Heraldic Latin Mottoes - Welsh Evidence - Ursula Georges alias Ursula Whitcher

Heraldic Latin Mottoes

Sixteenth- and Seventeenth-Century Welsh Evidence

Ursula Georges, alias Ursula filia Georgii, alias Ursula Whitcher

Table of Contents

Introduction
History of Mottoes
War-Cries
Imprese
Forming Heraldic Mottoes
Languages of Mottoes Used in Wales
Translations of Latin Mottoes Used in Wales
Conclusion
Bibliography

Introduction

A few pithy words painted on a flowing scroll beneath a brightly colored shield express ideals and ambitions: the motto is a familiar part of a heraldic achievement. Yet, despite its popularity, the origin and status of the heraldic motto remains obscure. Today, different Colleges of Arms treat mottoes with wildly different degrees of formality: in Scotland , a motto can be registered at the same time as a coat of arms, while in England mottoes are not protected. (Neubecker, p. 203.) Though mottoes are often adopted informally, once adopted, they can be passed down through a family along with a coat of arms. Since mottoes are not consistently recorded, and even antique families may use more recent mottoes, it can be difficult to distinguish medieval and Renaissance mottoes from later innovations.

The current essay analyzes a collection of sixteenth- and seventeenth-century heraldic mottoes from Wales found in Michael Powell Siddons' The Development of Welsh Heraldry (Siddons, volume III, pp. 171-181.) Siddons' collection includes mottoes in Latin, French, English, and Welsh. This essay includes a complete translation of all the Latin mottoes, and investigates possible motto sources and allusions. Not all mottoes used in sixteenth- and seventeenth-century Britain were part of heraldic achievements. These non-heraldic mottoes offered opportunities to display wit, erudition, and personal ambitions. The heraldic mottoes analyzed here are more straightforward: most would have been readily accessible to an educated man, and nearly all boast of the bearer's virtue, bravery, or piety.

History of Mottoes

Mottoes were engraved on personal seals as early as the thirteenth century. For example, Sir John de Byron used a seal reading "Crede Beronti" or "Trust in Byron" in 1293. (Woodcock, p. 112.) In the fifteenth century, men carried standards into battle adorned with a badge, crest, and a few pithy words. (Woodcock, p. 111.) The impresa, a combination of a symbolic picture with a personal motto, also became popular in the fifteenth century. (Velde, Imprese.) Mottoes first appear in heraldic contexts in the fourteenth century; they did not become common until a century later. (Velde, War-Cries.) Thus, heraldic mottoes have several sources: some are akin to the comments on seals, some record the war-cries and other bold statements which adorned battle standards, and some imitate the witty and intellectual imprese.

War-Cries

War-cries are older than heraldry. Since they were originally rallying cries for a nobleman's troops, most war-cries are very simple. They are usually in their owner's native language (frequently French or Scottish Gaelic), though the Holy Roman Emperor may have used the Latin war-cry "Dexter et sinister!" or "To the right and the left!" War-cries may threaten, invoke a family name or family lands, or call on God for assistance. (Velde, War-Cries.) They often appeared on standards. (Woodcock, p. 112.) Many war-cries were eventually adopted as mottoes. The most famous example is "Dieu et mon droit" or "God and my right", the motto of the English kings: this was supposedly Edward III's rallying cry during the Battle of Crécy in 1346. (Velde, War-Cries.)

War-cries were especially popular in Scotland, where they were known by their Gaelic name "sluagh-gairn", which has been Anglicized as "slogan". (Woodcock, p. 112.) In modern Scottish heraldry, mottoes have a place of honor derived from the more ancient battle-cries, and are registered along with a family's arms. (Neubecker, p. 203.) In England, on the other hand, war-cries were treated with some suspicion. A law passed in 1495 banned private war-cries altogether; the Tudor kings did not wish to encourage too much independence on the part of their subjects. (Woodcock, p. 113.)

Imprese

Imprese combine a picture and a motto to express an individual's hopes and aspirations. (Young, Tournaments, p. 123.) They first appeared in the French and Burgundian courts toward the end of the fourteenth century; over the course of the following century the genre spread throughout Europe. (Young, Imprese, p. 1.) Unlike war-cries, which served to rally hosts of troops and were frequently passed down in families, imprese were intensely personal. The mottoes curried favour with fair ladies or powerful rulers, or boasted of individual achievement. One noble man or woman might use many different imprese over a lifetime, fitting each to a special occasion or changing fortunes.

By the sixteenth century imprese were intensely fashionable. (Young, Imprese, p. 4) Court displays of imprese overshadowed or even replaced displays of heraldry. (Young, Tournaments, p. 128.) However, the impresa remained an elitist genre. To understand and compose successful imprese, one had to be familiar with Latin, perhaps Greek, and more contemporary foreign languages; one had to grasp allusions to classical poets such as Vergil and Ovid; and one's wit had to encompass involved puns relating mottoes and symbols to each other. (Young, Imprese, p. 3.)
Forming Heraldic Mottoes

Mottoes used in heraldry were more peaceful than most war-cries and more straightforward than most imprese. However, they drew on the qualities of each: like war-cries, many mottoes emphasized strength or divine approval, while imprese encouraged mottoes composed in Latin and incorporating classical allusions. An ordinary sixteenth- or seventeenth-century heraldic motto was brief, catchy, and expressed the bearer's bravery, virtue, or piety . The 1622 motto "Virtute, vi, et armis" or "With virtue, force, and arms" is a good model; William Evans, who died in 1589, used "Fortitudo mea Dominus" or "The Lord is my strength," another typical example. (Siddons, pp. 171-181.)

Mottoes were not necessarily original. Both Vaughan of Corsygedol and Wynn of Glyn Cywarch used the motto "Immaculata gens" ("Unstained family"), for instance. Many mottoes were based on familiar proverbs: the motto of John Rowlands of Nant, who died in 1703, for instance, was "Honestas politia optima," the Latin version of "Honesty is the best policy. Some mottoes were based on literary quotations. The Bible was a common source of quotations; most Biblical mottoes seem to have been drawn from well-known books such as the Gospels and the Psalms. Examples from the Welsh data include the c. 1520 "Iac in Dominum curam tuam" ("Throw your care upon God") taken from Psalm 55, and the mid-seventeenth-century "Deus pascit corvos" ("God feeds the ravens"), based on Luke 12:24. Other mottoes were taken from well-known Roman works, such as "Vix ea nostra voco" ("I scarcely call these things our own"), a c. 1559 motto taken from Ovid's Metamorphoses. (Siddons, pp. 171-181.)

Some heraldic mottoes incorporated puns on a family name. Sixteenth- or seventeenth-century English examples include "Cavendo tutus" ("Safe by being wary"), used by the Cavendish family, and "Pie repone te" ("Place yourself piously "), used by the Pierreponts. (Woodcock, p. 113.) One punning example from Welsh heraldry is the French motto "Nul ioy sans payne" or "No joy without pain" which Elizabeth Payne displayed in 1588. Mottoes might also refer to the coat of arms itself. In the early seventeenth century, for instance, Morgan of Arxton used the motto "Nigra sum sed formosa" ("I am black but beautiful"), which is probably a reference to a pure black crest. (Siddons, pp. 171-181.)

Languages of Mottoes Used in Wales

English, Welsh, French, and Latin mottoes were all used in sixteenth- and seventeenth-century Wales. The following table shows their relative frequencies:

Language Number of Mottoes Percentage

English 15 7.3%

Welsh 47 22.8%

French 30 14.6%

Latin 114 55.3%

(A few mottoes were bilingual, and are therefore counted twice; one motto, "Odexi du parmer," has been omitted from the analysis because its language could not be identified.)

Latin mottoes predominate. This reflects a widespread literacy in Latin; it may also indicate that the more overtly intellectual imprese mottoes influenced heraldic motto choices. British war-cries were often in French; sixteenth- and seventeenth-century men and women who displayed French mottoes could have inherited them from French-speaking ancestors, or they might have been displaying their knowledge of a foreign language. The bearers of Welsh and English mottoes, on the other hand, presumably spoke these languages at home.

Translations of Latin Mottoes Used in Wales

The following table gives my own translations of the Latin mottoes listed in Siddons, pp. 171-181. Most of these mottoes were connected with heraldry, though a few may have been derived from imprese or carried on standards; the lines between different genres of motto are not always completely solid. The notes comment on important points of transcription or translation, and identify important allusions and references.

Motto

Translation

Owner

Date

Notes

A Ieova fortitudo mea a quo timebo

From Jehovah my strength from which I will fear

John Dee

1572

Amo ut invenio

I love just as I find

Perrot of Haraldston

late 17th century

Aspera ad virtutem via fructus dulcis

The way toward virtue is harsh, the fruit sweet

David Edwardes of Rhyd-y-gors

d. 1690

At unimur in viribus

But we are united in strength

At Powys Castle

Auxilium meum a Domino

My help from God

David Yale

1502

Cadens resurgens, forsan decore

Falling rising again, perchance with grace

Lewis Morgan of Gray's Inn

1656

Cingula in uno

Girdle in one, bound in one

Wynne of Foelas

c. 1630

Crux Christi clavis coeli

The cross of Christ is the key to heaven

Vaughan of Cwmgwili, Vaughan of Merthyr Cynog

c. 1673

Da gloriam Deo: [. . . reg] gogoniant i Dduw

Give glory to God

Goodman of Ruthin

1588

Bilingual in Latin and Welsh

Da mihi lucem

Give light to me

Baynham

c. 1520

Delic'te iustitiam qui indicatis terra

You who value justice with the earth, delight!

William Hughes, Bishop of St. Asaph

1573-1600

Deo et republice

With God and the republic

Sir Roger Puleston of Emral

1618

Deus faveat - Divere foveat

Let God favour - Let him nurture in many ways

Jones of Abermarlais

1623

"Divere" is probably a variant of the Latin adverb "diverse"

Deus pascit corvos

God feeds the ravens

Rhys of Newton

mid-17th c.

Luke 12:24: "Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls?" (King James Bible, Vulgate)

Deus primum honos proxime

God first, honor closest

At Powis Castle

Deus sola fortitudo mea est

God is my only strength

Thomas Holland

1615

Compare Psalm 43:2: "For thou art the God of my strength" (King James Bible, Vulgate)

Et mica mihi

And a grain for me

William Blethin, Bishop of Llandaff

1580-90

Dwm sbeiro (spiro) in Deum spero

While I breathe I hope in God

David Lloyd of the Forest

1596

Spelling influenced by Welsh spellings

Et pullis corvorum invocantibus cum

And to the crying chicks of the ravens

Sir Gruffudd ap sir Rhys

c. 1520

Part of verse 9 of Psalm 147: "He giveth to the beast his food, and to the young ravens which cry." Perseus edition of the Vulgate has "eum" rather than "cum". (King James Bible, Vulgate)

Exitus acta probat

The end approves the deeds

Somerset, Henry, Earl of Worcester

early 17th c.

Common proverb: The end justifies the means

Fer sic ferre

Bear thus, iron one!

Davies of Middleton

early 17th c.

Siddons notes that this is 'his old motto'; the same phrase appears in the Aenigmata of Johann Lauterbach, 1521-1598. (Lauterbach, Johann.)

Festina lente

Make haste slowly

Morgan of Rhiw'perrai

c. 1626

A saying of Julius Caesar (World of Quotes.)

[F]iat Pax, floreat Justicia

Let there be Peace, let Justice flourish

Hugh Holland

1584

Fide et Amore

With Faith and Love

Conwy of Bodrhyddan

?

Fides et charitas

Faith and charity

Vaughan of Corsygedol

17th c.

Fortitudine et Prudentia

With Strength and Prudence

Edward, Lord Herbert of Chirbury and Castle Island

d. 1648

Fortitudo mea Dominus

The Lord [is] my strength

William Evans, Treasurer of Llandaff

d. 1589

Gloriam Dei cano

I sing the glory of God

Sir David Williams of Gwernyfed

early 17th c.

Hinc labor: hoc opus

From here the labor: this the work

John Dee

1576

Homo proponit Deus disponit

Man proposes, God disposes

Richard Owen of Peniarth

1700

Siddons notes that this motto is found over the mantelpiece at Peniarth

Honestas politia optima

Honesty is the best policy

John Rowlands of Nant

d. 1703

Immaculata gens

Unstained family

Vaughan of Corsygedol

1588

Immaculata gens

Unstained family

Wynn of Glyn Cywarch

1638

In congnidta (Incognita) servo

Unknown I serve

Rhys Morgan of Modlyscwm

1596

Ingenio et Industria

With talent and diligence

Hanmer of Llwynymapsis

1597?

Innocentes sicut pueri sagaces sicut serpentes

Innocent like children, wise like serpents

Vaughan, descended from Moreddig Warwyn

Inter hastas et hostes

Between spears and enemies

Sir Thomas Powell of Nanteos

d. 1705

In veritate triumpho

I triumph in truth

Myddelton of Gwenynog

1638

In veritate triumpho

I triumph in truth

Myddelton of Chirk Castle

1645

In via virtuti[s] nulla est via

In the path of virtue there is no path

Hockleton

Invidere sperno

I scorn to envy

Laugharne

late 17th c.

Iac in Dominum curam tuam

Throw your care to God

Griffyth of Penrhyn

c. 1520

Psalm 55, part of verse 22: "Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved." (King James Bible, Vulgate.)

Iure non dono

I do not give according to law

William Vaughan of Bodrychwyn

c. 1627

Iure non dono

I do not give according to law

Wynn of Llanfair

late 17th c.

Justicia regnante nemine obstante

With justice reigning, with noone obstructing

Roger Puleston of Emral

1667

Labora ut in aeternam vivas

Labor that you may live forever

Ap Rhys of Washingley

1613

Lex aliquando dormit, moritur numquam

Law sometimes sleeps, never dies

John Broughton of Broughton

17th c.

Lux Christi clavis coeli

The light of Christ is the key to Heaven

Vaughan of Cwmgwili

Siddons notes, "This is probably mistaken for Crux, etc."

Maior victoria mentis

Victory of the mind is greater

Griffith of Caerwys

Me flos virtutis adornat

The flower of virtue adorns me

Sir Abraham Williams

early 17th c.

Me illi qui mei mihi

Those from me who of me to me

Powell of Hosely

1603

Meliora sperans

Hoping for better

Salesbury of Bachymbyd

early 17th c.

Mihi gloriam sursum

Glory to me on high

Arnold

17th c.

Morte leonis vita

From the death of a lion, life

Mostyn of Mostyn

early 17th c.

Murus Aeneus sana conscientia

A healthy conscience is a bronze wall

John Broughton of Broughton

17th c.

Nati pro patria mori

Born to die for the fatherland

Puleston of Hafod-y-wern

early 17th c.

Compare Horace Odes III.ii.13: Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori ("It is sweet and fitting to die for one's country") (Horace.)

Ne quid nemis

Lest anything too much

Jones of Tregîb

1580

Nemis may be an error for nimis "Ne quid nimis" is a Latin proverb from Terence's play Andria, I.1.33 (Shepard.)

Nec miror, nec timeo

I neither marvel, nor fear

Wynne of Coparleni

late 17th c.

Nec temere nec timide

Neither heedlessly nor timidly

Bulkeley

1708, 1716

Nec timet nec tumet

He neither fears nor puffs with pride

Wynn of Gwydir

1580

Nec timet nec tumet virtus

Virtue neither fears nor puffs with pride

Nanney of Nannau

1627

Nigra sum sed formosa

I am black but beautiful

Morgan of Arxton

early 17th c.

Siddons observes that this motto presumably refers to the crest

Noli altum sapere

Do not wish to understand the highest

Sir Thomas Morgan of Pen-carn

1595

Non est mortale quod opto

What I choose is not mortal

Thomas Laugharne

late 17th c.

Non mihi glis servus nec hospes hirudo

My servant is not a dormouse, nor my host a leech

Wynn of Gwydir

before 1645

Also appears above the door of the 1616 Manor House in Wymondham, Norfolk. (Barrell.)

Non quant: sed qual.

Not how many: but what sort

Wynn of Garthmeilio

mid 17th c.

Quant and qual are probably abbreviations for quantum and qualis.

Nunc aut numquam

Now or never

Sir Thomas Hanmer

1642

Oriens morior, moriens orior

Rising I die, dying I rise

Sir William Thomas of Caernarfon

1580

Ostentare ingulum pro capite alterius

To stretch out one's neck for the head of another

Laugharne

late 17th c.

Ingulum is probably derived from gula, -ae, which means "gullet" or "throat"

Per hostes per hastas

Through enemies, through spears

Lloyd of Llandeilo Fach

Plane et Sane

Completely and Sensibly

Vaughan of Golden Grove

1621

Posse et nolle nobile

To be able and not want to is noble

Salesbury

c. 1600

Post laborem quies

Rest after labor

John Davies of the Inner Temple

1630

Post tristia laeta

After sad things, happy ones

Gough of Wilsbury

1619

Pro Deo et Lege

For God and Law

Conwy of Bodrhyddan

c. 1627

Qui male cogitat male sibi

Who thinks ill, ill to him

Laugharne

late 17th c.

Cf. the motto of the Order of the Garter: "Honi soit qui mal y pense" ("Shame to him who thinks ill of this"). (Ford.)

Repetunt proprios quaeque recursus

Everything repeats its own returns

Herbert of Montgomery

1625

Rore tonantis

With the rain of the thunderer

Edward Gwynn of Furnival's Inn

d. 1649

Sanguine prostratus vici lentate superbas

Having been lain down in blood, I conquered. Bend the proud women!

Boyle of Hereford

early 17th c.

Sat[is] est prostrasse leoni

It is enough for the lion to have overthrown

Sir Thomas Salesbury

d. 1505

From Ovid, Tristia III.v.33 "Corpora magnanimo satis est prostrasse leoni," "To the great-hearted lion it is enough to have thrown down the bodies" (Ovid, Tristia.)

Satis est prostrasse leoni

It is enough for the lion to have overthrown

Lloyd of Halghton

early 17th c.

From Ovid, Tristia III.v.33 "Corpora magnanimo satis est prostrasse leoni," "To the great-hearted lion it is enough to have thrown down the bodies" (Ovid, Tristia.)

Scutum invincibile fides

Faith is an invincible shield

John Davies of Middleton

early 17th c.

Sedo Redchi ett Ledchi (Cedo Regi et Legi)

I cede to King and Law

Edward Don Lee

1596

Semper Virtute constans

Always steady in virtue

Bevan of Pen-y-coed

1695

Sequere iustitiam et invenias vitam

Follow justice and find life

Over fireplace at Corsygedol

late 16th c.

Sequor meliora

I follow better things

Lort

c. 1684

Si Deus nobiscum quis contra nos

If God is with us, who is against us?

At Hafotty, Llansadwrn

c. 1530

Sic pro fide

Thus for faith

Owen of Creuddyn

1616

Sorte mea contentus

Content with my lot

Lloyd of Bodidris

1627

Spes mea Christus erit

My hope will be Christ

Powell of Penkelly

1634

Spes mea in Domino est

My hope is in God

Mytton of Weston under Lizard

c. 1520

Spes non frustratur sperantem

Hope does not deceive the hoper

James Morryce

mid-16th c.

Spes potentior viribus

Hope is more powerful than force

Guillim of Westbury

mid-17th c.

Stimulos dat emula virtus

Emulous virtue gives spurs

Powell of Hosely

1682

Sustine ac abstine

Keep up or keep away

John ap William ap Dafydd of Euarth

1584

Ve corde duplici

Or with double heart

Sir William Thomas

1588

Velit ad sidera virtus

Let virtue want to the stars

Powell of Park

early 17th c.

Velle quod vult Deus

To want what God wants

Jones of Dol-y-moch, Ffestiniog

?1643

Veritas liberavit

Truth will set free

Bodenham

1579

Viat post funera virtus

Let virtue live after death

Jones of Castell-march

1629

Viat is probably a mistake for vivat

Vim vi opprimere iustum

That just force crush with force

Hockleton

Vince fide

Conquer with faith

Gabriel Parry of Llwynynn, Ruthin

?1661

Vincit veritas

Truth conquers

Rowland Meyrick, Bishop of Bangor

1562

Virtus invicta

Virtue unconquered

Richard Parry, Bishop of St. Asaph

1604-23

Virtus sola nobilem facet

Virtue alone makes him noble

Thomas Langford

early 17th c.

Virtus unica Nobilitas

Virtue is the only Nobility

Williams of Carmarthen

Virtute deget, non sanguine nite

He lives in virtue, not in shining blood

Evans of Oswestry and Treflach

early 17th c.

Nite is probably a variant form of nitente

Virtute deget, non sanguine nite

He lives in virtue, not in shining blood

Evans of Rhiwabon

A branch of the above Evans family; nite is probably a variant form of nitente

Virtute et circumspectu

With virtue and attention

Price of Kingston upon Thames

1623

Virtute et sanguine

With virtue and blood

John Herbert of Mortlake

1591

Virtute et sanguine

With virtue and blood

Morgan of Pen-coed

1631

Virtute non sanguine

With virtue not with blood

Clough

early 17th c.

Siddons notes that this is "the motto of Smith's coat."

Virtute, vi, et armis

With virtue, strength, and arms

John Salesbury of Saithmarchog

1622

Virtutis comes invidia

Envy is the companion of virtue

Blayney of Gregynog

1636

Vis unita fortior

United force is stronger

Gerard Eyton of Eyton

1674

Vive ut vivas

Live that you may live

Owen of Shrewsbury

early 17th c.

Vi virtute virens

Flourishing in strength and virtue

Wynne of Foelas

early 17th c.

Vix ea nostra voco

I scarcely call these things our own

Mansel of Muddlescomb

c. 1559

From Ovid, Metamorphoses, XIII.141: "For as for stocke and auncetors, and other such like things/ Wherof our selves no fownders are, I scarcely dare them graunt/ To bee our owne." (I have given Arthur Golding's 1567 translation.) (Ovid, Metamorphoses; Golding.)

Conclusion

In sixteenth- and seventeenth-century Wales, mottoes displayed with heraldry vaunted the bearer's virtue, strength, bravery, or piety. More than half were in Latin: others were in languages a Welshman would have found familiar, such as English, Welsh, and French. Heraldic mottoes were not original: instead, they drew on familiar proverbs and well-known literary texts to elaborate on familiar virtues. Some did incorporate puns or other witty references to the bearer. Though heraldic mottoes were influenced by both war-cries and imprese, their straightforwardness and emphasis on virtue make them a distinct genre.

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By Ursula Whitcher, alias Ursula Georges

Language	Number of Mottoes	Percentage
English	15	7.3%
Welsh	47	22.8%
French	30	14.6%
Latin	114	55.3%

Motto	Translation	Owner	Date	Notes
A Ieova fortitudo mea a quo timebo	From Jehovah my strength from which I will fear	John Dee	1572
Amo ut invenio	I love just as I find	Perrot of Haraldston	late 17th century
Aspera ad virtutem via fructus dulcis	The way toward virtue is harsh, the fruit sweet	David Edwardes of Rhyd-y-gors	d. 1690
At unimur in viribus	But we are united in strength	At Powys Castle
Auxilium meum a Domino	My help from God	David Yale	1502
Cadens resurgens, forsan decore	Falling rising again, perchance with grace	Lewis Morgan of Gray's Inn	1656
Cingula in uno	Girdle in one, bound in one	Wynne of Foelas	c. 1630
Crux Christi clavis coeli	The cross of Christ is the key to heaven	Vaughan of Cwmgwili, Vaughan of Merthyr Cynog	c. 1673
Da gloriam Deo: [. . . reg] gogoniant i Dduw	Give glory to God	Goodman of Ruthin	1588	Bilingual in Latin and Welsh
Da mihi lucem	Give light to me	Baynham	c. 1520
Delic'te iustitiam qui indicatis terra	You who value justice with the earth, delight!	William Hughes, Bishop of St. Asaph	1573-1600
Deo et republice	With God and the republic	Sir Roger Puleston of Emral	1618
Deus faveat - Divere foveat	Let God favour - Let him nurture in many ways	Jones of Abermarlais	1623	"Divere" is probably a variant of the Latin adverb "diverse"
Deus pascit corvos	God feeds the ravens	Rhys of Newton	mid-17th c.	Luke 12:24: "Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls?" (King James Bible, Vulgate)
Deus primum honos proxime	God first, honor closest	At Powis Castle
Deus sola fortitudo mea est	God is my only strength	Thomas Holland	1615	Compare Psalm 43:2: "For thou art the God of my strength" (King James Bible, Vulgate)
Et mica mihi	And a grain for me	William Blethin, Bishop of Llandaff	1580-90
Dwm sbeiro (spiro) in Deum spero	While I breathe I hope in God	David Lloyd of the Forest	1596	Spelling influenced by Welsh spellings
Et pullis corvorum invocantibus cum	And to the crying chicks of the ravens	Sir Gruffudd ap sir Rhys	c. 1520	Part of verse 9 of Psalm 147: "He giveth to the beast his food, and to the young ravens which cry." Perseus edition of the Vulgate has "eum" rather than "cum". (King James Bible, Vulgate)
Exitus acta probat	The end approves the deeds	Somerset, Henry, Earl of Worcester	early 17th c.	Common proverb: The end justifies the means
Fer sic ferre	Bear thus, iron one!	Davies of Middleton	early 17th c.	Siddons notes that this is 'his old motto'; the same phrase appears in the Aenigmata of Johann Lauterbach, 1521-1598. (Lauterbach, Johann.)
Festina lente	Make haste slowly	Morgan of Rhiw'perrai	c. 1626	A saying of Julius Caesar (World of Quotes.)
[F]iat Pax, floreat Justicia	Let there be Peace, let Justice flourish	Hugh Holland	1584
Fide et Amore	With Faith and Love	Conwy of Bodrhyddan	?
Fides et charitas	Faith and charity	Vaughan of Corsygedol	17th c.
Fortitudine et Prudentia	With Strength and Prudence	Edward, Lord Herbert of Chirbury and Castle Island	d. 1648
Fortitudo mea Dominus	The Lord [is] my strength	William Evans, Treasurer of Llandaff	d. 1589
Gloriam Dei cano	I sing the glory of God	Sir David Williams of Gwernyfed	early 17th c.
Hinc labor: hoc opus	From here the labor: this the work	John Dee	1576
Homo proponit Deus disponit	Man proposes, God disposes	Richard Owen of Peniarth	1700	Siddons notes that this motto is found over the mantelpiece at Peniarth
Honestas politia optima	Honesty is the best policy	John Rowlands of Nant	d. 1703
Immaculata gens	Unstained family	Vaughan of Corsygedol	1588
Immaculata gens	Unstained family	Wynn of Glyn Cywarch	1638
In congnidta (Incognita) servo	Unknown I serve	Rhys Morgan of Modlyscwm	1596
Ingenio et Industria	With talent and diligence	Hanmer of Llwynymapsis	1597?
Innocentes sicut pueri sagaces sicut serpentes	Innocent like children, wise like serpents	Vaughan, descended from Moreddig Warwyn
Inter hastas et hostes	Between spears and enemies	Sir Thomas Powell of Nanteos	d. 1705
In veritate triumpho	I triumph in truth	Myddelton of Gwenynog	1638
In veritate triumpho	I triumph in truth	Myddelton of Chirk Castle	1645
In via virtuti[s] nulla est via	In the path of virtue there is no path	Hockleton
Invidere sperno	I scorn to envy	Laugharne	late 17th c.
Iac in Dominum curam tuam	Throw your care to God	Griffyth of Penrhyn	c. 1520	Psalm 55, part of verse 22: "Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved." (King James Bible, Vulgate.)
Iure non dono	I do not give according to law	William Vaughan of Bodrychwyn	c. 1627
Iure non dono	I do not give according to law	Wynn of Llanfair	late 17th c.
Justicia regnante nemine obstante	With justice reigning, with noone obstructing	Roger Puleston of Emral	1667
Labora ut in aeternam vivas	Labor that you may live forever	Ap Rhys of Washingley	1613
Lex aliquando dormit, moritur numquam	Law sometimes sleeps, never dies	John Broughton of Broughton	17th c.
Lux Christi clavis coeli	The light of Christ is the key to Heaven	Vaughan of Cwmgwili		Siddons notes, "This is probably mistaken for Crux, etc."
Maior victoria mentis	Victory of the mind is greater	Griffith of Caerwys
Me flos virtutis adornat	The flower of virtue adorns me	Sir Abraham Williams	early 17th c.
Me illi qui mei mihi	Those from me who of me to me	Powell of Hosely	1603
Meliora sperans	Hoping for better	Salesbury of Bachymbyd	early 17th c.
Mihi gloriam sursum	Glory to me on high	Arnold	17th c.
Morte leonis vita	From the death of a lion, life	Mostyn of Mostyn	early 17th c.
Murus Aeneus sana conscientia	A healthy conscience is a bronze wall	John Broughton of Broughton	17th c.
Nati pro patria mori	Born to die for the fatherland	Puleston of Hafod-y-wern	early 17th c.	Compare Horace Odes III.ii.13: Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori ("It is sweet and fitting to die for one's country") (Horace.)
Ne quid nemis	Lest anything too much	Jones of Tregîb	1580	Nemis may be an error for nimis "Ne quid nimis" is a Latin proverb from Terence's play Andria, I.1.33 (Shepard.)
Nec miror, nec timeo	I neither marvel, nor fear	Wynne of Coparleni	late 17th c.
Nec temere nec timide	Neither heedlessly nor timidly	Bulkeley	1708, 1716
Nec timet nec tumet	He neither fears nor puffs with pride	Wynn of Gwydir	1580
Nec timet nec tumet virtus	Virtue neither fears nor puffs with pride	Nanney of Nannau	1627
Nigra sum sed formosa	I am black but beautiful	Morgan of Arxton	early 17th c.	Siddons observes that this motto presumably refers to the crest
Noli altum sapere	Do not wish to understand the highest	Sir Thomas Morgan of Pen-carn	1595
Non est mortale quod opto	What I choose is not mortal	Thomas Laugharne	late 17th c.
Non mihi glis servus nec hospes hirudo	My servant is not a dormouse, nor my host a leech	Wynn of Gwydir	before 1645	Also appears above the door of the 1616 Manor House in Wymondham, Norfolk. (Barrell.)
Non quant: sed qual.	Not how many: but what sort	Wynn of Garthmeilio	mid 17th c.	Quant and qual are probably abbreviations for quantum and qualis.
Nunc aut numquam	Now or never	Sir Thomas Hanmer	1642
Oriens morior, moriens orior	Rising I die, dying I rise	Sir William Thomas of Caernarfon	1580
Ostentare ingulum pro capite alterius	To stretch out one's neck for the head of another	Laugharne	late 17th c.	Ingulum is probably derived from gula, -ae, which means "gullet" or "throat"
Per hostes per hastas	Through enemies, through spears	Lloyd of Llandeilo Fach
Plane et Sane	Completely and Sensibly	Vaughan of Golden Grove	1621
Posse et nolle nobile	To be able and not want to is noble	Salesbury	c. 1600
Post laborem quies	Rest after labor	John Davies of the Inner Temple	1630
Post tristia laeta	After sad things, happy ones	Gough of Wilsbury	1619
Pro Deo et Lege	For God and Law	Conwy of Bodrhyddan	c. 1627
Qui male cogitat male sibi	Who thinks ill, ill to him	Laugharne	late 17th c.	Cf. the motto of the Order of the Garter: "Honi soit qui mal y pense" ("Shame to him who thinks ill of this"). (Ford.)
Repetunt proprios quaeque recursus	Everything repeats its own returns	Herbert of Montgomery	1625
Rore tonantis	With the rain of the thunderer	Edward Gwynn of Furnival's Inn	d. 1649
Sanguine prostratus vici lentate superbas	Having been lain down in blood, I conquered. Bend the proud women!	Boyle of Hereford	early 17th c.
Sat[is] est prostrasse leoni	It is enough for the lion to have overthrown	Sir Thomas Salesbury	d. 1505	From Ovid, Tristia III.v.33 "Corpora magnanimo satis est prostrasse leoni," "To the great-hearted lion it is enough to have thrown down the bodies" (Ovid, Tristia.)
Satis est prostrasse leoni	It is enough for the lion to have overthrown	Lloyd of Halghton	early 17th c.	From Ovid, Tristia III.v.33 "Corpora magnanimo satis est prostrasse leoni," "To the great-hearted lion it is enough to have thrown down the bodies" (Ovid, Tristia.)
Scutum invincibile fides	Faith is an invincible shield	John Davies of Middleton	early 17th c.
Sedo Redchi ett Ledchi (Cedo Regi et Legi)	I cede to King and Law	Edward Don Lee	1596
Semper Virtute constans	Always steady in virtue	Bevan of Pen-y-coed	1695
Sequere iustitiam et invenias vitam	Follow justice and find life	Over fireplace at Corsygedol	late 16th c.
Sequor meliora	I follow better things	Lort	c. 1684
Si Deus nobiscum quis contra nos	If God is with us, who is against us?	At Hafotty, Llansadwrn	c. 1530
Sic pro fide	Thus for faith	Owen of Creuddyn	1616
Sorte mea contentus	Content with my lot	Lloyd of Bodidris	1627
Spes mea Christus erit	My hope will be Christ	Powell of Penkelly	1634
Spes mea in Domino est	My hope is in God	Mytton of Weston under Lizard	c. 1520
Spes non frustratur sperantem	Hope does not deceive the hoper	James Morryce	mid-16th c.
Spes potentior viribus	Hope is more powerful than force	Guillim of Westbury	mid-17th c.
Stimulos dat emula virtus	Emulous virtue gives spurs	Powell of Hosely	1682
Sustine ac abstine	Keep up or keep away	John ap William ap Dafydd of Euarth	1584
Ve corde duplici	Or with double heart	Sir William Thomas	1588
Velit ad sidera virtus	Let virtue want to the stars	Powell of Park	early 17th c.
Velle quod vult Deus	To want what God wants	Jones of Dol-y-moch, Ffestiniog	?1643
Veritas liberavit	Truth will set free	Bodenham	1579
Viat post funera virtus	Let virtue live after death	Jones of Castell-march	1629	Viat is probably a mistake for vivat
Vim vi opprimere iustum	That just force crush with force	Hockleton
Vince fide	Conquer with faith	Gabriel Parry of Llwynynn, Ruthin	?1661
Vincit veritas	Truth conquers	Rowland Meyrick, Bishop of Bangor	1562
Virtus invicta	Virtue unconquered	Richard Parry, Bishop of St. Asaph	1604-23
Virtus sola nobilem facet	Virtue alone makes him noble	Thomas Langford	early 17th c.
Virtus unica Nobilitas	Virtue is the only Nobility	Williams of Carmarthen
Virtute deget, non sanguine nite	He lives in virtue, not in shining blood	Evans of Oswestry and Treflach	early 17th c.	Nite is probably a variant form of nitente
Virtute deget, non sanguine nite	He lives in virtue, not in shining blood	Evans of Rhiwabon		A branch of the above Evans family; nite is probably a variant form of nitente
Virtute et circumspectu	With virtue and attention	Price of Kingston upon Thames	1623
Virtute et sanguine	With virtue and blood	John Herbert of Mortlake	1591
Virtute et sanguine	With virtue and blood	Morgan of Pen-coed	1631
Virtute non sanguine	With virtue not with blood	Clough	early 17th c.	Siddons notes that this is "the motto of Smith's coat."
Virtute, vi, et armis	With virtue, strength, and arms	John Salesbury of Saithmarchog	1622
Virtutis comes invidia	Envy is the companion of virtue	Blayney of Gregynog	1636
Vis unita fortior	United force is stronger	Gerard Eyton of Eyton	1674
Vive ut vivas	Live that you may live	Owen of Shrewsbury	early 17th c.
Vi virtute virens	Flourishing in strength and virtue	Wynne of Foelas	early 17th c.
Vix ea nostra voco	I scarcely call these things our own	Mansel of Muddlescomb	c. 1559	From Ovid, Metamorphoses, XIII.141: "For as for stocke and auncetors, and other such like things/ Wherof our selves no fownders are, I scarcely dare them graunt/ To bee our owne." (I have given Arthur Golding's 1567 translation.) (Ovid, Metamorphoses; Golding.)