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Walters Ms. W.847, Book of English heraldry
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W.847
Book of English heraldry
This book of English heraldry was completed ca. 1589. The manuscript belonged to the Spencer family, as known through inscriptions on the first few flyleaves, including the motto "Dieu defende Le Droit" (God defends the right). This motto has long been associated with the Spencer family of England, which is the family line of Princess Diana, as well as the Spencers who were among the founders of Virginia. The Spencer family's heraldry is included in the manuscript, along with the coats of arms of numerous prominent British families, including the Hasting, Gray, Beuford, and Percye families. A similar book of English heraldry in the British Library, Stowe MS 693, was also completed at the end of the sixteenth century.
Ca. 1589 CE
England
Book
Historical
The primary language in this manuscript is English. The secondary language of this manuscript is Latin.
Paper
Sixteenth-century laid paper; lozenge-shaped watermark composed of circles, most visible on front flyleaf v
Foliation: vi+94+v
Pencil foliation, upper right corners, rectos
Formula: Undetermined
Catchwords: None
Signatures: None
Comments: Folios slightly out of order
27.2 cm wide by 39.6 cm high
- Layout has no standardization due to the nature of the manuscript
- Title: Heraldry
- Contents: Heraldry of English rulers and related nobles; each section with description of name, lineage, and deeds of the earls, barons, and knights, followed by details of each escutcheon; complete but slightly misbound; fols. 1r-2v: nobles under William the Conqueror; fols. 3r-78v: nobles under William the Conqueror to nobles under Henry VIII; fols. 79r-80v nobles under William the Conqueror; fols. 81r-94v nobles under Henry VIII to Elizabeth I
- Hand note: Elizabethan script; descriptions of the heraldry added in a seventeenth- or eighteenth-century hand
- Decoration note: Manuscript composed of 509 hand-drawn and painted armorials with accompanying inscriptions; armorials painted with blue, red, black, yellow; a deep ochre color has been used to mimic the effect of gold, but no true gold present; text in black ink; note: in order to retain the original information provided, images have been labeled with transcriptions of the titles given to the heraldry as they appear in the book
Upper board outside:
- Title: Royal coat of arms of the United Kingdom
- Form: Gold decoration on upper board-outside
- Comment:
The inscription on the coat of arms reads both "ICH DIEN" (German for "I serve") and "HONI SOIT QUI MAL Y PENSE" (French for "Shame on him who thinks ill of it").
fol. 1r:
- Title: Arms of the Brittains, the Romanes, William Duke of Normandy, Conquerour of England, the Saxons, the Danes
- Form: Coat of arms illustrations
fol. 1v:
fol. 2r:
fol. 2v:
fol. 3r:
- Title: Arms of William Earle Warren, Awbrey de Veer, and William Olborne
- Form: Coats of arms illustrations
fol. 3v:
fol. 4r:
fol. 4v:
fol. 5r:
fol. 5v:
- Title: Arms of William lord Dabignie, Ranufe lord Mortimer, and William lord Percye
- Form: Coat of arms illustrations
fol. 6r:
- Title: Arms of Robert Baron of Strafford, Gilbert Lord Nevill, and Outreade
- Form: Coat of arms illustrations
fol. 6v:
- Title: Arms of Phillip Lord Talbott, Robert Estovile, and William Tilon
- Form: Coat of arms illustrations
fol. 7r:
- Title: Arms of Ivon(?) Lord Vessie, Robert Graly, and Walter Deincourt
- Form: Coat of arms illustrations
fol. 7v:
fol. 8r:
- Title: Arms of Piers Lord Malbank, John Mounfichett, and John Moruile
- Form: Coat of arms illustration
fol. 8v:
- Title: Arms of William Mandud, Bartram Bethall, and William Beauchamp
- Form: Coats of arms illustrations
fol. 9r:
- Title: Arms of Geffray Trushbutt, John Mountny, and Humfry Lord Bohume
- Form: Coat of arms illustrations
fol. 9v:
- Title: Arms of Randolph Botevile, John Lord Talbott, and Henry Mallett
- Form: Coat of arms illustrations
fol. 10r:
- Title: Arms of John Lord Treqois, Robert Quincy, and Geffray Batotort
- Form: Coat of arms illustrations
fol. 10v:
- Title: Arms of Roger Millinaines, Randolph lord Bassett, and Eustace Crewe
- Form: Coat of arms illustrations
fol. 11r:
fol. 11v:
fol. 12r:
- Title: Arms of William Romare, Raufe Tonye, and William Earle Warren
- Form: Coat of arms illustrations
fol. 12v:
fol. 13r:
fol. 13v:
- Title: Arms of Geffray Linlaye, Geffray Lord Lucie, and Serus Lord Sutton
- Form: Coat of arms illustrations
fol. 14r:
fol. 14v:
fol. 15r:
fol. 15v:
fol. 16r:
- Title: Arms of Robert Estoteuile, Joceline Lovcine, and William Glanvile
- Form: Coat of arms illustrations
fol. 16v:
- Title: Arms of Thomas Bardolph, William Lovell, and Walter Clifford
- Form: Coat of arms illustrations
fol. 17r:
fol. 17v:
fol. 18r:
- Title: Arms of Simon Sentlis, Gilbert Earle of Ogie, and Humfry Bohume
- Form: Coat of arms illustrations
fol. 18v:
- Title: Arms of William Dabignie, Geffray Mandevile, and Gilbert de Gaunt
- Form: Coat of arms illustrations
fol. 19r:
- Title: Arms of William le Gros, William Earle of Eagle, and Reynold
- Form: Coat of arms illustrations
fol. 19v:
- Title: Arms of Roger Canvile, Phillip Brus, and Stephen Lord Tiptoft
- Form: Coat of arms illustrations
fol. 20r:
- Title: Arms of Morice Fitzharding, Richard de Humes, and Guie Tankervile
- Form: Coat of arms illustrations
fol. 20v:
- Title: Arms of Warren Vernon, Dodo de Lifoures (?), and William Bovile
- Form: Coat of arms illustration
fol. 21r:
fol. 21v:
fol. 22r:
fol. 22v:
fol. 23r:
- Title: Arms of Henry Earle ferrers, William Earle Marshall, and Hughe fitzpaine
- Form: Coat of arms illustrations
fol. 23v:
- Title: Arms of Adam Lord Awdly, Robert Lord Ross, and John Lord Loware
- Form: Coat of arms illustrations
fol. 24r:
fol. 24v:
- Title: Arms of William Martell, Thomas Clauring, and Nicholas Mololacus
- Form: Coat of arms illustrations
fol. 25r:
fol. 25v:
- Title: Arms of Geruis Paganell, John Plantagenet, and William Longspay
- Form: Coat of arms illustrations
fol. 26r:
fol. 26v:
fol. 27r:
- Title: Arms of Robert Lord Tatfall, William Latimer, and William de Brewer
- Form: Coat of arms illustrations
fol. 27v:
fol. 28r:
fol. 28v:
fol. 29r:
- Title: Arms of Simon de Mountford, Geffray Ludgarshall, and Richard Earle of Clare
- Form: Coat of arms illustrations
fol. 29v:
- Title: Arms of Herbert de broughe, Geffray fitzpeers, and Hughe Bulbeck
- Form: Coat of arms illustrations
fol. 30r:
- Title: Arms of Hewghe Spencer, John Lord Strange, and Alanus Souche
- Form: Coat of arms illustrations
fol. 30v:
fol. 31r:
fol. 31v:
fol. 32r:
fol. 32v:
- Title: Arms of John Lacie, John Lord fitzallen, and Robert Plantagenet
- Form: Coat of arms illustrations
fol. 33r:
fol. 33v:
- Title: Arms of Henry Lord Scrope, Baldwin de Wake, and Robert Ros(s)?
- Form: Coat of arms illustrations
fol. 34r:
- Title: Arms of William Dabignie, Thomas Lord Dacres, and Warren de Mountchenfie
- Form: Coat of arms illustrations
fol. 34v:
fol. 35r:
- Title: Arms of Henry Lord Hastings, Stephen Lord Segrave, and Peter Mountford
- Form: Coat of arms illustrations
fol. 35v:
fol. 36r:
fol. 36v:
- Title: Arms of Edward Plantagenet, Raufe Mouthermer, and William de Valence
- Form: Coat of arms illustrations
fol. 37r:
- Title: Arms of William Gobion, William Beauchamp, and Roger Mortimer
- Form: Coat of arms illustrations
fol. 37v:
- Title: Arms of William Vinfreuile, Geffray Gennevile, and William Lord ferrers
- Form: Coat of arms illustrations
fol. 38r:
- Title: Arms of William Lord ferrers, Sir John Gray, and Richard Lord Cantelupe
- Form: Coat of arms illustrations
fol. 38v:
- Title: Arms of John Lord Comin, Simon Lissie(?), and John Lord Marmion
- Form: Coat of arms illustrations
fol. 39r:
- Title: Arms of William Lustost, John Cobham, and John Lord St. John
- Form: Coat of arms illustrations
fol. 39v:
fol. 40r:
- Title: Arms of Thomas Plantagenet, Edward Plantagenet, and Piers Gaveston
- Form: Coat of arms illustrations
fol. 40v:
- Title: Arms of Hewghe de Spencer, William de Vessie, and Hughe Spencer
- Form: Coat of arms illustrations
fol. 41r:
fol. 41v:
- Title: Arms of Geffray Scrope, Oliver Engaine, and Herbert Lord St. Quintaine
- Form: Coat of arms illustrations
fol. 42r:
- Title: Arms of William Lord Mollins, John Lord Gray, and Nicholas St. Meer
- Form: Coat of arms illustrations
fol. 42v:
- Title: Arms of Sir John Charlton, John Strange, and Walter Danstavile
- Form: Coat of arms illustrations
fol. 43r:
fol. 43v:
fol. 44r:
fol. 44v:
- Title: Arms of Edward Plantagenet, Henry Plantagenet, and John Plantagenet
- Form: Coat of arms illustrations
fol. 45r:
- Title: Arms of Lionell Plantagenet, John Plantagenet, and Edmond Plantagenet
- Form: Coat of arms illustrations
fol. 45v:
- Title: Arms of Robert Lord Ufford, William Mountague, and William Bohume
- Form: Coat of arms illustrations
fol. 46r:
fol. 46v:
- Title: Arms of Lawrence Lord Hastings, Robert de Arthois, and Hughe Courtnie
- Form: Coat of arms illustrations
fol. 47r:
- Title: Arms of Henry Lord Percye, Raufe Lord Stafford, and James Lord Butler
- Form: Coat of arms illustrations
fol. 47v:
- Title: Arms of Henry Viscount Beomond, Reynold Gray, and John Lord Harrington
- Form: Coat of arms illustrations
fol. 48r:
- Title: Arms of Phillip Poynings, Bartholomew Badelismer, and Almerick St. Amond
- Form: Coat of arms illustrations
fol. 48v:
- Title: Arms of William Gramson, William Willoughbie, and Walter Shandois
- Form: Coat of arms illustrations
fol. 49r:
fol. 49v:
fol. 50r:
- Title: Arms of Edward Langly, Thomas Plantagenet, and Henry Plantagenet
- Form: Coat of arms illustrations
fol. 50v:
- Title: Arms of Edward Plantagenet, Thomas Holland, and John Holland
- Form: Coat of arms illustrations
fol. 51r:
- Title: Arms of Richard Veer, Margaret Lady Segrave, and Thomas Lord Mowbray
- Form: Coat of arms illustrations
fol. 51v:
- Title: Arms of John Beauford, Richard Plantagenet, and John Lord Mowbray
- Form: Coat of arms illustrations
fol. 52r:
- Title: Arms of Michell Delapoole, Thomas Lord Spencer, and Raufe Lord Neville
- Form: Coat of arms illustrations
fol. 52v:
fol. 53r:
fol. 53v:
- Title: Walter Hungerford, Sr Warren Gerrard, and Roger Lord Scalles
- Form: Coat of arms illustrations
fol. 54r:
fol. 54v:
fol. 55r:
- Title: Arms of Thomas Plantagenet, John Plantagenet, and Humfrie Plantagenet
- Form: Coat of arms illustrations
fol. 55v:
- Title: Arms of John Beauford, Roger Mortimer, and William Beauchamp
- Form: Coat of arms illustrations
fol. 56r:
- Title: Arms of Henry Percye, Henry fitzhewghe, and Thomas Lord fawconbridge
- Form: Coat of arms illustrations
fol. 56v:
- Title: Arms of Sr Gilbert Atton, Reynold Cobham, and William Lowell
- Form: Coat of arms illustrations
fol. 57r:
fol. 57v:
fol. 58r:
fol. 58v:
- Title: Arms of Edmond Beauford, Edmond Beauford, and William Bourcher
- Form: Coat of arms illustrations
fol. 59r:
fol. 59v:
- Title: Arms of Jasper of hatfield, Robert Nevill, John Lord Tiptost
- Form: Coat of arms illustrations
fol. 60r:
fol. 60v:
fol. 61r:
- Title: Arms of John Towchett, Poynings Lord St. John (Thomas Poynings), and Reynold west
- Form: Coat of arms illustrations
fol. 61v:
fol. 62r:
fol. 62v:
- Title: Arms of Richard Plantagenet, Henry Beauchamp, and Humfry Stafford
- Form: Coat of arms illustrations
fol. 63r:
- Title: Arms of William Delapoole, John Lord Mowbray, and John Lord Talbott
- Form: Coat of arms illustrations
fol. 63v:
- Title: Arms of Richard Nevill, John Lord Talbott, and Walter Deuereux
- Form: Coat of arms illustrations
fol. 64r:
fol. 64v:
fol. 65r:
- Title: Arms of Walter Blunt, Sr Henry Bromfleete, and Sr Raufe Cromwell
- Form: Coat of arms illustrations
fol. 65v:
fol. 66r:
- Title: Arms of John Sutton, Richard Woodvile, and Richard Beauchamp
- Form: Coats of arms illustrations
fol. 66v:
fol. 67r:
fol. 67v:
fol. 68r:
- Title: Arms of George Plantagenet, Richard Plantagenet, and Richard Plantagenet
- Form: Coat of arms illustrations
fol. 68v:
fol. 69r:
- Title: Arms of Edward Plantagenet, William Nevill, and Henry Bourcher
- Form: Coat of arms illustrations
fol. 69v:
fol. 70r:
- Title: Arms of Humfry Stafford, William Herbert, and John Delapoole
- Form: Coat of arms illustrations
fol. 70v:
- Title: Arms of Francis Lord Lovell, Edward Gray, and William Nevill
- Form: Coat of arms illustrations
fol. 71r:
- Title: Arms of Anthony Woodvile, Richard Wells, and William Hastings
- Form: Coat of arms illustrations
fol. 71v:
- Title: Arms of Sr Richard fines, Humfry Dacres, and Sr William Phillips
- Form: Coat of arms illustrations
fol. 72r:
fol. 72v:
fol. 73r:
- Title: Arms of John Lord Howard, William Lord Barckly, and Thomas Howard
- Form: Coat of arms illustrations
fol. 73v:
fol. 74r:
fol. 74v:
fol. 75r:
- Title: Arms of John Lord Wells, Robert Willoughby, and Gules Dabignie
- Form: Coat of arms illustrations
fol. 75v:
fol. 76r:
fol. 76v:
fol. 77r:
- Title: Arms of Henry Courtnye, Henry Stafford, and Charles Somersett
- Form: Coat of arms illustrations
fol. 77v:
fol. 78r:
fol. 78v:
- Title: Arms of Robert Ratclife, George Lord Hastings, and John Bourcher
- Form: Coat of arms illustrations
fol. 79r:
fol. 79v:
- Title: Arms of Roger Mowbray, Walter Gifford, and Raufe Meschins
- Form: Coat of arms illustrations
- Comment:
79r-80v lists coast of arms numbers 15-26
fol. 80r:
fol. 80v:
- Title: Arms of Hughe Lupus, Henry Earle ferrers, and William fitzevstance
- Form: Coat of arms illustrations
fol. 81r:
- Title: Arms of William fitzwilliams, Edward Seimor, and Henry Lord Daubignie
- Form: Coat of arms illustrations
fol. 81v:
fol. 82r:
fol. 82v:
- Title: Arms of Christopher Conniers, Edward Stanly, and William Sands
- Form: Coat of arms illustrations
fol. 83r:
fol. 83v:
- Title: Arms of George Talbois, Thomas Wentworthe, and Edward Broughe
- Form: Coat of arms illustrations
fol. 84r:
fol. 84v:
fol. 85r:
fol. 85v:
fol. 86r:
fol. 86v:
fol. 87r:
fol. 87v:
fol. 88r:
fol. 88v:
- Title: Arms of William Willoughbie, Edmond Sheffield, and William Pagett
- Form: Coat of arms illustrations
fol. 89r:
fol. 89v:
fol. 90r:
fol. 90v:
- Title: Arms of William Lord Howard, Edward Northe, and John Williams
- Form: Coat of arms illustrations
fol. 91r:
fol. 91v:
fol. 92r:
fol. 92v:
fol. 93r:
- Title: Arms of Thomas Lord Howard, Henry Carewe, and Oliver Lord Saint John
- Form: Coat of arms illustrations
fol. 93v:
- Title: Arms of Thomas Sackvile, Thomas West, and William Cicell
- Form: Coat of arms illustrations
- Comment:
There is a discrepancy between the name under the shield, Thomas West, and the name by the shield, William West. William West, 1st Baron de la Warr, was attained for poisoning his uncle. Thomas West, 2nd Baron de la Warr, was part of Elizabeth I's Privy Council.
fol. 94r:
- Title: Arms of Sir Henry Cheney, Sir Henry Compton, and Sir Henry Norice
- Form: Coat of arms illustrations
fol. 94v:
The binding is not original.
Initially rebound in the eighteenth-century (somewhat out of order); current binding created in England, in mid-twentieth century; red leather with gilded crest of the current English monarchy on the upper cover; tooled decoration with gilt lettering on spine: "BRITISH COATS OF ARMS."
Likely created in England for William Spencer ca. 1589; his inscription on flyleaf iv: "William Spencer His Book;" manuscript stayed in Spencer family for some time, indicated by inscription on flyleaf v: "(?) Spencer 1633" accompanied by the Spencer family motto "Dieu defende Le Droit" (God defends the right)
Inserted eighteenth-century paper fragment discussing similar manuscript is dated and possibly initialed "8 July 1779. WW.," suggesting possible eighteenth-century ownership
Grotou and Grotou, Highland Park, FL, before 1994
Dorothy McIlvain Scott, Baltimore, acquired from Grotou and Grotou in 1994
Gift of Dorothy McIlvain Scott, 1998
Catalogers: Bucca, Lauren; Dutschke, Consuelo; Walters Art Museum curatorial staff and researchers since 1934
Editor: Herbert, Lynley
Copy editor: Dibble, Charles
Conservators: Owen, Linda; Quandt, Abigail
Contributors: Bockrath, Diane; Bucca, Lauren; Emery, Doug; Noel, William; Pizzinato, Riccardo; Tabritha, Ariel; Toth, Michael B.
The Walters Art Museum
Licensed for use under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported Access Rights, http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/legalcode. It is requested that copies of any published articles based on the information in this data set be sent to the curator of manuscripts, The Walters Art Museum, 600 North Charles Street, Baltimore MD 21201.