Richard Leigh (officer of arms)

Richard Leigh (c. 1531–1597) was an English officer of arms. He was created Portcullis Pursuivant in 1571[1] and in this role conducted visitations of Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Shropshire on behalf of the Clarenceux King of Arms.[2] He was promoted to Richmond Herald in 1592,[3] in which role he conducted the visitation of Lincolnshire.[4] Promoted to Clarenceux in 1594,[5] he inherited his predecessor's dispute with William Dethick over their respective jurisdictions,[6] during which in 1596 he had a copy made of a privy seal grant made by Henry VIII to Thomas Benolt.[7] As Clarenceux he undertook visitations of Berkshire and Northamptonshire, but these were formally completed.[8] He died in September 1597 and was buried at St Alphage London Wall.[5]

References

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  1. ^ Noble, Mark (1804). A History of the College of Arms. p. 186.
  2. ^ Moule, Thomas (1822). Bibliotheca Heraldica Magnae Britanniae. pp. 562, 591, 593.
  3. ^ Noble. History of the College of Arms. p. 182.
  4. ^ Moule. Bibliotheca Heraldica. p. 585.
  5. ^ a b Noble. History of the College of Arms. pp. 170–1.
  6. ^ Noble. History of the College of Arms. p. xiv.
  7. ^ CSPD Elizabeth 1595-1597. pp. 158–9.
  8. ^ Moule. Bibliotheca Britanniae. pp. 561–2, 589.