Lambeth Palace Library is the historic library of the archbishops of Canterbury and the principal library and record office for the history of the Church of England. The Library was founded as a public library by Archbishop Bancroft in 1610. The Library focuses on ecclesiastical history, but its rich collections are important for an immense variety of topics, from the history of art and architecture to colonial and Commonwealth history, and for innumerable aspects of English social, political, and economic history. It is also a significant resource for local history and genealogy.

This unique collection of 24 manuscripts include armorials of English, Scottish, French, German, Italian, Dutch, Portuguese, and Spanish families, together with pedigrees of many noble European families.