Having thus brought down our descent to my own turn, I should here have ended, but that it may be fit to take Notice of one thing, of which no One can give so good an Account as myself, and which yet ought to be taken Notice of, in such a Tract as this.

The descent of our Branch of this Family having never been entred upon the Heralds books; and the proofs of it growing every day more obscure; my much honoured Uncle, Mr. Edward Wake, treated with Sr. William Dugdale, King at Arms, and his great Acquaintance, about the Method he was to take, to make an Authentick Record, in their Office of it. In Order hereunto, he collected together such Evidences as he could get, and resolved to see this Matter ended, before he left London. But having neglected to do it, that design rested for several Years, and nothing more was done in it.

About three Years since, being with my Father in Dorset, and these Papers coming to his hand; I took them with me to London, and communicated them, by the help of the late ingenious and learned Dr. Plott, to that kind

Gentleman Sr. Henry St. George Clarencieux Herald, and desired him, to assist me in what was necessary to be done in it.

The Certificats being examined, and the pedegree of our Family compared with that of Sr. William Wake, the whole process was drawn out, and allow'd of by his Grace, the Duke of Northfork Earl Marshall of England: and by his Order an Entry of all was made in the Books of the Heralds Office, where it now stands upon Record. Yet because the descent now began to grow remote, it was the Opinion of their Court, instead of a Crescent, to denote a younger Family, to put upon the Coat and Cress, a Trefoil Leaf, as a Mark of Distinction, rather than of Subordination, to the other Family of Sr. William Wake of Northamptonshire.

This therefore being resolved upon and enter'd also in the Office; I had given to me the Coat of Arms, of which I have scratch'd (as I could) the Copy, at the Beginning of this treatise, curiously drawn upon Vellum, stamp'd with this Inscription, in form, signed by Sr. Henry St. George, as an Authentick Evidence of what had been done in this whole Affair.

66

"The Arms of William Wake D. D. Rector "of St. James Westminster, and Chaplain in "Ordinary to his Majestie. Son and Heir, of "William Wake of Shapwick in the County of "Dorset: descended of the ancient Family of "the Wakes of Blisworth and Deeping in the Countys of Northampton and Lincoln. To "which said Arms, by Order of his Grace "Henry Duke of Norfolk Earl Marshall of "England &c. I do assign the Difference of a "Trefoil vert; as is above depicted. The said "Dr. William Wake married Ethelred Daughter "and Co-heir of Sr. William Hovell, of Hillington in the County of Norfolk Knt by "whom he hath Issue.

66

HENRY ST. GEORGE CLArenceux.

16 March, 1694.

1694.

3 Etheldred. E. B.

Vardy, Printer, Warminster.