heraldryofyorkmi01custuoft

INTRODUCTION. 77
was the fate of this unhappy Lord to have retired to his own house after
the battle, and there to have entrusted himself to some servant, by whom
he was immured and afterwards neglected, either through treachery, fear,
or some accident which befel that person.
In the Savage chapel in Macclesfield church there are two altar
tombs under Gothic arches, one of a recumbent alabaster figure of a
warrior in plate armour, his head resting on his helmet, and his feet on a
dog, a chain being suspended round his neck ; the countenance very aged.
The other contains another recumbent figure of a warrior in plate armour,
the face having a much more youthful expression ; his collar is composed
of SS., and his belt for sword and dagger are richly studded ;
his head
rests on a helmet, and his feet on a lion. The effigies, probably, of Sir John
and his father.
Sir John Savage, however, did not long enjoy his riches, for in the
eighth of Henry VII., 1492, he was slain at the siege of Boulogne. He
married, and from him were descended the Viscounts Savage and Colchester,
eventually Earls Rivers, which titles became extinct in 1728, the
estate of Clifton (temp. Elizabeth, called Rock Savage*) passing by marriage
to the Cholmondeleys.
Sir John had, however, an illegitimate son, named George, who was
"Parson of Davenham," and who seems to have developed his father's
immorality to an excess of profligacy, for he had several illegitimate children.
One, George Savage, a priest, became Chancellor of Chester ; another, John
Wimslow, became Archdeacon of Middlesex ; and a third, Edmund Bonner,
became first Dean of Leicester, and afterwards twice Bishop of London,
only to render himself notorious for his bigotry and cruelty as the ruthless
time-server to the fanatical Mary, Queen of England, and the self-interested,
hypocritical members of her Council and Parliament.
The royal gratitude was extended also to yet another member of the
Thomas, younger brother of Sir John, was, Drake tells us,
Savage family.
" Doctor of Laws in Cambridge, though of a moderate character for learning,
" his genius leading more to a Court life.
Notwithstanding his deficiency in
"this point, he was by Henry VII., a prince well read in mankind, first
" made Bishop of Rochester, then of London, and lastly translated to York,"
though he seems not to have been " elected to the see of York after the
" ancient custom, but nominated by the King and confirmed by the Pope."
" Our prelate," adds Drake, " is said to have been too much employed
"in temporal affairs when at Court, and in the country in hunting, a
" diversion he was passionately fond of, to mind the business of his see."
He affected much grandeur, having, according to old Stowe, "many tall
He seems to have kept up his palaces at Cawood
"yeomen for his guard."
* Ormerod.