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Sir James Scudamore (also spelled Skidmore, Skidmur or Skidmuer) (1568–1619) was a gentleman usher at the court of Queen Elizabeth I. Born at Holme Lacy, Herefordshire, he was the eldest son of Sir John Scudamore, Custos Rotulorum of Herefordshire and his first wife Eleanor Croft, daughter of former Lord Deputy of Ireland James Croft. He would assume that title in 1616, and remained Custos Rotulorum for two years until his own death in 1619. Scudamore was respected for his tilting skill and his embodiment of the ideals of chivalry. ==Life as a courtier== Scudamore became something of a legend in his time at Elizabeth's court. As a young man he idolised Philip Sidney, who, as a poet, soldier, and courtier, exemplified the ideal high-born gentleman of the time. Scudamore sought to emulate Sidney, and befriended him as a teenager, becoming his protege. After Sidney died at the Battle of Zutphen, James Scudamore carried his pennant of arms at his funeral in 1586, aged only eighteen years at the time. He can be seen carrying the pennant near the front of the procession in the funereal roll drawn by Thomas Lant.〔Atherton, Ian. ''Ambition and Failure in Stuart England: The Career of John, First Viscount Scudamore'', Manchester University Press, 1999. p.34〕 Seeing himself as Sidney's successor, the young Scudamore sought to carry on the chivalric tradition with great zeal. He made a name for himself jousting in the tournament; he was one of the primary knights who took part in the Accession Day tilt of 1595. At this tournament, his shield was decorated with the motto "L'escu D'amour", the original Anglo-Norman form of his surname which translated to "shield of love."〔http://web.archive.org/web/20091026221310/http://geocities.com/judys-space/Vol1/skidmore.htm〕〔http://www.channel4.com/history/microsites/R/regencyhouse/programme/kentchurch.html〕 The shield was shaped like a heart, and bore the image of a turtle.〔Young, Alan, Tudor and Jacobean Tournaments; George Philip 1987, p. 43〕 Scudamore cut a dashing figure at the tilt-yard – his appearance was thus recounted by the scholar William Higford: ''A knightte on horseback is the goodliest sight the worlde can presente to viewe; and is not lesse than a Prince...mee thinkes I see sir James Scudamore...enter the Tilte yarde in a handsome equippage all in compleate Armor, embelished with plumes, his beaver close, mounted vppon a verie highe boundinge horse. I haue seene the shoes of his horse glister aboue the heades of all the people. And when hee came to the encounter or shocke, brake as manie spearse as the beste, Her majestie Queene Elizabeth with a trayne of ladies like the starres in the firmamente, and the whole Courte lookinge vppon him with a verie gratious aspecte. And when hee came to reside with sir John Scudamore his father (two braver gentlemen shall I neuer see togeather att one time, much more a sonne and a father)...Holme Lacie att that time seemed not onlie an Academia, but euen the verie Courte of a Prince.''〔Atherton, Ian. ''Ambition and Failure in Stuart England: The Career of John, First Viscount Scudamore'', Manchester University Press, 1999. p.35〕 George Peele, dramatist, wrote: ''L’escu d’amour, the arms of loyalty/Lodg’d Skydmore in his heart; and on he came, And well and worthily demeaned himself/In that day’s service: short and plain to be, No Lord nor knight more foreard than was he.'' Though by no means a particularly influential nobleman of the Elizabethan court, he was nonetheless greatly admired for his sporting skill. It is apparent from the dimensions of his suits of armour that he was powerfully-built and tall for his time, and he is recorded as having won first place in the Accession Day tilt at least once. The Queen's personal attendance of Scudamore's own tilt-yard at Holme Lacy is a testament to his gallant reputation. He was a noted soldier, and served, among other places, at the Capture of Cadiz, where he was knighted by the Earl of Essex. He is said to be the inspiration for the character of "Scudamour," a primary character in Book Four of ''The Faerie Queene'' by Edmund Spenser.〔http://www.britainexpress.com/counties/hereford/churches/Holme-Lacy.htm〕 In the poem, Scudamour is a gallant knight who has had his lover Amoret stolen away from him. He spends the rest of the book unsuccessfully trying to find her; at one point he stops to rest and is tortured in his sleep by a blacksmith wielding a pair of tongs. It is unknown whether this characterisation is intended as a mockery of the actual Scudamore, a light-hearted joke, or an honest representation of his chivalry. Scudamore officially retired from tilting in 1600. However, he and his father continued to train horses at Holme Lacy. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「James Scudamore (courtier)」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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