Catalogue description Grant of Arms to the Mayor, Aldermen and Citizens of Chichester

28 lines in English. (Plate 12)

TRANSCRIPT. To all and synguler aswell nobles and gentills as others to whom these presents shall come Robert Cooke esquier alias clarencieulx principall herehault and kynge of armes of the sowthe easte and weast parts of this Realme of England from the ryver of trent sowthwards sendith gretinge whereas aunciently from the beginnynge the valiaunt and vertuous actes of worthie persons have ben comendid to the worlde with sondry monuments and remembrances of their good deserts, Emongst the whiche the chefest and moste usuall hathe ben the bearynge of signes In shildes caled armes whiche are evident demonstracions of prowesse an valoir dyversly distributed according to the qualities and deserts of the persons whiche order as yt was prudently devised In the beginning to stirre and kyndell the hartes of men to the Imitacion of vertue and noblesse even so hathe the same ben and yet ys continually observed to thende that suche as have don come'dable service to their prince or contry eyther In warre or peace maye bothe receave deue honor In their lyves and also deryve the same successively to their posteritie after them And forasmuche as the citie of chichester hathe ben of longe tyme Incorporate by the name of mayor and citesens, by vertue of whiche corporation these armes depicted yn this margent have ben of auncyent tyme Incident unto the sayde cytie yet notwithstandinge for dyvers and sondry good considerations I the sayde clarencieulx kynge of armes by vertue and aucthorytie of my office of clarencieulx have confirmed ratified and allowed unto John Sherwyn now mayor, John digons Richard warde John Cooke Thomas farington Thomas adames, John moyses, william Barkham and ralfe chauntelor aldermen and citesens of the same citie of chichestre and to their successors forever In lyke place and office the saide auncyent armes That ys to saye silver goute gules on a chefe of the seconde a lyon passant hole faced golde. In witnes whereof I the sayde clarencieulx kynge of armes have set hereunto my hande and the seale of my office the xiiijth daye of auguste In the yere of owre Lorde god 1570 and In the twelveth yere of the reigne of owre sovereigne Lady Elizabethe by the grace of god Quene of England france and Irelande defendor of the faith etcetera

Robert Cooke Alias Clarencieulx

Roy Darmes

IN MODERN SPELLING, WITH PUNCTUATION ADDED, THE DOCUMENT READS AS FOLLOWS: To all and singular, as well nobles and gentlemen as others, to whom these presents shall come, Robert Cooke, esquire, alias Clarenceux principal herald and King of Arms of the south-east and west parts of this realm of England from the river of Trent southwards, sendeth greeting. Whereas anciently from the beginning, the valiant and virtuous acts of worthy persons have been commended to the world with sundry monuments and remembrances of their good deserts, amongst the which the chiefest and most useful hath been the bearing of signs in shields called arms which are evident demonstrations of prowess and valour, diversely distributed according to the qualities and deserts of the persons, which order as it was prudently devised in the beginning to stir and kindle the hearts of men to the imitation of virtue and nobleness, even so hath the same been and yet is continually observed to the end that such as have done commendable service to their Prince or country either in war or peace, may both receive due honour in their lifetime and also derive (recte, devise) the same successively to their posterity after them. And forasmuch as the City of Chichester hath been of long time incorporate by the name of Mayor and citizens, by virtue of which corporation these arms depicted in this margin have been of ancient time incident unto the said city, yet notwithstanding for divers and sundry good considerations, I the said Clarenceux King of Arms, by virtue and authority of my office of Clarenceux, have confirmed, ratified and allowed unto John Sherwyn, now mayor, John Digons, Richard Warde, John Cooke, Thomas Farington, Thomas Adames, John Moyses, William Barkham and Ralph Chauntelor, aldermen and citizens of the same City of Chichester, and to their successors for ever in like place and office, the said ancient arms, that is to say, silver goutte gules, on a chief of the second, a lion passant whole faced gold. In witness whereof, I the said Clarenceux King of Arms have set hereunto my hand and the seal of my office the 14t h day of August in the year of our Lord God 1570, and in the twelfth year of the reign of our Sovereign Lady Elizabeth by the grace of God Queen of England, France and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, et cetera.

NOTES. This attractive document has, in the top margin, a crowned red and white Tudor rose enclosed in an uninscribed Garter; at the extreme right-hand side is a simple portcullis. The top and right-hand margins of the grant have simple floral decoration in blue, heliotrope, red and green between narrow gold bands. The initial letter is gold on a blue background with white diaper work, but is rather rubbed. The shield of arms is boldly painted, and the document is signed just beneath the fold. A brief notice of Robert Cook, Clarenceux King of Arms, who is believed to have died in 1593, will be found in the Dictionary of National Biography.

Of the three endorsements on the grant, one in a sixteenth century hand says (with contracted words extended), 'In the renewing of our old Auncyent Armes incident unto this Cyttie wase tharefore A grade with the condicents of my Brethren to geve in Reward unto Mr. clarencieusx fower marckes in Anno Domini 1570 in Anno Regni Regine Domine Elizabeth xijo. Subscribed by me John Sherwyn then Maior.