Not only was he thus marked for the king’s favour, but he also enjoyed what in those days was considered a high honour; he was granted a coat of arms by Clarenceulx, king of arms, on September 1, 1549. This grant exists in the College of Arms in London, and the arms are thus described:—
“The armes and creste of Thomas Berthelet of London, esquyer, gentillman; he bereth asure on a cheveron flore contre flore argent, betwene three doves of the same, thre trefiles vert. per chrest. upon his helm, out of a crounall silver two serpents endorsed asure ventred gold open mouthed, langued and eyed geules, there tailes comyng up in saulre under thire throtes, the endes of the tailes entering into their eres, langued and armed geules manteled geules, doubled silver, as more plainly apperith depicted in this margent; graunted and given by me Thomas Hawley alias Clarenceulx, Kyng of armes, the first day of September in the thirde yere of the reygne of our soverange lorde Kynge Edward the VI etc.”
Pynson used heraldic emblems with the helmet of an esquire on some of his bindings; but he appears to have assumed the dignity without official warrant.
Berthelet’s continued presence in England was also considered of sufficient importance to justify a special exemption in his favour from serving the king abroad in his wars in France. (Patent Roll. 36 Hen. VIII., Pt. II.)
In the state papers preserved in the Record Office in London are several notices referring to the official printing work done by Thomas Berthelet. These testify to the importance and confidential nature of the work intrusted to him, and show how he was sometimes, on particularly urgent or secret occasions, ordered to set up the type himself, and also was obliged to take an oath of secrecy. Misprints were evidently a thorn in his side, more than one entry referring to such difficulties, of which doubtless numbers escaped official notice. From these entries I have chosen a few for quotation.
Treasurer of the Chamber’s Accounts.
Oct 22ⁿᵈ 1530. To Thos Bartlet (Berthelet) for printing 1600 papers and books of proclamation for ordering and punishing sundry beggars and vacabundes, and dampnyng of books containing certain errors, at 1ᵈ per leaf. £8 6ˢ 8ᵈ.
(Trevelyan Papers. Record Office. Letters and Papers Hen. 8ᵗʰ Vol. 5. p. 322.)
Richard Croke to Cromwell 17ᵗʰ Septʳ. 1532.
After I left, Bartelot, the printer, told me that Goodrycke requested him to advertise the King of certain errors in “The Glasse off Truthe,” which Bartelot refused, saying he had moved the King in such matters beforetime, and his Grace was not content with it. Though this was told Croke secretly, thinks it his duty to make it known to Cromwell, and that he should get out by policy from Goodricke what errors he notes. Thinks that Bartelot will speak of it to others.