18 son Ralph Verney, forty pounds for the buying of her a ring. To my dear mother Dame Margaret Varney all such moneys as are, at the day of * the date of this mylast will,in her custody and which were not delivered by me or by my appointment unto her to make payment thereof for me. Certain other bequests to wife &c. Son Ralph Verney to be sole executor. William Roades one of the witnesses. Campbell, 129 (P. C. C). Can itbe doubted for one instant that the William Roades, who witnessed the above will,was the very same person mentioned in Mr. Andrew Knowling's will? or that John Roades, to whom the annuity of ten pounds was left, was one of this family? Was it possible to learn anything more about them ? The Camden Society published in 1853 some "Letters and Papers of the Verney Family, down to the end of the year 1639" (John Bruce, Esq., Editor). On page 208 1found that this John Roades was called Sir Edmund's bailiff at Claydon. In 1639 (Ist April) Sir Edmund wrote from Yorke to his son Ralph, then at the family residence in Covent Garden, London, as follows : "Ithinck my man Peeter and Iam parted ; ifhe comes to Lundon bee not deceaved by any falce mes- sage ; wright privately as much to Roades." The Christian name is not given." On the 21st of June (1639) he writes from camp to his son : Ipray write to WillRoads presently to inquire out some grass for geldings, for Ihave bought fiftyhorses and geldings out of one troope, and they will bee at Cleydon about term dayes hence. The horses Iwillkeepe att howse tillIcan sell them." What ever position John Roades may have held, it seems quite evident that in June, 1639, William Roades was bailiff at Middle Claydon. On the 25th of May, 1636, was issued a Warrant from Spencer, Earl of Northampton, Master of His Majesty's Leash, addressed "To all justices of peace, mayors, sheriffs, bayliffs, constables, and all other majesties officers and ministers to whom it shall or may appertayne," authorizing William Roads of Middle Claidon and Ralph Hillof Wendover, servants of Sir Edmund Verney, knight marshal of His Majesty's household, as deputies and assignees, for the space of six whole and entire years next ensuing, to take and seize to his majesty's use, and inhis majesty's name, within all places within the county of Buckingham such and so many greyhounds, both dogs and bitches, in whose custody soever they may be, as the said •> William Roads and Ralph Hillshall think meet and convenient for his majesty's disport and recreation &c.,and also to seize and take away all such greyhounds, beagles or whippets as may anywise be offensive to his majesty's game and disport. Sir Edmund Verney was in his youth one of the household of Prince Henry. On the 7th of January, 1610-11, he was knighted. In 1613 he was taken into the household of Prince Charles as one of the gentlemen of the privy chamber. In 1622 he was appointed to the lieutenancy of Whaddon Chase, an office in the giftof George Villiers, then marquis of Buckingham and keeper of Wheddon, and