Verney, Edmund (1590–1642)

English courtier, knight‐marshal to Charles I from 1626. He sat as a member of both the Short and the Long Parliaments and, though sympathizing with the Parliamentary position, remained true to his allegiance, saying:‘I have eaten the king's bread and served him nearly thirty years, and will not do so base a thing as to forsake him; and choose rather to lose my life (which I am sure I shall do) to defend things which are against my conscience’. He died at his post as royal standard bearer at the Battle of Edgehill. He was knighted in 1611.

The Verney papers, a collection of his memoirs and other personal papers, are a valuable record of this and later periods. His son Ralph (1613–96) supported the Parliamentarians.