armoriall, utterly excluding all those that are named generall or proper colours, as altogether unfit for Fields of coate-armours.