Page:A record of European armour and arms through seven centuries (Volume 5).djvu/178



BEDFORDSHIRE

BEDFORD. 

Helmet (now missing).

Tradition. Associated with the monument to Sir William Harpur, Alderman and once Lord Mayor of London, founder of the Grammar School, ob. 1573, over which it was formerly suspended. Cf. "N. and Q.," 6th series, vol. v, p. 358. CADDINGTON. Close helmet, XVIIth century, circa 1625, crested, a cock (Fig. 1573). Tradition. Hanging in the chancel, associated with funeral of Thomas Coppin of Markyate Cell, ob. 1662. Inscription: "Here lyeth interred the body of Thomas Coppin of Markyate Cell, Esquire, sonne & heire of Sir George Coppin Kt having issue, by his wife Martha, one of the daughters of Luke Norton of Offley Esq. three sonnes Thomas, John & George & fower daughters Ann, Elizabeth, Lettice & Martha who died the eight day of December Ano Dmi 1662 in the 58^{th} yeare of his age." Thomas Coppin, ob. 1662, acquired Markyate manor in 1657. Coppin crest. On a ducal coronet a cock or.

Cf. "Vic. County History" (Beds), ii, p. 319. [Mr. E. Craven-Lee courteously supplied the photograph and particulars.]

COPLE. 

[Communicated by Mr. C. H. Crouch.]

1. Close helmet, XVIIth century, funerary.

Tradition. Hanging over a hatchment, ''arg. a hunting horn sa. with its strings gu''. (Luke.)

2. Close helmet, XVIIth century, crested, a bull's head.

Tradition. Hanging on the wall of the chancel, associated with the Launcelyn family, but probably a Luke helmet, the Luke crest being ''a bull's head az. armed or, betw. two wings addorsed also or''.

The Launcelyn family were great benefactors to the church. On one of the pillars are cut the Launcelyn arms, ''gu. a fleur de lis arg''. In the chancel is the brass of John Launcelyn, ob. 1435. Anne, daughter of a John Launcelyn, married Sir Walter Luke, ob. 1544, who was succeeded by his son Sir Nicholas, ob. 1563 (brass) and afterwards by his son, Sir John, ob. 1566. Sir Nicholas Luke, ob. 1613, succeeded Sir John. The Luke family sold the manor of Wood End, 1686.

Cf. Gomme, "Gent. Mag. Lib. Eng. Top.," XI, i; "Vic. C. H." (Beds), iii, p. 241.