Richard Scrope, 1st Baron Scrope of Bolton facts for kids
Richard le Scrope, 1st Baron Scrope of Bolton (born around 1327 – died May 30, 1403) was an important English soldier and government official. He served King Richard II of England and fought alongside the famous Edward, the Black Prince at the Battle of Crecy in 1346.
Contents
Richard Scrope's Life and Work
Richard le Scrope was a respected figure in England. He represented Yorkshire in Parliament in 1364. Later, in 1371, he was called to join the House of Lords as a baron.
Serving the King
In 1371, Richard Scrope became the Lord High Treasurer. This meant he was in charge of the king's money. He also became the Keeper of the Great Seal, which was like being the king's chief secretary.
In 1378, Lord Scrope was made Lord Chancellor. This was a very powerful job, like being the head of the government. He tried to control how much money King Richard II spent. However, he resigned in 1380 because of problems with the king's spending and military losses in France.
After the Peasants' revolt in 1381, when the previous Chancellor was killed, Richard Scrope took the job again. But King Richard II removed him from office in 1382. This was because Scrope did not always agree with the king.
Building Bolton Castle
After leaving his government roles, Richard Scrope focused on his home. He spent his time rebuilding Bolton Castle in Wensleydale, Yorkshire. He had special permission to add battlements, which are the protective walls on a castle.
Later Life and Family
Richard Scrope was highly respected as both a soldier and a leader. When Henry IV became king, he made sure that Scrope would keep his lands and titles. This was important because Scrope's oldest son, William, had supported the previous king, Richard II, and had been executed.
Richard Scrope passed away on May 30, 1403, in Pishobury, Hertfordshire. He was buried at Easby Abbey in Yorkshire. His title, Baron Scrope of Bolton, then went to his second son, Roger Scrope.
Family Connections
Richard le Scrope was the son of Henry le Scrope. His first cousin was Richard le Scrope, who became the Archbishop of York.
Richard Scrope married Blanche de la Pole. She was the daughter of William de la Pole from Hull. They had four sons:
- Roger le Scrope, 2nd Baron Scrope of Bolton
- William le Scrope, 1st Earl of Wiltshire
- Stephen le Scrope (died 1408)
- Richard le Scrope
A Famous Legal Case
Richard Scrope was involved in several arguments about his family's coat of arms. The most famous one was with Sir Robert Grosvenor. They both claimed the right to use a shield with a gold stripe on a blue background. This argument lasted for four years.
A special court, called a court of chivalry, decided that Richard Scrope had the right to use the coat of arms. This case is known as Scrope v Grosvenor. Famous people like the writer Geoffrey Chaucer and the Welsh leader Owain Glyndŵr even spoke in court to support Scrope.
