SCRIVELSBY COURT 359 is an actual fact; if, therefore, an artist could create an old home thus, why not a poet? The poet's task would be by far the easier, for he can so easily generalise; the painter must particularise, the latter could not leave a "lion-guarded gate" to be imagined, he must draw it. Both poet and painter may romance, but the painter has not nearly such a free hand as the poet! Pulling up at the front door of Scrivelsby Court we sent in our letter of introduction, hardly, however, expecting to be admitted at that early hour; still our usual good fortune prevailed, for not only were we admitted, but the lady of the house herself volunteered to show us over. We observed a few suits of armour in the hall, and some heralds' trumpets hung from the walls thereof with faded silken banners attached, but much of interest was destroyed by the fire of the last century, including the fine and famous old panelling carved with various coats-of-arms. A number of the coronation cups were brought out for our inspection; the majority of these were simply adorned with the initials of the different kings, below which was the royal coat-ofarms. Curiously enough the cup of George IV. was the most artistic by far-I might safely say the only artistic one. On this, in place of the royal arms in the centre, we have a figure of the Champion embossed there. He is represented in a spirited manner mounted on a prancing charger, holding his lance ready poised in one hand; and on the ground in front of him lies his gauntlet as a challenge to all The whole design is enclosed in a raised comers. wreath of laurel leaves. And a very creditable bit of decorative work it is; wonderfully so considering the time a fact that seems to prove we have always the artist with us, though certain periods do not encourage him to assert himself. Like the poet, the artist is born, not made; and he may be born out of due season in an inartistic age. On being asked to lift one of these cups we were astonished at its weight; so little accustomed is one to handle gold in the mass that the heaviness of the metal is not at the moment realised. The hereditary Grand Championship of England is a privilege that goes with the manor of Scrivelsby, and was instituted by the Conqueror; and this brings to mind another peculiar privilege appertaining to the family of "the fearless De Courcys," granted as an acknowledgment of valiant deeds done on the battlefield. The representatives of this ancient family are entitled to the unique right of standing in the royal presence with head covered, and when George IV. visited Ireland in 1821 the then representative of the De Courcys claimed his privilege and stood before the king "bonneted": So they gave this graceful honour To the bold De Courcy's race That they ever should dare their helms to wear Before the king's own face. And the sons of that line of heroes To this day their right assume; For when every head is unbonneted, They walk in cap and plume! In the restored church of Scrivelsby most of the A GRUESOME DISCOVERY 361 king's Champions rest in peace beneath their stately altar-tombs and ancient brasses. The tomb here of Sir Robert Dymoke, who died in 1545, and who successively performed the duties of Champion at the coronations of Richard III., Henry VII., and Henry VIII., is interesting to antiquaries on account of a curious blunder in the inscription, he being termed thereon "knight baronet instead of "knight banneret," as is proper- Sir Robert Dymoke, for his services, being entitled to carry the banner of the higher order of knighthood in place of the pennon of the ordinary knight. This strange blunder has sadly perplexed many learned antiquaries, and many theories have been suggested in explanation thereof. The simplest and most probable explanation appears to me to be the quite excusable ignorance of the engraver. It has been thought by some that the error is due to a careless restoration, but I hardly think this to be the case, as I imagine the inscription is the original one, unaltered. The sins of the restorer are great enough surely without adding to them problematically! Our good clerical and antiquarian friend at Horncastle had told us overnight that some years ago, whilst making alterations in the flooring of Scrivelsby church, a body was found in a coffin with a lump of clay in the place where the head should be. This was the remains of the Dymoke who fought against the king at the battle of Stamford, or as it was popularly called, "Loose-Coat Field." This Dymoke was taken prisoner there, and afterwards beheaded, and his traitor-head was exposed on the tower gate |