Aving shewed the manner and making of such Ordinaries as are composed of a twofold Line: we will now proceede to that other member, of the Distribution before delivered, which maketh mention of Ordinaries, consisting of Lines; More then twofold; and will shew how they also are made.

Such Ordinaries doe consist, of Lines

{ Threefold,
{
{ Fourefold.

Those that are formed of a threefold line, are the Inescocheon and the Orle. The Inescocheon is an Ordinarie formed of a threefold line, representing the shape of the Escocheon, as in example.

He beareth Ermine, an Inescocheon, Gules, by the name of Hulgreve: This name of Inescocheon is proper only to those that are borne in this place; for if the same were borne in any other place, then upon the Fesse point of the Escocheon, you should terme the same then an Escocheon, and not an Inescocheon: so must you also, if there be more then one in the field. This Escocheon is sometimes termed an Escocheon of Pretence, as shall appeare heereafter. This Ordinarie containeth the fifth part of the field (saith Leigh) (but his demonstration denoteth the third part) and may not be diminished; and albeit it be subject to some alteration, by reason of the different formes of Lines before specified, yet keepeth still one set forme of an Escocheon, as we shall see by and by.

The next in ranke of this kinde is the Orle, which is an Ordinarie composed of a threefold line duplicated, admitting a Transparancie of the field, thorowout the innermost Area or space therein enclosed. This hath the forme of an Inescocheon, but hath not the solid substance thereof, being evermore voided, as in these following Examples appeareth.

He beareth Or, an Orle, Azure, by the name of Bertram, Lord of Bohall. This word Orle seemeth to bee derived from the French word Oreiller, which signifieth a Pillow, and is attributed to this Ordinarie, because the same being of a different tincture from the Field, and formed only of a double tract, in regard of the transparancie of the Field within, and the surrounding thereof without, it receiveth the resemblance of an embossed substance, as if it were raised like a Pillow above the Field. Upton termeth it in Latine, Tractus which signifieth a Trace or Traile, because the Field is seene both within and without it; and the Traile it selfe is drawen thereupon in a different colour. If this were flored (saith Leigh) then must it be called a Tressure, which must containe the fifth part of the Field. And if two of these be in an Escocheon, you must terme them a double treasure. Cassaneus saith, that the Orle is sometimes formed of many peeces, and that they are borne to the number of six. As touching the doubling of this plaine Orle, I will not heere give Example, for that I purpose to present to your view a Threefold Orle or Tract, which doth include the twofold, as in this next Escocheon appeareth.

He beareth Or, an Orle of three peeces, Sable. That this Ordinarie is borne of many Tracts, it appeareth by this Example, taken out of Upton for the Readers satisfaction, where it is said, Sunt insuper alii qui habent istum Tractum triplicatum & quadruplicatum, ut nuper in Armis Episcopi Cænomanensis, qui portavit pro Armis unum tractum tiplicatum de nigro, in campo aureo: Some beare the Orle tripled and quadrupled, as the late Bishop of Maine, who bare a tripled Orle Sable, in a field Or. This Ordinarie is borne diversly, according to the severall formes of Lines, before handled, as may appeare in the Examples ensuing.

Hee beareth Argent, an Orle Engrailed on the inner side, Gules. I found this forme of bearing observed by an uncertain Author, whom at first I supposed to have either unskilfully taken, or negligently mistaken the Tricke thereof; but after I had found in Upton, that in Blazoning of an Orle engrailed, hee Blazoned the same, An Orle engrailed on both sides, I tooke more speciall notice of this kinde of bearing, for that such a forme of Blazon (proceeding from a man so judicious in this kinde) seemed covertly to imply a distinction of that from this forme of bearing. And because diversa juxta se apposita magis elucescunt, things differing give light each to other, I will heere produce the Coat it selfe, and the Blazon thereof, as I finde it set downe by Upton.

Il port (saith he) de Gules ung tracee engralee, de chascun cost d'Or. And in Latine thus: Qui habet ista Arma, portat unum tractum ex utraque parte ingradatum, de Auro in campo rubro. Hee beareth an Orle engrailed on both sides, Or, in a field Gules. And no doubt by heedfull observation you may finde these Orles in like sort borne Invected, Similium enim similis est ratio; for like things have the like reason and respect. Note, that divers Charges as well Artificiall as Naturall, are borne Orlewaies, or in Orle; as likewise in forme of Crosse, Bend, Chevron, Saltire, &c. the examples whereof I must passe over, untill a fit place be offered to handle Charges of those kindes. Concerning the bearing of Orles, composed of the sundry sorts of Furres, I hold it needlesse to use examples to expresse them to the view, for that by consideration of the manifold sorts of several Ordinaries before expressed, their divers manners of bearing may be easily conceived and therefore I will leave them to observation.

Hitherto have we considered the making of such Ordinaries as are composed of a threefold Line: Our order calleth me now to speake of such Ordinaries as doe require a fourefold Line for the effecting of them.

Of this sort is the

{ Crosse,
{
{ Saltire.

The Crosse is an Ordinarie composed of a fourefold line, whereof two are Perpendicular, and the other two are transverse, for so wee must conceive of them, though they are not drawne thorowout, but meete by couples in Foure acute Angles neere about the Fesse point of the Escocheon; to looke upon (if they were Couped, as they are sometimes found) like to foure Carpenters squires; as the example following will demonstrate. This Ordinarie is called Crux, à cruciando, or à Cruciatu, because of the unspeakable torture and torment, which they doe suffer, who undergoe this kinde of death. The Content of the Crosse is not the same alwaies: for when it is not Charged, then it hath onely the fifth part of the Field; but if it bee charged, then must it containe the third part thereof. To give you particular Examples of all the different formes of Bearing of the Crosse, were as needlesse as endlesse, considering the varietie set downe by other Authors: I will therefore content my selfe with these ensuing.

The Field is Azure, a Crosse, Or: This Coat-armour pertaineth to the right worshipfull familie of Shelton, in the countie of Norfolke, whence descended that Honourable vertuous Ladie, Marie Shelton, who was many yeeres of the Most Honourable Bedchamber, of that Glorious Queene Elizabeth; and was also wife to the right worshipfull Sir John Scudamore, of Home Lacie in the countie of Hereford Knight, standard bearer to her Majesties Honourable Band of Gentlemen Pensioners. This Ordinarie is oftentimes diversly named, according to the diversitie of Lines whereof it is composed: for as is the forme of Lines whereof it is made, so is the Denomination thereof. In the ancientest Institution of the Bearing of the Crosse (without all controversie) it had this forme; which is taken to be the true shape of the Patible, whereupon our blessed Saviour Christ Jesus suffered: whose godlie observation and use was in great esteeme in the Primitive Church: though in latter times it hath beene dishonourablie intertained by two opposed kindes of Fanatickes; the one, who so superstitiously dote on it, that they adore it like their God: the other, who so unchristianly detest it, that they slander the most godly and ancient use thereof, in our first initiating unto Christ, as if it were some Divellish Idoll. But the true Souldiers of such a Captaine need not to be ashamed to beare their Generals Ensigne. And this bearing was first bestowed on such as had performed, or at least undertaken some service for Christ and Christian Profession: and therefore being duly conferred, I hold it he most honourable Charge to be found in Heraldrie. But the forme and bearing heereof (as well as the Chevrons formerly spoken of) hath beene also depraved through the inconsiderate handling of common Painters. A like forme of Bearing to this, is that Crosse which we finde Borne in the Shield of S George; but diverslie from this, both in Metall and Colour: which of some Armorists of Uptons time, (as himselfe noteth in his discourse of Armes) received in those daies a verie Strange and absurd kinde of Blazon, which he there setteth downe after this manner; The Shield Gules, foure Quarters Argent: whose reason heerein (saith hee) I doe not allow, for that by such manner of Blazon, the bearing of a plaine Crosse shall never bee knowne. Moreover, heerein also may we observe the Blazon heereof to bee erroneous, in that they say, foure Quarters: which are indeed but so many Cantons; else should they all foure meete in the Center of the Escocheon. This Ordinarie is subject to voiding and couping, as these examples following shew.

He beareth Argent, a Crosse voided Azure. Panormitan writeth of Alphonsus King of Aragon, (what time he besieged Puteoli a citie by the Seaside in Campanta) that resorting daily to the Seashore for his recreation, upon a time he chanced to finde the corps of a man of Genoa in Italie, that had beene cast out of a Galley; and thereupon alighting speedilie from his horse, caused all others that were neere him to alight; and commanded some to digge the Grave whilest others covered the naked corps: and he himselfe with his owne hands did make a Crosse of wood; which he sticked fast at the head of the man so interred; to testifie that all Christian offices may beseeme the Greatest Kings; and that what ever death we die, it is not materiall, so we live to Christ. So great is the Resemblance often times, of things borne in Coat-armour: which yet in there Existence, are much differing, that a man well seene in Heraldrie, may easilie commit an errour in the Blazoning of them: as by comparing of this Coat-armor with the next will manifestly appeare: wherfore you must use an advised deliberation in Blazoning, especially of Armes of neere Resemblance.

He beareth Or, a Crosse Patee: Sable, Fimbriated Gules. This is called a Crosse Patee: Quia extremitates eius sunt patulæ, because the ends are broad and patent. This approcheth neere to the former in respect of the double Tract thereof; yet doth it much differ from the same in substance, forasmuch as the Charge of that is a twofold Crosse, viz. one surmounted of another, and this is a single Crosse bordured, or environed with a hemme or edge. Moreover, that this is not a Crosse of Gules, surmounted of another, Sable, it is cleere, because the edge that goeth about this Crosse is much narrower then is the space betweene those two Crosses. Besides, it cannot stand with the Rules of good Armorie, to beare colour upon colour, or metall upon metall. This is called a Crosse Fimbriated, of the Latine word Fimbria, which signifieth an edge, welt, or hemme of a Garment, and is to be understood to be of the same thicknesse with it, and not to lie either upon or underneath.

Hee beareth Ermyne a Crosse ingrailed Gules, by the name of Norwood of Lekhampton in the County of Glocester. As this Crosse is formed of bunched lines, so are there others that are composed of sundry other sorts of lines before shewed, as experience will informe you, and as you may in part see by the example following.

Hee beareth Argent, a Crosse wavy, voided, Sable, by the name of Duckenfield in Devonshire. In Coates of such Bearing, you shall not neede to say in the blazon of them, that the charge (whatsoever the same bee) is voided of the Field: because when you say onely voided and no more, it is alwaies understood to bee voided of the Field.

He beareth Or, a Crosse patee fitched, in the foote Gules. This Coate was borne by Galfride de Scudamore that lived in the time of King Henry the second; it is termed Fitched of the Latine word figo, which signifieth to fasten or make sure, because by the meanes of the sharpenesse added to the foote thereof, it becommeth more apt to be fastned any where. There is an other sort of Fitching of Crosses that have the whole fourth part figetive, as in this next Escocheon.

The Field is Jupiter, a Crosse Patee on three parts, and Fitched on the fourth, Sol. This (saith Gerard Leigh) was the Shield of blessed Cadwallader last King of Britaines; who slew Lothaire King of Kent, and Ethelwold King of South-Saxons.

Whereas I have formerly made mention of Voiding, in the Chapter of Bends, and of one other Accident, namely Couping, in the Chapter of Fesses, I will now expresse them both in one example in this Escocheon following.

Hee beareth Argent, a Crosse voyded and Couped, Sable, by the name of Woodnoth.

There is an other Accident whereunto this ordinary is subject, that is to say Piercing. Piercing is a Penetration or Perforation of things that are of solide substance: and it is threefold:

That is to say,

{ Round.
{ Losengwaies.
{ Quadrate.

As touching Round piercing, you shall have an example in this next following Escocheon.

He beareth Sable, a Crosse couped, Pierced, by the name of Grill. If this Round in the middest were of any other colour then of the Field, then should you account the same to be a Charge to the Crosse; wherefore good heede must bee taken in blazoning of Coates of this kinde, and chiefely of the Orbicular forme in the middest of the Charge; to the end that you may know when to take the same for a Piercing, and when for a Charge.

The Field is Azure, a Crosse Moline Pierced Losengewaies. This is the second forme of Piercing before mentioned, and the Coate was borne by Richard de Molineux of Lancaster, that lived in the time of King Richard the second. Concerning this Crosse Moline, (Leigh saith) that if it stood Saltire waies, then should you call it Ferre de Molin, that is to say, a Mill Rinde, or the Inke of a Mill: which to me seemeth a very Paradox, that transposition (being a thing meerely accidental) should give a new denomination, to the thing transposed, and consequently alter the essence thereof. Quia novum nomen dat novum esse rei: where are new names, new things are supposed to be. It were a thing worthy of admiration, that Accidents should have such power in them; for Aristotle, Physicorum I. saith, Accidentia possunt miraculose, & non alias mutare subjectum: Accidents change not the subject but by Miracle. Addition doubtlesse and Subtraction, are of greater force then Transmutation or Location, yet is there no such power in them, as that they can alter the essence of any thing, Quià augmentum vel diminutio (saith Cassaneus) circà accidentia contractuum non reponunt contractum in diverso esse, nequam per ea intelligitur ab eo in substantialibus recessus: the adding or diminishing of Accidents makes not the thing lose the nature of his being.

He beareth Azure, a Crosse Moline, Quarter-pierced, Or. This Coate was borne by Thomas Molyneaux of Haughton, in the County of Notingham, that lived in the time of King Henry the fourth. Leigh in blazoning of this forme of Crosse, maketh no mention at all of the Piercing thereof, perhaps because it resembleth the Inke of a Mill, which is evermore Pierced. This is termed Quater-pierced, quasi Quadrate pierced, for that the piercing is square as a Trencher.

So much of the Crosse, with the Accidents thereof: Now of that Ordinary that is framed also of a foure-fold Line, that is to say, a Saltire. A Saltire is an Ordinary consisting of a foure-fold Line, whereof two are drawne from the Dexter chiefe towards the Sinister base corners, and the other from the Sinister chiefe towards the Dexter base points, and doe meete about the middest by couples in acute Angles. I know the learned Geometer will find many more lines heere then I doe mention: but (as I said of lines in the Crosse) this our description agreeth best with Heralds, and our purpose.

He beareth Sable, a Saltire Argent, by the name of Aston. In old time (saith Leigh) this was made of the height of a man, and was driven full of Pinnes; the use whereof was to scale the walles therewith, to which end the Pinnes served commodiously. In those daies (saith he) the walles of Townes were but low, as appeareth by the walles of Rome, which Remus easily leaped over: and the walles of Winchester, which were overlooked by Colebrand the Chieftaine of the Danes, who was slaine by Guy Earle of Warwicke, who was Champion for king Athelstane.

Hee beareth Gules a Saltire Varry. This Ordinary is limited to the fifth part of the Field, the same not being charged; but if it be charged, then shall it containe the third part thereof. This charge also varieth his name in Blazon according to the divers formes of Lines whereof the same is composed; for that it is no lesse diversly made in respect of the lineaments thereof, then the Crosse before handled.