The Heralds' Visitations, 1530-1700

中世纪英国统治精英通过世袭的标志--盾形纹章--来识别自己的做法在都铎王朝时期变得更加严格。1530年至1700年间，王室委任传令官调查英格兰各郡的武装权利和王室地位，记录符合条件的家族的血统和武装，并公开否认其他家族。因此，先驱者的访问书籍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.