Several weeks after, and some miles away from, the first battle of the English Civil War, the baronet and antiquary Edward Dering was arrested while traveling under an assumed name. After his release he petitioned for the return of property confiscated from him while in custody. His protestations of innocence are not entirely supported by his list of the items he was carrying when arrested, which ends: “And a false beard to disguise my selfe withall, but not used.”
Edward Dering (1598–1644), Letter to George Brydges, Shrewsbury, 1642 December 15. MA 3097 (p. 2). Purchased on the Acquisitions Fund, 1973.