Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-03-18
STRANGE BRITISH TREASURES.
Heirlooms That Are JealousIy Pre-
served by Distinguished Families.


From Tft-Bits
If the heirlooms that are so jealousIy
treasured in the stately homes of Britain
could only be brought together they would
make one of the most fascinating museums
in the whole world.
Lord Elgin has among his many ancestral
treasures at Broomhau the very helmet
which the valiant Robert Bruce once wore
and the huge two-handed sword which he
welded with such deadly effect in many
hard-fought fray; while the Douglas ban
ner that foated In the thickest Of the fight
at Otterburn has come down to our times
through nearly twenty generations OF the
descendants of Archibald Douglas, who bore
IL so calamity.
The brooch of I.orn, too, which was taken
from Robert Bruce at the battle of Dalrigh
mas been preserved ever since at Donelly
Castle by the family of McDougall Another
most interesting relic of Bruce days is the
famous Lee penny which was the inspira-
tion OF Scotts "Tallsman." This magical
coin, which IS a silver groat Of Edward
ITS time, with comedian set in IT. was
brought from the east by Sir Simon Lock-
hart and Is credited with wonderful powers
Of healing the sick and curing those who
have been bitten by mad dogs.
Among the many memorials Of Sir Fran
els Drake to be seen in private houses is
the very sword which was presented to him
by the burgesses of Plymouth and which
Buckland Abbey At auckland Abbey,
also, are the drum which accompanied the
great naval hero on his voyage in the Peli-
can; a cocoanut cup mounted In silver gilt
given by Queen Elizabeth to SSr Fran
els, and also silver gilt standing dish and
cover. At Kimberley Hall, the Norfolk seat
or Lord kimberley, are many valuable me-
MORALS of old days, notably the silver hilt
OF the sword which his lordship's ancestor,
Sir John Wodehouse welded at Aeincourt
and a rosary of coral and gold presented to
Sir Philips wife by Queen Catharine OF
ValoiS
At Lyme Hall, in Cheshire. is a very an
cient bed, with a canopy of carved black
wood In which the Black Prince used to
sleep at Oxburgh Hall one may look on
the bed in which Henry VII was wont to
take his rest; at Nappa Hall, the ancestral
Yorkshire seat Of the Metcalfes there IS.
or was within recent years a massive four
poster which the beautiful and Inflated
Queen of Scots occupied for q few nights;
and at SiZergh Castle the Stricklands proud
ly exhibit magnificent Counterpart and
toilet cover OF the richest white satin en-
broldered by the hands of Queen Catharine
Parr during visit she paid to the castle
as young girl.
The center Of the pattern on both counter
pane and toilet cover is a medallion sur
rounded by a wreath of natural flowers
wrought in twisted silks and bullion;
spread eagle in bold relief, gorged with the
imperial crown, forms the middle. and at
each corner Is dragon glowing with pur-
pie, crimson and gold. The colors are al
most as fresh and vivid today as when they
left the hands of Catharine centuries ago.
At Rug, near Bala. are preserved a knife.
fork and dagger, once the property of Owen
Glendower. the famous Welsh chieftaln;
Lord De L'Isle and Dudley has a magnffi-
cent two-handed sword which was once
worn by Robert Dudley. Earl of Leicester.
and the Earl of Pembroke Is very proud
OF the suit of russell and gilt armor which
his remote predecessor, William. Earl Of
Pembroke. wore when commanding the
English army at the battle of st. Quentin
Better known. and of exceptional interest,
| is the ancient glass goblet known the world
over as the Luck of Edenhall.'' which
bears the legend, when this cup shall
break and fall. Farewell the luck of Eden
hal, )" and which has been so long treas
ured by the Musgraves. A similar heir
loom is the Luck of Muncaster," a quaint
enameled glass vase. presented by Henry
vi to Sir John Pennington when he shell
tered the king at Muncaster after the bat
tie of Hexham in 1853; while In the draw
Ing room of Worthington Hall, the seat Of
the Curwens. is a small drinking cup Of
Scotch agate given by Mary Queen OF
Scots as & parting gift to her friend and
host, Sir Henry Curwen.