360 



The Heralds 1 Visitations of Wiltshire. 



absolute power to us comytted to visitte, survey, and viewe th.rough.out all oure 

 realme of Englande and other domynyons, as well for a due order to be kepte 

 and observed in all things touehinge the office and dueties appteyninge to armes, 

 as also for reformacon of dyvers and sundrie abuses and disorders daylye arys- 

 ynge and groweinge for wante of ordynarie vysytacons, surveys, and viewes in 

 tymes conveniente accordinge to the aunciente forme and laudable eustome of 

 the lawes of armes : And that the nobillitie of thys realme maye be preserved 

 in everie degree as apperteyneth as well in honor as in worshippe : And that 

 every person and persons, bodies politique, corporate, and others maye be the 

 better knowne in hys and theire estate, degree, and mysterye without confusion 

 or disorder : Have therefore constituted, deputed, ordayned, and appoynted for 

 us and in oure name, oure saide welbeloved s'vante, William Camden, esquire, 

 alias Clarencieulx, kinge of armes in the saide easte, west, and southe partes of 

 oure realme of Englande from the saide river of Trente southwarde, to visitte 

 all the saide province, and the partes and members thereof apperteynynge to the 

 offyce and charge of the saide Clarencieulx kinge of armes, from tyme to tyme, 

 as often and when as he shall thinke moste necessarye and conveniente for the 

 same : And not onelye to enter into all churches, castles, howses, and other 

 places at hys discrecion, to peruse and take knowledge, survey, and viewe of 

 all manner of armes, cognisances, crests, and other devises of armes of all and 

 singuler oure subjects, as well bodies pollitique as others within the saide pro- 

 vince, of what dignitie or degree, estate or mysterie soever they be lawfully 

 aucthorised to nave, use, or beare any suche armes, cognizances, crests, and 

 other like devises with the notes of theire discentes, pedegries, and marriages. 

 And the same to enter of recorde in a regyster booke of armes accordynge to 

 suche order as ys prescrybed and sett forthe in the office charge and oathe taken 

 by oure saide servante at his creacon and coronacon, but also to correcte, con- 

 trolle, and reforme all manner of armes, crestes, cognysaunces, and devices, 

 unlawfull or unlawfully usurped, borne, taken by any manner, person, or per- 

 sons within the same province contarye to the due order of the lawe of armes. 

 And the same to reverse, pull downe, or otherwise deface at his discrecion, 

 as well in cote armes, helms, standerds, pennons, and hatchmentes of tentes and 

 pavilions, as alsoe in plate, jewells, paper, parehmente, wyndowes, gravestones, 

 and monumentes, or elleswhere wheresoever they be sett or placed, whether 

 they be in shielde, scutcheon, lozenge, square, roundell, or otherwise howso- 

 ever contrary to the antiquitie and aunciente lawes, customes, rules, priviledge, 

 and orders of armes : And further, wee by theise presentes doe give and 

 grante to the saide Clarencieulx full power and aucthoritie to reprove, controlle, 

 and make infamous by Proclamacon, to be made at the assizes or generall sessions 

 within the same hys province to be had and kepte, or at suche other place or 

 places as he or they shall thinke moste meete and conveniente, all, and all man- 

 ner of person or persons that unlawfully e and withoute juste aucthoritie, 

 vocacon, or due callinge, do, or have donne, or shall usurpe to take uppon 

 hym or them anye manner of tytle of honor, or dignitie, as esquier, gentleman, 

 or other : And likewyse to reforme and comptrolle all suche as at any funeralles 

 or intermentes shall use or weare anye mourninge apparell as gownes, hoodes, 

 tippetts, or suche like contrarie to the order lymited and prescrybed in the tyme 

 of the moste noble prince Kinge Henrie, of famous memorie the seaventh oure 

 grandfather, otherwise or in anye other sorte then to theire estates and degrees 



