Process of visitations Heraldic visitation

map showing number of visitations king of arms england s counties, taken burke s landed gentry, 1937 edition.

by fifteenth century, use , abuse of coats of arms becoming widespread in england. 1 of duties conferred on william bruges (or brydges), first garter principal king of arms survey , record armorial bearings , pedigrees of using coats of arms , correct irregularities. officers of arms had made occasional tours of various parts of kingdom enquire armorial matters during fifteenth century, however, not until sixteenth century process began in earnest.

the first provincial visitations carried out under warrant granted henry viii thomas benolt, clarenceux king of arms dated 6 april 1530. commissioned travel throughout province (i.e. south of trent) authority enter homes , churches. upon entering these premises, authorized put down or otherwise deface @ discretion... arms unlawfully used . required enquire using titles of knight, esquire, or gentleman , decided if being lawfully used.

by writ, henry viii compelled sheriffs , mayors of each county or city visited officers of arms give aid , assistance in gathering needed information. when king of arms, or herald, visited county, presence proclaimed presenting king s royal commission local gentry , nobility, required them provide evidence of right use coat of arms. sheriff collect bailiff of each hundred within county list of people using titles or arms.

in days, visiting herald tour homes of gentry , nobility, late 1560s these persons summoned attend central place of sitting – inn – @ particular time. bring arms, , proof of right use them, way of detailing ancestral right them, recorded. official grant of arms had been made, recorded. other ancient arms, many of predated establishment of college of arms, confirmed. officer record information , make detailed notes entered records of college of arms when party returned london.

these volumes make collection of visitation books @ college, contain wealth of information armigerous people period. if officers of arms not presented sufficient proof of right use coat of arms, empowered deface monuments bore these arms , force persons bearing such arms sign disclaimer cease using them. visitations not popular members of landed gentry, required present proof of gentility.

following accession of william iii in 1689, no further commissions carry out visitations commanded. reasons behind cessation of programme have been matter of debate among historians. philip styles, example, related declining willingness of members of gentry attend visitations, traced growing proportion of newly risen families, lacked long pedigrees , therefore apathetic registering them. however, janet verasano has challenged interpretation, finding (in staffordshire, @ least) gentry enthusiasm coats of arms enhancement social standing persisted end of 17th century. end of visitations did not have effect on counties far removed london, of had been visited on entire period of visitations.

there never systematic visitation of wales. there 4 visitations in principality, , on 9 june 1551, fulk ap hywel, lancaster herald of arms in ordinary given commission visit of wales. not carried out, however, degraded , executed counterfeiting seal of clarenceux king of arms. regrettable, since no visitation of wales ever made officers of arms.