gone away from home for the purpose of avoiding the heralds, and others would not "be spoken "withal," though at home. Some persons, not entitled to arms, were, no doubt, deterred, by the fear of expense, from obeying the heralds' summons. In the seventeenth century a grant of arms cost £20, and a confirmation 10; entering the pedigree cost a knight or baronet £2 15: 0, an esquire 1: 150, and a gentleman 1 5 0, and these were not small amounts in those days. At the Visitation of Worcestershire in 1682, Joseph Ruthorn of Evesham tried to conciliate the heralds, attempting to make amends for his fault by promising to forbear using any coat-of-arms until he could make out what coat belonged to him. But he was disclaimed nevertheless. Other persons were included among those disclaimed in an unjust fashion. Thomas Simonds of White Lady Aston, in Worcestershire, plaintively says, of arms, in 1634:-"I know of none of right "and further saith that his Father and Grandfather were yeomen & so writ themselves"; and yet he was disclaimed. Among the disclaimed there also appear persons styled "Dr.", "Mr.", and " Esq.", and also a number of rectors, vicars, captains and physicians. These were evidently included in the lists because they could not substantiate the arms used by them; for, although not entitled to armorial bearings, they would not be disclaimed for using an official title, unless they displayed arms wrongfully. It is amusing to notice some of the entries made by the heralds, displaying a good deal of official righteous indignation. Thus they say, in the Visitation of Gloucestershire, 1623:-"Richard Warren "of Stainton falcely usurped Arms which were de"faced and he disclaymed", and "Edward Hill, "Customer of Gloucester, neither Gent. of Bloud, "Auncestry nor Arms." Walter Cary, at the Visitation of Bucks, 1634, is said to be "no gent, "nor nor hath any [right] to bear arms which he "usurpeth." Robert Wilmott, disclaimed at Derby, in 1634, "for usurping the Title of Gent, notwith"standing having been disclaimed in the Visitation "made 1611." 66 Hugh Rogerson alderman and Justice of Peace [of Chester] and served a small "time Maior in anno 1580, bereason Will'm "Goodman beinge Maior died that yeare; But he "knowethe of no Armes due or belonginge to him "nether desirethe nor deservethe any payns to be "taken for him; hee hathe yssue &c.' The effect of the disclaimer upon Robert Griffiths, of Broomhall, in Nantwich Hundred, seems to have been immediate, for according to a MS. note in the College of Arms, his pedigree and arms were entered by Dugdale on the day after the disclaimer. Arms were allowed at the Visitation of Lancashire, 1613, to William Dewhurst of Dewhurst, who was then aged 26. The William, mentioned in the list of persons who were disclaimed at the Lancaster Assizes in 1667, may have been the same manthough he would then be 80 years of age-or his son or grandson. If so he was disclaimed owing to his contempt of the herald's summons. The lists given below include all the now existing records of persons who were disclaimed by the heralds in Lancashire and Cheshire that I have been able to obtain; probably there are not any others in existence. The only disclaimers to be found in the College of Arms, relating to the Counties Palatine, are those made at Lancaster in 1667 and at Chester in 1664. The latter have been col 10 This is from the fragment of a visitation, preserved in Harl. MS. 2163, entitled: "Anno a natu xpi. 1591 for the Cittye of Chester taken by tho. 66 Chaloner for the Office of Armes &c."—(Visit. of Chesh., Harleian Society.) lated with the same list in Harl. MS. 2142 fo. 163, and the variations noted. The names in these lists are far too numerous to admit of annotation, even if the labour of the work would be likely to lead to useful results; and it is improbable that this would be the case, for a large proportion of the names are those of persons in whom only a limited interest will be taken in the present day. Disclaimers. [Lancaster, 1667.] Disclaimers made at the Assizes at Lancaster, Appleton Ince [in] Makerfield. Prestcote [Prescot.] Rixton Hall [Sankey.] [In a later hand:-] A faithful and hearty Cavalier but his estate wasted & he lived by selling ale. Richard Perceval Leverpoole. [Cheshire, 1613.] [Harl. MS. 2142, f. 163.]12 [Edisbury Hundred.] Will'm Wright of Ince. Randle Stoukdon of Haighton. Peter Hale of Norley. David Hinton of Ruston [Rushton.] Thom's Sparke of Kingesley. William Crewe of (the same)13 Elton. John Crewe of the same.14 John Horton of Althersey. 12 Words in brackets are editorial additions. 13 Words in parentheses are crossed out in the original MS. 14 Words in italic type have been added in a later ink. [Wirral Hundred.] John Gill of Poulton. [Broxton Hundred.] John Madox of Edge. Ric. Mounkeffield of Kinerton. Thom's Deane of Church holme. [Northwich hundred.] James Trevitt of Sproston. Randle ffivion [Fithion] of Tetton. Henry Bradshaw of Allostock. Thomas Borough of Warton. John Pygott of Som'ford [Somerford.] Thom's Hodgkinson of Smallwood. John Layton of Snope. Arthur Joynson of Warton. [Nantwich hundred.] John Scott of Checkley. |