Oil on canvas.
96 Inches x 48 Inches.
©Copyright Glenn Zlanabitnig 1991.
All rights reserved.
"S"r Moris Barkley the Sonne of Sr John Barkley, of Beverston, beinge a man of great strength and courage, in his tyme there was bread in Hampshire neere Bistherne a devouring Dragon, who was doing much mischief upon men and cattell and could not be destroyed but spoiled many attemting it, making his den neere unto a beacon.
This Sr Moris Barkley armed himself and encountered with it and at length overcam and killed it but died of his wounds soone after.
This is the common saying even to this day in those parts of Hampshire, and better to approve the same his children and posterity even this present beare for their Crest a Dragon standing before a burning beacon. Whe seemeth the rather more cerdible because Sr Moris Barkley did bear the Miter with this authentic seale of his armes as it heare underneath one of his own deedes exprest bearing date ye 10 of Henry 6 An Dni 1431"
This is a transcript of a document reputed to lay hidden in the vaults of Berkeley Castle near Bristol.
I was asked by a New Forest gallery to provide a forest scene with an edge, I guess they got it!
By chance I stumbled across this little known legend that led me on quite a trail of detective work and some surprises.
When I get the time I'll link this page to the full story of the 'Dragon Hunt'.