Add MS 38018

ARMS of families, etc., chiefly of Somersetshire, drawn in colours on engraved escutcheons, in the first half of the 18th cent. On a piece of paper attached to f. 8 is the title "The original book of the arms taken at Sir Edward Byshe's visitation of the county of Somerset, A.D. 1672, by the hand of - Withie, painter, who attended Clarenceux in that visitation. Also some arms of families in Derbyshire. This was bought at Mr. Rawlinson's sale, 1733, by me E. S. Chester [Edward Stibbs, Chester Herald 1721-1739] and did formerly belong to my old friend Peter Le Neve, Norroy," etc. The first part of this description can only apply to an orginal from which art. 1 may have been copied. It seems most probable, however, that the note of provenance applies to the volume as it now is and that the whole collection was made circ. 1716-1720 and was in Le Neve's library. Many of John Withic's MSS. are in the Harley collection. A general index to the arms in the volumes is at f. 3 b. Contents:-

1. Coats not alphabetically arranged, viz.:-(a) Two hundred and sixty-one escutcheons (but some are blank), chiefly of Somersetshire families, probably from Withie's collection, and annotated with such notes as "entered 1623," "no proofe," "to perfect at London," "sec the visitation of Devon in the office." f. 8 b;-(b) Fiftyseven escutcheons, chiefly of Derbyshire and Somershire families, noted as "Additions by a different hand," but copied by the same hand as (a). f. 24 b.

2. A large and systematic collection of coats of arms, chiefly of families in or near Somersetshire, with names in a different hand from art. 1, viz.:-(a) Nobility, with notes on the representatives of the families in, 1716. f. 29 b (a short supplement at f. 94 b);-

(b) The sees of Bath and Bristol, monasteries and corporations in or near co. Som. f. 31 b;-(c) Baronets and knights. f. 34 b (supplement at f. 95 b);-(d) Families alphabetically arranged. f. 38 b (supplementary alphabets beg. ff. 74 b, 97 b, 105 b). At ff. 28 b, 106 b-109 are a few Welsh coats connected with the family of Bowen and added by the Rev. John Bowen, of Bath, circ. 1796-1828, who has also prefixed the following.-(a) Account of Eli Higgins of Baltonsborough, co. Som., who was partially deprived of the power of speech, owing, as alleged, to a vow made by his father before his birth. Signed by Bowen and by Higgins, 23 May 1825. f. 1 (b) Account, from R. S. Kirby's Museum, of William Kingston, who was born, without arms. f. 1 b;-

(c) Table of market towns in co. Som., with distances from London and Bristol and from each other. f. 6 b. At f. 7 is inserted a copy of a citation by Sir E. Bysshe, Clarencieux, for his visitation, addressed to Edw. Sealy, of Bridgewater, and at f. ii. engravings, published b John Carter, 1784-1786, of the sculptures on the W. front of Wells Cathedral. Paper; ff. ii. + 109. 16½ in. x 10¾ in. xviii. cent. Belonged probably (see above) to Peter Le Neve, Thomas Rawlinson (salecat. 1734, lot 87?) and Edward Stibbs; certainly to Rev. John Bowen (18th-19th centt.) and to John Hugh Smyth Pigott (salecat. 5 Nov. 1849, lot 1972). Phillipps MS. 13477 (sale-cat. 1910, lot 235).

Edward Stibbs, Chester Herald: Arms of co. Somerset, etc.: 18th cent.

County of Somerset: Arms of families of, from the visitation of 1672, etc.: 18th cent.

Heraldry: Arms of Somersetshire and other families: circ. 1720.

includes:

• f. ii Wells, Somerset: Engravings of sculptures on the cathedral: 1784.
• f. ii Art. Engravings, etc: Sculptures on Wells Cathedral: 1784.
• f. 1 Eli Higgins, of Baltonsborough: Account of,: 1825.
• f. 1 b William Kingston: Account of: 19th cent.
• ff. 8 b-24 b John Withie: Arms copied from notes of, for co. Som.: 1672 ; 18th cent.
• ff. 8 b-24 b Sir Edward Bysshe, Clarenceux: Arms derived from visitation, in 1672, of co. Som. by: 18th cent.
• ff. 28 b, 106 b, 109 Wales: Arms of some Welsh families, by Rev. J. Bowen: circ. 1800.
• f. 217 Comm. Samuel MeMercer, RN: Biographical notes: 1844.