Besides a numerous body of the nobility, several distinguished churchmen were examined; and their depositions are curious. John, Abbot of St. Agatha, in Richmondshire, said the arms (Azure, a bend or, the bearing of the Scrope family who contended against its assumption by the Grosvenors) were on a corporas case belonging to the church of his monastery, of which the Scropes were deemed the second founders.[1] John de Cloworthe, sub-prior of Wartre, exhibited before the commissioners an amice embroidered on red velvet with leopards and griffons or, between which are sewn in silk, in three pieces, three escochens with the entire arms of Sir Richard Scrope therein, viz.—azure a bend or.[2] William, Prior of Lanercost, said they had in their church the same arms embroidered on the morse of a cope.[3] Sir Simon, parson of Wenslay (whose fine grave brass may be seen in the "Church of Our Fathers,"[4] placed before the commissioners an albe with flaps, upon which were embroidered the arms of the Scropes entire, &c.[5] The Scropes were the patrons of that living. Thomas de Cotyngham, prior of the Abbey of St. Mary, York, said that they had vestments with the Scrope arms upon them.[6] Sir John de Manfeld, parson of the Church of St. Mary sur Rychille, in York, said that in the church were diverse vestments on which were sewn, in silk, the entire arms of Scrope.[7] Sir Bertram Mountboucher said that these arms of the Scropes were to be seen on vestments, &c., in the abbey and churches where Sir R. Scrope was born.[8] Not the least remarkable individual who bore evidence on the subject was the poet Chaucer, who was produced on behalf of Sir Richard Scrope. When asked whether the arms azure, a bend or, belonged, or ought to belong to the said Sir Richard? said yes, for he saw him so armed in France, &c., and that all his time he had seen the said arms in banners, glass, paintings and vestments, and commonly called the Arms of Scrope.[9] For the better understanding of all these evidences the reader should look at No. 8307, p. 185, an amice with its old apparel still on it. The "flaps" of an alb are now called apparels; and an old one, with these ornaments upon it, both at the cuffs as well as before and behind, is in this collection, No. 8710, p. 268 of the Catalogue. The two fine old English apparels here, No. 8128, p. 146, show how shields with heraldry could be put along with Scriptural subjects in these embroideries. The monumental effigy of a priest*
