42 Devon Notes and Queries, principally exemplified by the careful provision by chantry and almshouse he essayed to make therefrom — in pursuance of the light stimulated within him in accordance with the religious teaching inculcated at that period — for the welfare of his own soul, and that of his wife, in the next. Of his early history little is known. Born with no titled pedigree or heirdom to large possessions to help him forward, he appears to have been one of those self-made men whose innate capacity, force of character, and energy, from the humblest beginnings, carry them through all hindrances to the goal of success, and to whom fortune, as it is termed, generally holds out an encouraging hand. Martin Dunsford, the original and careful historian of Tiverton (1790), in his ** Memoirs" of that place, records probably as much as is certainly known of his home life : — " He was born at Tiverton, of parents in a very low station, al>out the year 1460, as supposed : he lived therefore at a time when the woolen manufacture was in its infancy, and consequently afforded greater propor- tionate profits ; by his care and diligence in this employ he acquired in a short time considerable substance, which enabled him to extend his trade, as a merchant, to Spain, and afterwards to Ireland. " His chief business was the importing large quantities of wool and selling it to the clothiers of Tiverton, and probably exporting some of their woolen manufactures ; by this trade in the course of a few years he became very rich ; and having no descendants, employed great part of his wealth during life for the benefit of the poor and public.and left, it is thought, all his estates at his death to perpetuate the blessings of his munificence.
- ' He founded the Almshouses known by his name, took down and
rebuilt the south aisle of St. Peter's Church ; erected the large curiously carved porch in front, built a rich screen between the chancel and middle aisle, provided for lights to be constantly burning upon the high altar, and obiits and other masses to be sung. In front of the aisle he built a magnificent Chapel with large and costly vault, and lived twelve years after the completion of the works ; himself and wife died in the year 1529, and were buried in the vault under this Chapel.
- Mr. Greenwaye appears, in his general conduct through life, to have
been a worthy member of society ; frugal and industrious in the early part of his life, animated in the beneficial pursuit of trade and commerce, generous and bountiful in age. By some of his inscriptions (on the buildings he erected) and the tenor of his will, he seems to have been strongly impressed with dread of a future state of purgatory, and to have been influenced by the hope of escaping it, and winning heaven, to bestow for the purposes described his well-earned fortune, like many others in those times. By others of his inscriptions he appears to have had just notions of human life, and to have been actuated in his public bene- factions by genuine piety and disinterested benevolence.
