DYMOKE

1. PHILIP DYMOKE

m. JOAN de KILPEC

Issue-

2I. HENRY- b.c.1265, m. DIONISIA de PLESSIS

2I. HENRY (PHILIP 1)

b.c.1265
m. DIONISIA de PLESSIS, d. of Hugh de Plessis of Codlington, Lancashire and Isabel Biset

Issue-

 3I. JOHN- b.c.1290, m. FELICIA HARVILLE

3I. JOHN (PHILIP 1, HENRY 2)

b.c.1290
m. FELICIA HARVILLE

John was usher of the Exchequer.

Issue-

 4I. JOHN- b.c.1322, m. MARGARET LUDLOW (d. 26 Mar. 1415), d. 16 Apr. 1381 Scrivelsby

4I. JOHN (PHILIP 1, HENRY 2, JOHN 3)

b.c.1322 Dymock, Gloucestershire

m. MARGARET LUDLOW (d. 26 Mar. 1415), d. of Thomas Ludlow and Catherine Stokes
d. 16 Apr. 1381 Scrivelsby, Lincolnshire

Sir John was knighted in 1373 and was the MP for Lincolnshire for 1372, 1373 and in 1377.

In right of his wife, Sir John served as the king's Champion.

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The service of' King's Champion haD its origin in the ancient feudal law of Trial by Combat. His duty was
to present himself during the second course of the Coronation Banquet in Westminster Hall, fully armed
and mounted on "the second best charger from the King's stables " with two squires carrying his lance and
shield.

During the fourteenth century the office of King's Champion was regarded with increasing respect and
significance. By that time the Champion did not wait to make his first dramatic appearance in Westminster
Hall, but rode in the Coronation Procession to the Abbey and proclaimed his challenge during the journey
as well as at the Coronation Banquet.

The King’s Champion originally made his Challenge before the actual Coronation ceremony took place,
which would make sense as there is little point in arguing about an act that's already taken place. The
appearance of the Champion is delayed until the Banquet to emphasize that the Challenge is an act of
pageantry.

During the Coronation Banquet there was a loud knocking on the great doors of Westminster Hall, and a
fanfare of trumpets announced the arrival of the Champion. Immediately the Earl Marshal followed by the
Lord High Constable, answered the summons. The doors were flung open, and in came the picturesque
cavalcade. The Heralds came first, followed by the two squires carrying the Champion's arms, and then
riding between the Earl Marshal and the Lord High Constable was the King's Champion. Both horse and
rider were fully clad in the finest armour. An Officer of the Household usually inquired in a loud voice the
meaning of the intrusion into the king's presence, and, at a sign from the Champion, one of the Heralds
proceeded to read out the Challenge at the conclusion of which the Champion flung down his gauntlet to
invite a challenger. Eyewitnesses described this part of the great ceremony as the most striking of all the
proceedings on Coronation Day.

At the Coronation of King Richard II the coronation was carried out in a most lavish and costly scale, and
must be considered one of the most magnificent of English coronations. For the first time the service of
King's Champion was publicly proclaimed and applauded and definite fees were assigned to his office.
These fees included the horse, saddle, armour, and furniture used by him during the ceremony, and, later,
there was added a gold cup and cover weighing thirty-six ounces together with twenty yards of crimson
satin for his mantle. But it was also decided that the King’s Champion could not claim all of these
prerequisites if no actual combat took place. If unchallenged, the King's Champion full fees were a gift that
depended entirely on the royal pleasure. Since no such combat has ever taken place in recorded history, the
Champion's fee came to be recognized as a gold cup and cover, and a glance at the fine array of gold cups
still kept at Scrivelsby will reveal that many of them lack covers. In the excitement of drinking the
Sovereign's health, the Champion usually forgot his gold cover and rode away clasping his cup. While the
Champion was rarely awarded his full fees as originally propounded by John of Gaunt, there has seldom
been any meanness over the matter of accoutrements. Most Sovereigns have insisted, no matter what state
the Treasury happened to be in at the time, on their Champion being well provided for.

Sir John served as the king's Champion at the Coronation of Richard II on 16 July 1377:

In the meane time Sir John Dimmocke had been to the King's armorie and stable, where he had chosen
according to his tenure, the best armour, save one; and the best steed, save one; so that the said John
Dimmocke having armed himself, and being mounted on horsebacke, came to the Abbeie gates, with two
riding before him, the one carrying his speare, and the other his shield, staieing there till Mass should be
ended. But the Lord Henrie Percie, Lord Marshall, appointed to make waie before the King, with divers
others, being all mounted on great horses, came to the Knight and told him, that he ought not to come at
that time, but when the King was at dinner, and therefore it should be good for him to unarme himself for
awhile, and take his ease and rest, till the appointed time were come; so the Knight did, as the Lord
Marshall willed him.

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Sir Baldwin de Freville, Lord of Tamworth Castle, son of Jane Marmion, and Margaret de Ludlow’s Uncle,
laid claim to the the office of Champion in right of his mother claiming that the role of Champion went
with Tamworth Castle. The Lord Steward temporarily ruled in Dymoke’s favor while allowing time for
Freville to produce documents to prove his claim with King Edward III and his son Edward, the Black
Prince, supporting this decision. The Court of Claims set up prior to the Coronation of King Richard II
upheld Sir John Dymoke's petition against Sir Baldwin de Frevile. De Frevile’s claim as a descendant of
the eldest Jane Marmion was not allowed because Castle Tamworth is held by Knight Service, whereas
Scrivelsby is held in Grand Sergeanty. De Freville didn’t press the claim further due to ill health and died
on 30 Dec 1387. The De Frevilles again disputed the Dymoke’s claim to the title when Sir Baldwin's son
brought up the issue. However, he failed to produce sufficient evidence and died on 4 Oct 1400 before the
matter was finally discussed. The Dymoke’s claim to the office of King's Champion was never again
disputed.

There is an old ballad entitled The Champions of England which tells Sir John's story:

The Norman Barons Marmyon

At Norman Court held high degree:
Brave Knights and Champions, every one,
To him who won brave Scrivelsby.

These Lincoln lands the Conqueror gave,

That England’s glove they should convey
To Knight renowned among the brave,
The Baron bold of Fontenay.

The royal grant from sire to son

Devolved direct in capite,
Until deceased Phill. Marmyon,
When rose fair Joan of Scrivelsby.

From London city on the Thames,

To Berwick town upon the Tweed,
Came gallants, all of courtly names,
At feet of Joan their cause to plead.

Yet malgre all this goodly band,

The maiden's smiles young Ludlow won,
Her heart and hand, her grant and land,
The sword and shield of Marmyon.

Out upon time, the scurvy knave,

Spoiler of youth, hard-hearted churl:
Fast mowing to one common grave
Goodwife and ladie, hind and earl.

Out upon time, since the world began,

No Sabbath hath his grey-hound limb:
In coursing man, devoted man,
To age and death--out, out on him.

In Lincoln's chancel, side by side,

Their effigies from marble hewn,
The anni written when they died,
Repose de Ludlow and Dame Joan.

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One daughter fair survived alone,
The son deceased in infancy:
De Ludlow and de Marmyon
United thus in Margery.

And she was woo'd as maids have been,

And won as maids are sure to be,
When gallant youths in Lincoln Green
Do suit, like Dymock, fervently.

Sir John de Dymoke claimed of right

The Championship through Margery,
And 'gainst Sir Baldwin Frevile, knight,
Prevailed as Lord of Scrivelsby.

And ever since when England's lungs

Are diadem'd-no matter where
The Champion Dymoke boldly flings
His glove, should treason venture there.

On gallant steed, in armour bright,

His visor clos'd and couch'd his lance,
Proclaimeth he the Monarch's right
To England, Ireland, Wales, and France.

Then bravely cry with Dymoke bold

'Long may the King triumphant reign!'
And when fair hands the sceptre hold,
More bravely still, Long live the Queen!

Issue-
 I. John- m. Isable Fiskney, d.c.1393
 5II. THOMAS- m. ELIZABETH HEBDEN (d. Feb. 1452), d. 1422
 III. Roger- d. after 1419
 IV. Philip-

The Dymokes of England and Some Descendants of Elder Thomas Dimick of Barnstable, Plymouth County-
Robert S. Newton, 1989
A History of the Coronation- W.J. Passingham, Low & Marston, London, 1940

5II. THOMAS (PHILIP 1, HENRY 2, JOHN 3, JOHN 4)

b.c.1355
m. ELIZABETH HEBDEN (d. Feb. 1452), d. of Sir Richard de Hebden of Marblethorpe, Lincolnshire
d. 1422

Sir Thomas served as the king's Champion on behalf of his mother at the coronation of Henry IV on 13
Oct. 1399 and of Henry V on 9 Apr. 1413. He was made a Knight Banneret on 17 Mar. 1400.

At the coronation of Henry IV, Richard II was still alive and a prisoner so everyone at his coronation
waited to see who would challenge the king's champion. Froissart gives us an account of this event:

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And after dinner the Duke departed from the Tower to Westminster, and rode all the way bareheaded, and
about his neck the livery of France. He was accompanied with the prince, his son, and six dukes, six earls
and eighteen barons in all. There were knights and squires and nine hundred horse. The King had on a
short coat of cloth of gold after the manner of Germany, and he was mounted on a white courser and the
Garter on his left leg.

Thus the King rode through London with a number of lords, every lord's servant in their master's livery, all
the burgesses and Lombard merchants in London, and every craft with their livery and device.

Thus he was conveyed to Westminster. He was in number six thousand horse, and the streets were hanged
as he passed by; and the same day and the next there were in London running seven conduits with wine,
white and red.

That night the King was bathed, and the next morning he was confessed and heard the Masse as he was
accustomed to do; and then all the prelates and clergy came from Westminster Church to the Palace, to
fetch the King in procession.

And so he went to the church a procession, and all the lords with him in their robes of scarlet furred with
miniver, barred on their shoulders according to their degrees: and over the King was borne a cloth of state
of blue with four bells of gold, and it was borne by the burgesses of the Cinque Ports, as Dover and others;
and on every side of him he had a sword bearer , the one with the Sword of the Church and the other with
the Sword of Justice: the sword of the Church his son the prince did bear, and the Sword of justice the Earl
of Northumberland did bear, for he was the High Constable of England, for the Earl of Rutland was
deposed from that office: and the Earl of Westmoreland, who was Marshal of England, had the Sceptre.

Thus they entered into the church about nine of the clock: and in the midst of the church there was a high
scaffold all covered with red, and in the midst thereof was a chair all covered with cloth of gold. Then the
King sat down in that chair, and so sat in state royal saving he had on no crown but sat bareheaded.

Then at four corners of the scaffold the Archbishop of Canterbury showed unto the people how God had
sent them a man to be their king, and demanded if they were content that he should be consecrated and
crowned as their king. And they all with one voice said 'Yea,' and held up their hands promising him fealty
and obeisance.

Then the King rose and went down the scaffold to the High Altar to be consecrated; at which consecration
there were two archbishops and ten bishops; and before the altar there he was despoiled of all his vestures
of state, and there he was anointed in six place on the head, on the breast, on two shoulders behind, and on
the hands. Then a bonnet was set on his head; and while he was anointing the clergy sang the Litany and
such service as they sing at the hallowing of the font.

Then the King was apparelled in churchman's dress like a deacon, and in manner of a prelate, and a pair
of spurs with a point without a rowel: then the Sword of justice was dawn out of the sheath and hallowed
and then it was taken to the King, who did put it again into the sheath: then the Archbishop of Canterbury
did gird the sword about him. Then St. Edward's Crown was brought forth, which is arched above in form
of a cross and it was blessed, and then the Archbishop did set it on the King's head.

After Mass the King departed out of the church in the same state and went to his palace; and there was a
fountain that ran by divers branches white wine and red.

Then the King entered into the Hall, and so into a privy chamber, and after came out to dinner. At the first
table sat the King, at the second the five orders of Peers of the Realm, at the third the valiant men of
London, at the fourth the new made Knights, at the fifth the Knights and Squires of Honour; and by the
King stood the Prince holding the Sword of the Church and on the other side the Constable with the Sword

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of justice, and, a little above, the Marshal with the Sceptre, and at the King's board sat two Archbishops
and seventeen Bishops.

And in the midst of the dinner there came a knight who was called Dymoke, all armed, upon a good horse
richly apparelled, and he had a knight before him bearing his spear, and his sword by his side, and his
dagger. The knight took the King a Bill, the which was read. Therein was contained that if there were
either knight, squire, or any other gentleman, that would say that King Henry was not rightful king, he was
there ready to fight with him in that quarrel, before the King or where it should please him to appoint. That
Bill was cried by a Herald in six pieces of the Hall and in the Town. There was none that would challenge
him.

Issue-

 6I. PHILIP- m. JOAN CONYERS, d. 23 Sept. 1455 Scrivelsby

 II. Elizabeth- m. Robert Fleming
 III. Margaret- m. Thomas FitzWilliam the elder of Mablethorpe
 IV. Nicholas- m. Alice Angevyne

Ref:

A History of the Coronation- W.J. Passingham, Low & Marston, London, 1940

6I. PHILIP (PHILIP 1, HENRY 2, JOHN 3, JOHN 4, THOMAS 5)

m. JOAN CONYERS, d. of Robert Conyers of Sockburn, Durham

d. 23 Sept. 1454 Scrivelsby, Lincolnshire

St. Benedict, Scrivelsby

Sir Philip was the king's champion at the coronation of King Henry VI on 6 Nov. 1429.

On 25 Sept. 1449 he had a commission to raise a war loan in Lincolnshire.(1) On 14 Mar. 1454 he had a
commission to investigate an attack on a Scottish ship off Devon.(2)

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On 1 Oct. 1454 there was a writ of diem clausit extremum to the Eschequer of Lincolnshire, Oxfordshire
and Middlesex. (3)

Issue-

 7I. THOMAS- b.c.1428, m. MARGARET De WELLES (d. before 1504), beheaded 12 Mar. 1470/1

Ref:

(1) Calendar of Patent Rolls 1446-52- p. 299

(2) Ibid- p. 170
(3) Ibid- p. 99

"Pedigrees of Some of the Emperor Charlemagne's Descendants"- Vol.II, p.290

7I. THOMAS (PHILIP 1, HENRY 2, JOHN 3, JOHN 4, THOMAS 5, PHILIP 6)

b.c.1428 (age 27 at his father's death)

m. 13 June 1457 Grimsby, Lincolnshire, MARGARET De WELLES (d. before 1504)
beheaded 12 Mar. 1470/1

Scrivelsby Court

On 12 Nov. 1455 the Escheator of Lincolnshire was ordered to take his fealty and give him full seisin of all
his father's lands.(1)

Sir Thomas was of the Lancastrian party, and the king's champion for Edward IV at his coronation 28 June
1461.

On 22 Dec. 1461 Thomas and John, Lord Dynham and Walter Raleigh were granted a third of the manors
and lands of William Tailboys during the life of his wife, Elizabeth.(2) On 27 Feb. 1462 Thomas, John
Dynham, and Thomas Burgh were granted Willam Tailboys' manors in Lincolnshire.(3)

Thomas was on a commission of the peace for Lindsey on 20 Feb. 1463 and 4 Feb. 1467.(4)

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In 1469 Sir Thomas joined with his brother-in-law, Richard Welles, Lord Willoughby, in supporting
Warwick's plot to restore Henry to the throne. He, Richard, Sir Robert Welles and Sir Thomas de la Launde
attacked the manor of Sir Thomas Burgh in Lincolnshire. He and Richard were subsequently commanded
to appear before the Privy Council, but because of Edward's rapid move north they were sent after the
army. Upon hearing that Edward wanted them to explain Sir Robert's conduct, they took sanctuary in
Westminster. After being pardoned they promised to disband the army which they failed to do. He and
Richard were told by King Edward at Huntingdon to call off their rebellion or face execution. They were
subsequently arrested and beheaded before the Battle of Stamford when Warwick withdrew support from
Edward IV sending the king into exile for a year. Sir Robert was beheaded on the battlefield.

Issue-

 8I. MARGARET - m. THOMAS FITZWILLIAM (b. Marblethorpe, Linc., d. 9 Apr. 1479), d. 20 June
1461
 II. Robert- m.1. Jane Sparrow, 2. c.1508 Jane Cressnore, d. 13 Apr. 1546. Sir Richard was the
champion at the coronations of Richard III, Henry VII, and Henry VIII.
 III. Lionel- m. Joan Griffith, d. 17 Aug. 1519 Mareham on the Hill, Lincolnshire

Ref:

(1) Calendar of Fine Rolls 1452-61, p. 120

(2) Calendar of Patent Rolls 1461-67, p. 89
(3) Ibid- p. 144
(4) Ibid- p. 567

Ian Roger's web site at: http://www.girders.net/

"Pedigrees of Some of the Emperor Charlemagne's Descendants"- Vol.II, p.290

Plantagenet Ancestry- David Faris- p. 306

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