Grant of Arms 20th November 1488
Original spelling
Grant of Arms
4th Henry vijth
To all true Cristen People thies presentes Ires reding hering or seeing I THOMAS CLARENCEAU principall heraulde and King of Armes of the South pts of this Realme of England otherwise called Thomas Holme Knyght send deu and humble recomendacion and greting as it apperteigneth in our Lord God Ever-lasting Equite woll and reason ordenneth that for so moche as I understond for certein that evry Crafte and fraternite wtin the Kynge most Royall Cite of London called his Chambr compace stody devyse & ynmagyne wt theyre besy curys & undeleyed devoyres and dyligencys and suche psonys namely as be lyneally dyscended from noble blode compellyd thereunto by verrey course of nature the most convenyent and most honourable weyes and meanes to them possible for to Exalte and pferre theyre Crafts and fratenyteys to honour and nobley & to as excellent laude and recomendacyn as by theyr myndes canne be thoughte or contryvyd to thentent that evy psonne entrying or comying into theyr Crafte & fraternyteys heryng of their sadde and laudable vertuoux and comenda ble disposiscions and opynyons shulde the rather enforce and apply themselfe effectually wth all possible delygence towards the maintenance and supportacyon & long contenewaunce of the same to the laud and preysing of God thenor of the kynge our Sovraige lorde of this his Realme and Cite aforsayd and of the sayd Crafte & fraternyte, amongs whom I the sayd King of Armes note and appoynte at this tyme specially the goode sadde and worshipfull and well disposyd persones the WARDENS of the full honourable Craft & frateryte of BOWYERS of the said Cite, that is to say Willm Awssten and Richard Clarke Citezens Bowyers and Wardens of the same Crafte for the tyme being wt all the hole body of the same I the sayd Kyng of Armes for the tender zele and inward affeccyon that I bere towards the said Crafte and fraternyte for the preferring and encresse therof to honneur and nobles have geven and graunted unto theym the Armeys hereafter following as in the Margyne dipikt more plenly apperyth that is to saye They beare SABLE UPPON A CHEVERON GOLD THRE MOLLETS PERSYD BETWENE THRE FLOYTS SILVER, the Crest uppon the Helme THRE BOWES BENT GOULYS STRYKYD GOLD sette wtyne a wreyth golde and asure, the Mantell sable Forred with Ermyn, as in the margyne depyct wch armes by thactoryte and powre of myn office annexed and attrybutyd of the sayd Kyng have devysed and ordeyned to and for the sayde Craft and frateryte of BOWYERS to theym that now be and to them that hereafter schalbe theyre successours, In singne and token of Noblesse for evermore. To have to hold occupy and rejoyce the same armys pesybly and vouablye to the said Wardens and their Successours Bowyers at theyr plesyres wtoute eny impedyment Interrupcion lette or enpchement by vertue of my said graunte for evrmore.
In wytenesse wherof I the sayd King of Armys to thies psents synged wth my hand have do putte my seall of Armys of auctoryte Yeven at London the xxth day of Novembris in the iiijthe yeare of the Reygne of our Sovygne lord king Henry the vijthe.
Modern spelling
Grant of Arms
4th Henry VII
To all true Christian people these presents are reading hearing or seeing I Thomas Clarenceau principal herald and King of Arms of the South parts of this Realm of England otherwise called Thomas Holme Knight send due and humble recommendation and greeting as it appertaineth in our Lord God everlasting Equity will and reason ordaineth that for so much as I understand for certain that every Craft and fraternity within the Kings most Royal City of London called his Chamber compass study devise and imagine with their busy currys and undelayed devoirs and diligencies and such persons namely as be lineally descended from noble blood compelled thereunto by very course of nature the most convenient and most honourable ways and means to them possible for to exalt and prefer their Crafts and fraternities to honour and nobly and to as excellent laud and recommendation as by their minds can be thought or contrived to the extent that every person entering or coming into their Craft and fraternity hearing of their sad and laudable virtue and commendable dispositions and opinions should the rather enforce and apply themselves effectually with all possible diligence towards the maintenance and support and long continuance of the same to the laud and praising of God the honour of the king our Sovereign lord of this his Realm and City aforesaid and of the said Craft and fraternity, amongst whom I the said King of Arms note and appoint at this time especially the good sad and worshipful and well disposed persons the WARDENS of the full honourable Craft and fraternity of BOWYERS of the said City, that is to say William Austen and Richard Clarke Citizens Bowyers and Wardens of the same Craft for the time being with all the whole body of the same I the said King of Arms for the tender zeal and inward affections that I bear towards the said Craft and fraternity for the preferring and increase thereof to honour and nobles have given and granted unto them the arms hereafter following as in the margin depicted more plainly appeareth that is to say they bear SABLE UPON A CHEVRON GOLD THREE MULLETS PIERCED BETWEEN THREE FLOATS SILVER, the Crest upon the Helm THREE BOWS BENT GULES STRIKED GOLD set within a wreath gold and azure, the mantle sable furred with ermine, as in the margin depicted which arms by the authority and power of mine office annexed and attributed of the said King have devised and ordained to and for the said craft and fraternity of BOWYERS to them that now be and to them that hereafter shall be their successors, In sign and token of nobility for evermore. To have to hold occupy and rejoice the same arms peacably and {vouablye} to the said Wardens and their successors Bowyers at their pleasure without any impediment interruption let or impeachment by virtue of my said grant for evermore.
In witness wherof I the said King of Arms to these presents signed with my hand have do put my seal of Arms of authority even at London the 20th day of November in the 4th year of the reign of our Sovereign lord king Henry VII.t honorable Privy Councell