John Guillim
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
John Guillim (c.1565–7 May 1621) was an antiquarian and officer of arms at the College of Arms in London. He is, perhaps, best remembered for his monumental work A Display of Heraldry which was first published in London in 1610.
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[edit] Early life and education
Most historians date the birth of John Guillim to 1565 in the county of Hertfordshire. He may also have been the son of John Guillim of Westbury-on-Severn in Gloucestershire. This part of England is very close to the border with Wales and Guillim's ancestors were of Welsh extraction. He was educated at Brasenose College in Oxford University. in 1575 Guillim married Frances Dennis, and raised a family of one boy, John, and three girls, Margaret, Frances, and Priscilla.
[edit] Heraldic career
The first record of his involvement with heraldry is the Earl Marshal's warrant, dated 23 February 1604, permitting him to bear the tabard of the Portsmouth Pursuivant Extraordinary. From Michaelmas 1613, he was receiving a salary from the College of Arms, though his official appointment as Rouge Croix Pursuivant of Arms in Ordinary did not come through until 1619
The Display of Heraldry was written around 1610 and reprinted as early as 1611. There were seven further editions of the book following Guillim's death, with the last one being printed in 1724. Some historians have suggested that the original author of the Display of Heraldry was a clergyman named John Barkham who was unwilling to have the work published in his own name.
Guillim's death is recorded as having occurred on 7 May 1621, probably at Minsterworth, although there is no record of his place of burial.
