The first English examples of seals with lines in the engraving, to
indicate the tinctures, are said to be on some of those attached to
the death warrant of Charles I., 1648-9 [Planché's _Pursuivant of
Arms_]. Now, as this system was unquestionably first devised by Father
Silvester de Petra Sancta--whose two books, _L'Armorial ou la Science
du Blason_, 4to, and _Soumaire Armorial_, 4to, were both published
in Paris 1638--it seems curious that within ten years we should find
such conventional lines in use in England; and it follows, also, that
such of these seals as were so treated in 1648 must all have been
recently cut! A diagram, showing the colours so indicated, is given
by Sir Edward Bysse in his edition of Nicholas Upton's work, _De Usu
Militari_, published in 1654. The earlier works on heraldry, which I
have been able to consult, have the illustrations in somewhat rough
wood blocks--it would have been difficult and expensive at that time
to have got finer work in wood; but we must remember that Sylvanus
Morgan, in his _Armilogia_, published 1666, refers to Silvester de
Petra Sancta's Epistles, and elaborately describes--as if they were
something quite startling and new--why the several conventional lines
were selected. John Gibbon, in his _Introductio ad Latinam Blazoniam_,
published London 1682, p. 152, says, "for the distinction of colours
in arms [which was devised by the Rev. Father S. de Petra Sancta],"
and he (Gibbon) frames some Latin verses for the better remembering
thereof; but in the woodcuts which adorn his book he does not follow
the system which he recommends. The earliest English book which shows
them in the copper plate engravings is Bysse's edition of Nicholas
Upton, published, as already noticed, in 1654. I am aware that Boutell,
in his _Heraldry_, chap. v, says that such lining may be occasionally
found before 1630. Now there seems no manner of doubt as to the
inventor; and any references with dates, which Mr. Boutell could have
given, would have been valuable indeed! At present we are involved in
a paradox: if Father Silvester invented the idea; did he discuss it
for years, perhaps before committing it to print, and having his own
beautiful copper plate illustrations so drawn in 1638? I point out this
interesting question. Any instance of a seal or engraving so treated
with the proper lines to represent tinctures and occurring before 1638
should be carefully noted with the exact dates; and I venture to think
any such solitary instance would prove to be purely accidental. The
seal of Sir Edward Nicholas, secretary to Charles II., engraved for
him by the celebrated Thomas Simon, does not show any tincture lines
(see the woodcut at p. 45). In this seal the second and third quarters
are the paternal arms of Nicholas, while in the first and fourth are
displayed that honourable augmentation granted to Sir Edward in 1649.
We may safely conclude that this seal was cut immediately after he
received that distinction. Particulars of Sir Edward's career may be
learned from Manning and Bray's _History of Surrey_, vol. iii, p. 40;
also from Hoare's _South Wiltshire_, p. 88. He was Secretary to Charles
I., followed Charles II. into exile, and was continued by him in his
post of Secretary. He eventually returned with him, and died in 1669,
at the age of seventy-seven.
I regret I have never had the opportunity to examine for myself the
original death-warrant which was carried out on that chill thirtieth
day of January, 1648-9; and so I am not able to say with exactness
which of the seals show tincture lines, as it is said they do.