By F. A, Carrington, Esq. 



365 



" But for such usurpers of dignities as have vaunted in the Ensigns and Titles 

 of gentility, &e., without any ground or reason for their so doing, these are 

 obliged under their own hands to disclaim all title, pretence, &c, for ever, 

 unless called unto by the King, the original Fountain of all Honours and Digni- 

 ties; and for their presumption in publickly using such Titles and Ensigns 

 before they have a right, they are degraded by the publick Cryer in the Market- 

 place nearest to them. 



" The form of their Disclaim runs thus : — 



" ' We whose names are hereunder written being duly summoned by "William 

 Dugdale, Esq., Norroy King-of-Arms, in his Yisitations of the County Palatine 

 of Chester, as well for the approving and justifying our bearing of Arms, as the 

 taking upon us the Names and Titles of Esquires or Gentlemen ; not being able 

 to show any good Eight to either of those Titles, nor knowing at present of any 

 Arms belonging to us, do hereby disclaim all such Attributes and Arms, and do 

 promise henceforth to forbear to make use of either, until such time as we can 

 by lawful authority do the same. 



The entries of a " Disclaimer," " Disgrading," and a " Respite," 

 in the Visitation Books of the Heralds' College are in the following 

 forms : — 



" Disclaimers : — 



" The hunderthe of . of in the countie of Wiltes hath made 



his aparance before me, Clarencieulx Kinge-of-Armes, and hath dysclaymed the 

 name of a gentilman." 1 



" of hath made his apparance before me, Clarencieulx Kinge-of- 

 Armes, and ys disgraded." 2 



" Memorandum, that I have respited and untill Mighelmas tearme 



to make theire Declaracon, or els to be Dysgraded of the saide name." 3 



The Heralds appear to have carried matters with a very high 

 hand during the reigns of the Tudors and the Stuarts, but after 

 the Revolution their authority was successfully questioned, and in 

 a series of decisions in the reigns of King "William the Third and 

 Queen Anne, it was established that the great powers claimed by 

 the Heralds could only be exercised under the joint authority of 

 the Lord High Constable of England and Earl Marshal ; the former 

 of these offices, with the exception of temporary appointments at 



' 1 1 Cheshire : 



3 Sept., 1663. 



" 1 Robert Moeeey, 

 " ' Jonathan Cbosse, 

 " ' James Knoll, 



1 Visitation of Wiltshire, 1565, " Harleian MS.," No. 1111. 



2 Ibid. S Ibid. 



3 B 



