_The Legend of Sir Richard Baker_ (vol. ii., p. 67.).--Will F.L. copy
the inscription on the monument in Cranbrook Church? The dates on it
will test the veracity of the legend. In the reign of Queen Mary, the
representative of the family was Sir John Baker, who in that, and the
previous reigns of Edward VI. and Henry VIII., had held some of the
highest offices in the kingdom. He had been Recorder of London, Speaker
of the House of Commons, Attorney-General and Chancellor of the
Exchequer, and died in the first year of the reign of Queen Elizabeth.
His son, Sir Richard Baker, was twice high-sheriff of the county of
Kent, and had the honour of entertaining Queen Elizabeth in her progress
through the county. This was, most likely, the person whose monument
F.L. saw in Cranbrook Church. The family had been settled there from the
time of Edward III., and seem to have been adding continually to their
possessions; and at the time mentioned by F.L. as that of their decline,
namely, in the reign of Edward VI., they were in reality increasing in
wealth and dignities. If the Sir Richard Baker whose monument is
referred to by F.L. was the son of the Sir John above mentioned, the
circumstances of his life disprove the legend. He was not the sole
representative of the family remaining at the accession of Queen Mary.
His father was then living, and at the death of his father his brother
John divided with him the representation of the family, and had many
descendants. The family estates were not dissipated; on the contrary,
they were handed down through successive generations, to one of whom, a
grandson of Sir Richard, the dignity of a baronet was given; and
Sivinghurst, which was the family seat, was in the possession of the
third and last baronet's grandson, E.S. Beagham, in the year 1730. Add
to this that the Sir Richard Baker in question was twice married, and
that a monumental erection of the costly and honourable description
mentioned by F.L. was allowed to be placed to his memory in the chancel
of the church of the parish in which such Bluebeard atrocities are said
to have been committed, and abundant grounds will thence appear for
rejecting the truth of the legend in the absence of all evidence. The
unfortunately red colour of the gloves most likely gave rise to the
story. Nor is this a solitary instance of such a legend having such an
origin. In the beautiful parish church of Aston, in Warwickshire, are
many memorials of the Baronet family of Holt, who owned the adjoining
domain and hall, the latter of which still remains, a magnificent
specimen of Elizabethan architecture. Either in one of the compartments
of a painted window of the church, or upon a monumental marble to one of
the Holts, is the Ulster badge, as showing the rank of the deceased, and
painted red. From the colour of the badge, a legend of the bloody hand
has been created as marvellous as that of the Bloody Baker, so fully
detailed by F.L.