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CXLVII. In this quarter on the dexter side, is an upright Pole of strong Timber set an end, having many Pins put through it, made of sound Wood, or else of Iron. This is an appurtenance belonging to the Crab, mentioned numb. 148. and is to hang a Pulley or Snatch Block thereon, by which heavy Timber is drawn to a considerable height. Such an Engine as this with Pins all along it, was in former times used for to scale or clime up an Enemies Wall, and thereby to surprise a Town or Fort.

A. 3 such in Bend Pale-wise S. is born by Commander.

The second is a Snatch Block, or a double Snatch Block. With this Engine, with the appurtenances belonging to it, as Ropes and Tackles, great Trees of Timber are drawn up to a considerable height.

CXLVIII. He beareth Argent, a Crab Engine, Or. This is born by the name of Crabbe. This is an Engine used in Carpentery for the management of their heavy Timber, and to ease an hard Labour: It is only a square Frame of strong Timber, with a thick Plank 4 or 5 inches thick, fastned on the top of the frame, and the like on the bottom, through which goeth a strong Rowler, which is turned in the holes of the Planks, by the help of Hand-spikes or Levers.

CXLIX. In the Dexter side is an Hand issuant, holding of a Plumb line, with a Line rowle, at the end of it. This is the coat of Arms of Plumbley, being in an Azure field. This is a way that Carpenters use to try the upright standing of Posts, or other works that are to stand perpendicular to the ground plot; by holding the end of the line between the finger and the thumb, a little distance from the corner of the post, or work, and if the line and corner of the post be parallel to each other, the work is upright, else not.

The Second figure is a paire of Great Screws, of some called House Screws, for by the help of them, an house whose sides stand crooked, or have the Wall Plates sunk, are raised up and set streight by screwing up every peece into the place from whence it is fallen. se numb. 142. are the like for form, but in these the screw goeth through but one Plank, the other plank the Screw ends, only turn in a round hole made Concave.

In the Sinister side, is an other maner of Engine, and I suppose made for the same use as that mentioned in numb. 145. though it be of an other fashion on the top. Such a Jack Engine, with a Bended Head, I find to be an ancient Badg belonging to the Earle of Oxford.

— From Randle Holme’s “The Academy of Armory, or, A Storehouse of Armory and Blazon” Book III, Chapter VIII, Plate 2. Why am I reading this?

CXLVI. He beareth in this quarter several sorts of Engines used by Carpenters. The first are two Levers in the chief; these are square or round Poles, some call them Wayes, by which the Rowler of the Crab Engine is turned about, to draw up heavy Timber to a considerable height: They are termed also Pudlaies or Hand-spikes.

The Ten Foot Rod or Rule, is an Instrument of Wood like one of these, being no other than the Rib of a slit Deal plained streight, by which Ground Plots are measured, for the laying of Foundations of Houses; it is divided into ten parts, each containing a Foot.

The second Tool, which is set on the dexter side is termed a Ripping Chissel; it is a Socket Chissel, about an inch broad with a blunt Edge, not having a Basil, as almost all other Chissels have, and therefore would more properly be termed a Wedge than a Chissel; but most commonly Carpenters use an old cast off Chissel for a Ripping Chissel. Its Office is not to cut Wood, but to rip or tear 2 pieces of Wood fastned together from one another, by entring the blunt edge of it between the two pieces, and so forcing them asunder, by Blows with the Mallet.

The third, which is in the Fess point, and standeth Bendways, is termed a Drug; it is an Engine set upon two Wheels, made somewhat like a low narrow Cart Bottom. It is used for the Carriage of Timber, and then it is drawn by the handle by two or more Men, according as the weight of the Timber may require. Gules, the like to this in Bend Or, between two Pheons Argent, is born by Don Lazallo a Spanish Family.

The fourth in the Sinister chief, is a Pulley hung by the Hook in the Noose of a Rope out of the chief. This being single is termed only a Pully, but if it have more than one turn or little Wheel in it, for the Rope to run in, it is termed by most a Snatch Block, or double Snatch Block; but of the several parts and terms belonging to these Drawing Blocks, see chap. 15. numb. 45.

— From Randle Holme’s “The Academy of Armory, or, A Storehouse of Armory and Blazon” Book III, Chapter VIII, Plate 2. Why am I reading this?

CXLV. The first is the Hammer, whose chief use is for the driving Nails into work, and drawing Nails out of work. Of the several parts of the Hammer, see chap. 7. numb. 128.

The second is a Carpenters Chissel, or a socket Chissel, as most Chissels used by Carpenters are, because of strength; this is to have a Wooden Head put into it, which some call the part as goes into the socket the Sprig; of these Socket Chissels they use several sorts, yet not severally distinguished by names more than to call them an half inch, three quarter inch Chissels; inch, and inch and half, two inch, to three inch Chissels.

The third is termed a Jack; it is an Engine used for the removing, and commodious placing of great Timber: By the help of this, the side of a Timber House shrunk from its Mortesses are raised up again to their places. It is a Wooden Case with a large Mortess in it, wherein is placed a Rack, which mounteth up any thing placed upon it, by the help of a Nut Wheel on a Spindle, and turned about with a Windlasse.

— From Randle Holme’s “The Academy of Armory, or, A Storehouse of Armory and Blazon” Book III, Chapter VIII, Plate 2. Why am I reading this?