GRANTS OF ARMS.

I.

GRANT OF ARMS BY THOMAS HOLME, NORROY KING OF ARMS, TO PETER HELLARD, PRIOR

OF BRIDLINGTON, 1469.1

THIS most interesting document is the only known example of a grant of arms in medieval times to a Yorkshireman, or to any person in one of the religious orders. The arms, Sable a bend cotised between six fleurs-de-lis argent, are drawn within the initial letter, and the grant has a pretty illuminated border like that found in service and other books of the period. The seal, which was appended by a parchment slip, is lost. On the lower edge of the grant, in a seventeenth century hand, is written: "See entry of a grant of these arms varying in words, Vincent's Books, 157, p. 560." On the back, besides two unimportant endorsements, is a memorandum: "Entred in my Book of entrys of Grants of Arms. P. Leneve Norrey."

The election of Peter Hellard, the grantee, to the office of prior of Bridlington, vacant by the deprivation of Robert Willy, wasconfirmed at Southwell by Archbishop William Booth on March 2nd, 1462-3, in the presence of Mr John Danvers, 'decretorum doctor,' the archbishop's chancellor, Mr. Thomas Lye, archdeacon of Salop, and Mr. John Brand, archdeacon of Cleveland. He remained in office nearly ten years, and then, worn out with age and infirmities, he was obliged to resign. The election of his successor, Robert Bristwyke, was confirmed by the archbishop's vicar-general, William Poteman, LL.D., on September 1st, 1472.3 The pension assigned to him on his resignation was calculated in no niggardly spirit. The sum was the very handsome one of 20li., payable quarterly on Michaelmas, Christmas, Easter, and the Nativity of St. John the

1 The originals of this and the following grants of arms are in the possession of Mr. A. H. Frere, Roydon Hall, Norfolk, by whose permission they are here printed. The thanks of the Society are also due to him for allowing a part of this grant to be reproduced in colours. Mr. Frere exhibited these two grants, with many others, at the Society of Antiquaries on April 1, 1897. An account of them is given in the Proceedings of the

Society of Antiquaries (N.S.), xvi, 340356. An English abstract of the grant to Prior Hellard is printed in the Appendix to Tonge's Visitation. (Surtees Society, xli, p. xxxviii.)

2 Reg. Will. Booth, fo. 120. The prior is here called Peter Ellerd. He had been a canon of Bridlington.

3

Reg. Georgii Neville, fo. 146. The deed granting the pension is on the same folio.

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PART OF GRANT OF ARMS TO PETER HELLARD, PRIOR OF BRIDLINGTON. 1469.