Dramatic References from the Scudamore Papers

Summary

The Scudamore family, from whose papers the following excerpts are drawn, was an ancient one, with its seat at Holme-Lacy in the county of Hereford. Sir John Scudamore, who received the first letter quoted, was Gentleman Usher to Queen Elizabeth, Standard-bearer to the Band of Gentlemen Pensioners and one of the Council for the Marches of Wales. He sat in five Parliaments for the County of Herefore, was Custos Rotulorum and High Sheriff in 1581, a close friend of Sir Thomas Bodley, and a contributor to his Library. His son, Sir James, was the prototype of Sir Scudamore in the Faerie Queene.

The remainder of the following letters were addressed to Sir James's son, Sir John. Born in 1601, he was made a baronet on 1 June 1620, and became a follower of Buckingham. After being created Baron Dromore and Viscount Scudamore of Sligo on 1 July 1628, he retired to his seat, but kept informed of events by means of weekly newsletters from London. At the close of 1634 Charles appointed him Ambassador to France, a post which he filled from June 1635 until January 1639. While in Paris he kept in touch with his old friend Laud, and entertained Hobbes, Sir Kenelm Digby and Milton when they were there. He introduced Milton to Grotius in May 1638.