Friday 18 October 2013

Edmond Mille, 1450

To all present and to come who these letters shall see or hear, John Smert alias Garter King of Arms in the Realm of England, greeting and all humble commendations. Equity will and reason ordains that men, virtuous and of noble courage, be for their merits by renown rewarded, and not only their persons in this mortal life, so brief and transitory, but after them, those issuing from and being begotten by their bodies be in all places of great honour for ever before others distinguished by certain signs and tokens of honour and gentility, that is to say by blazon, helm and crest, so that by their example more shall be persuaded to use their days in feats of arsm and other virtuous works to acquire the renown of ancient gentility in their line and posterity. Wherefore I, Garter King of Arms aforesaid, who, not only by common renown but also by the report and testimony of others, noble men worthy of faith am well & truly advertised and informed that Edmond Mylle has for long pursued feats of arms & as well in this as in other matters has carried himself valiantly, and honourably governed himself so that he has well deserved & is worthy that henceforth for ever he and his posterity be in all places honourably admitted, received, acknowledged, counted and renowned among the number and of the company of other ancient gentle and noble men. And for the remembrance of this his gentility, I have devised ordained and assigned to the said Edmond Mille, for him and his heirs the blazon, helm and crest in the manner following, that is to say: a shield of six points, sable and argent, three bears rampant of the same, muzzled and enchained or, the chains thrown around them. And the crest on the helm, a demi bear, sable, likewise muzzled and chained or, as aforesaid, seated on a wreath or & gules, mantelled of the same, lined ermine, as the picture, &c., in the margin before this demonstrates, To have, hold and use and posssess for him and his said heirs for ever. In testimony whereof I, Garter King of Arms above-named, have signed with my hand and sealed with my seal these presents. Made and given the twelfth day of August, in the year of grace 1450.

Harleian Society Publications Volumes 76-77: A Collection of Miscellaneous Grants by Willoughby A. Littledale (London: J. Whitehead & Son, 1925)


No comments:

Post a Comment