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WILL. & M. that purpose from the Sovereign, by which mean the funeral certificates, the descents, and alliances of the nobility and gentry, had been properly registered in this College. These became records in all the courts at law. These commissions were refused after James had left the kingdom. The Society, to supply the defect, presented a petition to Parliament in 1693, praying to have a bill enacted, to enable them to register certificates of the deceases, burials, marriages, and issues of the nobility and gentry, founded upon the former usage of such certificates taken by the officers of arms, and the discontinuance of visitations, and inquisitions post mortem. But the ministry, at that time, being distressed for ways and means to raise the great demands they had for money to carry on an extensive war, instead of listening to the reasonableness of the matter, made it a money bill, to supply the exigencies of state, obtaining an act," for granting to his Majesty certain rates and duties upon marriages, births, burials, &c." No proper satisfaction was made to the heralds for depriving them of a lucrative part of their office and profession, and it laid no small incumbrance upon the middle, and lower classes of people, who were exempt from fees to the College. They did, it must be confessed, make an order, that certificates should be returnable to the office; but as no penalty was specified, none gave themselves the trouble to do it. It cannot be denied, but that the visitations, funeral certificates, &c. were productive of very beneficial effects; yet it must also be allowed, that it was formerly more necessary than now, as estates were generally intailed, when liveries and wards were in use. In the times of chivalry, when the various orders were kept more distinct, than it is either prudent, or indeed possible for them to be now, the nation having shaken off the cruel shackles of the feudal system, and become greatly mercantile. To this we owe the greatest blessing; for though commerce has luxury, and the vices flowing from it in her train, yet it diffuses plenty and happiness more equally amongst all ranks of people. Though I praise the industrious genius of the people who can, though naturally a martial race, enrich themselves by the peaceful arts of traffic, I must not give up my attachment for genealogy, and every thing relative to it; because it is the greatest spur to noble and gallant actions, prevents the nation from sinking into that contempt, which the Dutch generally are held in by other nations. Gentility and trade are not by any means incompatible. The character of a British merchant is most deservedly esteemed

throughou

throughout the world; our greatest names do not disdain it, and it reflects WILL. & M. honor upon them for it. The ways to eminence are various. It is more pleasing to the mind, to honorably enrich one's family with wealth acquired by industry and frugality, than the most successful campaign, because that is obtained at the expense of the lives and fortunes of others, to which a good mind must have a repugnance. Whenever property is gained, all those distinctions which the affluent aim at, ought, undoubtedly, to accompany it; and so far from there being any shame in manly applying for, and obtaining arms, as part of such distinction, I think it every way meritorious. But nothing is more foolish than to assume a display of it, when it does not legally belong to them: because its very assumption shews the value they put upon it; and if it is so desirable, it ought to be as legally acquired as the wealth they have obtained. The founder, or restorer of a family, in my estimation, if he is a good man, is more intitled to honor than any other description of persons.*

GARTER, PRINCIPAL KING AT ARMS.
Ja. 11.-Sir THOMAS ST. GEORGE, Knt.-See next reign.

PROVINCIAL KINGS AT ARMS..
CLARENCEUX.

Cha. 11.-Sir HENRY St. GEORGE, Knt.-See next reign.

Garter.

Provincial
Kings.

Clarenceux.

NORROY

Ja. 11.-Sir JOHN DUGDALE, Knt.

Only son of Sir William Dugdale, Garter. He had been chief gentleman of Lord Chancellor Clarendon: it was proposed, that he should succeed his father; but to this the Duke of Norfolk, Earl Marshal ̧ refused to accede, but gave him this office. Soon after James II. conferred knighthood upon him. He was by no means "addicted" to

heral

* See Appendix, letter V. the several Visitations of the Heralds from the Commencement;

Norroy.

Provincial

Kings.
Norroy,

WILL. & M. heraldic pursuits. He placed great confidence in the friendship of Mr. King, Lancaster, who had been a confidential servant to his father, and he, “ from gratitude, was prompted to do him all good offices," which relieved him from a situation of which he was not fond. About Christmas, 1693, he proposed to resign it to that gentleman. When all the terms were settled, the Earl Marshal would not consent, though Sir John and his friends made many applications. Dying at his house in Coventry, August 3, 1700, aged 71 years, he was buried at Shustock by his parents, September 4, following. Norroy published a list of the nobility, with the blazon of their arms, which was reprinted in 1690. His first wife died January 9, 1670-1, and was buried at Windsor. She was Mary, second daughter and co-heir of Alexander Baker, of New Windsor in Berkshire, Gent. On May 4, 1672, he married Elizabeth, daughter, and at length sole heir of Thomas Pigeon, of Coventry, of which city he was once Mayor. She was buried "in linen," at Shustock, January 18, 1713-4. Norroy made his will March 7, 1700, which was proved by his widow November 12 following.

Sir John has a singular monument in Shustock church. It is composed of four parts, the lowest is a pedestal, bearing the arms of Norroy, empaling those of Dugdale, surmounted with a crown of a king of arms, with the motto MISERERE MEI DEUS." The secondisa tablet, having the epitaph. The third has the busts of Sir John and his second wife: against one leans a shield of the Dugdale arms, against the other that having the Pigeons. Over the busts, in a label, is Pestis Patrie Pigrities. The fourth compartment has a large shield, the arms of Dugdale, with an escocheon of pretence Azure, a Chevron, Ermine, between three . . . . . Heads erased Argent, empaling Or, a Greyhound between two Bars, Sable; the whole terminating in a crest, being a demy Eagle issuant from a Crown of a King at Arms. The inscription is,

"Juxta hic Requiescit

"JOHES. DUGDALE, Miles,
"qui dvas duxit Vxores:
(imo) MARIAM, ALEX. BAKER,
"de NovA WINDESORE,

"in com. Berks Generosi,

"Filiam 2genitam & cohærid.
"In Ecclesia Paroch. ibidem,
66 cum duobus Infantulis

ELIZ

"ELIZ. & JOHE. sepultam, &
"Tumulo marmoreo memoratam.
"Duos autem alios Liberos
"Superstites reliquit.
"Scil. WILL". DUGDALE,
"de BLYTH HALL Arm.
" & MARIAM, ANTHONIO
"TOWNSHEND, de HEM,* in
"Com. Denb. Arm°. nuptam.
(iido.) ELIZ. Filiam unic. & hæred.
"THO. PIGEON Civitatis
"Coventr. quondam Prætoris
"Ex qua suscepit ELIZ.
"Vx. THо SKEFFINGTON in

"Com. Leic. Arm.

"Et JANAM

"in Cunis denatam

"Dict. J. D. obiit 1700. D. Eliz. obiit

A....

*Should read HERN.

By a tablet in Shustock church it appears, that the last lady Dugdale, Elizabeth, widow of Norroy, left a rent-charge of twelve shillings yearly,. issuing out of a piece of land or garden, laying on the north side of St. Michael's church in Coventry, for supporting and repairing this monument and vault of her husband and herself, which are on the north side of the communion table. She directed, that what should remain unexpended should be given to the poor, the parish clerk being first paid two shillings.

The issue of Dugdale, Norroy, was four children by his former wife, and two by the latter. 1, William, his heir, mentioned below. 2. John, who died an infant. 3. Elizabeth, who died a child; and 4. Mary, married at Shustock, September 30,1686, to Anthony Townshend, then of Coventry, afterward of Hern in Derbyshire, Esq. 5. Elizabeth, married first to Thomas Skeffington in Leicestershire, Esq. who died December 25, 1709, from whom is descended Sir Will. C. F. Skeffington of Skiffington, in that county, created a baronet July 10, 1786. Her second husband was Will Hyde, of Langtoft in Lincolnshire, Esq. and, 6. Jane born July 11, 1677, and died August 10, following.

William Dugdale, of Blythe Hall, Esq., eldest son of Norroy, married Judith, younger daughter of John Gough, of Bushbury in Staffordshire, Gent.

sister

WILL. & M.

Provincial

Kings.

Norroy.

WILL. & M. sister of Sir Henry Gough, of Perry-hall in that county, Knt. He died Provincial February 19, 1714-5: she, April 4, 1743. It appears by his monument Kings. Norroy in Shustock chancel, that they had six children. 1. John, who, as Mowbray herald extraordinary, will be mentioned in a future page. 2. William, baptized February 4, 1702-3, killed by a fall from his horse, and buried at Shustock, April 11, 1733, without leaving any issue. 3. Elizabeth, baptized January 3, 1687. 4. Jane, baptized June 5, 1691, married at Shustock, April 19, 1722, to Richard Geast, of Handsworth in Staffordshire, Gent. 5. Judith, baptized March 22, 1691-2, married at Shustock, April 11, 1710, to Francis Bickly, of Hollington-Kingsbury in Warwickshire, Gent.; and 6. Isabella, baptized January 25, 1695.

One of the Miss Dugdales was engaged to that pious and learned antiquary, Samuel Carle, LL.B., but he mistaking the day fixed for the nuptials for the following one, she indignantly refused her hand. It might have been peculiarly happy for him to have united himself to a lady of worth and prudence, as he fell into such an absence of mind by intense study, that he neglected his dress, became destitute of economy, and so careless of pecuniary concerns, that never demanding his tithes, he died in indigence, though considerable sums were owing him. His absence of mind became so great, that his congregation, tired with waiting, often sent the clerk to remind him, "That the usual time for the com mencement of divine service was long since past.

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There is an engraving of Mr. Holford, sen. taken from the life, in the procession of George Monk, Duke of Albemarle's funeral in 1669, "whose "comely and cheerful appearance on that solemn occasion, when the book "was shewn to Charles II. is said to have made the merry monarch laugh "most heartily." I presume he was descended from the Holfords, of Holford in Cheshire, as he bore Argent, a Greyhound Sable.

1690-PEERS

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