Horn of Egremont

The legend of the Horn of Egremont concerns Sir Eustace de Lucy and his brother Hubert, who both left to join the Crusades in the Middle Ages. As Sir Eustace left the castle he blew the horn which hung from the gateway saying to his brother that if he fell in the holy land, he should return and take possession of the castle so that Egremont may not be without a de Lucy for its lord.

ERE the Brothers through the gateway
Issued forth with old and young,
To the Horn Sir Eustace pointed
Which for ages there had hung.
Horn it was which none could sound,
No one upon living ground,
Save He who came as rightful Heir
To Egremont's Domains and Castle fair.

Wordsworth's poem of the legend tells how Hubert arranges to have his brother killed, so he can return and claim the castle and lordship. However, not being the rightful heir, he dared not sound the hom. Some time later Hubert hears the horn sound loudly and knowing only his brother has the right to blow it, he leaves by the postern gate and escapes, whilst his brother enters the castle through the main gate, having survived the attempted murder:

But Sir Eustace, whom good angels
Had preserved from murderers' hands,
And from Pagan chains had rescued,
Lived with honour on his lands.
Sons he had, saw sons of theirs:
And through ages, heirs of heirs,
A long posterity renowned,
Sounded the Horn which they alone could sound.

Christ who died also rose, and comes again to claim His rightful domain. I look forward to the trumpet's sound, that Christ is come and evil fled away, for ever.

When the trumpet of the Lord shall sound, and time shall be no more,
And the morning breaks, eternal, bright and fair;
When the saved of earth shall gather over on the other shore,
And the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there

-J.M. Black