The interlocutors are 'Paradinus, the herald; Torquatus, a knight; Theologus, a deuine; Bartholus, a lawier; Berosus, an antiquary; and Columell, a plowman,' who converses in the dialect of Somerset. "There is somewhat of a dramatic spirit in this dialogue; the characters are supported by sentiments appropriate to each, particularly the clown, who speaks freely both the language and opinions of the yeomanry at that time; nor are the strong prejudices of the knight and herald described with less force." As a copy of this "rare jewell" lies before me, I should certainly be to blame if I did not present my reader with a specimen of its brilliancy. The topic of discourse is the "blasing of armes." "_Torq._ I pray you _pose_ me once again. "_Parad._ Goe to then: you shall begin with a coate of easie charge to be discried. Therefore, I pray you begin, and tell your soueraigne, what coat-armour this knight beareth (for I tell you, it is the coate of a knight), that your soueraine might know him by his signes of honour, sith that perchaunce you know not his name. "_Torq._ Me thinkes hee beareth Sable, a Musion[290] passaunt gardaunt Or, oppressed with a frett gules, of eight parts, nayles d'argent. [Illustration: _The cutter hath not done his duety._[291] _Ignorance bringeth rash judgements of Armes, and signes honourable._] "_Columel._ Iesa zir: call you this Armes? Now by my vaye, chad thought Armes should not have been of zutche trifling thinges. Why, this is euen the cat in the milke-house window. Full ill will her dayrie thriue, giffe she put zutch a vermine beast in trust to keepe it. "_Torq._ I am iust of thy minde: for thou hast reasoned as profoundly as might be upon so bad a deuise. "_Parad._ I perceaue (_Torq._) as clearkly as you seem to be in armory yet are you far to seeke and must still be taught. This payssaunt's glosse is euen comparable with your blazon: for bad is the best. "_Torq._ I suppose my blazon cannot be amended. [Sidenote: _The true blazon of the former coat._] "_Parad._ Yes, it shall be amended, and your errour also corrected. Did you euer see a fret thus formed before (I mean nayled?) To correct your blazon, learne by this: Hee beareth Sable, a Musion, Or, oppressed with a Troillis G. cloué dargent; for this, which you call a fret, is a lattice, a thing well knowne to poore prisoners and distressed captiues, which are forced to receaue their breath from heauen at such holes for want of more pleasant windowes, &c." [Sidenote: 1590.]