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THE SCROPES.
IOI
"in 1387 had nominated Roger Mortimer, Earl of March, his successor in
" the kingdom of England, which Roger was great-grandfather to this King
" Edward IV." Indeed, the shields round the tower are very much repetitions
of the shields in the Choir, for the perpendicular lining
of ashlar work to
the old Norman tower, and the raising of the lantern above, were done
about the same time. Close to the hart lodged, on the lower capital, may
be observed the stag's head cabossed, the cognizance of Archbishop Bowet,
who was a munificent benefactor towards the completion of the Choir.
Possibly these shields may not have been carved until the accession
of Edward IV. We know how cordially he recognised the value of the
services which the Archbishop had rendered to his family, for in his
proclamation, April, 1471, immediately after the battle of Barnet, after
adducing the success which had attended the house of York on that
occasion as evidence of the justice of his cause, the King says "Yet
" natheless no consideraci'n had to the p'misses, nother to thauthorite of
" that holy fader, Richard Scrope, somtyme Archbis'shop of Yorke, which
" for the right and title of our auncestrie, whos estate we nowe bere, and
"have, died and suffred deth and martyrdom."* It is very probable, therefore,
that he added to the emblems in the Minster commemorating his life
and death. Possibly the tomb of the Archbishop was at this time erected
by his direction. It is of late Perpendicular date, and corresponds with
the style of this reign. Up to this time, no doubt, the Archbishop's body
had remained marked only by the rough logs of wood cast on his grave
by Henry IV.'s order. The tomb is massive and handsome, but it would
be scarcely of sufficient dignity for so important a character in English
history, if we did not consider the completion and decoration of the Choir
as Scrope's monument. Indeed, the amount raised by " oblations at the
" tomb of Master Richard le Scrope, late Archbishop of York," materially
assisted in providing funds for its completion. One year they reached
^62 8s., while the oblations at the shrine of St. William amounted to
only
145. 2\d.^
Henry VI., during his reign, on several occasions shewed his desire
to conciliate the Scrope family. Besides conferring the honours which I
have already mentioned on Sir John Scrope, he restored to him the dower
of Margery, his mother, and the lands forfeited by his brother, Sir Henry,
third Lord Scrope. He allowed his son Thomas, fifth Lord Scrope, to build
a chantry, where prayers might be offered for the souls of his deceased
relatives, Sir Henry and the Archbishop included.
But the death of the Archbishop, and the cause for which he suffered,
were not allowed to be forgotten. On the capitals of the south-west column
of the north Choir aisle, and fourth and fifth columns eastward, may be
'Scrope and Giosvcnor Roll, vol. ii. p. 161. t Browne's York Minster,
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