Grant of arms to John Shakespeare: draft 1

Non, Sanz Droict.                               NON SANZ DROICT                              Shakespere, 1596

non, sanz Droict:

[coat of arms]

To all & singuler Noble & Gentillmen of what estate or degree bearing Arms to whom

these presentes shall come   William Dethick alias Garter. principall king of Arms

sendethe greetinges   Knowe Yee that whereas by the authoritie & auncyent _^ ^{pryvelege &} custome of _^ ^{pertey[n]inge to}

my ^said office _^ ^of fre _^ ^{principall king of Arms from} the Quenes most excellent Maiestie and her highnes most noble & victorious

Progenitors. I am to take generall notice & record & to make publique demonstracion

& testimonie for all matters & causes of Arms & for all ^{and matters of} Gentrie Thoroughe out all her

Maiesties kingdoms & domynions, Principalites, Isles, & Provinces.   To thend that [. . .] [. .]

As some by theyre auncyent Names families kyndredes & descentes have & enioye sonderie enseignes & [Coates]

of Arms. So other for theyre valiant factes magnanimite vertue dignites & descertes maye have

suche tokens & markes & Tokens of honor & Worthinesse. Whereby theyr Name & good fame shalbe [. . . . . . . .]

& divulged. & theyre Children & posterite _^ ^{in all vertue} better _^ ^encouraged descerned _^ ^{to the} better service of theyre Prynce & Contrie

In consideration & ^the better. declaration wherof I have ben _^ ^{Being herevnto solicited and by}credible ^report informed  Beinge _^ ^therefore herevnto solicited [& by]

credible report informed.  That John .Shakespeare. of Stratford vppon Avon in the Counte of warw[icke]

whose _^ ^{parentes & late} antecessors were for they[r]e valieant & faithefull service advaunced & rewarded by the most Pruden[t]

Prince king Henry the seventh of famous memorie sythence whiche tyme they have continueed ^{at those partes}_^ in good

reputacion & credit _^ ^{And that the said John having maryed the Mary daughter & one of the heyres of Robert Arden of Wilmcote in the said Countie gent.} In consideration wherof & for encouragement of his posterite I have _^ ^therfore assigned

geven and graunted _^^{and _^ by these presentes confirmed} this shield or Cote of Arms. Viz. Gould on a bend sable a speare. of the first _^ ^{the poynt steeled argent proper}.

And for his Creast or Cognizance. A faulcon _^ ^{his winges displayed proper Argent} argent standing on a wrethe of his Coullors supporting

a Speare. gould. steled _^ ^{as aforesaid proper} argent sett vppon a healmett with mantelles and tasselles as _^ ^{hath ben accustomed and} more playnely appearethe

depicted on this Margent. Signefieing hereby that it shalbe lawfull for the sayd John Shakespeare

Gent. and for his Children yssue & posterite ^{at all tymes convenient to make shewe of} And that he or th[ey] maye vse to & beare _^ ^Blazon the same _^ ^Atchevement on _^ ^theyre Shield[es]

or _^ ^{cote of Arms} Escucheons. _^ ^{Creast Cognizance or} Seales Ringes signettes _^ ^{pennons Guydons Edefice vtensiles liveries Tombes or Monumentes} or other wyse _^ ^{at all tymes} in all lawfull Warrlyke factes or Ciuile vse

and exercises _^ ^{according to the Lawes of Arms} without lett or interruption of any _^ ^other person or persons _^ ^{that maye or[..] vse vsurpe & beare the same.}   presumpe _^ ^{or shewe} In witnesse whereof I have

herevnto subscribed my name & fastened the Seale of my office endorzed with the Signett

of my Arms.  At the office of Arms London. The xx^te Daye of october in the

xxxix^tie yeare of the reigne of our Soueraigne Lady Elizabeth by the grace of God Quene of

England ffraunce & Ireland. Defender of the faithe &c. 1596.

                                                            To whom theyse achivmentes maie [or “must”] 

                                                             desend, by the auncient custom and

                                                              lawes of Armes.