Autobiography Simon D'Ewes. 03 May 1621. The breach also of my match was the chief occasion that my father (age 54) proceeded no further with the young widow, (with whom he was at this time in treaty,) as I strongly gathered from many circumstances, and that he afterwards married with an ancient lady (age 11). By this means he not only settled a greater estate upon myself than was now offered, but provided also, in a very large measure, for my three younger sisters, and my only brother, whose advancement would have been exceedingly hindered by this match with a young woman and a second issue, though I had gotten at this time a fair estate by my marriage settled upon me. Lastly, by this breach, I reaped much knowledge by my serious study of the common law of England for divers years after; falling also, in the issue, upon the search of records and other exotic monuments of antiquity, being the most ravishing and satisfying part of human knowledge.

Autobiography Simon D'Ewes. 06 Oct 1621. Soon after my coming to London, it pleased the Divine Providence, for my greater humiliation, (my before-mentioned intended match being likewise broken off,) to lay upon me new wants and afflictions; for, coming to my father (age 54) upon Saturday the 6th day of October, to receive and demand that small stipend he allowed me, he denied me a great part of it upon some pretended defalcations. This so much amazed me, being unprovided of most necessaries, and considering also that he kept from me an estate of five or six thousand pounds of mine own, given me by Richard Simonds, my grandfather by my mother's side, that I unawares expressed my grief unto him somewhat unadvisedly, at which he grew so extremely offended with me as he was never before that time nor after it, so as I spake but once with him for about the space of five weeks ensuing, although I resided near him all that time. And now my condition in mine own apprehension was so far changed, as I feared not only my father's speedy marriage with a young widow, meanly born and bred, but my disherison also, though undeserved; who but a few months before, upon an intended match, should have had almost his whole estate in land assured upon me, so as my own estate I had from my grandfather Simonds, above-mentioned, did much comfort me, which I knew none could deprive me of.

Autobiography Simon D'Ewes. 12 Feb 1622. The latter part of this January I spent reasonably well in the study of the common law, which had like to have been interrupted again the ensuing February with the renovation of my old cares, which had hindered it in my former wooing-time; for Mr. Waldegrave (age 56), of Lawford in Essex, between whose younger daughter (age 20) and coheir and myself there had been a treaty of marriage, as is before set down, deceasing on Tuesday, tbe 12th day of this February, and leaving the Lady Bingham (age 62), his second wife, a widow, on Monday the 18th day of the same month next ensuing my father (age 55) sent for me early in the morning, to give me notice of it, and told me that he should not only be willing that the treaty for myself might again be renewed with the daughter (age 20), but that he should be willing himself also to match with the mother (age 56). This new overture took up my thoughts and time for some few days, but it proving abortive soon afterj I had free liberty again to settle to my studies.

Autobiography Simon D'Ewes. 03 Mar 1623. I received immediately much happiness by this intermarriage; my greatest private fear I had of my father's unequal match with some young woman being cleared, and the Lady Denton expressing daily to me much respect and affection, so as I now began to consider God's mercy to me in dissolving abortively that former treaty I had with Mr. Waldegrave's daughter and co-heir, in Essex, in the year 1621; of which she being the elder, of the two, I should too soon have found the inconvenience; yet, as some diminution to my present content, being thinly clothed on the nuptial day, and the weather cold and sharp, I got an extreme cold, which hung upon me divers days after, so that I had much ado on Saturday morning, March the 8th, to go and visit my father (age 56) and his new-married [his future wife] wife (age 44), being then to depart together out of town to her jointure-house in Kent, situated in the town of Tunbridge [Map].

Autobiography Simon D'Ewes. 03 Mar 1623. Yet my father (age 56) still interposing new matters, did so weary me with the daily experience of his irresolation, and despairing of any farther good issne, although the marriage conveyance were well near drawn, and our Lent reading beginning on Monday, the 3rd day of March, I engaged myself in the performance of a moot, at New Inn, that day in the afternoon, where I argued the case with good success. The next morning I argued another law case at another Inn of Chancery with like success, though upon very little study; both which exercises I the rather undertook to free myself from further journeys and troubles in my father's wooing. But it pleased God to give such a blessing to my former endeavours, that all things being agreed on and the deed of jointure ensealed, on Wednesday morning, the 5th day of March, to my great joy and comfort, the marriage was solemnized in St. Faith's Church [Map], under St. Paul's; and then we dined and spent the residue of the day at the place where the lady had lodged, near Smithfield, all the time my father had been a suitor to her.

Autobiography Simon D'Ewes. 14 Mar 1623. On Friday, March the 14th, our Middle Temple reader, Mr. Brampton, ended his reading, and myself, as my health permitted, settled reasonably well to my study. On Tuesday, the 26th day of March, my father (age 56) returned with the [his wife] Lady Denton (age 44) from Tunbridge [Map] in Kent, to pass by London into Surrey, to my brother Elliot's, and having lain in London one night, took their journey thither the following day. On the 27th, 28th, and 29th days of the same month, I was for the most part present at an anatomy lecture, read by Doctor Harvey (age 44)¹, at the Physicians' College, near Paternoster Row, by which I gained much profitable knowledge, as I did also by the converse of very able students who were my ordinary companions in the Middle Temple.

Note 1. The eminent discoverer of the circulation of the human blood.