The Noble and Gentle Men of England or, notes touching the arms and descents of the ancient knightly and gentle houses of England, arranged in their respective counties.

"The Noble and Gentle Men of England" by Evelyn Philip Shirley is a record of the historical bloodlines of England's high society. The book chronicles the arms and family trees of knightly and upper-class families in England, organized by counties, mostly those established before the 1500s, giving the reader a glimpse into the social framework and ancestry of England’s upper crust. Shirley introduces the reader to England’s upper class and specifies the methods and limits imposed by the investigation, then covers the requirements for who is included, stressing male heritage and historical links to the land. He mentions the difficulties of genealogy. He backs up documentation using records from county histories and writings. This helps set up what will be discussed in later chapters.