Miscellanea Genealogica et Heraldica. EDITED BY JOSEPH JACKSON HOWARD, LL.D., F.S.A. VOLUME I. LONDON: HAMILTON, ADAMS, AND CO., PATERNOSTER ROW. 1868. PREFACE. Two years have passed since the first quarterly Part of this work appeared in July, 1866. To those who then became Subscribers, and who now find this Preface accompanying the Title and Indices of the First Volume, it may seem strange to see a Preface at all. The name of the book and its known contents mutually explain and justify each other. It may be so, but yet it is pleasant for the Editor to find a corner in which to record his thanks to all, who, whether original Subscribers or not, have during the progress of this volume favoured him with their communications. Without such kindly support his undertaking must have proved abortive. There is, however, another class of Readers who may even now be making their first acquaintance with this volume of 'Miscellanea' in its complete shape. Such persons may perhaps expect, in limine, a word or two as to the plan and contents of the work. They will find it to be a true 'Miscellany' devoted (in the words of the original Prospectus) "exclusively to transcripts from original and inedited documents relating principally to Genealogy and Heraldry," and comprising "Genealogies from Heralds' Visitations and from certified Pedigrees, Grants of Arms, Funeral Certificates, Wills, Monumental Inscriptions, Extracts from Parish Registers, etc., with Illustrations of Armorial Bearings, Seals, and Autographs." It is of such materials that the present volume is composed, and a little consideration will show that the families with whose history our genealogical portion is concerned must chiefly be such as sprung into notice in the second half of the sixteenth and the early years of the seventeenth centuries. The investigation of their history should possess much general interest, as the majority of existing English families of note can trace no higher than this in the male line, though by the marriage of female heirs many connected |
