John Bossewell (died 1580) was an English heraldic writer.

Life

Bossewell was, on his own account, from the north of England, and a gentleman. He appears to have acted as a

notary public A notary public ( notary or public notary; notaries public) of the common law is a public officer constituted by law to serve the public in non-contentious matters usually concerned with general financial transactions, estates, deeds, powers- ...

Works

As an antiquary devoted to heraldic study, Bossewell was a close follower of

Gerard Legh Gerard Legh or Leigh (died 1563) was an English lawyer, known as a writer on heraldry. Life He was the son of Henry Legh, draper, of Fleet Street, London, by his first wife Isabel Cailis or Callis. He was educated by Robert Wroth of Durants in En ...

. The first edition of his ''Workes of Armorie'' was published by Richard Totell in 1572, with a reprint in 1597. The first part, entitled "Concordes", is an abridgement of Legh's ''Accedens of Armory''. Like Legh, he covered symbolism and allegory, conceits and fables.

Notes

Attribution {{DEFAULTSORT:Bossewell, John Year of birth missing 1580 deaths English male writers