Catalogue description Grant by Rich. Wyldgrys of Coventry, hosier, to Tho. de Nassyngton, Will. de Corby, Joh....

Grant by Rich. Wyldgrys of Coventry, hosier, to Tho. de Nassyngton, Will. de Corby, Joh. Lyberd, all of Coventry, of a messuage in Much Park Street (see DR429/27).

Witnesses, Joh. de Papenham, mayor; Will. Palmere, Wal. Pakstaff, bailiffs; Will Hendeman, Ric. Tate, and others.

At Coventry.

The deeds numbered 33-7 contain well-known names. Bonds occurs (DR429/33) recalling the founder of the hospital at Bablake, and Botoner (DR429/35), the builders of St. Michael's Church. I do not see Joh. Codefray's name among the chantry priests of Trinity, but John Heydon (DR429/35) was connected with Allesley's chantry (see Sharp, Antiquities, DR429/89), and this deed evidently marks the time when the property passed into the possession of the church. One of the witnesses to No. 36 is Joh. Horneby, the mayor who is traditionally supposed to have arrested Prince Hal. I have dealt with this question elsewhere (Athenoeum, December 9, 1912) showing that the story appears to have arisen from the fact that the Prince was concerned in the arrest at Coventry of William Swetenam, in 1403, and the names were confused in the mayor-lists, just as the Earl of Warwick's name is confused with that of John Grace, the hermit, in 1425. The mayor-lists report that the mayor arrested the Earl of Warwick, whereas he really arrested Grace, and the Earl of Warwick was sent down by the Government to enquire into the matter.

Some of the seals are very interesting, and ought to be shown. No. 37 has an impression of a stag's head with a crucifix between its horns, the emblem of S. Hubert, patron of hunters. The story is told of this saint (and of S. Eustace) that he was hunting when the stag turned round and reproached him, showing a crucifix between its horns, whereupon the saint - as may be seen in rurer's engraving - knelt down and worshipped. It is a charming story, and might be promulgated among stag-hunters with good effect.