| Description | At Coventry
Seal
The next set of deeds relate to a tenement in Much Park Street next to land belonging to Merynton's chantry in St. Michael's (see Sharp, 35) and to the Jesus Hall land granted by the Grey family. The Grey deeds are of extraordinary interest, because the seals attached to them appear to be unique. Thomas Grey, first Marquis of Dorset, was son of Queen Elizabeth (Woodville) by her first husband, and was husband of the heiress of the Bonville and Harrington barony, all which facts appear on his seal of arms. To the blazoning of the seals, I must refer my readers to "Notes and Queries", October, 26, 1912. Grey, who was great grandfather of Lady Jane, of famous memory, fled to Brittany to escape from the enmity of Richard III., and became a companion in exile of Richmond, afterwards his half-bother-in-law, Henry VII. He was buried at Astley in 1501. Two of the deeds have the additional interest that his sign manual is on them. Such treasures as these seals should be carefully exhibited in a glass case. Sharp (Antiquities, p.118) mentions all of the deeds, but does not give the blazoning. Thomas Bowde (DR0429/52) Vicar of Trinity, whose interesting will I printed a little time back, used the "bough" with a "d" on it, as a rebus in the window of Jesus Hall, the ancient Vicarage of Trinity. Hopkyns (DR0429/52) is a well-known name in Coventry.
Dated: 2 Jan 14 Edw. IV. (1474-5) |