Letter of Sir Edward Dering sending Magna Carta to Sir Robert Cotton (Dover Castle; 10 May 1630.) Very few people can claim to have been sent a copy of Magna Carta; but that is exactly what happened to Sir Robert Cotton on 10 May 1630; when he received this note from his 'affectionate freind and servant' Sir Edward Dering (d. 1644); the lieutenant of Dover Castle. He wrote: I have sent up two of your books; which have much pleasured me: I have here the charter of K. John dated att Running Meade: by the first safe and sure messenger it is your's. So are the Saxon charters; as fast as I can coppy them: but in the meane time I will close K. John in a boxe and send him. Dering shared Sir Robert Cotton's antiquarian interests; and clearly regarded the Cotton library as a suitable home for Magna Carta. Edward Dering's copy can be identified as the nowdamaged Cotton Charter XIII 31A; part of the British Library's collections.