Juliana Berners

“ The difficulty of accounting for a lady so placed writing upon such subjects, is cleverly, if not satisfactorily settled by assuming that she passed her teens at court, partaking of the amusements of the field, and writing for her own use a commonplace book on various subjects. ”

“ Albans obtain his types? This is a puzzling question in the present state of palæotypography. Mr. Bradshaw of Cambridge has, by unwearied study of early printed books, thrown great light upon the connection and genealogy of numerous founts used by fifteenth-century printers, and systematic attention to the minute peculiarities of each printer is doubtless the only way in which those old books can be forced to yield up their secrets; but the task is immense, and beyond the powers of any one man to complete. ”

“ Prologue to the Book of Coat Armour. “Here in this book following is determined the lineage of Coat Armours: and how gentlemen shall be known from ungentle men, and how bondage began first in angel and after succeeded in man kind, as it is here showed in process, both in the childer of Adam and also of Noe, and how Noe divided the world in three parts to his three sons. Also there be showed the nine colours in Arms figured by the nine orders of Angels, and it is showed by the foresaid colours which be worthy and which be royal ”

“ To promote 26“mewing” give the flesh of a kid, a young swan, and especially rats flesh; stewed adders are also strongly recommended, or chickens which have been fed upon wheat soaked in broth of vipers.
Gout seems a common disease in various parts of the Hawk’s body, which may be known by swelling and “ungladness;” also rheum and fever and blains and agrum, which last is cured by a red-hot silver needle thrust into the nostrils. Botches in the jaw should be “kutte with a knyfe.” ”

“ There is not one of them that would not repay much deeper study, and the reader will, doubtless, sympathise with the writer in the wish that more could be discovered concerning the schoolmaster-printer. ”

“ This, indeed, coupled with the diminution of game consequent on the progress of civilisation and the increase of the population, led to the gradual decadence of the sport, and nearly to its extinction in the eighteenth century, although, in very rare cases, falconry is even now practised. ”

“ Over theis crossis we heue an odyr cros the wiche I sawe late in tharmys of a certan Ianuens as here it shewis And this is calde a besant cros for it is made aƚƚ of besanttis. and sych a cros may be made als sone with lytiƚƚ cakys as with besanttys. for besantys and lytiƚƚ cakys differ not bot in colore. for besanttis be euer of golden coloure. ne the coloure of the besant shaƚƚ be expressid in blasyng of armys. for it nedis not to say a besant of golde for ther be no besantis bot of golde Therfor it is to be sayd. latine sic. Ille portat vnam crucem talentatam in campo rubeo. ”

“ In this treatise on Hunting we have the express statement at the end of the twenty-fourth page—“Explicit Dam Julyans Barnes.” This might certainly apply to the transcription only, but, when taken with Wynken de Worde’s version, the probability is, that the lady compiled as well as wrote it. In the reprint by Wynken de Worde, only ten years later than the original, he varies the colophon thus:—“¶ Explicit dame Julyans Bernes doctryne in her boke of huntynge,” the whole reprint ending “Enprynted at westmestre by Wynkyn the Worde the yere of thyncarnacōn of our lorde. M . CCCC . lxxxxvj.” ”

“ Also ther be certayn nobuƚƚ men the wich beer a cros engradyd or engraylid. as it apperis here folowyng And hit is calde a cros engraylid for hit is not playne in ony parte of him bot engraylid also weƚƚ ouer his length as ouer his breed. Neuer the lees this engraylyng is no propur langage aftir the sight of thys cros: bot rather an endentyng as truth is Bot it is the comune maner of spekyng in theys armys. Therfore ye most say as I sayd a fore. And ye shaƚƚ say of him that beris theys armys in thys wyse. First in latyne thus. Portat vnam crucem ingradatam de albo in campo rubeo. ”

“ Blaseris moost be ware of theis armys vmbratid of the wich: mony rewles be shewed a fore. Bot for the blasyng of theis certan armys sum ignorant men of thys crafte take the rule goyng a fore that is to wite of the colowris transmutid as ye saw a fore Bot ther be certan nobuls and gentilmen in englonde the wich beere shadoys diuerse in theyr armys as Lyon Antlop and other. and they that bere theys armis and hit be a lyon ye shaƚƚ sai in latyn ¶ Portat vnum leonē vmbratam in campo aureo ¶ Gallice. Il port dor et vng leon vmbree. ”

“ And so sych a bastard is forbedyn to bere the hooƚƚ armys of his fader for the reuerans of his blode. bot his faderis armys he may bere with sych a staffe as is sayd afore: in signe and finaƚƚ declaracion of his bastardy and to the differance of propur and naturaƚƚ hayre of his fader. And when ye haue any sych a playn fissure or a staffe ī armys or ingraylit inueckyt or fusillatit: of that same staffe ye shaƚƚ say as a fore is rehersit in the chapiture of bendys moore playnli. And the bastarde the wich berith theys armys possessis in latyn on thys maner as now here folowys. ”

“ An hawke is calde an Eyes of hir Eyghen. for an hauke that is broght vp vnder a Bussard or a Puttocke: as mony be: hath wateri Eyghen. For whan they be disclosed and kepit in ferme tyƚƚ thay be fuƚƚ summyd. ye shaƚƚ knawe theym by theyr wateri Eyghen. And also hir looke wiƚƚ not be so quycke as a Brawncheris is. and so be cause the best knawlege is by the Eygh. they be calde Eyeses.
52¶ Ye may also knawe an Eyes. bi the palenese of the seres of her legges of the sere ouer the beke. And also by the tayntys that be vppon her tayƚƚ and her wengys wiche tayntys com for lacke of fedyng. ”

“ Ther was neuer gentilman nor churle ordenyd by kynde bot he had fadre and modre. Adam and Eue had nother fadre nor modre. and in the sonnys of Adam and Eue war founde bothe gentilman and churle. By the soonnys of Adam and Eue Seth Abeƚƚ and Cayn deuyded was the royaƚƚ blode fro the vngentiƚƚ. A brother to sley his brother ꝯtrary to the law where myght be more vngentelnes. By that did Cayn become a chorle and aƚƚ his ofspryng after hym by the cursyng of god and his owne fadre adam ¶ And Seth was made a gentilman thorow his fadres and moderis blissyng. ”

“ Ther be yit for sooth diuerse noble men the wich bore armys contrari conyt. as here in thys scochon apperith. And theys armys be calde contrari conyt for this cause. for aƚƚ the colouris of theys armys meete to gedir at oon coone. that is to say at the myddyst poyntt of the shelde oonly. For eu̇y body triangulit is moore of lengthe then of brede and naamly conyt vt pꝫ. Therfore the opynyon of thos men the wyche sayd that the armys afore rehersit: that is to witte of therles armys of Marche war palyt barrit and contrari conyt is to be repreuyt. ”

“ First is a gentilman to be made a knyght ī the felde at batiƚƚ 130¶ The secunde is lyuelode of hym to resayue after manhode The .iij. is cheualry to do by fore his soueren ¶ The .iiij. is ambassatt to be put in his honde for wisdom. ¶ The .v. is proues of knyghthode done be fore alioundis ī honor of renowne. ¶ Theys be calde in armys the .v. autentyke Now folowith the .iiij. endyng stremytallis personaƚƚ ¶ The first is a poore knyght to be maried to the blode Royaƚƚ ¶ The secunde is to haue thanke of his souereyn perpetuaƚƚ. ”

“ Now I turne agayne to the signe of the cros and aske a question: how mony crossis be borne in armys. to the wich questtion vnder a certan nowmbur I dare not answere. for crossis innumerabuƚƚ ar borne now dayli. bot decendyng to eueri cros the wich a fore tyme I haue seen as fer as I can I entende to discribe. emong the wich first the playn cros shaƚƚ be discribed of the with cros moo dowtis be made then of mony odyr crossies. for as moch as wyse men in blasyng of armys holde for a veri rule that ye moost begynne to blase at the lowyst poynt of the sheelde. ”

“ Sextus lapis
¶ And thẏs stone is calde gowlẏs in armẏs ¶ The .vi. stone is calde a Ruby a redly stone. gowlys it is calde in armys. the vertue therof is. the gentylman that ī his Cotearmure that stone berith hote and fuƚƚ of corage in his kyngys batayƚƚ shaƚƚ be. the wich stone is reserued in the principatis crowne that was hote brinnyng as fire in his kyngys batayƚƚ of heuyn whan thay faught with Lucifer
¶ Septimꝯ lapis
¶ A blue stone it is & it is cald asure ī armẏs The .vij. stone is calde a Saphyre a blew stone Asure hit is calde in armys. The vertue therof is. ”

“ A Taynt is a thyng that gooth ouerwarte the federis of the wynges. and of the tayƚƚ lyke as and it were eetyn with wormys and it begynyth first to brede at the body. in the penne and that same penne shaƚƚ frete asonder. and falle a way thurrow thessame taynte and then is the hawke disparagid for aƚƚ that yere.
¶ Medecẏnẏs to Ensaẏme ẏowre hawke Take the Rote of Rasue and do it in clene water. and lay thy flesħ ther in. to temper a grete whyle. and yeue it to yowre hawke to eete. and if she eete therof. drede not bot hit shaƚƚ benymme hir grece. bot within .iij. ”

“ Take a knyfe and cutt the hede and the necke from the body of the partrich. and stripe the skynne a way from the necke. and yeue that same to the hawke. and couer the body of the fowle with a bonett or an hatt. and lay thessayd hede and the necke theruppon. 55and if she wiƚƚ forsake the fowle that she plumyth on. and com to the rewarde. then preuyli take a way the partrich. and rewarde yowre hawke with the Brayne. and the necke. Beware that she eete no bonys. for that is eueƚƚ to endewe. and it wiƚƚ make hir vnlusty: for to flye. And thus ye most serue hir of as many as she sleth. ”

“ Who so puttith a Goshawke or a Terceƚƚ or a spere hawke in to mew so high that she may be no higher. she wiƚƚ holde hir longe in the poynt: or that she lese or lent any federis. And who so puttith hir in mew lene. it will be long or she be remounted and who so puttith hir in mew to hungry and to lene: if she haue meete at hir wiƚƚ she wiƚƚ eete to moch. be cause of hungre. and ꝑauenture she may be dede ther by. as hath ofte be sene
Bot who so wiƚƚ that an hawke endure and mew kyndli. myn counceƚƚ it is that she be not to high noder to low. ”

“ And ye shaƚƚ know that ther be certan armys barrit playn. and then ye shaƚƚ nott nede to say ī the blasyng of theys armys: he berith playne armys barrit. Bot ī aƚƚ othyr disperyng armys barrit: ye most nedys declare the blasyng of theym howe thoos barrit armys differ from playn. for sū be barrit wt a Lyon raumpyng or a grehonde or odir beestis &̄ sū be barrit & 174powderit with cros croslettys molettys Scresentis smale briddis or other difference bot as for theys playn armis afore ye shal say in latyn in thys wyse. Portat arma barrata de argento & nigro Et gallice sic. ”

“ An other gentilman of Cotarmure is and not of blode a kyng geuyng a lordshipp to a yoman vnder his seaƚƚ of patent to hym and to his eyrys for euer more he may were a Cotarmure of the same lordshipp
The thride his a yoman cristenyd yif he kiƚƚ a gentylman sorsyn he may were the sarsinys Cotarmure and noo sarsyn a sarsynis cotarmure nethir cristennys cotarmure bi feghtyng in noo wyse Yit sum men say that a cristen man ouercomyng a cristen man feghtyng in the list shaƚƚ bere the cotarmure of him that is ouer comyn. ”

“ Oon is whan a cootarmure is barri of dyuerse colowris to the poynt. and what colowre the poynt be of. the poynt is the felde. Ther the blaser shaƚƚ begynne.
¶ The secunde cootarmure restriaƚƚ is calde ī armys whan a cootarmure is paly of dyuerse colouris to the poynt. & whatt pale medyƚƚ in the poynt yt coloure is the felde The blaaser shaƚƚ blase from that colowre to the next coloure pale.
¶ The threde cootarmure restriaƚƚ is calde in armys whan a cootarmure is sentry of dyuerse colowris to the poynt and whatt settre mydyƚƚ in the poynt yt colowre is the felde. ”

“ Or if a souereyn kyng make of a yoman a knyght that same knyght is a gentylman of blode by the royalte of the kyng and of knyghthood
¶ A gentẏlman spirituall ¶ Ther is a gentylman a churle sone a preste to be made and that is a spirituaƚƚ gentylman to god and not of blode. Butt if a gentylmannys sone be made preste he is a gentilman both spirituaƚƚ and temperaƚƚ. Criste was a gentilman of his moder behalue and bare cotarmure of aunseturis. The .iiij. Euangelist berith wittenese of Cristis warkys in the gospeƚƚ with aƚƚ thappostilles. ”

“ A knyght was made before ony cote armure. and Olybion was the first knyght that euer was. Asteriali his fader come bi the right lyne of that gentilman Iafeth and saw the peple multiplie & had no gouerner And the cursed peple of Sem wered ayenys them Olibion was the stryngest and the manfullest man in his tyme And the peple cried on̄ Olibion to be theyr maister and their gou̇ner A thowsand men wer than multiplied of Iafethis lyne. Asteriaƚƚ made to his son̄ a garlande abowte his hede of .ix. diueris preciouse stonys in tokenyng of chyualri to be a gou̇ner of a .M. men. ”

“ Understonde ye that a Goshawke shulde not flie to any fowle of the Ryuer with bellis in no wise. and therfore a Goshawke is calde a theef.
¶ Querre. And yowre hawke fleeth to the querre. when ther be in a stobuƚƚ tyme Sordes of mallardes in the felde and when she espith theym and commyth couerte her selfe. and flie preuyli vnder hedges or law bi the grownde. ”

“ Here shal ẏe vnderstonde furthermore other maner of termẏs that belong vn to hawkis for to cōmende them for diuerse of theẏre propirteis First ye shaƚƚ say This is a fayr hawke. an hudge hauke a longe hawke. a short thike hawke. &̄ say not this is a grete hawke. also ye shaƚƚ say this hauke has a large beke Or a shortt beke. and caƚƚ it not bille. an hudge hede or a smaƚƚ hede fayre sesoned ye shaƚƚ say yowre hawke is fuƚƚ goorged and not cropped. and yowre hawke puttithouer and endueth. ”