17th century AD. A flat silver hawking vervel for the use in falconry, with italic inscription '*Edw.Lord.Mountague' to one face, plain reverse. Recorded with the Portable Antiquities Scheme under reference BH-64FD13; accompanied by a copy of the PAS report. 0.56 grams, 11.4mm (1/2"). Found near Barnwell, Northamptonshire, UK, in 2015, disclaimed as treasure under reference 2015 T789; accompanied by a report under the Treasure Act for H M Coroner and a letter from the Assistant Treasure Registrar at the British Museum. The inscription is a likely reference to Edward Montagu, 1st Baron Montagu of Boughton (1563-1644), or his son, the 2nd Baron (1616-1684"). The Montagu family home at Boughton House, between Weekley and Geddington in Northamptonshire is very close to the findspot. Montagu was the son of Sir Edward Montagu and his wife Elizabeth Harrington, daughter of James Harington of Exton? of? Rutland. He matriculated at Christ Church, Oxford in about 1574 and graduated ?in 1579. He was a student of the Middle Temple in 1580? and succeeded his father in 1602. In 1584, he was elected Member of Parliament for Bere Alston, in 1597 for Tavistock and in 1601 for Brackley. He was created Knight of the Bath by James I at his coronation on 25 July 1603. He was appointed High Sheriff of Northamptonshire for 1595?-1596. In 1604 Montagu was elected MP for Northamptonshire. On 9 February 1605, with other gentlemen of Northamptonshire, he presented a petition to the king in favour of those ministers in the county who refused subscription. The petitioners were warned that their combination in a cause against which the king had shewed his mislike? '?…was little less than treason.?'? Montagu was for the time deprived of his lieutenancy and justiceship of the peace in the county. He was one of the key founders of what is known today as Guy Fawkes Night through his sponsorship, in Parliament, of the Observance of 5th November Act 1605. He was re-elected MP for Northamptonshire in 1614 for the Addled Parliament and in 1621. He was created Baron Montagu of Boughton on 29 June 1621. Montagu supported King Charles I in the Civil War which led to his arrest in August 1642. He was imprisoned for a time in the Tower of London but was moved to the Savoy Hospital due to ill health and died a prisoner in 1644. He was buried at Weekley. Fine condition. Scarce.