364 



The Heralds' Visitations of Wiltshire. 



" Wokingham Parish, Co. Berks. 



" To Mr. Henry Staverton. 

 ' ' Sir, — You are personally to appear before Elias Ashmole, Esq. , Windsor 

 Herald of Arms, on Saturday, being the 11th of March next, by eight of the 

 clock in the morning, at the signe of the Beare at Redding, there to enter your 

 descent and armes, and to bring with you such arms and crest as you bear, 

 whereof you are not to fail as you will answer the same before the Lords Com- 

 missioners for the office of Earl Marshal of England. 1 



The editor of Gwillim's " Heraldry" continues : — 2 



" And should it so happen that any receivers of such summons or notice by the 

 Bailiff (regardless of the King's special Patent or Commission under the Broad 

 Seal of England), should show such contempt as to refuse their attendance, then 

 is the King-of-Arms to summon such refusers to attend personally the Earl 

 Marshal in his proper court, at a particular time, then and there to answer for 

 the said contempt. The form of this summons you may see in the copy of a 

 real one. 



" ' To John Lister, Bailiff of Easington Ward, 



" Forasmuch as you whose names are under written have shown yourselves 

 obstinate and contemptuous against the King's Commission and authority, in 

 refusing to make your appearance before me at Durham, where I lately sat for 

 the registering of such gentlemen as are resident within your Ward, according 

 to such warning as was given you by the Bailiff thereof : I must therefore 

 proceed as my Commission enjoineth me in such cases of contempt, these are, 

 therefore, in his Majesty's name, strictly to charge and command you and every 

 of you that you make your personal appearance before the Lords Commissioners 

 for the office of Earl Marshal of England, on the first day of November next, 

 then to answer and show just cause of this your disobedience and contempt ; 

 thereof fail you not as you will avoid the forfeiture of £50 a-piece to his 

 Majesty, and the further peril and trouble that by any of your contempt may 

 ensue. 



' ' Richard St. George, 

 " ' Dated at Duresme, " ' JSorroy King-of-Arms. 



" 1 This 22nd of August, 1615.' " 



The paper in Grwillim continues : — 



" The King-of Arms, upon a Visitation, is allowed to take with him out of 

 the office such Books and prior Visitations as concern or relate to the Counties 

 he intends to visit, which always lie open before him when he sits to do business, 

 and as every gentleman may enter as many of his posterity as he can prove, or 

 may join him to a Pedigree in some prior visitation ; so also doth every man 

 sign his descent with his own hand, which serves as a firm testimony to his 

 descendants." 



1 This must have been in 1664, as Mr. Elias Ashmole then visited Berkshire for Sir Edward Byshe. 



2 p . 52. 



