The Heralds' Visitations, 1530-1700

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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.