POST-CAPTAINS OF 1814.
373
RIGHT HON. GEORGE ANSON LORD BYRON.
[Post-Captain of 1814.]
This officer’s ancestors had large possessions in Yorkshire, during the reign of William the Conqueror; and were very early seated at the lordship of Clayton, co. Lancaster. Sir Richard Byron, who died in 1398, acquired a considerable estate by marrying Joan, second daughter of William de Colewick, of Colewick, in Nottinghamshire. His descendant. Sir John Byron, Knt. took part with Henry Earl of Richmond, at the battle of Bosworth, and died May 3, 1488.
The motto, “Crede Byron,” now used by his descendants, was conferred upon Sir John Byron by his royal master, not in allusion to his loyalty, but in admiration of an act of extraordinary good faith performed by him towards Sir Gervis Clifton, who had espoused the cause of Richard III. The subject is thus noticed by the late W. Hutton, Esq. F.A.S.S. in his account of the battle, published in 1788; and by Sir John Beaumont, Bart, in a poem, entitled, “Bosworth Field” published by his son in 1629:
“Sir John Byron, and Sir Gervis Clifton, were intimate friends, and neighbours, being both Nottinghamshire gentlemen. And though Byron fought under Henry, and Clifton under Richard, it no way diminished their friendship, but proved, what rarely happens, that friendship genuine. They had exchanged a prior oath, ‘that if either of them was vanquished, the other should intercede with the conqueror, that the estate of the loser might not be forfeited, but enjoyed by his family’. While Clifton was bravely fighting in the troop, he received a blow which overpowered him, and he fell. Byron observing the fall, quitted the ranks, and ran to the relief of his suffering friend, sustained him on the ground, guarded him with his shield, and entreated him to surrender. Clifton replied, ‘All is over; I beg, my dear friend, you will remember the oath between us. Victory is yours. Use all your interest, that my lands may not be taken from my children.’ The worthy Byron, Upon the point of renewing his promise, perceived his friend was departing, and exclaimed with emotion, ‘Stay, my dear Clifton, stay!’ but
