Norwich, July 5. 1851.
_Early Visitations_ (Vol. iv., p. 8.).--Your remark that Mr. Noble's
statements "are extremely loose" is, generally speaking, very just;
although in the particular instance referred to there is some foundation
for his statement, as in the 12th Henry VI. commissions were issued into
the several counties, not merely to collect the names of the gentry, but
to administer an oath to the gentry and others for conservation of the
peace and observance of the laws. The returns containing the names of
the parties sworn in all the counties (except twelve) are printed by
Fuller in his _Worthies_ from records in the Tower, which are probably
yet extant. See _Rotuli Parliamentorum_, iv. 455.; v. 434.; Fuller's
_Worthies of England_, chap. xiv.; Grimaldi's _Origines Genealogicæ_,
68, 69. I do not understand that all the parties who were sworn were
accounted gentlemen, although Dr. Fuller's and Mr. Grimaldi's
impressions on this point appear to have been similar to Mr. Noble's.