serjeanty," to perform the office of champion at the king's coronation," (the Marmions, it is said, were hereditary champions to the Dukes of Normandy, prior to the conquest of England). Robert Marmion was succeeded at his decease by his son and heir, ROBERT DE MARMYON, Lord of Fontney, in Normandy, where he possessed a fortified castle, which was besieged by Geoffrey, of Anjou, in the 4th of King Stephen, and demolished. This Robert having a great enmity to the Earl of Chester, who had a noble seat at Coventry, entered the priory there in the 8th of Stephen, and, expelling the monks, turned it into a fortification, digging at the same time divers deep ditches in the adjacent fields, which he caused to be covered over with earth, in order to secure the approaches thereto; but the Earl of Chester's forces drawing near, as he rode out to reconnoitre, he fell into one of those very ditches, and broke his thigh, so that a common soldier, presently seizing him, cut off his head. He was s. by his son, ROBERT DE MARMION, who, in the 31st Henry II., being constituted sheriff of Worcestershire, continued in that office until the end of the four-and-thirtieth year of the same reign. He was also justice itinerant in Warwickshire, and some other counties, and again sheriff of Worcestershire in the 1st of Richard I. In five years afterwards he attended that monarch into Normandy, and in the 15th of King John he was in the expedition then made into Poictou. This feudal lord died about the year 1217, leaving issue, by different mothers, ROBERT, his successor. Robert, jun., who had the estate of Witringham and Coninsby, in the county of Lincoln. William, of Torington. He was s. by his eldest son, ROBERT DE MARMION, who appears to have sided with the French, when they seized upon Normandy in the beginning of King John's reign, for the murder of Arthur, Duke of Brittany; but afterwards to have made his peace, for in the 5th of Henry III. he had livery of Tamworth Castle and his father's other lands. He is supposed to have returned to Normandy in twelve years afterwards, and to have died there in 1241, when he was s. by his son, PHILIP DE MARMION, who was sheriff for the counties of Warwick and Leicester, from the 33rd to the 36th of Henry III.-in the latter of which years he was questioned for sitting with Richard de Mundevill, and the rest of the justices, for gaol delivery at Warwick, having no commission so to do. The next year he attended the king into Gascony; upon his return whence he was taken prisoner by the French at Pontes, in Poictou, with John de Plessets, then Earl of Warwick, notwithstanding they had letters of safe conduct from the king of France. In the 45th of the same reign this feudal lord had summons to be at London with divers of the nobility, upon the morrow after Simon and Jude's day; in which year the defection of many of the barons began further to manifest itself, by their assuming the royal prerogative, in placing sheriffs throughout different shires. In this period of difficulty Philip de Marmion, being of unimpeachable loyalty, had, by special patent from the king, the counties of Suffolk and Norfolk committed to his custody, with the castles of Norwich and Oxford: a well-judged confidence, for through all the subsequent fortunes of Henry III. he never once swerved from his allegiance. He was present at the battle of Lewes-and his fidelity was rewarded after the royal victory of Evesham, by some valuable grants for life, and the governorship of Kenilworth Castle. He m. Joane, youngest daughter, and eventually sole heiress of Hugh de Kilpec, of Kilpec Castle, in Herefordshire, by whom he had four daughters, his co-heirs, viz. Joane, m. to William Morteyn, and died SIR BALDWIN DE FREVILLE, Maud, m. to Ralph Botiller, and d. s. p. m. Sir Thomas de Ludlow, knt. and John de Ludlow, who d. s. p. * Banks, in his History of Marmyun, says, that this lady was by a second wife, Mary. of her brother, with whom we MARGARET DE LUDLOW, sole heiress | CHAMPION as deputy to his mother, then living. And again at the coronation of the renowned HENRY V. he executed the duties of the same office, in the same manner, on behalf of his mother. Sir Thomas m. Elizabeth, daughter and heir of Sir Richard Hebden, knt. (by his wife, the daughter and heir of Rye) and dying in the last year of HENRY V. was s. by his son, MARGARET DE LUDLOW, upon the decease of her brother, became sole heiress (Banks makes her grandaughter of Sir Thomas de Ludlow and Joan Marmyon), and inherited the manor of SCRIVELSBY, in Lincolnshire; she espoused SIR JOHN DYMMOK,* knt. and this gentleman thus acquired, with that baronial estate, the office of KING'S CHAMPION. In the 46th and 47th of EDWARD III. Sir John Dymoke represented with William Marmyun, the county of Lincoln in parliament, and in the 1st Richard II. he was again one of the knights for Lincolnshire. At the coronation of this monarch he executed the office of KING'S CHAMPION, and was the first person so officially employed at the coronation of an English prince. Sir John d. in the 4th of the same reign, leaving Margaret, his wife, surviving, who d. in the 2nd HENRY V. at which time, THOMAS, her son and heir, was sixty years of age and upwards. The said SIR THOMAS DYMMOK was one of those eminent persons who, immediately prior to the coronation of King HENRY IV. was made a Knight of the Bath, at the Tower. On the coronation day he performed the office of *This family acquired its surname, it is presumed, from the manor of DIMMOK, in the county of Gloucester. HENRY DYMMOK, living temp. EDWARD III. m. a daughter of Plessetis, and had issue, JOHN DYMMOK, who m. Felicia, daughter of SIR JOHN DYMMOK, the husband of Mar- + His right was, however, disputed by Sir Baldwin Freville, then Lord of Tamworth, who exhibited before the court of claims his pretensions to be KING'S Champion, and to the service appertaining to that office, by reason of his tenure of Tamworth Castle, viz. "To ride completely armed upon a barbed horse into Westminster Hall, and there to challenge the combat with whomsoever should dare to oppose the King's title to the crown." Which service the Barons Marmyon, his ancestors, Lords of that castle, had theretofore performed. But Sir John Dymoke counter-claimed the same office as Lord of Scrivelsby. Whereupon the constable and marshal of England appointed the said Sir John Dymoke to perform the office at that time. SIR PHILIP DYMMOK, then twenty-two years old and upwards, who officiated as CHAMPION at the coronation of HENRY VI. Upon this occasion a mandate was made by the King to the keeper of his wardrobe, to deliver to the said Philip Dymmok (then not knighted) such furniture, &c. as his ancestors had been accustomed to have upon these occasions. This Champion espoused Joane, daughter of Sir Christopher Conyers, of Stokeburn, and d. in the 33rd HENRY VI. leaving his son, and successor, SIR THOMAS DYMMOK, then twenty-seven years of age and upwards. This Champion made a conspicuous figure in the reign of EDWARD IV. His connection, however, with the Lords Welles, and a suspicion that he favoured the Lancastrian interest, led him to a premature death upon the scaffold (refer to Burke's Extinct and Dormant Peerage, article WELLES). Sir Thomas m. Margaret, second daughter, and eventually one of the co-heirs of Lionel, Lord Welles, by Joane, his wife, daughter and heir of Sir Robert Waterton,* and had issue, ROBERT (SIR), his successor. Lionel (SIR), who m. Joane, daughter and co-heir of Richard Griffith, esq. of Stickford, in the county of Lincoln, and had three surviving daughters, his co-heirs, viz. T Charles (Sir), of Howell, in the county of Lincoln, and M. P. for the city of Lincoln in 1502, m. Margaret, relict of Anthony Butler, of Coats, and left no issue. SIR ROBERT DYMOKE was of very tender | Talboys, of Kyme, by whom (who espoused years at the time of his father's unhappy secondly, Sir Robert Carr) he had issue, death. But he had no sooner arrived at ROBERT, his successor. maturity, than the King, as if to compensate for the fate of his father, admitted him to have livery of all his inheritance, as well of those lands which came through the late Champion, as of those other estates which had devolved upon him through his mother, the co-heiress of Welles and Waterton, without any account to be taken, either as to their value and extent, or of such fine as the King might be entitled to claim due to the crown apon such occasions.* Sir Robert officiated as Champion at the coronations of RICHARD III. HENRY VII. and HENRY VIII. He was a military man, and one of the principal commanders at the siege of Tournay, where, after the surrender of the city, he was constituted King's treasurer. He was a KNIGHT BANNERET, and was sheriff of Lincolnshire in the 2nd RICHARD III. 18th HENRY VII. and 1st Henry VIII. This distinguished champion espoused, first, Anne, daughter of Alexander Cressnore, by whom he had three daughters. He m. secondly, Jane, daughter and co-heir of John Sparrow, of London, by whom he had a son, EDWARD, his successor. Sir Robert d. 13th April, 1544, and was buried at Scrivelsby. He was s. by his son, SIR EDWARD DYMOKE. This gentleman was sheriff of the county of Lincoln, in the life-time of his father, anno 1536; an office which he also filled in the 1st EDWARD VI. and 2nd and 3rd of PHILIP and MARY, in which reigns, as well as in that of Queen ELIZABETH, he was repeatedly returned one of the county representatives to parliament. He officiated as CHAMPION at the coronations of EDWARD VI. Queen MARY, and Queen ELIZABETH. He m. Anne, daughter of Sir George Talboys, sister and heir of Gilbert, Lord The tide of opinion and affairs had now become greatly changed; inasmuch as King EDWARD had married Cecily, his daughter, to John, the half-brother of that very Richard, Lord Welles, whom he had beheaded but a few years before; and, moreover, created the said John, Viscount Welles. Thus the said John, Viscount Welles, was maternal uncle to the young Dymoke; and he through the same alliance, was become the great nephew of the man who had taken away the life of his father. Banks's Hist. of Marmyun. Edward (Sir), who was sheriff of Lincolnshire in 1584, and member in several parliaments for that county. He m. Troth, daughter of Thomas Dymoke, and left two daughters, viz. Margaret, m. to William Marbury. Frances, m. to Baker. Sir Edward Dymoke d. in 1566, and was s. by his eldest son, ROBERT DYMOKE, esq. who m. Bridget, eldest daughter and co-heir of Edward, Lord Clinton (afterwards Earl of Lincoln), by Elizabeth, his first wife, daughter of Sir John Blount, knt. and widow of Gilbert, Lord Talboys. By this lady he had a numerous family, of which, the eldest and youngest sons were Danvers, and had a son, The champion d. in 1580, and was s. by his SIR EDWARD DYMOKE, who claimed and exercised the office of champion at the coronation of King JAMES I. He m. first, Catherine, daughter of Sir James Harrington, by whom he had a son, Charles, who d. young, and a daughter, Bridget, baptized at Hackney, 6th November, 1597. He espoused, secondly, Anne, daughter of Sir John Monson, knt. and had another son, Edward, who also deceased young. Sir Edward wedded, thirdly, 13th November, * The children of Gilbert, Lord Talboys, all deceasing without issue, the inheritance came to be divided between the sisters and co-heirs of the said Gilbert; in which division the castle and manors of North and South Kyme (the old baronial seat of the Kymes) fell to the Dymoke family, who possessed the same until the last century, when they were sold by the Honourable Champion, Lewis Dymoke. Poulteney, 1610, Mary, daughter of esq. of Misterton, and dying in 1625, was s. by the only son of this marriage, CHARLES DYMOKE, esq. This gentleman was a zealous supporter of his unhappy sovereign, King CHARLES I. He d. unmarried, in his majesty's garrison at Oxford, in 1644. By his will, proved in the prerogative court of Canterbury 8th July in the same year, he ordered that the sum of £300 should be expended upon a tomb for him at Scrivelsby, where he desires to be buried; he bequeathed to his majesty the sum of £2000 to relieve his necessities, and he charges his estates, and the rents in his tenants' hands, with the payment thereof. Dying a bachelor, the inheritance of the baronial manor of Scrivelsby, with the office of king's champion, devolved, by virtue of a settlement made by him, upon the next male heir, his cousin (the son of his uncle, Nicholas Dymoke), SIR EDWARD DYMOKE, who performed the duties of champion at the coronation of King CHARLES II. having previously received the honor of knighthood. This gentleman m. 21st June, 1624, Jane, daughter of Nicholas Cressy, esq. of Fulnetby, and had, with other issue, CHARLES, his successor. John, who m. Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas Welborne, esq. and left a son, CHARLES, who m. Mary, daughter John-Needham. Sir Edward was sheriff of Lincolnshire in 1662. He died soon afterwards, and was buried at Scrivelsby 8th January, 1663--4. He was s. by his eldest son, SIR CHARLES DYMOKE, who officiated as champion at the coronation of King JAMES II. This gentleman, by the description of Charles Dymoke, esq. of Scrivelsby, was set down by King CHARLES II. as one of the projected knights of the Royal Oak. He espoused Eleanor, daughter of Lewis Watson, Lord Rockingham, and had issue, Charles, who d. young. Edward, who d. in France, in his twen tieth year, and was brought over and interred at Scrivelsby, 13th May,1694. CHARLES, his heir. LEWIS, Successor to his brother. He d. about the year 1688, and was s. by his eldest surviving son, CHARLES DYMOKE, esq. This gentleman fulfilled the duties of champion at the coronation of WILLIAM and MARY, and likewise at the coronation of Queen ANNE. He represented the county of Lincoln in parliament, from 1698 to 1701. He m. Jane, daughter of Robert Snoden, esq. but dying s. p. 17th January, 1702--3, was s. by his brother, LEWIS DYMOKE, esq. who officiated as champion at the coronation of the two first monarchs of the line of Brunswick. He was member of parliament for the county of Lincoln from 1702 to 1705 inclusive, and from 1710 to 1713. This gentleman lived to an advanced age, being baptized at Scrivelsby, 14th February, 1669, and being buried there 25th February, 1760, at which time he had completed his ninety-first year. He d. unmarried, and the estates at Scrivelsby devolved, under his will, upon his cousin, EDWARD DYMOKE, esq. who, not living at the period of a coronation, had no opportunity of performing his official duties as champion. He m. Elizabeth, daughter of Segrave, and relict of James Coward, and dying 12th Sept. 1760, was s. by his son, JOHN DYMOKE, esq. who performed the duties of champion at the coronation of King GEORGE III. The following paragraph is taken from the British Chronologist for the month of September, 1761. "Sept. 18. A colonel's guard mounted at Whitehall, and were placed at all the avenues to the abbey, hall, &c.; at night Westminster Hall was illuminated, and John Dymoke, esq. put on his armour and tried a grey horse (which his late majesty rode at the battle of Dettingen) before their Royal Highnesses the Duke of York and Prince Henry, the Duke of Devonshire, &c.; several other horses were walked and rode up and down the hall; and Earl Talbot also tried the horse he intended to ride on the coronation day." This gentleman m. Martha, daughter and heir of Josiah Holmes, esq. and had, with three daughters, two sons, viz. LEWIS, his heir. JOHN, successor to his brother. He d. 6th March, 1784, and was s. by his navy, and admiral of the Russian fleet, by elder son, whom he had issue, LEWIS DYMOKE, esq. This gentleman claimed before the house of lords the old BARONY OF MARMYON,* but unsuccessfully. He was sheriff of Lincolnshire in 1789. Not living in the time of a coronation, he had no opportunity of officiating as champion. He d. unmarried, 12th May, 1820, and was s. by his brother, THE REV. JOHN DYMOKE, rector of Scrivelsby, prebendary of Lincoln, &c. This gentleman being called upon to officiate as CHAMPION at the coronation of King GEORGE IV. was obliged, owing to his clerical character, to act by deputy, and he therefore appointed his elder son, the present HENRY DYMOKE, who fulfilled the duties of the office accordingly. Mr. Dymoke espoused, 19th July, 1799, Amelia-Jane-Alice, daughter of Captain Elphinstone, of the British In July, 1814, Lewis Dymoke, esq. uncle of the present champion, presented a petition to the crown, praying to be declared entitled to the BARONY OF MARMION, of Scrivelsby, in virtue of the seisure of the manor of Scrivelsby; which petition was referred to the attorney-general, who having reported thereon, the same was referred to the House of Lords, where evidence was received at the bar, and the claimant's counsel summoned up, when the attorney-general was heard in reply, and tendered some documents on the part of the crown; but the claimant died before the judgment of the house was given. "With respect to this claim," says Nicolas, "it is to be observed, that though the manor of Serivelsby was held by the service of performing the office of king's champion by Robert de Marmyon, in the reign of William the Conqueror, he was not by seisure thereof a baron, but by seisure of the barony and castle of TAMWORTH, which he held of the king in capite by knights' service; so that, if at this period baronies by tenure were admitted, the possessor of the manor and lordship of Tamworth, (which in the division of his property fell to the share of Joane, his eldest daughter, wife of William Mosteyn, and on her death s. p. to Alexander Freville, husband of Joan, daughter and heir of Ralph Cromwell, by Mazera, the next sister of the said Joan de Mosteyn,) would possess the claim to the barony enjoyed by Robert de Marmyon, he having derived his dignity from that barony instead of from the seisure of the manor of Scrivelsby. Moreover, if Philip Marmyon, the last baron, had died seised of a barony in fee, Lewis Dymoke was not even a co-heir of the said Philip, though he was the descendant of one of his daughters and co-heirs." MARMYON. Vairee, az. and arg. a fesse fretty gules. KILPECK (so stated in the college books, but probably borne as the badge of office of CHAMPION,See Ralph Brooke's discovery of Camden's errors). Sa. a sword erect in pale arg. hilted or. HEBDEN. Erm. five fussils in fesse gules. RYE. Gules, on a bend arg. three rye stalks and ears, sa. WELLES. Or, a lion rampant, double queued sa. WATERTON. Barry of six, erm. and gules, over all, three crescents, sa. ANGAYNE. Gules, a fesse dancettee or, between six cross crosslets of the last. SPARROW. Arg. six sparrows, sa. three, two, and one, on a chief indented, gu. two swords in saltier between as many wolves' heads erased or. TALBOYS. Arg. a saltier gules, on a chief of the second, three escallop shells of the first. BAEERDEN. Gules, on a bend arg. three cinquefoils sa. FITZWITH. Gules, two bends, or. UMFREVILLE. Gules, a cinquefoil ar. within an orle of eight cross crosslets or. KYME. Gules, a chevron or, between nine cross crosslets, arg. Crests-First, a sword erect, arg. hilt and pommel or. Second, a lion passant arg. crowned or. Third, the scalp of a hare, ears erect ppr. Motto-Pro Rege Dimico. Seat-Scrivelsby Court, county of Lincoln. The chief part of Scrivelsby Court, the ancient baronial seat, was destroyed by fire sixty or seventy years ago. In the part |