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"funerals of one Bucher, a mercer of London, a man of small parentage, with "helmet, crest, coat of arms, penon, and a pall, and himself attendant in his rich "coat."

H.

The Particulars of the Complaint against Dethick, Garter, in 1595, about giving Geo. Rotheram, Esq. the Coat of the Lord Grey of Ruthyn, belonging to Henry, then Duke of Kent.

To this complaint, Garter answered in a letter, addressed to Sir John Pickering, Lord Keeper, that "the said Rotheram, a year ago, had requested him to take notice, "according to the custom of his office, of certain records, one out of the Tower, "and other evidences; and by an ancient book, and a monument or tomb-stone of "arms, in the church of Luyton, to set down his pedigree, pretended from Anthony "Grey of Ruthyn. Which pedigree he did exemplify for him, without any further "approbation or confirmation of the same, to be true; but only according to the proofs "shewn him, which he, the said Rotheram, was to produce or defend by laws, "and not by his office. And so he the said Garter reckoned himself to stand "discharged."

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"But the complaint made by the Earl of Kent to the court of Earl Marshal ran "against both, as well Garter as Rotheram. And the sentence also was against both, "which was given in favor of the Earl in June, anno 1597, after long hearing on both parts at sundry times; whereby it was adjudged, "That the said Dethick, Garter, "and Rotheram, had manifestly done wrong to the complainant (for so are the words "of the sentence) in making and publishing that pedigree, in a case so long suspended "without claim, to make a shew that the said Rotheram was descended lineally of "Katherine, daughter of Anthony Lord Grey of Ruthyn, who was proved before "them, by divers means of good credit, to have died without issue. And they, the "commissioners of the office of Earl Marshal (judges in this cause) did revoke and "annul the bearing of the said arms of the Earl of Kent, quarterly by Rotheram, and "judged them to be unlawfully borne; and determined that part of the pedigree made "by Garter to be unlawful, by which the said Rotheram was made cousin and heir "general of Edmund Earl of Kent, by Anthony, eldest son of the said Earl; reserving "to themselves power to tax the costs and expenses of the complainant against the "defendants."

It is not known what inconvenience this decision was to Garter. 7

An

I.

An Account of the malicious Wickedness of Brooke, York Herald, that again involved the College in much Uneasiness.

"Upon a private pique against one of the College, he contrived such a malicious piece of revenge, as is not commonly heard of. He employs a man to carry a "coat of arms to him, ready drawn, to pretend that it belonged to one Gregory Brandon "(a gentleman that had formerly lived in London, but was then gone over into Spain,) "and to desire he would set his hand to it. The man does his errand very formally; "and for fear a little time and consideration might break their measures, pretends "that the vessel which was to carry it was just ready to sail. He smelling nothing "of the design, without more ado receives a reward, and puts the seal of the office, "with his own name, to the paper. Presently Brooke carries it to Thomas Earl of "Arundel (then one of the Commissioners for the office of Lord Marshal,) assures "him that these are the arms of the kingdom of Arragon, with a canton of Brabant ; "and that Brandon, to whom he had granted them, was a mean inconsiderable person. "The Earl acquainted the King with the whole matter, who resolved that he should "not only be turned out of his place, but, upon a fair hearing in the Star-Chamber, be "severely fined for his affront to the crown of Spain. However, upon the inter"cession of the Earl of Pembroke, he grew a little calmer, and was prevailed upon "to refer it wholly to the Commissioners. When they came to a hearing,the gen"tleman, who had been thus imposed upon, submitted himself wholly to the mercy of "the court; but withal desired their Lordships to consider that 'twas a pure oversight, "and that it was the importunity of the messenger which drew him to the doing of "it without due deliberation. Brooke on the other hand, declared openly in Court, "that it was from beginning to end a contrivance of his own, to gain an opportunity "of convincing their Lordships of the sordidness of the other, who for the sake of "a little money would be guilty of such a piece of knavery. They were amazed "at the confidence of the man; and when his Majesty heard the circumstances "of the case, he had them both committed to prison; one for treachery, and the "other for carelessness. The party accused presented a petition to the Commis❝sioners, humbly requesting that they would use their interest with his Majesty for "his gracious pardon. This was seconded by an ample testimonial, under the hands "of his brethren, setting forth their concern for his misfortunes, and the great integrity wherewith he had behaved himself in all other matters. Brooke, too,

got

got friends to intercede for him: so after a severe reprimand from my Lord "Chamberlain, they were both dismissed."

The above is from Camden's life, prefixed by Bishop Gibson to his edition of the "Britannia." Garter, Leake, in speaking of this wicked factious herald, says, "there was a man of note, (I do not say for his virtues) his name was Brookes, "or Brookesmouth, York Herald, being preferred thither from being Rouge-cross "Pursuivant, about the year 1592. He understood neither Latin nor French, to "qualify him for his place; but having been once a painter, he had an excel"lent hand in tricking coats of arms, hardly to be equalled by any of the rest, as appears by a book still remaining in the office of his own doing, containing the "arms of the nobility, if I rightly remember. Which curious skill of his was, I 66 suppose, the reason, that the Lord Burley bore a favor to him, and once gave "his hand for him to be preferred to be Norroy, against Camden, namely, anno "1593, when Edmund Knight, Norroy, was very sick, and Camden was nomi"nated to the place.

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"This Brooksmouth is best known for his presumptuous attempt to confute "several of the learned Camden's genealogies of the nobility in his Britannia; << against whom that excellent man (an unequal match for him) vindicated himself so fully and shewed so plainly the ignorance and malice of his antagonist (and yet with so much gentleness and modesty,) that he was thenceforth esteemed a very ignorant man in heraldry, and a notorious calumniator to all posterity. "Besides this, he was of a very scandalous and evil life. He once broke open the "office, and took away all the books belonging to it, and an iron chest, and took "thence the order and other muniments. He was once condemned at Newgate for "two felonies, and burnt in the hand. He was also guilty of whoredom and "uncleanness. He was supposed to be a procurer of perjured persons in the Star"Chamber, detected in the Court of Requests, twice degraded, and the Queen's "coat of arms, which he wore, was pulled over his ears; and for his ignorance "of languages and learning, and other misdemeanors, by the judgment of the Earl "of Leicester and all wise men, thought to be unfit to be an officer of arms, "or to be permitted to come to her Majesty's presence, being a vagabond, and "not worth £3. But after Leicester's death he began to shew himself again; and "afterwards got such friends and credit, that he dared to oppose himself against Garter, "and vexed him both in the Exchequer and Star-Chamber, by slanderous acts and "suits commenced against him, and a great many vexatious interrogatories, chiefly "taken out of informations the said Garter had, in conscience and care of the office, "given the Lord Treasurer concerning him: so that he was fain, anno 1594, to beseech the said Lord to consider of his credit and service to the Queen for

"thirty

thirty years, trusting that he would have respect to him for his office, place, "and parents; and how Brookesmouth spared not time, means, place or persons, "to discredit him. In short, he rendered himself uneasy to all the Society, so "turbulent was he in the office, impugning all their honest proceedings in matters "of funerals, and other cases of office: insomuch that Sir Edward Hoby, Knt. "deputed by the Lords in commission for the office of Earl Marshal writ to them "in this manner: there is one Brookesmouth, now York, a wonderful lewd fellow, "untemperate, quarrelsome, and all the office weary of him.' Yet he endeavored "afterwards to obtain that place of Norroy, with much assurance of his own qualifications, though he missed it."

J.

"This is a true Copy from the original Record remaining in the

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WHEREAS the King's most excellent Majestie, minding and intending that the nobility and gentry of this his realme should be preserved in every degree, as well in honour as worship, and that all persons and bodies politique may be the better known in their estate, degree, and ministry, without confusion or disorder, hath authorized Thomas May, Esq., Chester Herald, and Gregory King, Rouge-dragon, officers off armes, as Marshal and Deputies to Clarenceux king of arms, not onely to visitt the county of Gloucester, and to register the arms, pedigrees, marriages, and issue of the nobility and gentry therein, but also to reprove, controule, and make infamous by proclamation, all such as unlawfully, and without just authority, doe usurp or take them any name or title of honour or dignity, as Esquire, or Gentleman, or other, as by his Majesties letters patent more plainly doth appear.

upon

These are to pray your Lordship to recommend the same to such of the gentry for the county as are your deputic lieutenants, for their assistance and furtherance herein, as a matter of great interest and concerne to the Publick, but more especially

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to

to them and their posterity. And thus not doubting of your Lordship's readiness to promote so good and honourable a work, I remain

Your Lordship's most affectionate servant,

AILESBURY, D. E. M.

Whitehall, 29 Jan. 1682.

To the Right Noble my very good Lord,
Henry Marquess of Worcester, Lord
Lieutenant of the county of Gloucester.

A Summons issued by the Marshal or Deputies of a King at Arms.
Com. Gloucester.

To the Bailiff of the Hundred of Crowthorne and Minety.

These are to require you, and in his Majesties name to charge and command you, that forthwith, upon sight hereof, you warn those Baronets, Knights, Esquires," and Gentlemen, whose names are within written, personally to appear before us, Thomas May, Esq., Chester-herald, and Gregory King, Rouge-dragon, officers at arms, deputies and marshals to Clarenceux king of arms for the county of Gloucester, at the Swan Inn, in Cirencester, on Wednesday the sixteenth day of August next, by nine o'clock in the morning, where we intend to sit for registering the descents and arms of all the gentry within the said hundred; and that they bring with them such arms and crests as they use and bear, with their pedigrees and descents, and such other evidence and matter of record and credit, as (if need require) may justify the same; that we knowing how they use and challenge their titles, and by what right and authority they bear, or pretend to bear arms, we may accordingly make entrance thereof, and register the same in the College of Arms, or else to proceed as his Majesty's commission under the great seal of England injoyneth on that behalf. And those persons who may not conveniently bring such their ancient evidences and writings as will serve to prove the antiquity of their race and family, but shall be desirous to have us come to their houses, upon signification of such their desires, for the furtherance of his Majesties service, we, or one of us, will repair unto them so soon as conveniently we may. And if there should be any of the degrees and qualities above mentioned omitted within your liberties in these our directions, that you likewise insert their names, and warn them also to appear on the day, and at the place above mentioned. Accordingly hereof charge them not to fail, as they will avoid the peril that may ensue. Of these particulars you are to make a true

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