heraldryofyorkmi01custuoft

88 THE HERALDRY OF YORK MINSTER.
held aloft, and uncovered in the midst before the Archbishop in the procession
;
and when the procession returned to the Choir, to come to the
altar, and there on his bended knees three times devoutly say the Lord's
Prayer and the angelical salutation, and offer upon the high
altar the
dagger aforesaid ;
and then, withdrawing to a certain fald-stool, there to
await the finishing of the mass, humbly and devoutly saying his prayers ;
and the next year to offer an image of silver-gilt of the value of ten marks,
made to the likeness of St. Stephen. A similar sentence was pronounced
on all the others, and was obediently conformed to. Truly " the Power of
" " the Keys was no brutum fulmen in those days.
But it is no part of our purpose to pursue the fortunes of this branch
of the family further, for they have no other connection with the Minster,
where the interest seems to centre in Richard Scrope, Archbishop of York,
grandson of Geoffry Scrope, the younger son of old Sir William le Scrope.
Sir Geoffry, like his elder brother, Sir Henry, seems to have been a distinguished
lawyer, and equally skilful as a :
knight whether in the courts
or lists he was facile princeps. He was Chief Justice of the King's Bench
and Chief Justice of the Common Pleas. He accompanied Edward III. in
his invasion of Scotland, where his banner and pennon were displayed
;
and as for his prowess in the tournament, both Sir Thomas Roos and
Sir William Aton stated in their depositions on the famous trial that
they had seen him " tournayer " both at Guildford and Newmarket, and
that he " performed his part most nobly."
He purchased the manor of Masham from Joan Hepham, daughter
and heir of John de Wanton, and differenced his coat-of-arms with a label,
which again was tinctured for difference by his descendants. His son,
Sir Thomas, carried it white, with three crescents on the bend ;
Sir Wm.,
a younger brother, bore it ermine ;
another brother, Geoffry, a priest, bore
it with the first and third point argent, the centre gules ; Sir Geoffry, his
grandson, bore it gobonne, argent and gules ; while the Archbishop carried
it red. He died in 1340, and was buried at Coverham.
His son, Sir Henry, was an enthusiastic companion in arms of
Edward III., served with him in the wars of France and Scotland, was
knighted at the siege of Berwick, fought at Halidon Hill, Crescy, Durham,
the sea-fight with the Spaniards at Espagnoles-sur-Mer, and at the siege
of Calais. In 1350 he was summoned to Parliament as a baron; and until
the King's death, in 1377, filled
many positions of trust ambassador to
Scotland and to Flanders, governor of Guisnes, warden of the Marches.
He lived to be seventy-eight years of age, but took no part in public
affairs during
the sixteen years
which elapsed after the death of the King.
Under such circumstances it is not surprising that his son Richard
rose rapidly in the scale of ecclesiastical promotion. From 1367-86 he was