Page:Notes and Queries - Series 12 - Volume 1.djvu/275

 12 s. i. APRIL 1,1916.] NOTES AND QUERIES.

269

HERALDRY. Will any reader kindly in~ form me which family bore the following arms, circa 1720 ? Az., a lion passant gardant or, a chief ermine (Kent ?), quarterly with Az., a dolphin naiant or.

MARY TERESA FORTESCUE. 11 Smith Square, Westminster.

REFERENCE WANTED : " PLURA MALA

NOBIS CONTINGTJNT QUAM ACCIDUNT."

Where did Seneca say this ?

JOHN B. WAINE WRIGHT,

DRIDEN (DRYDEN). I shall be glad to know of any early instances of the surname Driden or Dryden. In which counties is the name common ? A. B. BENSON.

Constitutional Club, W.C.

WELSH PRIESTS EDUCATED ABROAD. Are any lists extant and obtainable of students from Wales educated at Douai, Valladolid, and the English College at Rome ? Infor- mation will oblige.

ANEURIN WILLIAMS.

JUplus.

SIR EGBERT CAREY'S RIDE. (12 S. i. 189.)

CAREY wrote an account of his marvellous ride, which was first printed in 1759 at Horace Walpole's suggestion. The book has been reprinted several times. There are numerous references to and side-lights upon the journey in many other books.

To understand the exact purpose of the ride and its circumstances certain facts must be alluded to. Early in March, 1603, Queen Elizabeth fell ill. It may have been grief for Essex or worry as to the succession. She could not endure the thought of a successor, but never once did she betray her real feelings. On Jan. 21, 1603, the Court had left Whitehall for Richmond. A sharp frost had fol- lowed a period of wet, and the Queen took cold and " kept her inner lodging." Sir Robert Carey was the Queen's kinsman, through Lady Mary Boleyne, who had married an immediate ancestor of Carey's, Anne Boleyne being Mary Boleyne's sister. Carey was brother, too, to the Queen's dear friend who had lately died, the Countess of Nottingham. He was a typical Eliza- bethan, then aged 43 the youngest son of Henry Carey, first Lord Hunsdon. He was of fine appearance, and " exceeded in

making choice of what he wore to be handsome and comely." He had done active military service, and had been a gentleman volunteer against the Spanish Armada. He had been member of Parlia- ment for Morpeth, and must have journeyed over the North Road many times. In his ' Memoirs ' he says : "I kept men and horses far above my rank, and so continued a long time." His cousin, Lord Suffolk, afterwards told James I. that " there was none in the Queen's Court that lived in a better fashion than he did." He had already been to Scotland and paid homage to James on a courtly errand. The King evidently liked him. Every one agreed that he was a good diplomatist. His one fault in Elizabeth's eyes was that he had married. His wife was the daughter of Sir Hugh Trevannion and widow of Sir Henry Widdrington. She had brought him Widdrington, a house in Northumber- land. He made up this quarrel with the Queen after " a stormy and terrible encounter."

Carey knew that Elizabeth was ailing, and he hovered round her like a bird. The Privy Council on their side kept a watchful eye on him, knowing that his attentions to the Queen were not prompted by any special wish to prolong her life, but rather to be ready to play his own ambitious game should the Queen die.

" And hereupon I bethought myself with what grace and favour I was ever received by the King of Scots, whensoever 1 was sent to him. I did assure myself, it was neither unjust, nor unhonest for me to do for myself, if God, at that time, should call her to his mercy. Hereupon I wrote to the King of Scots (knowing him to be the right heir to the crown of England), and certified him in what state her Majesty was. I desired him not to stir from Edinburgh ; if of that sickness she should die, I would be the first man that should bring him news of it." ' Memoirs,' 1808 ed., p. 118. Carey had hurried to Richmond as soon as he heard of the Queen's indisposition, and found her " sitting low upon her cushions," heaving deep sighs and evi- dently very unwell. He kissed her hand and wished her a return to health. He goes on to say :

" She took me by the hand and wrung it hard

and said, 'No, Robin, I am not well' and that

her heart ' had been sad and heavy for ten or twelve days.' "

This interview took place at Richmond Palace on Saturday evening, March 19, 1603. From that day the Queen grew worse, refusing food and declining to go to bed. Meanwhile, as we have seeni