Two Elizabethan Heraldic Creation Ceremonies From The Accedence of Armory by Gerard Legh 1581 Transcribed and annotated by Lothar von Katzenellenbogen The following is taken from the University Microforms text of the Accedence of Armory, folios 71-74, by Gerard Legh, 1581. I have rendered the text into a modern typeface, but I have left the Elizabethan spelling intact, except where necessary to make words or meaning of the sentences more obvious to the reader. I have footnoted the more obscure passages with my interpretations of the author's words. [Folio 70-71] A purcevante When he [a sergeant at arms] hath served in that Rolle vii yeares, if his soveraign please he may exulte him to one degree higher which is to be created a Parsevaunte, that must be done with somewhat more solemnitie and on no lesse feastday than on a Sonday, in suche sorte as followeth. The Herehaughts of Arms of the province that lie most by [the pursuivant] to be indued with his prince's Cote of Armes, with his left hande, holdeth the Pursuivant by the right hand in a manner of a leading.1 The same Herehaught beareth in his right hand a Cuppe of Silver filed with wyne and water commixed and drawing nere onto hys Soveragne, of whome (in the presence of many witnesses to thys called[)] the[y] asketh of hys said Soveraigne telleth the name by which the Herehaught createth him pouring on his bare hedd some of the wyne and water above spoke of.2 The[n] he putteth ove his hedde, upon his shoulder, a Cote of the Armes of his soveraigne, averthwarte, that is to say, the maunches of the Cote, be on the breaste & back. On that fashion had he weare the same, as long as he is Purcevante, and none other wayes. 3 But here I leave out the other that shoulde be ministered unto him [be]for[e] lengthenyng of tyme. After which other ministered, the Soveraigne giveth unto him the Cuppe where with he was created, whyche he beareth in his right hand until he come out of y Palace.4 This Purcevaunte, when he rideth must were blacke spurres the whyche he must have on at the time of his creacion. And when he hath served any time, he may be at the pleasure of the prince be created an Herehaught, even the next daye after he is created Purcevante, which is done in this order. [Folio 72-74] The Creacion of an Herehaught An Herehaught, is a highe office in all his services, as in message. For as Angells have pased, from God to ma[n], a[s] appeareth in the Scriptures, and have done messages of sorrowe, as of most heavenly and earthly Joye: even so are theis Herehaughts messengers, from Emperour to Emperour, from Kyng to Kyng, and so from one prince to another, some time declarynge peace, and sometyme againe pronouncing warre[.] Theis, like Mercuri 5, rune yp and doune, havying on them not only Auros [Aaron's] surcote, but his eloquence which Moses lacked.6 Wherefore I say, the Herehaught is not created, but one ... the hande of the prince. Before which creation he shall have his admonition given him by the Secretary of the said Prince, as in these x articles therefore followeth. The first. you shal be readye in your apprell of armes, at all Coronations, Creations, and Christenings. And in all high festivals with all youre power, you shall give instructions of the time, to all officers of arms, serving under you. The second. you shall geve youselfe to your learning, and teache officers under you, of all services appertaynyng to honour. 3. ye shal be experte, in betrauthing of princes and princesses, as well as in numbring of the people. 4. ye shalle make, oft visitation of kingdomes and provinces. 5. you shall honor knyghthod, and all the actes thereof 6. you shall not suffer one geneleman to maligne another. And raylynge, you shall let to the yttermost of your power.7 7. In dooing of arms8, and martial actes, you shall favor no partie but make true report. 8. ye shalbe at all publique proclamations doone on your princes behalfe, in his cote of armes. 9. ye shall not disclose the secretes of ladies and gentlewomen, to any man or woman, whatsoever you know by the[m]. 10. ye shal flee tavernes, and hazarding.9 The prince then asketh him, whether he be a gentleman of the blud, or of a second cote armour. If he bee not, he endureth him with landes or fees and assyneth unto him, and hys heyre a congruent armes.10 Then, lyke as the messenger is brought in with y Herehaught of his province, so is this purcevant brought in with the eldest Herehaught. Who at the commaundement of the prince doth all the Solemnities as to turn the cote of arms, setting the maunches thereof on the armes of the sayde Pursvaunte and putteth aboute his necke, a coller of SS the one S. beying Argent, the other S. Sable. And when he is named, the Prince hymselfe, taketh the cuppe from the Herehaught, which cuppe is al gylt and powreth the water and wyne upon y head of sayd Purcevant, creating him by y name of an Herehaught. Which whe[n] the other is ministered, geweth the same cup, that he was created withal unto the same newe Herehaught, who bearing the same in his right hande maketh a larges[s] in the halle of his Soveraigne. For it is sayde of the Philosopher11 , the liberal rewarde of a Prince is not to bee knytte12 in a sacke, as was the cuppe, that was the cupe, that was found in Benjamins sacke mouthe, for the which he and all his brethren promised bondage13. Thus I end of the Herehaught, who taketh his name of ages. Bibliography Legh, Gerard An Accedence of Armory, London, 1581 New American Standard Bible, Iowa Falls, Iowa; World Bible Publishers, 1973 1 It was common for small children to be led by "leading strings" in the Elizabethan period. I take this to mean that the senior herald present is to lead the candidate by the hand. 2 This sequence of events is somewhat confused. It seems that the senior heralds, in the presence of witnesses, ask the sovereign what name he would "create" the new pursuivant by. The sovereign answers by announcing the candidates heraldic title and then "creates" the pursuivant "baptizing" him with a cup of water and wine poured over the candidate's head. 3 To do otherwise would be to imitate a full-fledged herald, and would be to usurp the perogatives of the heralds. 4 Presumably the cup was the pursuivant's to keep. 5 The messenger of the gods in the Greco-Roman pantheon. 6 Aaron, Moses' brother speaks for Moses when they are before Pharaoh after Moses protests to God that he is not an eloquent enough speaker. Exodus 4:10-18 7 "raylynge...power". A herald should defuse tensions and resolve quarrels. 8 "doings of armes" are tournements. 9 "hazerding" is gambling. 10 This ensures that if the herald was not a gentleman (if he didn't have at least 2 quarterings to his arms, meaning both parents were armigerious.) he is elevated to the gentry and is given a sufficient income to ensure his status. Congruent arms are presumably borne together on a quartered shield. 11 Aristotle simply referred to as "The Philosopher" in Medieval and Renaissance Europe, though the allusion that follows is from the Bible. 12 "knytte" means "sewn up". The author is saying that the herald's employer should be generous with his gifts. 13 This is confused reference to the story of Joseph and his trecherous brothers in the Book of Genesis (Genesis 42-44). Joseph put a silver cup in his youngest brother Benjamin's grain sack surreptitiously so that he could accuse Benjamin of theft. Joseph then accused his brothers of theft and forced them to swear that they would enslave the man who took the cup. This action sets the stage for Joseph to reveal his identity and reconcile himself with his brothers. ??