HENRY PEACHAM (whose name is more familiar to the non-heraldric reader than those of most other armorists of early date, in consequence of Dr. Johnson, in his Dictionary, referring exclusively to him as an authority for terms of blazonry,) wrote 'The Compleat Gentleman,' which professes to treat of every necessary accomplishment befitting that character, and of course, among other things, "of armorie or the blazon of armes." The 13th chapter, devoted to this subject, is a compendious and scientific production. 'The Compleat Gentleman' was one of the most popular books of its time, and between 1622 and 1661 passed through six editions. In 1630 Peacham published another work called 'The Gentleman's Exercise, or an exquisite practise as well for drawing all manner of beasts in their true portraitures, as also the making of all kinds of colours to be used in lymming, painting, tricking and blazon of coates and armes, with diuers others most delightfull and pleasurable obseruations for all yong Gentlemen and others.' The two MARKHAMS, Gervase and Francis, were brothers, and flourished in the early part of this century. The former republished the Boke of St. Albans, under the title of 'The Gentleman's Academy;' and the latter wrote a 'Booke of Honour,' one of the dullest of books upon a very dull subject. The 'Titles of Honour' of the celebrated SELDEN demands for him a place among heraldric authors.[296] Hitherto, a review of our sixteenth and seventeenth century armorists presents us with the names of men of erudition or of professional heralds, but another class of authors now occasionally demands, each in his turn, a passing remark. This is composed of the persons, who, possessed of few qualifications beyond a knowledge of the technicalities of blazon and an ardent zeal in the pursuit, have ventured to add to the already extensive stock of heraldric lore. The earliest writer of the class alluded to is JAMES YORKE, the Blacksmith of Lincoln, who in 1640 published 'The Union of Honovr,' containing the arms, matches, and descents of the nobility from the Conquest. Appended to it are the arms of the gentry of Lincolnshire, and an account of all the battles fought by the English. It is dedicated to Charles I; and there is also an epistle dedicatory to Henry, son and heir of Thomas, earl of Arundel, earl-marshal, in which Yorke very candidly avows his lack of erudition. "My education," says he, "hath made me but just so much a Scholler as to feele and know my want of learning." He hopes, however, that his noble patron will find the work "decent." "I undertooke it not for vaine-glory, nor assume the credit of mine authours to my selfe, onely am proud nature inclin'd me to so Noble a study: _long was I forging and hammering it to this perfection_, and now present it to your Lordship, as a _master-piece, not yet matched by any of my trade_." In his address to the courteous reader he expresses his