Robert Glover (officer of arms)
Encyclopedia
Robert Glover was an English Officer of Arms
, genealogist
and antiquarian
in the reign of Elizabeth I
. In the College of Arms
, he rose to the rank of Somerset Herald of Arms
, serving in that capacity from 1571 until his death in 1588. As marshal and deputy to his father-in-law, William Flower
, Norroy King of Arms
, he participated in heraldic visitation
s throughout northern England.
Around 1570, he married Elizabeth Flower, daughter of William Flower, Norroy King of Arms. They had five children:
Glover served as his father-in-law's deputy until his death. Glover was promoted to Somerset Herald of Arms in 1571. On 9 March 1580 Flower obtained a patent from Queen Elizabeth joining Glover with himself for the office of Norroy; the patent states that Flower was then eighty-two years of age.
In 1582, Glover accompanied Lord Willoughby
to Denmark
to invest Frederick II
with the Order of the Garter
, and in 1584 he accompanied Robert Cooke, Clarenceux King of Arms
in attendance on the Earl of Derby
when he presented the Garter to Henry III of France
.
Glover died aged 46 on 10 April 1588 and was buried at St Giles-without-Cripplegate
, London. His widow Elizabeth was left with five children and no way to provide for them; she was remarried within months and named as "Elizabeth Woolward" in her father's will dated October of that same year.
and Norroy Kings of Arms (or their deputies) were to tour their areas of authority, recording coats of arms
and pedigree
s of arms holders, with powers to forcibly prevent the bearing of unauthorized arms. Flower's visitations began in 1563-64 and his last visitation was in 1575, with Glover acting as his deputy. The entry books of Flower's visitations of Yorkshire
in 1563-1564 (printed, 1881), of Lancashire
, 1567 (printed, 1870), of Nottingham
, 1569 (printed 1871) and of Durham
, 1575 (printed, 1820) are preserved in the College of Arms
in London. A manuscript of the 1567 visitation in Glover's hand (in the British Museum) is frequently described as Glover's Visitation. This manuscript forms a folio volume of 104 pages, and includes the pedigrees of 112 families, each illustrated with armorial bearings.
Glover himself completed visitations of Cheshire in 1580 on behalf of Flower (published 1882), of Staffordshire in 1583, and of Yorkshire in 1584–85 (privately printed 1875).
Glover left a number of manuscripts at his death. His pedigrees were used by the antiquarian William Camden
in creating his Britannia (1594); indeed Ralph Brooke
's attack on Camden accused him of misusing and misunderstanding Glover's work.
His nephew Thomas Milles
edited Glover's Nobilitas Politica et Civilis for publication (London, 1608). His manuscript genealogies of the nobility in Latin were translated and edited by Milles, with assistance from Sir Robert Cotton
, Robert Beale
, Camden, Nicholas Charles
, Michael Heneage
, Thomas Talbot
and Matthew Pateson, under the title The Catalogue of Honor, or Treasury of true Nobility, peculiar and proper to the Isle of Great Britaine (London, 1610). Glover's manuscripts A Catalogue of Northern Gentry whose surnames ended in son and Defence of the Title of Queen Elizabeth to the English Crown remain unpublished. His Ordinary of Arms was printed in Edmondson's Complete Body of Heraldry (1780).
Officer of arms
An officer of arms is a person appointed by a sovereign or state with authority to perform one or more of the following functions:*to control and initiate armorial matters*to arrange and participate in ceremonies of state...
, genealogist
Genealogy
Genealogy is the study of families and the tracing of their lineages and history. Genealogists use oral traditions, historical records, genetic analysis, and other records to obtain information about a family and to demonstrate kinship and pedigrees of its members...
and antiquarian
Antiquarian
An antiquarian or antiquary is an aficionado or student of antiquities or things of the past. More specifically, the term is used for those who study history with particular attention to ancient objects of art or science, archaeological and historic sites, or historic archives and manuscripts...
in the reign of Elizabeth I
Elizabeth I of England
Elizabeth I was queen regnant of England and Ireland from 17 November 1558 until her death. Sometimes called The Virgin Queen, Gloriana, or Good Queen Bess, Elizabeth was the fifth and last monarch of the Tudor dynasty...
. In the College of Arms
College of Arms
The College of Arms, or Heralds’ College, is an office regulating heraldry and granting new armorial bearings for England, Wales and Northern Ireland...
, he rose to the rank of Somerset Herald of Arms
Somerset Herald
Somerset Herald of Arms in Ordinary is an officer of arms at the College of Arms in London. In the year 1448 Somerset Herald is known to have served the Duke of Somerset, but by the time of the coronation of King Henry VII in 1485 his successor appears to have been raised to the rank of a royal...
, serving in that capacity from 1571 until his death in 1588. As marshal and deputy to his father-in-law, William Flower
William Flower (officer of arms)
William Flower was an English Officer of Arms in the reigns of Henry VIII, Edward VI, Mary I and Elizabeth I. He rose to the rank of Norroy King of Arms, serving in that capacity from 1562 until his death in 1588.-Life and work:...
, Norroy King of Arms
Norroy and Ulster King of Arms
Norroy and Ulster King of Arms is one of the senior Officers of Arms of the College of Arms, and the junior of the two provincial Kings of Arms. The current office is the combination of two former appointments...
, he participated in heraldic visitation
Heraldic visitation
Heraldic Visitations were tours of inspection undertaken by Kings of Arms in England, Wales and Ireland in order to regulate and register the coats of arms of nobility and gentry and boroughs, and to record pedigrees...
s throughout northern England.
Life and work
Robert Glover was the son of Thomas Glover of Ashford in Kent. He was appointed Portcullis Pursuivant of Arms in 1567 at the age of 24. GloverAround 1570, he married Elizabeth Flower, daughter of William Flower, Norroy King of Arms. They had five children:
- Thomas
- John
- Robert
- Ann
- Mildred
Glover served as his father-in-law's deputy until his death. Glover was promoted to Somerset Herald of Arms in 1571. On 9 March 1580 Flower obtained a patent from Queen Elizabeth joining Glover with himself for the office of Norroy; the patent states that Flower was then eighty-two years of age.
In 1582, Glover accompanied Lord Willoughby
Peregrine Bertie, 13th Baron Willoughby de Eresby
thumb|Peregrine Bertie, 13th Baron Willoughby de EresbyPeregrine Bertie, 13th Baron Willoughby de Eresby was the son of Catherine Willoughby, 12th Baroness Willoughby de Eresby, and Richard Bertie. Bertie was Lady Willoughby de Eresby's second husband, the first being Charles Brandon, Duke of...
to Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
to invest Frederick II
Frederick II of Denmark
Frederick II was King of Denmark and Norway and duke of Schleswig from 1559 until his death.-King of Denmark:Frederick II was the son of King Christian III of Denmark and Norway and Dorothea of Saxe-Lauenburg. Frederick II stands as the typical renaissance ruler of Denmark. Unlike his father, he...
with the Order of the Garter
Order of the Garter
The Most Noble Order of the Garter, founded in 1348, is the highest order of chivalry, or knighthood, existing in England. The order is dedicated to the image and arms of St...
, and in 1584 he accompanied Robert Cooke, Clarenceux King of Arms
Robert Cooke (officer of arms)
Robert Cooke was an English Officer of Arms in the reign of Elizabeth I. In the College of Arms, he rose to the rank of Clarenceux King of Arms, serving in that capacity from 1567 until his death in 1593. He served as marshal for the state funeral of Sir Philip Sidney in 1587...
in attendance on the Earl of Derby
Henry Stanley, 4th Earl of Derby
Henry Stanley, 4th Earl of Derby KG was a prominent English nobleman who served as Lord High Steward during the trial of Philip Howard, 20th Earl of Arundel....
when he presented the Garter to Henry III of France
Henry III of France
Henry III was King of France from 1574 to 1589. As Henry of Valois, he was the first elected monarch of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth with the dual titles of King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania from 1573 to 1575.-Childhood:Henry was born at the Royal Château de Fontainebleau,...
.
Glover died aged 46 on 10 April 1588 and was buried at St Giles-without-Cripplegate
St Giles-without-Cripplegate
St Giles-without-Cripplegate is a Church of England church in the City of London, located within the modern Barbican complex. When built it stood without the city wall, near the Cripplegate. The church is dedicated to St Giles, patron saint of beggars and cripples...
, London. His widow Elizabeth was left with five children and no way to provide for them; she was remarried within months and named as "Elizabeth Woolward" in her father's will dated October of that same year.
Visitations
In 1530, Henry VIII had issued an instruction governing the conduct of heraldic visitations, in which ClarenceuxClarenceux King of Arms
Clarenceux King of Arms is an officer of arms at the College of Arms in London. Clarenceux is the senior of the two provincial kings of arms and his jurisdiction is that part of England south of the River Trent. The office almost certainly existed in 1420, and there is a fair degree of...
and Norroy Kings of Arms (or their deputies) were to tour their areas of authority, recording coats of arms
Coat of arms
A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...
and pedigree
Pedigree chart
A pedigree chart is a diagram that shows the occurrence and appearance or phenotypes of a particular gene or organism and its ancestors from one generation to the next, most commonly humans, show dogs, and race horses....
s of arms holders, with powers to forcibly prevent the bearing of unauthorized arms. Flower's visitations began in 1563-64 and his last visitation was in 1575, with Glover acting as his deputy. The entry books of Flower's visitations of Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
in 1563-1564 (printed, 1881), of Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
, 1567 (printed, 1870), of Nottingham
Nottingham
Nottingham is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England. It is located in the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire and represents one of eight members of the English Core Cities Group...
, 1569 (printed 1871) and of Durham
Durham
Durham is a city in north east England. It is within the County Durham local government district, and is the county town of the larger ceremonial county...
, 1575 (printed, 1820) are preserved in the College of Arms
College of Arms
The College of Arms, or Heralds’ College, is an office regulating heraldry and granting new armorial bearings for England, Wales and Northern Ireland...
in London. A manuscript of the 1567 visitation in Glover's hand (in the British Museum) is frequently described as Glover's Visitation. This manuscript forms a folio volume of 104 pages, and includes the pedigrees of 112 families, each illustrated with armorial bearings.
Glover himself completed visitations of Cheshire in 1580 on behalf of Flower (published 1882), of Staffordshire in 1583, and of Yorkshire in 1584–85 (privately printed 1875).
Genealogy
Glover was also an antiquarian and an early genealogist. Originally, visitations were written in narrative form and emphasized recording of armorial bearings. Glover introduced the copying of charters and other documents into the visitation records to support claims of ancestry, a marked innovation over the practice of his predecessors.Glover left a number of manuscripts at his death. His pedigrees were used by the antiquarian William Camden
William Camden
William Camden was an English antiquarian, historian, topographer, and officer of arms. He wrote the first chorographical survey of the islands of Great Britain and Ireland and the first detailed historical account of the reign of Elizabeth I of England.- Early years :Camden was born in London...
in creating his Britannia (1594); indeed Ralph Brooke
Ralph Brooke
Ralph Brooke was an English Officer of Arms in the reigns of Elizabeth I and James I. He is known for his critiques of the work of other members of the College of Arms, most particularly in A Discoverie of Certaine Errours Published in Print in the Much Commended 'Britannia' 1594, which touched...
's attack on Camden accused him of misusing and misunderstanding Glover's work.
His nephew Thomas Milles
Thomas Milles (bailiff)
Thomas Milles was an English customs official, known for his economic writings, in which he defended the staple system.-Life:...
edited Glover's Nobilitas Politica et Civilis for publication (London, 1608). His manuscript genealogies of the nobility in Latin were translated and edited by Milles, with assistance from Sir Robert Cotton
Sir Robert Cotton
Sir Robert Cotton may refer to:*Robert Bruce Cotton, 1st Baronet, of Connington, , English antiquary*Sir Robert Cotton, 1st Baronet, of Combermere , MP for Cheshire*Robert Cotton , English politician...
, Robert Beale
Robert Beale (diplomat)
Robert Beale was an English diplomat, administrator, and antiquary in the reign of Elizabeth I. As Clerk of the Privy Council, Beale wrote the official record of the execution of Mary, Queen of Scots, to which he was an eyewitness.-Early life:...
, Camden, Nicholas Charles
Nicholas Charles
Nicholas Charles or Carles was an English officer of arms, namely Lancaster Herald between 1609-1613. He made a copy of an early and rare 13th. c. roll of arms, the original of which is now lost,known after him as "Charles's Roll".-References:...
, Michael Heneage
Michael Heneage
Michael Heneage was an English politician and antiquary. He was the Member of Parliament for Arundel, East Grinstead, Tavistock and Wigan.-Life:...
, Thomas Talbot
Thomas Talbot (antiquary)
-Life:He was the second son of John Talbot of Salesbury, Lancashire, by his second wife, Anne, daughter of Richard Banaster of Altham. Before 1580 he had become clerk of the records in the Tower of London, and may be the ‘learned’ Mr. Talbot referred to by Dr. John Dee. He was an original member...
and Matthew Pateson, under the title The Catalogue of Honor, or Treasury of true Nobility, peculiar and proper to the Isle of Great Britaine (London, 1610). Glover's manuscripts A Catalogue of Northern Gentry whose surnames ended in son and Defence of the Title of Queen Elizabeth to the English Crown remain unpublished. His Ordinary of Arms was printed in Edmondson's Complete Body of Heraldry (1780).