Bysshe, Edward, Sir (1615 -1679)

Sir Edward Bysshe was the son of Edward Bysshe, of Burstow in Surrey, and Mary Turnor. He was educated at Trinity College, Oxford, where he was admitted a Gentleman Commoner in 1633, but did not take a degree, and was afterwards admitted to Lincoln's Inn. He was Member of Parliament for Blecheney in Surrey in 1640; for Reigate in 1654; Gatton in 1658; and Blecheney again in 1661. He was made Garter King of Arms by Parliament during the Commonwealth 1643 1660, and preserved the library of the College of Arms intact throughout the Civil War. After the Restoration he was knighted in 1660 and obtained the post of Clarenceux King of Arms in 1661, against the opposition of his successor as Garter, Sir Edward Walker. The greater part of his large library of books and manuscripts was sold by John Dunmore, at the Woolsack in Ivy Lane 15 November 1679, just a month before his death, and the remainder at the same saleroom 4 July 1681.