Proclamation of disclaimers at the visitation of Shropshire, 1623.

The Kings Most Excellent Majesty being desirous that nobility and gentrie of this his Realm should be preserved in every degree as well in Honour as in Worship, and that every Person and Pesrons, bodies politique, Corporate, and others should be known in their Estates and mysteries without confusion and disorder: hath authorized us Robert Treswell, Esq., Somerset Herald, and Augustine Vincent, Rouge Croix, Officers of Arms, as Marshalles and Deputies to Clarenceux King of Arms of the South parts of this Realm of England, not only to visit all this county of Salop, to peruse and take knowledge, survey, and view of all manner of Arms, Cognizances, Crests, and other like devices, with the notes of the Descents, Pedigrees, and Marriages of all the Nobility and Gentry therein throughout contained, but also to reprove, controll, and make infamous by proclemation all such as unlawfully and without just Authority, vocation, or due caling do, or have done, or shall usurpe or take upon him or them any name or title of Honour or Diginity as Esquire or Gentleman or other: as by his Highness gracious Commission under the great seal of England more plainly may appear. Know ye therefore that we the said Somerset and Rouge Croix, for the accomplishment of his Majesties desire and further of his Highness Service that way, at this present making Survey within the said County, have found these Persons whose names are under written presumptuously without any good ground or Authority to have usurped the name and Title of Gentlemen contrary to all right and to the Ancient Custome of this Land and the Usage of the Law of Arms, which name and Title they are from hencefourth no more to use or take upon them upon such further paine and perill as by the Right Hon^ble the Earl marshal of England shall be inflicted and laid upon them. Whereof also we thought good hereby to advertise all others his Majesties good and Loving Subjects that as they tender his Highnesses Pleasure and desire in this behalf they from Henceforth shun and avoid the like and forbear to use in any writing or otherwise the addition of an Esquire or Gentleman unless they be able to stand unto and Justifye the same by the Law of Arms and the Law of the Realme. Given at Brugenorth the 20^th Day of Septemb^r A^o Dⁱ 1623 in the 21^st year of the Reign of our most gracious Sovereign Lord James, by the Grace of God King of England, France, Ireland, defender of the faith, etc ......[blotted] and of Scotland the go'.