Visitation

An official visit made by a kings-of-Arms to take note of all Armorial Bearings within his jurisdiction. These visitations were generally made every thirty years. A provincial kings-of-Arms, or one of his heralds, would visit the principal town of his province or county and summon all the gentry to come forward with records of their respective pedigrees to show title to their Armorial Bearings, all of which data would later be recorded at the College of Heralds. The first regular commission of visitation was issued by Henry VIII in 1528-9, but there had been visitations of one form or another as early as 1412. The last visitation took place early in the reign of James II.