Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1909-08-06
AUGUST =, 100, Al
ttyyARTZNAN BROS, WHITE STONE AND Kill MARN0ck

of six cords" But the Greshams fol-
lowed only the line of duty demanded
by the positions they filled. They were
both warm friends of Edward, the mer-
ciful young Prince, who pleaded so hard
for Baynham's release.
Even in this period the ancient ba-
ronial hall of the Greshams was going
to ruin. 1t was situated in the town of
''Gresham," near a small church bear
ing the same name, County Norfolk,
England. Two Of the Gresham great
uncles had officiated in this, then ancient
church. as Prebendaries. The origina
escutcheon of the family, bearing AMI
ancient date, is shield, on which is q
chevron, surrounded by three stars. IL
is surmounted by a double crest helmet
and the grass-hopper. The motto on q
badge below Fortuna Mea." Another
coat of arms, bearing a later date.
taken from Kings College. is similar.
only there are three stag heads instead
of the stars, and the small insect bears
twig In its mouth.
Tradition has fostered many ridiculous
stories in connection with this singular
crest, too numerous to mention here.
Sir Thomas Gresham, not content with
the shield so long adopted by his an
cestry. after he received the order of
X Kaighthood at the hands of Queen
Elizabeth. had a scroll and pen added
to the original.
He enjoyed the full confidence of his
Queen, else she would not have en-
trusted the delicate Lady Mary Grey to
his guardianship. He was not Lady
Mary's jailor as many newspapers have
asserted. Both he and his wife were
allied to the House of Gray, and the
three ladies' Jane, Sathrina and Mary
were almost as nearly related to Sir
Thomas and Lady Gresham as they were
to the Queen herself. Lady G.. was
Miss Neville. and owing to this
kinship they were chosen by Elizabeth
to be the proper guardians of poor.
unfortunate Lady Mary. This is the
story:-After the execution of Lady
Jane Grey, the caprice OF Elizabeth led
her to adopt the youngest of her three
cousins, of whom she was so jealous.
Lady Mary was too diminutive to be
attractive, and was called "the smallest
of the Court LADIES' The fate of her
two sisters made deep and serious i'm
preston upon Lady Mary's mind, in
tensified by the constant dread of her
Queen cousins tyranny. So she was
secretly married by veiled monk in
the vault of the palace at midnight to
the porter of the Queens household;
, then as secretly made their escape. An
unprecedented act, and the willy, con-
Trajectory Queen, who did not hesitate
to the blotting out of Lady Jane Crews
young life, nor TO the persecution of the
second sister, now assumed much
injured air concerning the family blot
or stain. The poor fugitives were cap
tured, the young husband imprisoned
and the unhappy bride thus entrusted
to the charge of her cousin. Sir Thomas
Gresham. How disagreeable this re-
sponsibility was to him and to Lady
Gresham is shown in the frequent
letters which passed between him and
Cecil, Elizabeth's Prime Minister. This
correspondence was Indicative of the
times in which it was carried on. excit-
ing our risibilities as we continue read
ing. The homage due to royalty and
the fear of Elizabeth sdispIeasure, each
struggling in mastery. induce US to feel
some pity for the Merchant Prince. who.
in his efforts TO honor and please his
Queen, was subjected to so many of her
whims.
Lady Mary's piety.and morbid griefs
seem to have grated on the nerves of
her guardians and her presence was
really barrier TO their social success.
The story of pearl being dissolved in
some sort of wine or liquid by Sir Thom-
as, and his drinking to the health of his
sovereign, is most absurd. He was a
thoroughly practical man, and not the
only nobleman with whom the Virgin
Queen saw fit TO banquet. Some have
asserted that her object was to deplete