by Amanda Martel
The Blazon of Gentrie is a heraldic treatise published in 1586, written by one IOHN FERNE, Gentleman, in England. There are a number of period heraldic treatises still surviving, each of them an exploration of not just the science and practice of heraldry, but also branching rambles about history, society, and philosophy. Of note is that the heraldic practice as described is not always the most accurate depiction of reality.
Most of these treatises, when they list the heraldic tinctures, give each one a meaning in precious stones, or perhaps the orders of angels, as a way to liven up the discourse, insert some extra philosophising, and give options for fanciful blazons. To contrast this, John Ferne treats us to no less than thirteen separate systems.
The tinctures, as he gives them, are Yellow, White, Vermillion (called Gewls), Lighte blew (called Azur), Black (called Sable), Greene (called Vert), and a colour “composed of white, blew, & red” (called Purpre). In modern usage, we call these Or, Argent, Gules, Azure, Sable, Vert, and Purpure. I will use the modern names throughout, for clarity.
Given how many of these systems have some overlap and repetition, I think it’s pretty clear that not all of the systems are meant for naming the tinctures in blazons (though in the text he says that several, such as planets and precious stones, are used for such).
I’ve kept the spellings as in the original, though I’ve edited out the long s to make it easier to type. Please blame all ridiculous variations in capitalisation and spelling on John Ferne. I’ve also tried to give not just the information as presented, but also some observations about each set. The original information may give others some jumping-off points though.
The first system is that of the Planets. There’s nothing shocking in the options given, with a planet being that which moves across the sky, so we have the five then-known of what we call planets today (Earth doesn’t move across the sky, after all) and the sun and moon.
- Or — The Sunne
- Argent — The Moone
- Gules — Mars
- Azure — Iupiter
- Sable — Saturne
- Vert — Venus
- Purpure — Mercury
The second system is the one most often found in heraldic treatises: Precious stones, though Ferne gives most of them several options. Some, such as Argent and Vert, are given the same stone in both Latin and English.
- Or — Topazion & Chrysolith
- Argent — Marguerit or pearle
- Gules — Carbuncle, Ruby, and Corall.
- Azure — Saphyre
- Sable — Diamond, Agate, or Chelydoin
- Vert — Smaragd or Emeraud
- Purpure — Amethist, Opall, and Hyacinth
The third system given is that of the Vertues. I think, of all the diverse systems presented, these could serve as the best guide for those who insist that their coat of arms must “mean something” in its design choices. Which virtues are given to which tinctures could be a fascinating area to dive deeper into.
- Or — Faith & constancy
- Argent — Hope & innocency
- Gules — Charity and magnanimity
- Azure — Iustice and loyalty
- Sable — Prudence, Constancie
- Vert — Loyalty in loue, curtesy & affabilitie
- Purpure — Temperancie and prudence
The fourth system is the Celestiall signes. All the favourites of the modern Zodiac system are present, though for some reason Leo is given its full title of The Lion, and Pisces is doing double-duty for both Argent and Purpure.
- Or — The Lion
- Argent — Scorpio and Pisces
- Gules — Aries & Cancer
- Azure — Taurus and Libra
- Sable — Capricornus and Aquarius
- Vert — Gemini and Virgo
- Purpure — Sagittarius and Pisces
The fifth system is the Months. Another entry where Or is given a single association, where most have two, though Gules responds by having three. July and November are both given two associations. Would you like to make a heraldic birthday card for someone?
- Or — Iuly
- Argent — October & Nouember
- Gules — March, Iune, Iuly
- Azure — Aprill and September
- Sable — December, Ianuary
- Vert — May and August
- Purpure — Nouember and February
The sixth system is the Days of the week, and at last we find a system where each tincture has one correspondence, and none are doing double-duty. It is, however, frustrating that they aren’t quite arranged in the order he chose to present the tinctures in.
- Or — Sunday
- Argent — Monday
- Gules — Tuesday
- Azure — Thurseday
- Sable — Saturday
- Vert — Friday
- Purpure — Wednesday
The seventh system is the Ages of Man, and I find some fascinating insights into the period mindset. Infancy lasts until 7, and childhood to 14. Adolescence or the teenage years, which I have often heard argued didn’t exist in the medieval or renaissance mindset, are here given as 14-20 as understood in 1586. The fact that adulthood doesn’t start until 30 certainly tallies with my poor Millennial understanding of the world.
- Or — Yong age of adolescentia (from 14. till 20. yeeres)
- Argent — Infancy (the first 7. yeeres)
- Gules — Virillity or mans age (from thirtie yeeres, til 40.)
- Azure — Puerillitye or childishe yeeres (from 7. till 14. yeeres)
- Sable — Decrepit or crooked old age
- Vert — Lusty green youth from 20. till 30. yeeres.
- Purpure — The age of gray heares, called cana senectus
The eighth system is the Flowres. Luckily no overlap between the tinctures, which is unsurprising given how unambiguously coloured flowers are, but I can’t help but think that his answer for Vert is something of a cop-out.
- Or — The Marygold
- Argent — Lilly and white rose
- Gules — Gillofer and red rose
- Azure — Blew Lilly
- Sable — The Aubifaine
- Vert — All maner of verdures or green things
- Purpure — The Violet
The ninth system is the Elements, and it seems we were lulled into a false sense of security. With four elements and seven tinctures, some overlap is inevitable. One of fire, two of earth, two of air, and three of water (and Purpure as the complicated mixed colour just has to be a mix of elements).
- Or — Ayre
- Argent — Water
- Gules — Fier
- Azure — Ayer
- Sable — Earth
- Vert — Water
- Purpure — Water and earth
The tenth system is the Sesons of the yeer. Again, four seasons to seven tinctures, but I am struck by the great heraldic nature of Spring (perhaps just that it’s the most colourful time of the year).
- Or — Spring time
- Argent — Autumne
- Gules — Sommer, and Haruest
- Azure — Spring time
- Sable — Winter
- Vert — Spring time
- Purpure — Winter
The eleventh system is the Complexions, or the four humours. Yet another four-into-seven conundrum, and yet again Purpure insists on showing off its mixed nature.
- Or — Sanguine
- Argent — Flegmatique
- Gules — Choler
- Azure — Sanguine
- Sable — Melancholie
- Vert — Flegmatique
- Purpure — Flegmatique with some choller
The twelfth system is Numbers. All the numbers from 1 to 12 are on show, but Or has three of them, Vert only one, and both 3 and 10 are doubly-assigned. I leave the study of period numerology, and what these assignments might mean, as an open question.
- Or — 1. 2. 3.
- Argent — 10. 11.
- Gules — 3. 10.
- Azure — 4. 9.
- Sable — 5. 8.
- Vert — 6.
- Purpure — 7. 12.
The thirteenth and final system is the Mettailes. Gold and silver seem fairly obvious assignments. Of most interest to me is Latten, which Ferne interrupts his tables of the tinctures to spend a full third of a page discussing, in between the tables for Gules and Azure. No other entry is given this treatment. I found it so interesting that I present this text below. To my understanding, Latten is the name for one of several copper alloys (such as brass and bronze).
- Or — Gold.
- Argent — Siluer
- Gules — Latten
- Azure — Copper
- Sable — Iron and leade
- Vert — Quicksiluer
- Purpure — Tinne
This mettaile of Latten was of such estimation with the old Romaines, before they had found the use of gold and siluer (as it is still with the barbarous and vnnurtured people of Ameryca, which weare the same in Earerings & Bracelets) that the Romaines did also make rings of it, which were put on the fingers of their valiant souldiours, as some marke and reward of their valoir. By the commaundement of the old lawes of Armes, none might use this cullor of vermillion (representing in robes Scarlet) except he had beene prince, or therevnto licensed by the Soueraigne.
Source: The Blazon of Gentrie, John Ferne (1586) (pp.169-170)