The Heralds' Visitations, 1530-1700

中世纪英国统治精英通过世袭的象征——纹章——来标识自己的做法，在都铎王朝时期受到了更严格的管制。1530年至1700年间，英国王室委托传令官调查英国各县的持枪权和绅士地位，记录符合条件的家庭的血统和武器，并公开拒绝其他家庭。因此，传令官的访问记录为研究早期现代英国绅士的规模、成员和政治角色提供了一致和无与伦比的来源，但它从未得到社会或政治历史学家的认真统计考虑。

The medieval practice of the English ruling elite identifying themselves by hereditary symbols - coats of arms - became more tightly regulated in the Tudor period. Between 1530 and 1700 heralds were commissioned by the crown to investigate rights to arms and gentlemanly status in the English counties, recording the pedigrees and arms of eligible families and publicly disclaiming others. Thus the heralds' visitation books provide a consistent and unrivalled source for studying the size, membership and political role of the early modern English gentry but which has never received serious statistical consideration by social or political historians.