'Who's Who' of medieval knights

The oldest surviving English roll of arms, dating from the reign of King Edward I, has been acquired by the British Library. The Dering Roll dates from c.1270-1280 and contains 324 coats of arms, a quarter of the English baronage of the period. Sold at a Sotheby’s auction in December 2007 for £192,500, the Culture Minister Margaret Hodge then placed a temporary export bar on the medieval manuscript. The British Library, with funding from the National Heritage Memorial Fund, The Art Fund, Friends of the British Library and Friends of the National Libraries, announced the subsequent purchase today (September 2nd). The painted roll begins with two of King John's illegitimate sons, Richard Fitz Roy and William de Say. Scholars suggest it was probably produced in Dover for Stephen of Penchester, Constable at Dover Castle from 1268-1299. The antiquary and lieutenant of Dover Castle Sir Edward Dering (1598–1644) later owned the roll, which measures 2645mm by 210mm. Claire Breay, Head of Medieval and Earlier Manuscripts at the British Library, said: ‘The Dering Roll was identified as a priority acquisition for the British Library, and we are very pleased that we were able to secure the funding required to purchase the Roll and keep it in the UK.’ The Dering Roll is on display in the Sir John Ritblat Gallery: Treasures of the British Library and will be available for research in the Manuscripts Reading Room.