Heraldry and the Gentleman
Transcribed with comments by Charles E. F. Drake, MD
Much has been written about whether the test of gentility is the possession of a coat-of-arms, and about whether such gentility is the equivalent of untitled nobility. I present the following, not as any resolution of such a debate, but rather as interesting food for thought.
John Ferne in his 1586 book, The Blazon of Gentrie, had this to say.
"But if you will knowe my conceit of Gentlemen, and of their Severall Sorts, you shall See into what perticulers I haue deuided them, if you will but gaze a while on this Table following.
"A Gentleman
#
of Auncestry, with bloud, and coat-armour perfect is He, whose Auncestors, both of the parte of his father, & of his mother, haue by fiue lineal degrees ascending (at the least) borne Armes, and Insignes of their Several houses, and famlies.#of bloud, & coat-armour perfect, but not of Auncestrie
!The fift degree, in lineal disent from him:
1 That Slewe a Saracen, or Heathen Gentle-man, and thereby beareth his Armes
2 That for winning the standarde, Guydon, Banner, Armour, & (wherevpon were Set, his Armes) from any Christian enemye, in the fielde, or within listes of combate, beareth the Same armes, Quia occupantis Sunt.
3 That obtaineth Armes, by the gift of the Soveraigne, or the deuise of the Hereald:
4 That purchaseth a Segniorie, from the K. and therewith, the Armes appertaining to the fame.
!
5 A yeoman, hauing first, worthelye obtained coat-armour: is hereafter dubbed Knight!
6 A yeoman, made Doctor of the Lawes Canon, or Ciuill, and estsones, obtaining coat-armour.#
of bloud perfect, & coat-armour vnperfect: is The cheefe of the bloud after fiue discents, dying without issue male the coate, falleth too imperfect bearing, as to the yonger blouds of the house, of the male line.#Of bloud and coat-armoure vnperfeft
! The third degree of lineal discent, from him:
1 Which Slew a Saracen gentleman, and beareth his armes therefore.
2 Which winneth the Standarde, Banner, Guydon, armour, & from any christian enemy, either in lane of wars, or in the listes of Combate: and therefore obtaineth, to beare the Same:
3 Which obtaineth Armes, by the immediat gift, of the K. or the deuise of a Hereald.
4 Which purchaseth, both a segniorie, and also the Armes appertenaunt, from the K.
!5 The natural Son, of a gentleman of bloud, & coat-armour perfect.
!
6 The legitimate Son, of a yeoman, borne of a gentle-woman of bloud, and coat- armour perfect, & an enheritrix.#Of coat-armoure vnperfect
! 1 He, that Slew an infidell gentleman.
! 2 He that winneth the Standarde, Guydon, & from a christian enemye, either in fielde of warres, or in listes of Combate, & ut Supra.
! 3 He which hath Armes giuen, by the K. or the Hereald: vpon his iust merite.
! 4 A Gentleman of purchase: ut Supra
! 5 A Gentleman of paper and waxe.
#Neither of bloud, nor coat-armour
! Spiritual. A churles Son, made priest, Canon &.
! Vntriall.
He, that being brought vp, in the Seruice of a Bishop, Abote, prelate, or Baron, and for his Seruice Sake, enioyes the bare title of gentleman.
He, that hauing receaued anye degree of Schooles, or borne any office in a City: So that by Statutes of the one, or the custome in the other, he is Saluted M."
Later, the author comments, "The name of Gentle-man, can not by comon right, appertaine to any except to those of coat-armors. But through time, and the Slouthfull tolleration of former officers at Armes, in elder times, those persons raunged in the foot, of my deuision of gentlemen...haue by vsurpation, incroched the bare title of gentleman...."
One simple conclusion from this table is that the gentle class was not fixed, but there were several ways open by which one could gain entry. I believe the same principle applies today.