“S’cta Trinitas Unus Deus Miserere nob:”
The inscription on the brass is:—
“In honore S’cte et individue Trinita̅s orate p’ ’aia Leonis Dymoke milit’ q’ obijit xvij die Me’se Augusti ao D’ni M’cccccxlx: cui ai’e p’ piciet’ DE’ Amen.”
Below on either side were figures of two sons and three daughters. The sons are now missing.
THE CHAMPION
Lionel’s brother Robert was only ten when he obtained the title. He was succeeded by his son Edward, who performed the office of Champion for the three children of Henry VIII. His son Robert, though never acting at any coronation, deserves mention as a martyr, in Elizabeth’s reign, to his religious convictions. This queen, always dreading a Romish reaction in favour of her rival, Mary Queen of Scots, allowed a Puritanical bishop to persecute any Catholic in his diocese, and Robert, though in feeble health, was stout of heart and kept firm to his faith and died a prisoner at Lincoln, 1580.
The mother of Edward Dymoke who was Champion to Charles II. was buried at Leverton in 1640. Sir Edward was summoned in 1660 before the Parliamentarians at Westminster and accused of “delinquency” because he bore the Royalist title of King’s Champion. He was fined £7,000, an enormous sum for the time, and he had to pay between four and five thousand. Hence the impoverishment of the Dymoke family. He lived to see the Restoration, and officiated for Charles II. in 1660, dying in 1663. He was knighted in 1661 “for his loyalty and great sufferings both in person and estate.”
A brass plate commemorates his son, Sir Charles Dymoke, who died in 1686. He officiated at the coronation of James II. in 1685, and getting off his horse in order to walk up to kiss the king’s hand he fell full length. Whereupon the queen said, “See, love, what a weak Champion you have!” He was buried at Scrivelsby, November, 1686.
WESTMINSTER HALL
Of other memorials there is a marble bust to Lewis, the Champion to George I. and II., in 1714 and 1727, who died in 1760, Ætat. 90. His widow Jane endowed a school at Hemingby “to teach the children of the poor of the parish to read, write, spin and card wool.” Finally, there is a memorial to John, Champion in 1761 to George III. Henry Dymoke who acted for his father, a clergyman, on the accession of George IV., 1821, was the last who rode into Westminster Hall in bright armour and flung down his glove and dared to mortal combat any who disputed the right and title of the king. Then, having backed a little, he turned his horse and rode out, holding in his hand the gold cup in which the king had pledged him and he had in turn drunk to the health of his majesty. Since then the quaint historic ceremony has fallen into abeyance, but the title of “the Hon. the King’s Champion” remains, and at the coronation of Edward VII. he was appointed to carry the royal banners. Sic transit gloria mundi.