^{page vi note a} A magnificent copy of this pedigree, emblazoned with great skill and taste, has been kindly lent to us for the purposes of this publication by the widow of the late Mr. Cholmeley Dering, at whose expense it was compiled.

^{page viii note a} Notes and Queries, iii. 220, from a paper in the Surrenden collection.

^{page x note a} Family Monument, quoted in Collins's Peerage, iv. 260.

^{page x note b} Sir Edward Dering's son by his first marriage.

^{page x note c} John Ashburnham, of the privy chamber, afterwards of the bedchamber; subsequently well known in connection with the history of Charles I.

^{page x note d} The Countess of Buckingham.

^{page x note e} The Duke of Buckingham.

^{page xi note a} Edward, Sir Edward's son by his second marriage.

^{page xi note b} Hythe.

^{page xi note c} Hippisley.

^{page xi note d} The Countess of Denbigh, Buckingham's sister.

^{page xi note e} Sir Anthony and Lady Dering.

^{page xi note f} Sir Henry Hobart, Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas.

^{page xi note g} Trevor.

^{page xii note a} Coventry, in place of Williams.

^{page xii note b} 11 Jan. 1625–6.

^{page xii note c} In a letter of Sir Edward Dering to his brother Robert, a merchant at that time at Dantzic, dated 8 Sept. 1628, he thus describes the death of Buckingham. The account is not altogether accurate, but as the statement of a contemporary, who was in a position to be well informed, it is worthy of being printed entire, besides that a part of it has a bearing upon Sir Edward's own fortunes. “Upon Bartholomew eye was fulfilled a prediction by the Lady Eleanor Davyes,* made long since (as I remember I had itt almost att last August, 1627) viz. that the Duke of Buckingham should not outlive August 1628 ; which others also had calculated out of the numerall letters of his name, as thus, GeorgIVs DVX BVCkInghaMIæ;. MDCXVVVIII. 1628. These thinges I knew before, which make me consider the event the more ; nay himselfe was told of these and others att many several times, which still out of the bravery of his sperett he ever slighted and contemned, which sperett if it did arise out of the innocency of his heart, did then deserve a pretious memory. I can not tell,† but I am sorry that he lived not to be more fully discovered, and I feare the wheeles of this state will goe never the smoother for his being layd by. My shallow capacity, or els my slender intelligence, could never yett derive unto my understanding a knowledge, or into my mind a beleef, of the hundredth part of his plotts upon the ruine of this state, which many men yett confidently sweare. If I did think so, I should be gladd of his good riddance as any ; although even at that instant I was a looser by his death, for I was then upon treaty with the Leivetenant of Dover Castle about resignation of his place unto me, which the Duke had consented unto, even upon that very day that the news arrived att the Castle of his death, which was acted att Portsmouth about a day and a half before, by one Felton, a Leivetenant, something discontented with want of pay, and with not succeeding into his captain's place upon the death of his captaine. The place was the Duke's chamber, where watching opportunity (as the Duke was bowing in courtesy unto some commanders there present [Margin. Unto Colonel Fryer], and taking theire leaves of him), Felton, having a prepared knife under his hatt, stabbed the Duke into the left side through the lunges, and left the knife in the wound. The Duke presently said, ‘Villain, thou hast stabbed me!’ and drew out the knife himselfe, laying his hand on his sword, but not able to stirre or speake more. The noise of the distracted company drew thither from the next chamber his miserable Duchesse, who came to see his heart bloud gushe out att his mouth, for that way he bledd more then att his wound. In this meane time Felton went away, but presently returned to the place, and doth seeme to carry this act with the bosome of a quiett settled constancy. The King received the newes with passion and the Queen with teares. None of his offices are yet bestowed, nor shall be untill the solemne funerall be over, for the King sayth he shall carry all his offices to his grave. The Earles of Holland and Dorsett are almost never from the King. Felton gives no other account of his fact, but that after the Parliament had by theire remonstrance unto the King declared how hurtfull to the Commonwealth the excessive power of the Duke was, he ever thought the Duke so greate a burden that he accounted the removing of him a good acte ; and yett professeth he would do itt were itt to do againe. The King sayth he will be a husband to his Duchesse, a father to his children, a master to his servants, and an executor to pay his debtes,”

* The wild anagrammatic prophecies of Dame Eleanor Davies were very much regarded at this time, although one would have thought that such a man as Sir Edward Dering might have escaped the infection of such nonsense. Her prophetical reputation was seriously damaged in public estimation by an ingenious application or retort of her own weapon. It was discovered that “Never soe mad a ladie,” could be derived as an anagram from her own name.

† The words printed in italic are nearly worn away in the original. I have supplied them, I think correctly, from the slight remains, but it is right to mention the fact.

^{page xiv note a} Buried 29 April, 1628. Register of St. Olave's, Old Jewry. Kindly procured for me, with much other similar information by my friend James Crosby, Esq. F.S.A.

^{page xv note a} Court and Times of Charles I. i. 437.

^{page xv note b} Ibid. i. 436.

^{page xvi note a} See Rous's Diary, p. 34 ; Munk's Roll of Physicians, i. 158.

^{page xvii note a} Sir Edward's aunt Elizabeth Dering married William Skeffington of Fisherwick, co. Stafford, Esq.

^{page xvii note b} A cousin of the lady, on whom she much relied for advice. He was a London merchant, largely engaged in some of the important adventures for colonization which distinguished this period of our history.

^{page xviii note a} This person had evidently a grant from the crown of the wardship of Mrs. Bennett's little boy, then four years old. He had also used the authority thus obtained, as a shelter to matrimonial proposals made to Mrs. Bennett herself. Her endeavour at this time was to make a bargain with Steward, by which, for a money payment to himself, he should assign to her the right to the care and custody of her own child.

^{page xxxiii note a} They were married shortly after Easter, on the 16th April, 1629, at St. Dunstan's in the West. (Nichols's Collect. Topog. et Genealog. v. 218.) At the same time, and in the same church, were also married Mr. Harbottle Grimstone, afterwards Sir Harbottle and Master of the Rolls, and the widow's niece Mary Croke, daughter of Sir George, the Judge. (Ibid.)

^{page xxxvi note a} Speeches, p. 10. On this case of Mr. Wilson, see the present volume, p. 19.

^{page xxxvi note b} Sir Edward Dering's minutes of the proceedings of this sub-committee (which from its importance was shortly afterwards made an independent committee), will be found in this volume, at p. 80.

^{page xxxvii note a} Speeches, p. 19.

^{page xxxvii note b} Ibid. p. 25.

^{page xxxvii note c} Ibid. p. 44.

^{page xxxviii note a} Speeches, p. 2.

^{page xxxix note a} Martin of Galway's Bill against Cruelty to Animals is said to have been the only other Bill ever introduced from the gallery.

^{page xxxix note b} Hist. Rebellion, lib. iii.

^{page xl note a} Speeches, p. 3.

^{page xli note a} See, for this speech and Pym's reply, Mr. Forster's admirable volume on the Grand Remonstrance, pp. 289, 303.

^{page xlii note a} Eliza, wife of Sir Frederick Cornwallis. She was a daughter of Sir John Ashburnham, and sister of Sir Edward's late wife. She held an office in the Queen's Household.

^{page xliii note a} Probably his speech on the Remonstrance.

^{page xlv note a} No better account of this confusion has ever been published than that in Sir Edward's letter of the 13th January, 1641–2, printed in this volume at p. 66.

^{page xlvi note a} Commons' Journ., ii. 136.

^{page xlvi note b} Ibid. p. 387.

^{page xlvi note c} Ibid. vol. iii. p. 411.

^{page xlvi note d} Ibid. p. 426.

^{page xlvii note a} Ibid. p. 502.

^{page xlvii note b} Comm. Journ. pp. 507, 511, 513, 514, 533, 535, 536, 537.

^{page xlvii note c} Nalson, ii. 249.

^{page xlviii note a} The original is at Surrenden. Our etching, which is an admirable representation of it, is the work of Mr. Herbert L. Smith.

^{page xlix note a} Letter in Surrenden Collection, which is altogether of so great importance that it will be best to give it as it stands. “Deare Cosin, This Tusday night at 5 a clock I made Mr. P. acquainted with your letter. Hee is very willing to secure you, and is much joyed with your letter, and so am I in my hart. But you must first render yourselfe, or make some submission by your letter to him, that thereupon hee may move the House in your behalfe. This is all I can do in these buisie times. Things are not so bad with our armies upon Sunday's fight as wee heard them. The Lord Linsse his son, Lunsforde, Vaviser, and Asburnam taken prisoners. The[y] begane on Monday again to fight, but the certen effect of that day and this wee heare not. I beseech the Lord to bring peace out of warre and stanch our bleeding woounds. And thus, with my hartie affection unto you and your Lady, I rest yours assured to my power, R, Skeff. [P.S.] Pardon my hast and excuse mee if I come not yett to you. [2nd P.S.] Excuse my haste and scribling. [Dated] This Tusday night, 8 a clock. [Addressed] To my much honnored Lady Deering, att Surnden in Kent, give these with speed I pray you. [Indorsed by Sir Edward Dering.] 8 [a mistake for 25th] Octob. 1642. Sir Richard Skeffington.

^{page l note a} Sprotti Chron. ed. Hearne, p. xlv.

^{page l note b} Nalson, ii. 249.

^{page l note c} See post, p. 7.

^{page l note d} Le Neve's Fasti, ed. Hardy, i. 33.

^{page l note e} Comm. Journ. iii. 390.

^{page li note a} Sprotti Chron. ed. Hearne, p. xlv.

^{page li note b} Commons' Journ. iii. 603.