SIR EDWARD DERING'S[1] HOUSEHOLD BOOK, A.D. 1648-52.
About ten years since, I remember seeing, in the hands of a London bookseller, a curious MS. purporting to be the "Household Book of Receipts and Expences of Sir Edward Dering, Bart., of Surrenden Dering, Kent, from Lady-Day, 1648, to April, 1652." It was a think folio, in the original binding, entirely in the hand-writing of the distinguished baronet.
Sir Edward was the only son of Sir Edward Dering, the first baronet, by his second wife, Anne, daughter of Sir John Ashburnham, of Ashburnham, Sussex, Knt. He succeeded to the baronetcy upon the death of his father, in 1644, and married Mary, daughter of Daniel Harvey, Esq., of Combe, Surrey, who was brother of the famous Dr. Harvey, the discoverer of the circulations of the blood.
The volume commences at Lady-day, 1648, with the gifts of his grandmother Cramond, and his uncles Dr. Harvey and Eliab Harvey. Nov. 8. 1648, is a memorandum of receipts of "the full remainder of the three thousand pounds he was to pay me on my marriage." The receipts close March 25. 1652, with "a note of what money I have received for rent, wood, &c.; in effect, what I have to live upon, for four years, 1413l. 8s." The expenses begin at the same period; and among the earliest is, "given my wife, in gold, 100l." Under the date Aug. 4. 1648, we read, "Item: paid Mr. Edward Gibbes, to the use, and by the appointment of my sister Dorothy, it being her portion, 1200l." Dorothy was probably Sir Edward's only sister, by the same mother, Sir Edward, the first baronet's second wife. Her sun of life soon set; for Feb. 21. 1650, a whole page is occupied with items of mourning "at the death of my deare and only sister, the Lady Darell."
Independently of the frequent notices of relatives, almost serving as a family history, there are entries of high interest to the general historian and the antiquary. The costs of every article of use and virtue are set down in full, and a few of the items (which I find in my Common-place Book) will serve as a specimen of the general contents:—
"1648. July 31. It. for seeing two plaies with my
wife, &c., coach hire, &c., 1l. 6s.
— Sept. 2. It. paid the upholsterer for a
counterpayne to the yellow
petuana bed 3l. 10s.
— Sept. 7. Paid Mr. Winne, for a tippet of
sables for my wife 14l.
— Nov. 23. For a copy of Marg. Dering's
office 9s.
— Dec. 23. It. paid Mr. Le Neve, in part for
my wife's picture 3l.
— Mar. 8. It. a velvet saddle furniture for
my wife, 13l. It. black sattin,
for a gown for her, 7l. It. two
diamond rings 13l.
"1649. April 16. It. given seeing Rechampton-House 6s.
— April 28. It. paid Mr. Le Neve, the remainder
due for my wife's picture,
3l. 4s. It. paid him for a picture of the king. 2l. It. paid
him for a new frame to my
grandmother's — 6s.
"1649. May 9. Item, given at John Tradeskin's
[Tradescant] — 2s. 6d.
— June 1. Paid Mr. Lawes, a month's
teaching of my wife — 1l. 10s.
— Sept 1. It. spent at Tunbridge Welles, in
19 dayes stay — 26l, 8s.
"1650. April 8. It. paid Mr. Lilly [Sir Peter] for
my wife's picture — 5l.
"1651. April 21. It. paid Mr. Lelie for my picture,
5l. It. paid him for my wife's
picture, being larger, 10l. It.
given Mr. Lelie's man, 5s.
— April 23. It. paid Frank Rower for a frame
for my wife's picture 4l.
— Aug. 7. Spent in Spring Gardens, and
coach hire thither — 17s.
— Sept. 3. Baubles at Bartholomew fayre, 4s.
— Oct. 3. It. given the Scots prisoners, 8s.
— Nov. 13. It. paid for bringing a great cake
from Richborow — 3s.
— March 9. Twelve paire of gloves given my
Valentine, the Lady Palmer
1l. 12s.
— March 22. It. paid Mr. Lilly for Mrs.
Montague's picture, the larger size
10l.
The entry concerning the Celebrated Henry Lawes, Milton's Tuneful Harry, is very interesting, and is well illustrated by the following dedication, prefixed to Lawes' Second Book of Ayres and Dialogues, 1655:—
"To the Honourable the Lady Dering, Wife to Sir Edward Dering, of Surenden Dering, Bart.
"Madam,—I have consider'd, but could not finde it lay in my power, to offer this Book to any but your Ladiship. Not only in regard of that honour and esteem you have for Musick, but because those Songs which fill this Book have receiv'd much lustre by your excellent performance of them; and (which I confesse I rejoice to sepak of) some, which I esteem the best of these ayres, were of your own composition, after your noble husband was pleas'd to give the words. For (although your Ladiship resolv'd to keep it private) I beg leave to declare, for my own honour, that you are not only excellent for the time you spent in the practice of what I set, but are yourself so good a composer, that few of any sex have arriv'd to such perfection. So as this Book (at least a part of it) is not Dedicated, but only brought home to your Ladiship. And here I would say (could I do it without sadness), how pretious to my thoughts is the memory of your excellent Mother (that great example of prudence and charity), whose pious meditations were often advanc'd by hearing your voice. I wish all prosperity to your Ladiship, and to him who (like yourself) is made up of Harmony; to say nothing of the rest of his high accomplishments of wisdome and learning. May you both live long, happy in each other, when I am become ashes; who, while I am in this world, shall be ever found, Madame,
"Your Ladiship's humble Admirer
"and faitnful Servant,
"HENRY LAWES."