heraldryofyorkmi01custuoft

4 o THE HERALDRY OF YORK MINSTER.
qualified to wear them. The Heralds appear there as advocates support
arguments in matters of controversy and the
decision of the Earl Marshal is final.
One famous cause at least has come down
to us from these ancient times, viz., that between
the families of Scrope and Grosvenor, for the
right to bear as a coat-of-arms " Azure a bend
" or," and the proceedings
of which are still
extant in the Scrope and Grosvenor Roll, a
copy of which is in our Library.
It seems incredible to us, but this cause
lasted three years, during which more than
two hundred witnesses were examined, amongst
them John of Gaunt and Geoffry Chaucer ; and its decision was ultimately
in favour of the former, with a recognition of the claim of the family of
Carmenow, of Carmenow in Cornwall.
The case of Hastings will be mentioned
further on ; but there was also another case, when
Sir John Sitsilt (Sicelt or Cyssel temp. Henry VIII.,
Cecil temp. Queen Elizabeth), being at Halidown
Hill, near Berwick, in 1333, there arose a great
controversy between him and Sir Wm. Faknaham
concerning a banner charged with this coat, viz.,
"a field barry of ten pieces, argent and azure,
"on six escutcheons, three, two, and one, sable
" as many lions rampant of the first "
; which arms
each challenged as their right, and offered to
maintain the same by a combat in their proper
persons. But the King, Edward III., was pleased to forbid it ;
and ordering
the Heralds to decide the affair by law and justice, they solemnly
adjudged the right of bearing those arms to Sir John
Sitsilt, as heir of blood lineally descended from the
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