The Heraldic Achievement
of
William Tupholme
1562

To ALL AND SINGULER as well Kinges Herauldes and Officers of armes, as nobles gentilmen and others which theise presentes shall see or here William Heruye Esquyre otherwyse called Clarencieulx principall Heraulde and Kinge of armes of the Sowthe Easte and Weaste parttes of England from the ryuer of Trent southwarde sendith due commendac'ons and greatinge. Forasmoche as auncientlie from the begynnynge the valiaunt and vertuous actes of excellent parsons haue ben com'endid to the worlde with sondry monumentes and remembraunces of their good desertts emonges the which one of the chefiste and moste vsuall hathe ben the bearinge of signes and tokens vn shildes called armes the which are non other thinges then euydences and demonstrac'ons of prowes and valowre dyuerslie distrybuted accordynge to the quallities and deserttes of the parsons, that suche signes and tokens of the diligent, faythfull, and cowragious, myght apere before the negligent, cowarde, and ignorant, and be an efficient cawse to moue, styre, and kyndle the harttes of men to the Imytac'on of vertue and noblenes. Euen so hath the same ben and yet is contynuallie obseruid to th'intent that suche as haue don com'endable seruyce to their prince or contrey, eyther yn warr or peace, maye bothe receyue du honor yn their lynes, and also deryue the same successyuelie to theire posteritie after them. AND WHERAS WILLIAM TUPHOLME of Boston yn the countie of Lyncolne esquire, is descended of the right lyne of John Tupholme of the saide countie esquyre, and be not certeyne how to deryue hymselfe herein, hath ynstantlie requyred me the saide Clarencieulx to make searche yn the register and recordes of myne Office for the trew and perfitt descent to hym belongynge, which accordinglie I did accomplishe, and fownde the saide William Tupholme to be the sonne and heire to John Tupholme sonne and heire of Thomas Tupholme and of Isabell his wyfe doughter and heire of William Burnam of Boston in the countie of Lyncolne esquyre, which William was sonne and heire of John Burnam and of Jane his wyfe, doughter and one of theyres of Richard Carter which Richard was sonne and heire of Thomas Carter and of Margarett his wife doughter and one of theyres of Allayne Warwyke sonne and heire of William Warwyke yn the saide countie of Lyncolne esquyre. And so fyndinge the trewe and perfect descent of the saide William Tupholme coulde not w^tout his great Iniurye but sett forthe all suche Armes as he ought lawfullie to beare, That is to saye, quarterlie in the first q^rt for Tupholme, gules a Ramme passant argent horned betwene thre Cross crossletts siche golde. In the second for Burnam golde a maunche maltaile vert and so quarterlie. And forasmoche as I fownde no creast belongynge vnto the saide armes as comonlie to all auncient armes there belongid none I have geuen vnto hym by waye of encrease for his creast and cognissaunce vppon a wreathe argent and azure a Ram'es hedd razid gules horned a crowne about the necke golde, mantelid gules doubled argent, as more playnelie apearith depicted in this margent : which armes helme and Creast I y^e saide Clarencieulx Kynge of armes by power and auctorite to myne office an'eved & graunted by letters pattent vnder the great seale of England haue ratefied and confirmed geuen & graunted & by these p'sentes do ratefie & confirme gyue and graunte unto & for y^e saide Will'm Tupholme in y^e countie of Lincolne esquire & to his posterite w^t their due difference to use beare and shew for euermore in shilde cote armoure or otherwise at his & their libertie & pleasure w^tout ympedyment lett or interrupc'on of any p'son or p'sons. In witness wherof I y^e saide Clarencieulx Kinge of armes have signed theise p'sents w^t my hande & putt thervnto the Seale of myne office and the Seale of myne armes. Yeuen at London y^e xxvi of October in y^e yeare of oure lorde god 1562 & in y^e fourth yeare of y^e reigne of owre moste dread souereigne Ladye Elizabeth by y^e grace of god Queene of England Fraunce and Yreland deffender of ye faithe, etc.