JOHN SCOTT THE YOUNGER.

141

which the head of Edward Scott reposed, Gough takes to be

66

nothing more than a helmet," which placed under the head of sepulchral effigies, is commonly, though incorrectly, supposed to indicate knighthood, and no inferior rank."

The figure will doubtless remind our readers of the gaunt yeoman in Branksome-hall.

Ten of them were sheathed in steel
With belted sword and spur on heel;
They quitted not their harness bright
Either by day or yet by night;
They lay down to rest

With corslet laced,

Pillowed on buckler cold and hard;

They carved at the meal

With gloves of steel,

And they drank the red wine through the helmet barred.

The length of the shoe is worthy of remark. In former times this was often proportioned to the rank of the wearer, and hence, it is presumed, originated the proverbial expression, to live on a great footing.

"In the wall over the said gravestone," says Aubrey, "is another monument set up with these figures, first an old man in a gown, and a woman in the habit of the times in the middle between them, and a man in armour looking westward." A later topographer describes it still more awkwardly as "the figure of an old man kneeling, and on the back of him, one kneeling in armour, and a woman in the same posture facing him." The features and venerable beard of the first-mentioned effigy bespeak extreme age, though it is

a Mills (in his History of Chivalry) represents that doughty knight Don Rodrigo Trojas as lying upon his shield with his helmet for a pillow. Sir John Montacute, knight, says, "I will that a plain tomb be made for me with the image of a knight thereon, and the arms of Montacute, having an helmet under the head." Richard Lord Poynings, 1387, wills that a stone of marble be provided with an escutcheon of his arms, and a helmet under his head. (Nicholas Test. &c.) Surrey, i. 173.

Lay of the Last Minstrel,

142

BARTHOLOMEW SCOTT.

most probably intended for John Scott, who could not have been old if he died in 1558."

JOHN SCOTT THE SON AND HEIR OF JOHN Scott, one of the Barons OF THE EXCHEQUER, BEING MARIED TO ELIZABETH THE DAUGHTER OF JOHN ROBINS, MERCHANT, OF THE STAPLE AT CALAIS, HAD ISSUE JOHN: RICH: EDW: WILL: BARTHOLOMEW: ACTON. BEING ALSO MARIED TO A SECOND WIFE CHIS, THE WIDOW OF JOHN SANDFORD, HAD ISSUE MARG: AND BY MARG: BORTON HIS 3RD WIFE HAD EDGAR AND Southwell, of WHICH HIS NINE CHILDREN, BARTHO SCOTT HIS VTH SONNE REPAIRING YE

DECAYED RUINES OF THIS RIGHT WORSHIPFUL AND ANCIENT FAMILY REVIVETH THE MEMORY OF HIS DECEASED FATHER.

It is not quite clear how the last expression in this part of the epitaph is to be understood, as Bartholomew Scott had no children, nor did he set up this monument; the probability is that with one or both of his two last wives, he had an ample fortune; a circumstance the more probable, as "the heir of his lands," is spoken of in the second part of this inscription.

The marble figure of Bartholomew Scott was very fine, the manly expression of his features being particularly worthy of remark; that of the wife was less carefully executed, though the face. was finished with considerable delicacy. (See Plate VI.) The inscription upon this part of the monument was as follows:

BARTHOLOMEW SCOTT, ESQ. AND JUSTICE OF PEACE IN THE COUNTY OF SVRR', HAVING NO ISSUE OF HIS BODY BEGOTTEN, LIVETH NOTWITHSTANDING AFTER DEATH BY THE NEVER-DYING COMMENDATION OF HIS VIRTUes, being A VALIANT, WISE, AND RELIGIOUS GENTLEMAN, AND LEAVETH BEHIND HIM PETER SCOTT HIS NEPHEW, THE SON OF ACTON SCOTT HIS BROTHER, WHOM HE HAD CAREFULLY AND LOVINGLY FOSTERED UP FROM HIS YOUTH, THE HEIR OF THEIR LANDS AND THE HOPE OF THEIR FAMILY. THIS GENT: WAS MARRIED TO THREE WIVES, THE FIRST WAS MARG: YE WIDO: OF THE RIGHT REVERE'D PREL: AND MARTYR THO: CRANMER, ARCH-BISH OF CANTERBURIE; YE 2 WAS CHRISTA THE WIDOW OF LAUD, CIT: OF LOND. YE 3 AND LAST WAS MARG: THE WIDOW OF WILLIAM GARDINER, ESQ. JUSTICE OF PEACE IN YE COM OF SVR.'

a Bray, iii. 406.

b

Aubrey (i. 74) supplies the last word
Bray says he died in 1600, iii. 406.