Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Bossewell, John
BOSSEWELL, JOHN (fl. 1572), heraldic writer, was, according to his own statement, a northern man, and probably a member of the family of Bosvile, established for many generations in the neighbourhood of Doncaster. It has indeed been ingeniously suggested that he was son and heir of Thomas Bosvile of Stainton, who died in the fifth year of Edward VI (Nichols, Herald and Genealogist, ii. 113). He describes himself as ‘gentleman,’ and appears to have acted as a notary public, but by taste he was an antiquary and specially devoted to heraldic pursuits. In the latter he was a close follower of Gerard Legh, and the first part of his ‘Workes of Armorie,’ entitled ‘Concordes,’ is in fact a mere abridgement of Legh's ‘Accedens.’ Like his master, he delighted in symbolism and allegory, in conceits and legendary fables; nor can it be said that his writings are of much value, even from an heraldic point of view. The dates of his birth and death are alike unknown. The first edition of his ‘Workes of Armorie’ was published by Tottell in 1572, the second (a mere reprint) in 1597.
[Moule's Bibliotheca Heraldica, p.21 ; Hunter's South Yorkshire, i. 32.]