172 A THIRTEENTH CENTURY SEAL OF ROGER DE CARSINGTON. 



Then it was, no doubt, that Roger de Carsington found his 

 way, with the bulk of the Ferrers' retainers, to the banner 

 of the Earl of Gloucester, at Haverfordwest ; and where, we 

 are told, that the following April, when William de Valence 

 landed with one hundred and twenty men-at-arms and cross- 

 bowmen, Gloucester's bailiffs put no obstacle in the way of 

 the men of Pembroke welcoming back their ancient lord. 



That Roger de Carsington was there, the discovery of so very 

 precious a personal appendage as his seal, goes far to prove ; 

 and the curious chapter of political and family circumstances 

 which at this particular date, and for the only time in history, 

 connected his feudal lord with so remote a place as Haverford- 

 west is evidence, in turn, of the identity of its owner. Did 

 he ever return from the campaign ? We know not — all we 

 do know is, that this little seal is one of the very few relics 

 we have of this ancient Derbyshire family. 



