HERALDRY], [EARLY ENGLISH PRINTING], LEGH, Gerard

The Accedens of Armory

      Imprinted By Richard Tottel, London 1576 - [7ff], 135ff, [2ff]. Complete with folding woodcut plate, bound after final leaf. Woodcut title, designs, initial letters and numerous coats of arms, some remarkably elaborate, throughout. Collated and complete. Bound in later speckled calf, ruled in blind, rebacked and partially recornered. A little cracking to joints Rubbed, with wear and some marking to extremities, head of spine, a few leather flaws. New endpapers. Internally a clean and bright copy, with ink inscription of Henry Beaumont to A7, occasional ink annotations to text. Tear to I5, repaired to margin, affecting text but with no loss to text. Gerard Legh, or Leigh, heraldic writer, (?-1563). A fascinating chivalric work, The Accedence of Armorie, first appearing in 1562 and published a further 3 times by Richard Tottell in 1568, 1576 and then again 1591, was later pubished (in a slightly smaller formar) by Henrie Ballad in 1597. In 1612, William Jaggard, later publisher of the Shakespeare Folios, took the work on for its sixth and final appearance. This full version should not be confused with the abridged 'Concordes of Armorie' found in Bossewell's 'Works of Armorie'. With the manuscript heritage of heraldic history extending back into the thirteenth century, it is no surprise that Legh borrowed if not plagiarised much of his work. The manuscript notes of Nicholas Ward, law student at the Inns of Court, bear too many similarities to be coincidental. Sources aside, the content of this work provides fascinating insight to the art of 'armory'. Practically, this work guides the layman through the terms and artistry of the Herald, but is much more than a simple guide. Derivations of words, symbols and their background are included - with references to Aristotle, Plato, Pliny, Seneca and many other classical authors abounding. Similarly, Legh displays deft awareness of the pivotal importance of heraldry and ancestry to English history. It also provides insight late medieval perceptions of rank and position. Gentleness is sourced directly from God, with Abel 'a gentleman both of vertue an of linnage' whilst his 'brother Cain was ungentle, for he offered God the worst of his fruits', descending by blood through countless generations (obviously not neglecting 'Jesus Christ', a gentleman of great linnage'). We should not be convinced, however, that the Tudor ideas of heraldry were confined to the modern disciplines of theology and the classical arts; the colours of insignia draw out links with astrology, alchemy and primitive medicine, and references to medieval writers John Gower and Geoffrey Chaucer. Not only a cornerstone of the printed works on Heraldry, Legh's Accedence allows the modern reader entry into the Tudor experience of hierarchy and nobility. Luborsky & Ingram. Engl. illustrated books, 1536-1603, 15390. STC 15390 . [Attributes: First Edition]