Lyme Hall. 3 



restoration (for a building, used as- a residence, stood 

 here in 1465) was completed in 1668. The wings were 

 cased by Giacomo Leoni, in the years 1726-1729. In- 

 side, a fine example of the decorative architecture of the 

 Elizabethan era is found in the long gallery, extending 

 to 124 feet; and for persons of taste, there is an exten- 

 sive and very valuable collection of works of art, with 

 armour and weapons, ancient and modern. Every here 

 and there are displayed, also, the ancient armorial bearings 

 of the Leghs, which, like all pure and original heraldry, 

 are exceedingly simple, and form an admirable illustra- 

 tion ofthe true character and intent of heraldic devices, 

 and of the high intrinsic value of a certain amount of 

 heraldic knowledge, little as it is appreciated in Man- 

 chester. At the battle of Cregy, A.D. 1346, in which the 

 flower of the Cheshire chivalry were engaged, the ban- 

 ner of the Black Prince was rescued by the brave Sir 

 Thomas Danyers, and Lyme was bestowed on him by 

 Richard II. as a reward. In due time it was inherited 

 by the daughter of Sir Thomas, and by her it was 

 brought as a wedding-gift to Piers or Perkin-a-Legh, the 

 ancestor of the family still in possession. The armorial 

 bearings upon the shield, as carried into the battle, were, 

 in the language of heraldry, "gules, a cross engrailed, 

 argent" that is to say, the surface of the brave old 

 knight's buckler was red, and upon this was painted a great 

 white St George's cross, reaching from top to bottom, 

 and from side to side, and having the edges escalloped. 



