Here in thys booke folowyng is determyned the lynage of Coote armuris: and how gentilmen shaƚƚ be knowyn from vngentiƚƚ men. and how bondeage began first in aungeƚƚ and after succeded in man kynde. as it is shewede in processe boothe in the childer of Adam and also of Noe. and how Noe deuyded the worlde in .iij. partis to his .iij. sonnys. Also ther be shewyd the .ix. colowris in armys figured by the .ix. orderis of aungelis. and it is shewyd by the forsayd colowris wych ben worthy and wych ben Royaƚƚ. and of rigaliteis wiche ben noble and wich ben exellent. And ther ben here the vertuys of chyualry and many other notable and famowse thyngys to the plesure of noble personys shaƚƚ be shewyd as the werkys folowyng witteneses who so euer likyth to se thaym and rede thaym wych were to longe now to rehers. And after theys notable thyngꝭ aforesayde folowyth the Blasyng of aƚƚ maner armys in latyn french and Englisħ.
¶ Incipit Liber armorum.
Beyng in worthenes aarmes for to beere by the Royaƚƚ blode in ordynance all nobuƚƚ and gentyƚƚ men from the hyest degre to the lawyst ī thys booke shaƚƚ be shewed. and to deseuer Gentilnes from vngentilnes. ¶ In so moche thatt aƚƚ gentilnes cummys of god of heuyn. at heuyn I wyƚƚ begyn where were .x. orderis of aungelis and now stonde bot .ix. in coote armuris of knawlege encrowned fuƚƚ hye with precious stones. where lucifer with mylionys of aungelis owt of heuyn feƚƚ vnto heƚƚ and odyr places and ben holdyn ther in bondage. and aƚƚ where creatid in heuyn of gentiƚƚ nature. A bonde man or a churle wyƚƚ say aƚƚ we be cummyn of adam. So lucifer with his cumpany may say aƚƚ we be cummyn of heuyn. ¶ Adam the begynnyng of man kynde was as a stokke vnsprayde and vnfloreshed. and in the braunches is knowlegge wiche is rotun and wiche is grene.
How Gentilmen shall be knawẏn from churlis & how theẏ first began. And how Noe deuẏdẏd the world in .iii. partit to his iii sonnẏs.
Now for to deuyde gentilmen from chorlis in haast it shaƚƚ be
preued. Ther was neuer gentilman nor churle ordenyd by kynde
bot he had fadre and modre. Adam and Eue had nother fadre
nor modre. and in the sonnys of Adam and Eue war founde
bothe gentilman and churle. By the soonnys of Adam and
Eue Seth Abeƚƚ and Cayn deuyded was the royaƚƚ blode fro
the vngentiƚƚ. A brother to sley his brother ꝯtrary to the law
where myght be more vngentelnes. By that did Cayn become
a chorle and aƚƚ his ofspryng after hym by the cursyng of god
and his owne fadre adam ¶ And Seth was made a gentilman
thorow his fadres and moderis blissyng. And of the
ofspryng of Seth Noe come a gentilman by kynde
¶ Noe had .iij. sonnys begetyn by kynde. by the modre .ij.
were named Cham and Sem. and by the fadre the thirde was
namyd Iafeth. Yit in theys .iij. sonnys gentilnes and vngentilnes
was founde ¶ In cham vngentilnes was founde
to his owne fadre doon̄ to discuuer his preuytes and laugh
his fadre to scorne ¶ Iafeth was the yongist and repreued
his brodre. Than like a gentilman take mynde of Cham. for
his vngentilnes he was become a chorle: and had the cursyng
of god and his fadre Noe. And whan Noe awoke he sayde
to Cham his sonne: knowyst nott thow how hit become of
Cayn Adam soon: and of his churlisħ blode. Aƚƚ the worlde
is drownde saue we .viij. And now of the to begynne vngentilnes
and a cause to destroye vs aƚƚ: vppon the hit shaƚƚ be &
so I pray to god that it shaƚƚ faƚƚ. Now to the I gyue my
curse wycked kaytife for eu̇. and I gyue to the: the north parte
of the worlde to drawe thyn habitacion for ther shaƚƚ it be.
where sorow and care colde and myschef as a churle thow
shalt haue. in the thirde parte of the worlde wich shaƚƚ be calde
Europe that is to say the contre of churlys.
¶ Iafeth eū heder my sonne thow shaƚƚ haue my blissing
dere ī stede of Seth Adam son I make the a gentilman to the weste
parte of the worlde. and to the occident ende: where as welth
and grace shaƚƚ be. ther thyn habitacion shaƚƚ be. to take that other
therde parte of the worlde which shaƚƚ be calde asia that is to say
the contre of gentilmen.
¶ And Sem my son also a gentilman I the make to multipli
abellis blode that so wykkedli was slayn. the oryente thow shalt
take that other theirde parte of the worlde which shaƚƚ be calde affrica.
that is to say the contre of tempurnes.
¶ Of the ofspryng of the gentilman Iafeth come Habraham Moyses Aron and the profettys. and also the kyngꝭ of ye right lyne of mary. of whom that gentilman Ihesus was borne very god and man: after his manhode Kyng of the londe of Iude & of Iues gentilman by is modre mary prynce of Cote armure.
How longe Cote armures wer begunne afore thẏncarnacion of owre lorde Ihesu crẏst.
Iafeth made first Barget and ther in he made a baƚƚ in token of aƚƚ the worlde. and afterwarde .ijm. yere and .xviij. before thyncarnacion of Criste: Cote armure was made. and figurid at the sege of troye where in gestys troianorum it teƚƚith thatt the first begynnyng of the lawe of armys was. the wiche was effugured and begunne before any lawe in the worlde. bott the lawe of nature. and before the .x. cōmawndementis of god
¶ And thys lawe of armys was grounded vppon the .ix. orderys of angelis in heuen encrowned with .ix. dyueris precious stonys of colowris and of vertuys dyueris. also of them ar figurid the .ix. colouris in armys. as in nowmbre to begynne the first stone is callid Topasion
¶ Primꝰ lapis
The first stone is calde Topasion signẏfiẏng golde in armẏs.
¶ This stone Topasion is a semy stone. and golde it is calde in armys. The vertue ther of is: that the gentilman the wiche thys stone in his cote armure berith a fare messangere in his kyngꝭ batyƚƚ shaƚƚ be. The wich stone is reẜued in the angelis crowne that was a trwe massanger and a sure in his kyngꝭ batayƚƚ of heuen whan they faught with Lucifer
¶ Secūdꝰ lapis
The secunde stone is cald Smaragdus a grauelẏ stone signifiẏng vert in armẏs
¶ The secunde stone is calde Smaragdus a grauell stone. &̄ vert it is calde in armys. The vertu ther of is: that the gentylman the wich in his cote armure it berith kene and hardy in his kyngꝭ bateƚƚ shaƚƚ be. the wiche stone is reserued in tharchangelles crowne that was kene and hardy in his kyngis bataile of heuen whan thei faught with lucifer
¶ Tercius lapis
¶ And this stone is calde brusk colore ī armẏs
¶ The thirde ston̄ is calde an Ametisce a dusketli ston̄ brusk hit is calde in armys. The vertu ther of is: that he the wich berith in his Cotearmur that stone. fortunable of victori ī his kīges batayƚƚ shaƚƚ be. the wich stone is reserued to the virtutys crowne that was fortunable and victoriows in his kyngꝭ batail of heuen whan thay faught with Lucifer
¶ Quartus lapis
¶ And this stone is calde plūbẏ color ī armẏs
The .iiij. stone is calde a Margarete a clowdy stone Plumby hit is calde in armys. The vertue ther of is. what gentilmā that ī his Cotearmure that stone berith grete gou̇nawnce of chiualrie in his kyngys batayƚƚ he shaƚƚ haue. the wich stone is reẜued in the potestatis crowne that was cheualrius of gou̇naunce in his kyngys batayƚƚ of heuyn whan thay faught with Lucifer
Quintus lapis
¶ A loẏs is calde sinamer or sanquine ī armẏs
¶ The .v. ston̄ is calde a Loys. a sanquine stone or sinamer hit is calde in armys. The vertue therof is: the gentilman thatt in his Cotearmure this stone berith myghtifuƚƚ of power in his kyngys batayƚƚ shaƚƚ be. the which stone was reserued in dominacionys crowne that was myghtifuƚƚ of powere in his kyngys bataiƚƚ of heuyn whan thei faught with Lucifer
Sextus lapis
¶ And thẏs stone is calde gowlẏs in armẏs
¶ The .vi. stone is calde a Ruby a redly stone. gowlys it is calde in armys. the vertue therof is. the gentylman that ī his Cotearmure that stone berith hote and fuƚƚ of corage in his kyngys batayƚƚ shaƚƚ be. the wich stone is reserued in the principatis crowne that was hote brinnyng as fire in his kyngys batayƚƚ of heuyn whan thay faught with Lucifer
¶ Septimꝰ lapis
¶ A blue stone it is & it is cald asure ī armẏs
The .vij. stone is calde a Saphyre a blew stone Asure hit is calde in armys. The vertue therof is. the gentilman that in his Cotearmure berith that stone: wyse and vertues in his werkyng in his kyngꝭ batayƚƚ shaƚƚ be. the wich is reserued to tronꝰ crowne that was wyse and vertues in his kyngys batayƚƚ of heuyn whan they faught with Lucifer
Ottauꝰ lapis
¶ This stone is blake and it is called Sabull
¶ The .viij. ston̄ is a Dyamond a blake stone. Sable it is calde in armys. The vertue therof is. what gentilman that ī his Cotearmure thatt stone berith: durabuƚƚ & vnfaynt in his kyngys batayƚƚ he shaƚƚ be. The wich stone was reserued ī the cherubyns crowne that was durable &̄ vnfaynt in his kyngys batayƚƚ of heuyn. whan thay faught with Lucifer
¶ ixꝰ lapis
¶ A shinẏng ston̄ and is calde Siluer ī armẏs
The .ix. stone is calde Carbuncle a shynyng stone. Silu̇ hit is calde in armys. The vertue therof is: what gentilman yt in his Cotearmure this stone berith. fuƚƚ dowghti glorious & shynyng in his kyngys batayƚƚ he shaƚƚ be The wich stone was reserued in the Serophyns crowne: that was fuƚƚ doughti gloriꝰ & shinīg ī his kīgꝭ batayƚƚ of heuyn whan thei faught wt Lucifer
¶ Of the diu̇se coloreis for the feld of cotearmuris .v. bene worthẏ and .iiii. bene Roẏall
Ther be .ix. dyu̇se coloris for the felde of Cotearmuris v worthy & .iiij. Royaƚƚ. The .v. worthy be theys: Golde verte Brusk Plumby & Synam. And the .iiij. Royaƚƚ be theis: Gowlis Asure Sable & Siluer Bot now aft blaseris of armys ther be bot .vi. coloris of ye wich .ij. be metaƚƚ & iiij. coloris. Golde &̄ Silu̇ for metaƚƚ. vert Goulis Asure & Sabuƚƚ for coloris. & theys be vsid and no moo.
¶ Of nine preciꝰ stonis .v. be noble & .iiii. of dig
¶ Ther be .ix. precious stonys .v. noble & .iiij. of dignite The .v. noble stonys be theys Topasion Smaragmat Amatisce Margaret & Aloys. The .iiij. of dignite be theys Rubi Saphyr Dyamond and Carbuncuƚƚ
¶ Of thorderis of āgelis .v. be ierarch & .iiii. trō
Ther be .ix. orḋys of angelis .v. Ierarchie. & .iiij. Trōly The v. Ierarchye be theys: Angelis Archangelis virtutes Potestates &̄ dominacoēs The .iiij. Tronli be theys Principatꝰ Trony Cherubyn and Seraphyn.
¶ v. of the dignites of regalite be noble & .iiii. &ċ
¶ Ther be .ix. dignites of Regalite .v. noble and iiij excellent The .v noble be theys Gentilmā Squier Knyght Baron and Lorde. And .iiij. excellēt be theis Erle Mark Duke and Prynce
Nẏne vertues of preciꝰ stonẏs
Nyne vertues of preciꝰ stonys ben ther .v. generaƚƚ and iiij. speciaƚƚ The v. geṅaƚƚ ben theys A sure messenger Kene & hardy fortunat of victori Cheualriꝰ of gou̇naunce &̄ myghtifuƚƚ of power The .iiij. speciaƚƚ be theis: hote of corage wyse & redy & vertues in werkyng Durable & vnfaynt fuƚƚ doughti & gloriose shynyng.
¶ The .iiii. vertues of cheualrẏ
Fowre vertues of cheualry ben ther: The first is iuste in his beestis. clennes of his ꝑsone. peti to haue of the poore. to be gracious to his presoṅ. to be reuerent and faythfuƚƚ to his god The secunde is that he be wyse ī his bataiƚƚ. prudent ī his fightīg knowyng & hauyng mynde ī his wittis. The .iij. is yt he be nott slow ī his werris loke be fore yt his q̄riƚƚ be true thanke god euer of his victory & for to haue mesure ī his sustināce. The iiij is to be strōg &̄ stedfast ī his gou̇nāce. to hope to haue ye victory And vode not frome the felde and not to shame his cote armure. Also that he be not to bostfuƚƚ of his manhod Loke that he be curtes lowly and gentiƚƚ and with owte rebawdry in his langage.
Here shall be shewed the .ix. artikelis of gentilnes. v of them ar amorows and iiii soueraẏn
¶ Ther be .ix. artycles of gentilnes. and of theym .v. bene amorows. and .iiij. soueren. The .v. amorows gentilneses ben thees Lordeli of cowntenawnce Treteable in langage Wyse in his answere Perfite in gouernawnce. and Cherefuƚƚ to faythfulnes. The .iiij souerayn gentilneses ben theis Fewe othes in sweryng. Boxom to goddis byddyng. Knowyng his owne birth in beryng. and to drede his souerayn to offende.
¶ Ther be ix. vices contrarẏ to gentilmen
¶ Ther ben .ix. vices contrari to gentilmen of the wiche .v. ben indetermynable and iiij. determynable The .v. indetermynable ben theys: oon to be fuƚƚ of slowthe in his werris. an other to be fuƚƚ of boost in his manhode. the thride to be fuƚƚ of cowardnes to is enemy. the faurth to be fuƚƚ of lechri ī his body. & the fifthe to be fuƚƚ of drynkyng &̄ dronckunli. Ther be .iiij. determynable: on is to reuoke is own̄ chalange. an other to sley his presoner with his own̄ handis. the thride to voyde from his soueraygnes baner in the felde. and the fifthe to teƚƚ his soueraygne fals talys
¶ Ther be .ix. īestimable reioẏngis in armẏs
¶ The .ix. inestimable reioyngꝭ of armys ben theys
First is a gentilman to be made a knyght ī the felde at batiƚƚ ¶ The secunde is lyuelode of hym to resayue after manhode The .iij. is cheualry to do by fore his soueren ¶ The .iiij. is ambassatt to be put in his honde for wisdom. ¶ The .v. is proues of knyghthode done be fore alioundis ī honor of renowne. ¶ Theys be calde in armys the .v. autentyke Now folowith the .iiij. endyng stremytallis personaƚƚ ¶ The first is a poore knyght to be maried to the blode Royaƚƚ ¶ The secunde is to haue thanke of his souereyn perpetuaƚƚ. ¶ The .iii. is to kepe his Cote armure vnshamyd in triaƚƚ ¶ And the .iiij. is to kepe aƚƚ poyntis of is knyghthod as gestys troianorum declarith.
Knaw ẏe that theis ii. orderis wer. first wedlok & then knẏhthode. and knẏhthode was made before Cote armure was ordened.
¶ Ther was non order bot .ij. wedloke first and knyghthod after. A knyght was made before ony cote armure. and Olybion was the first knyght that euer was. Asteriali his fader come bi the right lyne of that gentilman Iafeth and saw the peple multiplie & had no gouerner And the cursed peple of Sem wered ayenys them Olibion was the stryngest and the manfullest man in his tyme And the peple cried on̄ Olibion to be theyr maister and their gou̇ner A thowsand men wer than multiplied of Iafethis lyne. Asteriaƚƚ made to his son̄ a garlande abowte his hede of .ix. diueris preciouse stonys in tokenyng of chyualri to be a gou̇ner of a .M. men. &̄ vnto thys same day ye kīgꝭ haue his name ī latē yt is as moch to sai ye gou̇ṅ of .im. mē Olibion knelyd to Asteryaƚƚ his fader and askyd his blissyng. Asteryaƚƚ toke Olibions swerde that was Iafethis fawlchon̄ that Tubaƚƚ made be fore the floode: and smote flatlyng .ix. tymys vppon the ryght shuldre of Olibion in tokenyng of the ix. vertuys of the forsayde precious stonys and gaue him his blissing with a charge to kepe the .ix. vertuys of charyte now foloyng as ye shaƚƚ here.
¶ Theis be the charges or artikelis that euerẏ knẏght shlude kepe bẏ the dignẏte of his order & theẏ be ix. v. temꝑall and iiii goostlẏ
Ther be .v. temperaƚƚ u̇tuys & .iiij. gostly u̇tuys of charite the .v. temꝑaƚƚ vertuys be theys. he shaƚƚ not turne his backe to his enemy for to flee. The .ij. is that he shaƚƚ truly holde his promyse to his frende: and also to his foo. The .iij. is he shaƚƚ be free of mete and drinke to aƚƚ his meny a boute him The .iiij. is he shaƚƚ vpholde maydonys ryght. The .v. is that he shaƚƚ holde vp wydoys ryght. Theys be the .iiij. vertuys of charite goostly. The first is: he shaƚƚ honoure his fader and his moder. The .ij is he shaƚƚ do noon harme to the poore. The .iij. is he shaƚƚ be mercifuƚƚ. The .iiij. is he shaƚƚ holde with the sacifice of the grete god of heuyn. And than Asteryaƚƚ did make to Olibion a targett of Olyfe tree with iij. corneris .ij. a bouen is face and oon downe to the growndwarde. in tokenyng that thys Olibion̄ was the cheue of aƚƚ the blode of the .iij. sonnys of Noy By the Olif tree he vnderstode victery for to wyn̄ By the poynt of his target to the grownde the cursed brothir Cham By the corner of his target a bouen firtherest that other brothir Sem. That othir corner next to hym selfe betokenyth that gentilman Iafeth the blissed brothir of whome god and man come by right lyne
¶ The maner of knẏghthodis ben .ii. oon with the Swerde An other with the Bath
Ther be .ij. maner of knyghthodes oon with the swerde and an other with the bath The bath is the worthest by cause of iiij. Royaltes. Oon is whan an vnaged prynce is made knyght or be crouned kyng The secunde is whan a Kyng or an Emperoure is crowned. The thyrde is whan a quene or an Emperis is crowned. The iiij. is whan a Kyng or an Emperowre cum to speke with an other of dyuerse londys
Nẏne maner of gentẏlmen ther bene
¶ Ther is a Gentylman of Auncetre and of blode
¶ And ther is a Gentylman of bloode
¶ Ther is a Gentylman of Cootearmur: and theos be .iij
Oon of the Kyngys bage. An other of a lordeship. And
the therde is of the kyllyng of a Saryson̄
¶ And ther is a gentylman vntryaƚƚ
¶ And ther is a gentylman Ypocrafet
¶ And ther is a gentylman Sperytuaƚƚ
¶ Ther is also a gentylman sperituaƚƚ and temperaƚƚ. and
aƚƚ theys ben more playnly declared in thys booke
¶ Gentilmen be calde .iiii. maner of wẏse one of awncetreis and iii of Cotearmure
Ther be .iiij. diuerse maner of gentilmen. Oon his a gentylman
of awncetreys: wich muste nedis be a gentilman of blode.
Ther be .iij. gentilmen of Cotearmure and not of blode Oon
is a gentylman of Cotarmure of the kynges bagge. that is to
say his deuice by an herawd Igouen̄. An other gentilman of
Cotarmure is and not of blode a kyng geuyng a lordshipp to a
yoman vnder his seaƚƚ of patent to hym and to his eyrys for euer
more he may were a Cotarmure of the same lordshipp
The thride his a yoman cristenyd yif he kiƚƚ a gentylman sorsyn
he may were the sarsinys Cotarmure and noo sarsyn a sarsynis
cotarmure nethir cristennys cotarmure bi feghtyng in noo wyse
Yit sum men say that a cristen man ouercomyng a cristen man
feghtyng in the list shaƚƚ bere the cotarmure of him that is ouer comyn.
Or if a souereyn kyng make of a yoman a knyght that
same knyght is a gentylman of blode by the royalte of the kyng
and of knyghthood
¶ A gentẏlman spirituall
¶ Ther is a gentylman a churle sone a preste to be made and that is a spirituaƚƚ gentylman to god and not of blode. Butt if a gentylmannys sone be made preste he is a gentilman both spirituaƚƚ and temperaƚƚ. Criste was a gentilman of his moder behalue and bare cotarmure of aunseturis. The .iiij. Euangelist berith wittenese of Cristis warkys in the gospeƚƚ with aƚƚ thappostilles. They were Iewys and of gentylmen come by the right lyne of that worthy ꝯqueroure Iudas machabeus bot that by succession of tyme the kynrade feƚƚ to pouerty. after the destruccion of Iudas Machabeus and then they feƚƚ to laboris &̄ ware calde no gentilmen. and the .iiii. doctoris of holi chirch Seynt Ierom Ambrose Augustyn and Gregori war gentilmen of blode and of cotarmures
¶ Also the diuisionẏs of cotarmuris be .ix. thatt is to witt .v. perfẏte and .iiii. vnperfẏte
Ther be .ix. dyuisionis of cotarmures .v. perfite & .iiii. vnperfite. The .v. perfite be theys. Termynaƚƚ Collateraƚƚ Abstrakte Fixaƚƚ and Bastard.
¶ Diferens Enbordẏng
¶ Termynaƚƚ is calde in armys aƚƚ the bretheren of right lyne hethir by fadre or by modre may bere the right heyris cotarmure with a differens calde Enbordyng
¶ Dẏferans Iemews
¶ Collateraƚƚ is calde in armys the sonnys of the bretheren of the right heyre beryng the cotarmuris of theyr faderis with a dyfferans Iemews
¶ Diferens molet
¶ Fixaƚƚ in armys is calde the thirde degre by the rightlyne from the right heyre by line male. thay may bere there faderis cote armure with a differans molet
Diferans countertreuis
¶ The bastarde of fixaƚƚ shaƚƚ bere his faderis cotarmure counturtreuys. that is to say what so euer he berith in his felde he shaƚƚ bere in the colowris dyuerse and no more
How ther be .iiii. cotarmurẏs imperfite and be borẏn wẏth owte diferans
Ther be .iiij. cotarmuris vnperfite: and be borne with owte differance. The first cotarmure is if a lordshipp a fore sayde be gouen vnder patent bi the kyng. and if he die with oute heyr his cotarmure is Idon̄.
¶ The secunde is the cotarmure of the kyngꝭ gyfte yif he dye with owte heyr his cotarmure is done. and yif theys .ij. cotarumuris haue vsshew forth: the fith degre of theam bering lyne by male be gentilmen of blode by lawe of armys
¶ The threde cotarmure of the Sarsyn yif the cristyn man dye with owte vsshew his cotarmure is done. and if he had vsshew forth vnto the fith degree from him by right lyne of vsshew male he is a gentylman of blode
¶ The fawrith cotarmure of the chefe blode yif he dye with owte ony vsshew the hole cotarmure is lost than it fallith to be a cotarmure of thymperfite beryng with a differans
¶ Aƚƚ the bastardis of aƚƚ cotarmuris shaƚƚ bere a fesse Sū caƚƚ hit a baston̄ of oon of the .iiij. dignites of colouris. excepte the bastarde of the fixiales and the bastarde of the brethyrne of the cheue blode where theritaunce is deparded to eu̇ych brothir e like moch theys bastardis shaƚƚ adde more bagy to his armys or take a way a bagy of armys
Note here well who shall gẏue cotarmures
¶ Ther shaƚƚ none of the .ix. orduris of regalite bot aƚƚ onli the soueregne Kyng geue cootarmur. for that is to hym improperid bi lawe of armys. And yit the kyng shaƚƚ nott make a knyght with owte a cootarmure by fore.
Eu̇y knyght cheftayn ī the felde mai make a cootarmur knight
In how manẏ places a knẏght maẏ be made
A Knyght is made in .v. dyuerse placis In musturing in londe of werris. In Semblyng vnder baneris. In listys of the bath And at the sepulcur
¶ A lassed cotarmure is on the moderis parte
¶ A lassed cootarmure is calde the coote of a gentylwoman hauyng lyuelode weddyd to a man hauyng noo cootarmure. hir sone may were hir cootarmur with a differance of armys duryng his liue by the curtesy of law of armys. and his sone shaƚƚ none bere bot so be that the gentylwoman be heyr or next of blode to that cootarmure. Or ellis beyng hir byrth of the blode Royaƚƚ and than shaƚƚ hir heyre bere hir cootarmure
How Gentẏll men be made of Gromis that be nott of cootarmure nether blode and theẏ be cald vntriall and apocrifate as hit shewith foloẏng
Ther be .ij. dyuerse Gentylmen made of gromys: that be nott gentilmen of cotearmure nother of blode. Oon is calde in armys a gentylman vntriaƚƚ that is to say made vp emong relygyous men as priorys Abbottis or Bysshoppis. That other is called in armys a gentiƚƚ man appocrifate that is to say made vpp and gouyn to him the name and the lyueray of a gentylman.
¶ In armẏs be vi diferences that is to saẏ ii. for excellent and iiii. for nobullẏs
Ther be .vi. Differences in armys .ij. for thexcellent. and .iiij. for the nobles. Labeƚƚ and Enborduryng for lordis. Iemews Molettys Flowre delyce and Quyntfoyles for thee nobles.
In blasẏng of armẏs be .ix. quadrattis that is to saẏ .v. quadrate finiall and iiii. Roẏall
In blasyng of armys ther be .ix. quadrattis for to consider .v. quadrate finiaƚƚ and .iiij. Royaƚƚ. Fyue quadrate finiaƚƚ be theys. Gereri. Gerundi. Fretly. Geratly. and Endently.
¶ Gereri is called in armys whan cootarmuris ar .ix. quarteris
dyuerse colowris.
¶ Gerundi is called in armys whan the cootarmure is of .ix.
dyuerse colowris: &̄ a fusitarget with in the cootarmure of whatt
colowre that hit be of
¶ Fretly is calde ī armys whan the cootarmure is counterfesid
¶ Geratly is calde in armys whan the cootarmure is powderd Bot a blaisar shaƚƚ not say he berith Ermen. Siluer powderd with Ermen Bot he shaƚƚ say he berith Ermen or ellis in sume armys he muste say demy Ermen: wich is to sai whitli Ermen
In so moch that ī the fifthe quadrat finiaƚƚ hit is determyned of the tokenys of armys. or I procede to hit: is shewed whatt maner of tokeny a gentyƚƚ man may weer.
A gentilman mai not weer tokynys of armys bot of steinīg colowre. that is to say his cootarmure ynyat or ellis I geratt with preciouse stonys
Gerattyng haue .ix. bagges of cootarmuris. First with croslettis. and of theym ther be .iiij dyuerse. and tho bene theys Cros fixyly. Cros paty Cros croslettis. and Cros flory
¶ The secunde bage is flowre delyce.
¶ The threde baage is roslettys
¶ The fowrith baage is prymarose.
¶ The fifthe baage is quynfolis.
¶ The sexthe baage is diaclys
¶ The seuenith baage is chappelettys
¶ The .viij. baage is Molettys.
¶ And the .ix. baage is Cressauntis that is to say halfe the
moone. theys be powderygis of cootarmuris.
¶ The fifthe quadrate is calde Endently of .iij. diu̇se weis that is to say bebally lentally and fyesly.
¶ Bebally is calde ī armys whan a cotearmure is calde Endentyde
of .ij. dyuerse colowris in the length of the cotearmure
¶ Lentalli is calde in armys whan ye cootarmure is Endentid
with .ij. dyuerse colowris in the berde of the cootarmure
¶ Fyesly is called in armys .iij. manere weys Fesybagy
fesy target and fesy generaƚƚ.
Fesy bagy is whan tokenys of armys be disseiuered from the cheef of the cotearmure to the right spleyer in the feelde
¶ Fesy target is whan a scogion̄ or an engislet is made in the mydduƚƚ of the cootarmure.
¶ Fesy generaƚƚ is calde in armys whan the cootarmure is
Endentid with .ij. dyuerse colouris from the laste poynt of the
cootarmure to the spleyer
The chefe is calde in armys the myddys of the cootarmure of
the right syde.
Quadrat is calde in armys whan the felde is set with sum
tokyn of armys.
¶ A quadrant finaƚƚ is called in armys whan the felde is
discolourid with tokenis of armys hauyng no beest in the felde.
A Quadrant Royaƚƚ is calde whan the feelde occupyeth ye token of a beest or ony other tokyn set with in the coōtarmure to the nowmbre of fiue.
¶ The first quadrant is oon tokyn of armys allonli sett and whatt after his byrthe he beerith.
¶ The secunde quadrant Royaƚƚ is beryng in his cootarmur iij. thyngꝭ calde the tokenys of armys. that is to say iij. flowredelice in fylcyals .iij. rosis .iij. chapplettis iij. lebardis .iij. lyonys. and so the .iiij. quadrat Royaƚƚ is to bere a beest Raunpande: bebaly. lentally. and fessely.
Here shall be shewed what Cootarmuris restrẏal ben and weer the blaser shall begẏn to blase.
Thre cootarmuris be ther called restryaƚƚ in armys. Oon is whan a cootarmure is barri of dyuerse colowris to the poynt. and what colowre the poynt be of. the poynt is the felde. Ther the blaser shaƚƚ begynne.
¶ The secunde cootarmure restriaƚƚ is calde ī armys whan a cootarmure is paly of dyuerse colouris to the poynt. & whatt pale medyƚƚ in the poynt yt coloure is the felde The blaaser shaƚƚ blase from that colowre to the next coloure pale.
¶ The threde cootarmure restriaƚƚ is calde in armys whan a cootarmure is sentry of dyuerse colowris to the poynt and whatt settre mydyƚƚ in the poynt yt colowre is the felde. The blaseyr shaƚƚ blase from yt colowre to the next colowre of the lefte side of the cootarmure and blase the colowre sentri.
Merke what sentre Fixal Mangis Gorgis & other diuerse here now folowẏng be calde ī armẏs
¶ A Sentre in armys is called stakar of tentis.
¶ Fixiaƚƚ be called in armys mylner pykes.
¶ Mangys be called in armys a sleue.
¶ Gorgys be called in armys water bulgees.
¶ Elynellis be calde in armys .iiij. quadrantis truncholis.
¶ Oglys be calde in armys gonestonys.
¶ Tortlettis be calde in armys wasteƚƚ.
¶ Diaclys be called in armys scopprellys.
¶ Myrris be calde in armys merowris or glasses.
¶ Feons be calde in armys brode arow hedys.
¶ Tronkys be calde in armys any bestys hede or neck Ikytt
chagikli a sonder.
¶ Demy is calde in armys halfe a best in the felde.
¶ Countretreuis is calde in armys whan halfe the beest is of
oon coloure and that other halfe of an other coloure
¶ Eny cotarmure that berith a crosse to the poynt: the poynte is the felde. as Seynt George berith gollis fowre anglettis of Siluer. bot ayens this rule sum blaseris of armys repungne as hit is shewed in the boke foloyng.
¶ Theis .iij. termys. of. and. with shaƚƚ not be rehersed in armys bot onys any of thaym
¶ Ther be diuerse berẏngẏs of feeldẏs
Dyuerse beryngis of feeldis ther be ¶ Oon is beryng hole
felde. hit is clepyd in armys claury
¶ The secūde is berīg too feldis. hit is calde ī armis Coūċli
¶ The threde is beryng too feldis in .iiij. quarteris: hit is
calde in armys quarily
¶ Ther bene .iii. cote armurẏs grẏttẏ
Thre cootarmuris grytty ther bene in armys. Oon is called checky that is whan the felde is chekerd with diu̇se colouris
¶ The secunde is calde wyndi that is to say whan the felde is made like wawis of oon coloure or of diuerse colouris
¶ The threde is calde werry whan the felde is made like gobolettys of dyuerse colowris.
In armẏs be ii. pinẏonẏs. also it shewẏs wat clawrẏ cownterlẏ and quarterlẏ bene with other
¶ Ther be in armys calde .ij. pynyonys Oon is whan the feeld his a sawtri. Seynt andrewys crosse may be clauri counterly quarterly. Clawri is called playn of oon coloure. Cownterly is whan colowris quarterly be .ij. colowris sett in .ij. quarteris
¶ The secunde pynyon̄ is called cheffrounce that is a couple of sparis. and that may be claury counterly quarterli gereri and byally.
¶ Gereri is whan .iij. cheffrounce be to gedur or moo.
¶ Byaƚƚ is called whan a barre is be twene .ij. cheffrounce
Here endeth the mooste speciaƚƚ thyngys of the boke of the lynage of Coote armuris and how gentylmen shaƚƚ be knowyn from vngentylmen. and now here foloyng begynnyth the boke of blasyng of aƚƚ maṅ armys: ī latyn french & Englisħ