But one chance left--'mid these misfortunes vast,
Looming like avalanche upon their prey,--
"Treason!" he cried, "the White Rose die is cast,"
And like an unchained eagle spurred away,--
"The fiery Dragon to the heart I'll wound,
And him that with it seeks to snatch my crown,--
Swift! follow me! see Brandon bites the ground,
The giant Cheney from his horse is down,--
Fortune attend! my steed, a few strides more,
And the Red Rose shall doubly-dyed appear--
Can I but reach him--steeped in its own gore,
Or Death, come thou as foe I never fear,--
Traitors make way!"--but they in vengeful ring
Closed, and 'neath blows relentless fell the King!
[Illustration: INDENT OF THE BRASS OF ARCHBISHOP STAFFORD.
CANTERBURY CATHEDRAL]
"WITH THE SILVER HAND."
A warm sunny morning in early May, and turning our steps from the
thriving and somewhat busy town of Trowbridge,--a place which, like
its quieter sister of Westbury, "stondith mostly by clothiers,"--its
forest of smoking chimneys, garish town-hall, and tall spire,--our
path inclines by the broad south-westerly road that leads to Frome and
the parts adjacent. The walk is pleasant enough in its way, but
without special incident to interest the wayfarer, beyond the ordinary
pedestrian and vehicular motion of the hour.
In this direction we continue for about a mile and a half, and having
passed through the village of Studley, halt at a stile or gateway on
our left, and looking across a meadow of some extent, discern,
environed by orchards, the grey outline of a building, having the
unmistakable time-worn appearance of survival from a former age,
albeit not of large size, and flanked with clustering outbuildings,
that betoken its present inmate to be engaged in the great primeval
occupation.
Instinctively--from a memory sympathetically stored--a reverie for the
moment takes possession of the thoughts, as at the sight of the
unpretending structure, a large picture passes rapidly before the
mental eye, and with measured emphasis we observe,--a mother
unknown,--a son the most famous,--their last descendant the most
unfortunate!
Why--friend of mine--say you, do we propound this enigmatic commentary
as we view the old place? Gives it short clue to characters,
presumably, once connected with it, whose lives have embodied striking
phases of human existence, which whet the imagination to contemplate,
and to divine with all its subtle ingenuity, incidents conformable to
animate them?
Listen. Yonder is Suthwyke;--there, back in the middle of the
fourteenth century, a scion of the great family of Stafford of
mediaeval fame, found his way from the county that gave them their
patronymic, and he, marrying the daughter of its then possessor,
settled himself within it, and became its lord and master.
Around its grey walls, so retiring and unpretentious, cluster
traditions of the first importance, that lead us out into the great
field of national history. From the first of this knightly race that
then dwelled therein, by a mother unknown,--who may have been the
comely daughter of some villain residing near,--issued a son, who,
despite all the contumely of his birth, won the mitre of the adjoining
See, rose to the supreme station of being the custodian of the
nation's purse, the keeper of the conscience of its reigning King, and
finally sat on the archiepiscopal throne of the realm, when the Church
was in her best estate. Of his grandson, styled of this place, who,
deputed to maintain the royal prerogative against plebeian agression,
fell fighting under the fierce onslaught of Wat Tyler in distant Kent.
Again, of his son, who rising high in the favour of his Sovereign, was
by him dignified with a patent of nobility named after his heritage in
this rural spot, with honours further increased; but who, meanly
swerving by ingratitude and petty dudgeon, in the first service
imposed on him by the monarch who had so recently honoured him,--to
the confusion of his royal patron,--was by the same kingly hand, as
suddenly and ignominiously extinguished, and with him perished also
the name and race of the family, of which he was its last
representative.
So we deliver the solution to our parable, as we leisurely cross the
broad meadow, but as we draw near the house, or Court as it is
termed,--our foot is abruptly stayed by a comparatively
invisible--until we are close on its edge--but decisive hindrance to
nearer approach, and indicative at once of the olden character of the
habitation, a deep and wide moat, still well supplied with water, that
surrounds the area on which the house stands. But no mail-clad
warrior, with glance of lance and pennon, salutes us, no wimpled lady
passes like a shadow around the old gable corners,--all the signs of
life visible are a bevy of ducks busily disporting themselves in the
water below, and a group of calves on the opposite brink, thrusting
their dappled faces through the bars of the fence, and calling lustily
to their foster-mother, the dairy-maid, to bring them their accustomed
meal.
A short distance below, a friendly stone bridge reveals itself, which
spans the chasm, and leads to a building,--that probably still
perpetuates in form and size the antient gate-house,--with a large
semi-circular-arched, and somewhat ornamented doorway, ghost of the
original portal, with its attendant portcullis and drawbridge.
We cross the bridge, but observe at a glance that it is doubtful if
any traces of the dwelling of the Stafford dynasty, or their immediate
successors, will be found in or upon it, and such proved to be the
case. The building is of moderate size, bears the characteristics of
having been erected early in the seventeenth century, and these
distinguishing features, with the exception of the mullioned windows,
a rather fine balustraded and newelled staircase, and the appearance
of an old nail-studded door here and there,--have been nearly
obliterated by adaptation to modern requirements. No dates were
visible, two panels over the entrances may contain such, but they are
carefully plastered over.
Suthwyck--Suthwyk--Southwyke, now modernized to Southwick Court, is
apparently built on the antient site, and probably very nearly
represents the original size of the building. A domestic chapel was
attached to the little mansion. This was situate a short distance from
it, on the other side of the moat; it now forms the corner of the farm
court, and was converted, about the year 1839, into a stable. No trace
of ecclesiastical use is found within it, but a few of the old
roof-timbers are discernible; the piscina, windows, &c., being
doubtless removed when it underwent the process of conversion.
"In Southwick, a tything of North-Bradley," says Canon Jackson,--
"two carucates of land belonged in 1274 to William de Greyville
or Greynville, who held under the Abbess of Romsey. About 1294,
his son Adam de Greynville, (there was a Justice in Eyre of his
name in 1267) attached to his house at Southwick Court a Chapel
dedicated to St. John the Baptist. By surrendering to the Rector
of Bradley, (at that time the Prebendary of Edington) a ground
called Alerleye, he obtained the right of presenting to his
Chapel a chantry priest, who in acknowledgment of fealty, was to
offer two pounds of wax in Bradley church, every year on the
anniversary of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist. In 1369 the
Bishop of Sarum (Robert de Wyvil) granted a license for Mass to
be said in the private mansion house of Southwick. This chaplain
in after times was always instituted to his office by the rectors
of Edington Monastery, to whom the church of Bradley then
belonged."
At the dissolution of Chantries in the reign of Henry VIII.,
Southwyke, Grenefreds (Grenvylles) Chantry, as it was called, was
reported by the Commissioners "Baltazar Segytte, incumbent, with six
pounds seven shillings a year. The plate weighed eight ounces one
pennyweight, and the goods were valued at nine shillings, whilst eight
and fourpence was allowed for a bell."
Suthwyke Court, and manor passed by successive heiresses through the
families of Greynville, Stafford, Cheney, and Willoughby. About 1483,
during a temporary forfeiture, it was given by Richard III. to his
favourite Ratcliffe; it was however restored, and about 1520 sold by
Robert, second Lord Willoughby de Broke to Sir David Owen, a supposed
son of Owen Tudor, who in his will, dated 1529, mentions this Manor
and Chantry. It was afterward disposed of in parcels, but the Court,
by descent, is now held by the old Wiltshire family of Long of
Rood-Ashton.
Of its former possessors, a few words.
Sir John Stafford, knt., of Amelcote and Bromshull, Staffordshire, who
was living in 1361, married as his second wife the Lady Margaret,
daughter of Sir Ralph Stafford, K.G., and one of the original founders
of that Order, second Baron Stafford, and who was subsequently raised
to the Earldom 5 March, 1351, and died in 1372; by his wife Margaret,
only daughter and heiress of Hugh de Audley, Baron Audley.[30] He had
issue by this marriage a son and heir named Humphrey.
[30] "Here (Tunbridge, Kent,) sometime lay entombed the bodies of
_Hugh de Audley_, second son of _Nicholas_, Lord _Audley_ of
Heleigh Castle, in the county of Stafford, who was created Earle
of Gloucester by King _Edward_ the third. This _Hugh_ died 10
November 1347. His wife _Margaret_ (first married to _Pierce
Gaveston_ Earle of Cornwall) dyed before him in the yeare of our
Lord 1342, the 13 day of Aprill. They were both together
sumptuously entombed by _Margaret_ their daughter, the onely
heire of her parents, wife to _Ralph de Stafford_, Earle of
Stafford. The said _Ralph de Stafford_ and _Margaret_ his wife,
were here likewise entombed at the feet of their father and
mother, this Ralph by the marriage of his wife _Margaret_, writ
himself in his charters and deeds, Baron of Tunbridge. Hee died
31 August, 1372, _Margaret_ his wife dyed 7 September, 1349."
(WEEVER.)
This son, Sir Humphrey, migrated into Wilts, and married first Alice,
daughter and heir of John de Greynville, the then possessor of
Suthwyke. By her he "acquired a large estate, viz., the manor, mansion
house, and patronage of the Church of St. John Baptist thereto annexed
of Suthwyke juxta Frome-Selwood, in the parish of North-Bradley,
Wilts,--the manors and advowsons of Clutton and Farnburgh, Somerset,
and the manor of Burmington, Warwick," and she was married to Sir
Humphrey before 1365. Her father bore for his arms, _Argent, six
lioncels rampant gules_. By her husband Sir Humphrey, she had a son
Humphrey, who became her heir. Sir Humphrey married secondly,
Elizabeth, second daughter of Sir William d'Aumarle of Woodbury,
Devon, who died 15 November, 1362, and widow of Sir John Maltravers of
Hooke, in Dorset, who died 15 June, 1386, and whose arms were, _Sable,
a fret or_. She had no children by Sir Humphrey, but two daughters by
her first husband; Maud, married first to Peter de la Mare, of
Offelegh, Herts, who died about 1395, and secondly to Sir John Dinham,
of Buckland-Dinham, Somerset, who died about 1428;[31] and Elizabeth,
married to her second husband's only son. He was sheriff of Dorset and
Somerset 12 Henry IV., 1411.
[31] Query, if the fine effigies of a knight and lady in
Kings-Carswell church in south Devon do not represent this Sir
John Dinham and his _first_ wife, Maud Maltravers. The Knight has
the arms of Dinham on his surcoat, and the shields on the tomb
below display Dinham impaling a _fret_ or _frette_. There is
another interesting effigy of a lady in the same church, that may
possibly be intended for the _second_ wife of Sir John Dinham who
was a daughter of John, Lord Lovel.
Elizabeth, the second wife of Sir Humphrey died the 15 Oct., 1413, and
the knight himself survived her sixteen days only, dying on the 31
Oct., 1413, and both were buried beside her first husband, Sir John
Maltravers, in the Abbey Church of Abbotsbury. He was the first of his
line that bore for his arms, _Or, a chevron gules within a bordure
engrailed sable_.
All the foregoing coats of arms including also D'Aumarle, _Per fess
gules and azure, three crescents argent_, are found among the heraldic
display on the tomb of their descendant the Lady Elizabeth
Willoughby-Greville at Alcester.
Sir Humphrey Stafford--only child of the foregoing--was of Suthwyke in
right of his mother, and of Hooke, _jure uxoris_. He was surnamed
"_with the Silver Hand_,"--a 'periphrasis' whose meaning has not been
explained,--and married Elizabeth, the second daughter of his father's
second wife, by her first husband Sir John Maltravers. By her he had
three sons, Richard, John, and William, and one daughter Alice.
[Illustration: EFFIGY OF SIR JOHN DINHAM, KINGS-CARSWELL CHURCH,
DEVON. CIRCA 1428.]
Sir Humphrey, having thus married the heiress of Maltravers, probably
removed to Hooke, their antient seat, and made it his residence. Coker
says of Hooke House, that "in foregoing ages the Cifrewasts, men of
great antiquity and note dwelled there." Maltravers married
Cifrewast's heir, and the old historian continues, "Humphry Stafford
who married Maltravers' heir, was the great builder of it. This place
hath since been much beholden to William Pawlitt, Marquis of
Winchester, who augmented it with new buildings and often lived there,
but his successors have not thought so well of it, wherefore it is
like to run to decay." Paulet held it through his wife Elizabeth
Willoughby, by inheritance from Cheney and Stafford.[32] Arms of
Cifrewast of Hooke,--_Azure, three bars gemelles or_,--also found at
Alcester.
[32] See page 33.
Sir Humphrey died 27 May, 1442, his wife had pre-deceased him, dying
about 1420, and both were buried in the Abbey Church of Abbotsbury, in
the Chapel of St. Anne therein, which he had founded.
Before proceeding further with this descent of Stafford, our little
annals confront us with its most distinguished representative--albeit
by a side issue--John Stafford, consecrated Bishop of Bath and Wells
1425, Archbishop of Canterbury 1443, Lord Chancellor to Henry VI., and
who died in 1452. Who were his parents, and where is his position in
the family pedigree? The recognized 'authorities' on the subject
describe him as being _another_ son of the first Sir Humphrey, and
brother to him "_with the Silver Hand_." Yet no definite proof thereof
has been forthcoming. His presumed father Sir Humphrey made his will
at Hooke 5 April, 1413, with codicil dated 30 Oct., same year, but in
it he does not even mention him. Yet Sir Humphrey's second wife
Elizabeth Maltravers in a codicil to her's, dated 14 October, 1413,
does refer to him by bequest, _Item, Magistro Johanni Stafford, &c._
Sir Humphrey Stafford also, the only son of Sir Humphrey (the
Archbishop's presumed father), in his will dated 14 Dec., 1441,
includes bequests to the future Archbishop, thus recorded,--
_"Item, do et lego Johanni fratri meo divina pietate Bathoniensis
et Wellensis episcopo, unum par de fflacons argenteis et
deauratis._
"_Item, eidem Episcopo unam ymaginem argenteam et deauratum
decollationis sancti Johannis Baptiste, ac unam magnam peciam de
Aras vocatam doser._"
He also appoints the said bishop _his brother_, and William his son,
with others to be his executors.
An extraordinary confusion appears to have enveloped the statements of
historians and antiquaries as to the pedigree of Stafford, and the
Archbishop's origin; this however has of late been satisfactorily
cleared up by the researches of an accomplished and accurate
genealogist. He _was_ the son of the first Sir Humphrey, but not born
within the legal pale of wedlock, and his mother's name was Emma,
that she was subsequently admitted to the Sisterhood of the Priory of
the Holy Trinity, Canterbury, of which her son the Archbishop was a
Brother, but _who_ she was has not as yet been recovered. She died 5
Sept., 1446, and was buried in a mortuary chapel in the north aisle of
the parish church of North-Bradley, Wilts, in which Suthwyke is
situated.
"As her son was elevated to the primacy in 1443 he is here (on
the gravestone) correctly described as Archbishop at the time of
his mother's death, which could not have been done had she died
in 1440. Considering that the archbishop raised this mortuary
chapel as a resting place for his mother's remains,--if not for
his own--in the church of the parish in which Suthwyke manor
house is situate, and that his father resided at Suthwyke until
the period of his marriage with his second wife, when he removed
to her dower house of Hoke in Dorsetshire, it is not unreasonable
to infer that the archbishop was born in the parish of
North-Bradley.
"As his mother survived Sir Humphry's last wife, who died in
1413,--only sixteen days before Sir Humphry--it is impossible the
archbishop's mother could have been Sir Humphry's wife, at the
time her son was born. His birth must be set as far back as 1387,
if not earlier, as in 1413 he was made LL.D. at Oxford, and in
the same year he was collated to the Prebendal stall of Barton in
the Cathedral church of Wells."[33]
[33] See a most able and comprehensive account of "_Stafford of
Suthwyke_," in _Notes and Queries for 1871_, by B. W. GREENFIELD,
ESQ., F.S.A., &c., from which we quote; and for other help kindly
afforded, we here gratefully acknowledge.
The mortuary Chapel that the Archbishop erected to the memory of his
mother, and to which doubtless he had her remains conveyed, and
therein interred, occurs at the east end of the north aisle of
North-Bradley church, and is of the width of the last bay of the
arcade. It is of square form and projects with definite character from
the church, to which it forms a kind of transept.
The architecture is Perpendicular, and of rich character. The east
window square-headed, of some height from the floor, shewing that
there was an altar once below it, and a piscina occurs in the pier of
the arch on the south side. The south window is of large size,
bay-shaped, and extends to the roof, the side jambs are panelled with
window-shaped tracery, and along the top is a string-course of
quatrefoil panels with bosses, and these are repeated at the base over
the tomb; here they have shields in the centre, but with no charges on
them. The roof, in a good state of preservation, is a richly trussed
one of oak, with deeply moulded transoms, again subdivided by smaller
ones, the squares between ornamented with quatrefoils, having
well-carved bosses in their centres, and others at the intersection of
the trusses. On one nearest the chancel is the cross and crown of
thorns,--on others the arms of Hungerford, the double rose, and some
display, apparently representations of stags, a fox, man on horse, &c.
The tomb of the Archbishop's mother is in the recess of the bay of the
north window. It occupies its whole width and depth, and assumes the
form of a plain solid bench rising some height from the ground, with
no ornament of any kind. It is composed of white stone, as is also the
gravestone, let in on the top, which appears to be of somewhat
different kind, and of more friable character.
[Illustration: EMMA, MOTHER OF ARCHBISHOP STAFFORD.
NORTH-BRADLEY CHURCH, WILTSHIRE.--A.D. 1446.]
On this gravestone the effigy of the mother of the Archbishop is
incised, below her feet is a pedestal, and over her head a rich canopy
supported on side buttresses. Although the lines of the figure are
somewhat denuded, yet sufficient remains to shew she was clad in the
ordinary costume of a lady of the period. On her head she wears a
coverchief that depends to the shoulders, a wimple around her neck,
and she is otherwise attired in long gown and robe over. The hands are
raised in prayer, and at her feet is a dog, apparently a spaniel, from
his dependant ears and clouded coat. The incised lines are filled with
a black composition, as is also the inscription that forms a
ledger-line around the stone,--
=Hic jacet d'na Emma mater Venerandissimi patris et domini D'ni
Joh'is Stafford dei gra' Cantuariensis Archiepi' que obiit quinto
die mensis Septembris anno d'ni Millesimo cccc^mo quadra's'mo
vi^o cuj' anime p'piciet' de' am'=
On the outside, the Chapel is very noticeable, on account of its
height and rich character as compared with the main fabric of the
church. The corner buttresses have pinnacles at their stages, and the
space below the north window is filled with quatrefoiled panels, and
lozenges, traceried, with plain shields in their centres. A remarkable
peculiarity is observable,--the carved ornamentation of the Chapel was
never finished, the pinnacles on one buttress are completed, the
crockets on the other only roughed out, and the cusps of the panel
work above the tomb inside, still display the pencil marks of the
intention of the carver, which his chisel never gave form to. The
shields also are all perfectly plain and uncharged, and no trace of
the armories of Stafford are at present visible anywhere on the
Chapel, either within or without.