Page:Devon & Cornwall Notes & Queries.djvu/76

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Devon Notes and Queries, 49 m0^ ^mi<^^ remayne in the Chappell wherein the body of me the said John Greneway shall, God willing, lye buried, to this intent, that there be some yerely obitt keept in the saide Church, with five Priests to sing or say five Masses on the nyneth day of February, at even, before dirge, for the soule of me my wife, our fathers and mothers, and for all our friends," together '* with five shillings a year to find a lamp, which shall be continually burning before the sacrament at the high altar, in the parish church." Greneway appears to have been associated with two trade societies or companies. The Merchant Adventurers and Drapers, both of London. The Merchant Adventurers — ^probably the oldest associated Company- were first incorporated by Edward IV, and appear to have been a maritime trading body, who chartered and owned vessels, as shareholders, for the purpose of export and import of commercial products beyond seas. Their ai-ms : Nebuly, on a chief quarterly^ i and 4 a lion passant guardantt 2 and 3, two roses (for supporters they used two pcgasi, and motto God be our Friend). These arms appear both on Greneway's brass and facade of the Chapel ; and they -^ are also found on ihe tomb with effigy of I Thomas Andrew, in St. Mary Arches Church, I Mayor of Exeter 1504- 10, ob. 1528, a con- temporary of Greneway's and probably engaged in the same occupation. There was also a local Company so named in Exeter, who were incorporated 4 Mary, 1556, for export to France. Their arms, Azure, the base barry-ivavy of four (waiet) argent and of ihe fields thereon a tower triple iurretted between tn chief two ducal crowns or; motto, Deo duce, fortuna comite {I sack c). The arms of the Drapers' Company of London, are also sculptured on the front of the Chapel, both singly, and quartered with his monogram. They displayi Azure, three clouds radiated in base proper, suf mounted by triple crowns^ or, on the facade of the Chapel heraldically shewn, nebulcc rayontU ; (for supporters the Company assume two lions platie ; crest, on a mound a horned ram couchattt ; motto, Unto God only be honor and glory)- The Drapers rank as the second most wealthy and influential of the great London Companies, getting their first grant from Edward III in 1364, and first charter 30 Nov. 17 Henry VI, 1439. Their duties appear to have been the regulation of the sales, and inspection of the finished ))roducts of the woolen trade, these functions gradually ceasing as the business of the country outgrew theif supervision. The Company, at the beginning of the sixteenth century, were celebrated for their generous hospitality and great feasts in Drapers' Hall, St. S wit bin's Lane, at which all the important personages, civil and ecclesiastical, and ladies also were occasionally guests. One most e.xtraordinarily sumptuous and costly was given at the grand election of 1516, at which numerous distinguished perK>ns were present, among them Leland the antiquary, ladies (who E