50 Devon Notes and Queries, appear to have dined in a separate chamber), and '* two players who had their messes and rewards." At this grand feast John Grcneway was present, as evidently a trusted and important ofBcial, and some idea of the magnificent appearance of the ** tables *' and number of guests may be formed from the following account of the silver plate displayed thereon, and thus placed on record : — "The plate delivered in for the tables, by M' Greneway and M' Swythen, included : — " 2 potts, gilt ; 2 potts, parcel gilt ; i6 standing cups with covers, gilt ; 6 basins ; 6 ewers ; 4 principal salts, gilt, one with a cover ; 6 other salts, parcel gilt ; i dozen and a half of gilt spoons ; i dozen of white spnons, with gilt knobs ; 16 dozen and a half of spoons, white ; 18 bowls and 3 ewerst gilt ; a chaste (chased) bowl, gilt ; a nutt (cocoa) with a cover, gilt ; a standing gilt cup with a cover (broken) ; a little pigot with a cover ; and a standing cup and cover, gilt, from Mr Swyllynton."^ It is scarcely conceivable these Liverymen could have furnished this immense quantity of silver plate in their private capacity, although they may have contributed a portion of it. With greater probability it formed the princi- pal part of the Company *s plate, used on these occasions, which Greneway and his friends apparently had the official custody of. By the repetition of their arms on the Chapel and Almshouses he evidently thought highly of his association with the Company ; and had this apparent custody of the plate any reference to the three gold covered cups in his arms ? It is probable Greneway expended a considerable portion of his wealth in building the aisle and his chapel at the church, and the erection of the almshouses, which from the quantity of sculpture displayed upon them, must have been costly undertakings. The residue of his possessions duly enumerated in his will, consisting principally of properties in Tiverton, and an estate of some size at Diptford in South Devon, he devised for the carrying out the beneficent pro- visions, therein carefully described, for the endowment of his almshouses. The Courtcnays were Lords of the Manor of Tiverton, and resided occasionally at the Castle. The Earl William and the Princess- Countess Katherine, his wife, were con- temporaries and probably patrons of Greneway, and he, with dutiful regard to their position, gave their escutcheon the place of honour over the entrance both of his Chapel and
Herbert's ** History of the Twelve Great Livery Companies of
London," Vol. I, p. 470.
