80 



but as relations of facts well known, and which no one, 

 apparently, would feel inclined to question. 



The practice of the people of Wales, in speaking of in- 

 dividuals, is one which has a great tendency to ensure 

 accuracy in Genealogical details. The place of a man's re- 

 sidence is almost invariably mentioned along with his 

 name, and even since surnames were generally adopted, the 

 practice has continued of mentioning the Christian name 

 of the father, grandfather, &c, in regular order, so that any 

 mistake in the identity of an individual is thus rendered 

 impossible. Besides this, it has long been the custom in 

 Wales for every family of any distinction to have its 

 own pedigree carefully preserved, and gradually extended 

 from time to time, as births, deaths, or marriages re- 

 quired it. The coincidence of several of these, totally 

 independent, gives us a degree of certainty rarely 

 attainable; and the incidental notices of collateral branches 

 constitute legal evidence of the strongest kind. Instances 

 of this kind are far from uncommon in our ordinary law 

 courts, and some of those who are now present will pro- 

 bably recollect an interesting case, remotely connected with 

 this town, in which the issue of the action, respecting an 

 ancient estate, was at once determined by the production of 

 the family pedigree. 



The evidence derived from Armorial Bearings is also of 

 great importance. Every shield is in itself a historic docu- 

 ment, and if its records be correct they tend to alter or to 

 corroborate the less definite records of tradition. For two 

 centuries it was usual to have what were called Heraldic Vi- 

 sitations, when the officers from the College of Arms passed 

 from county to* county, summoned the neighbouring gentry 

 to an assembly, investigated their descent, and recorded 

 their pedigrees and armorial bearings in the Visitation 

 Books. These "Visitations ceased at the end of the seven- 

 teenth century ; and it is only necessary for any one to 



