Romance of the Saint Graal

Did this book belong to Lady Jane Grey?

The British Library has a copy of ‘Estoire del Saint Graal, La Queste del Saint Graal, Morte Artu’ dating from the ‘first quarter of the 14th century’ which originally belonged to Charles V of France. According to the British Library record it ended up in the ‘Old Royal Library’ and was ‘included in the list of books at Richmond Palace of 1535, no. 93 as ‘Le Saint Gral donne a la royne’. (British Library Record for Royal 14 E III)

In her biography of Elizabeth Wydeville, Arlene Okerlund writes that the signature ‘E Wydevyll’ is found at the back of the ‘illuminated manuscript of the Arthurian romances, Romance of the Saint Graal’ (p. 36, Okerlund). She suggests that ‘this autograph on folio 162 may indicate that Elizabeth owned the manuscript before her marriage to Sir John Grey’ but also that ‘ownership of the manuscript is uncertain’ as the ‘signature might belong to Elizabeth’s brother Edward’ (ibid).

The book contains other signatures including those of two of the daughters of Elizabeth and Edward IV, Elizabeth and Cecily and also that of Jane Grey.

Okerlund writes that this ‘may connect the manuscript to Elizabeth’s sister Eleanor, sometimes called Joan, who married Anthony Grey of Ruthin, but it is tempting to speculate that the manuscript ultimately ended up in the hands of Elizabeth Wydeville’s great-great-granddaughter, Lady Jane Grey.’ (ibid)

Several versions of Jane’s signature survive. One with a ‘Jane Grey’ signature (Jane’s letter to Sir Thomas Seymour) from 1548 is kept in the National Archives at Kew and is not available online. You can view a photograph of the letter in ‘Lady Jane Grey: A Tudor Mystery’ by Eric Ives.

Another version of Jane’s signature is found on one of the letters that she signed as Queen.

Two ‘Jane Dudley’ signatures can be found in the prayerbook that Jane carried to her execution on February 12 1554. Inscribed in the book are two farewell messages. One is to her father, Henry Grey, the Duke of Suffolk and the other to Sir John Brydges, the Lieutenant of the Tower of London.

As the book ended up in the Royal library it may be possible that Lady Jane had access to the book but it is impossible to prove that the signature is hers.

Sources

Ives, E. (2009) Lady Jane Grey: A Tudor Mystery, Wiley-Blackwell

Okerlund, A. (2005) Elizabeth Wydeville: The Slandered Queen, Tempus Publishing Limited

British Library Record for Royal 14 E III

Royal 14 E III f. 152v Mordred accusing the queen of treason

British Library – Royal 14 E III f. 1 Inscription (Detail of an inscription reading ‘Elysabeth, the kyngys dowter and Cecyl the kyngys dowter’, and ‘Jane Grey,’ the names of the daughters of Elizabeth Woodville, queen of Edward IV)

British Library – Royal 14 E III f. 162 Ownership inscriptions (Detail of an autograph of Elizabeth Woodville, Queen of Edward IV, reading ‘E. Wydevyll’)

British Library – Harley 2342 f. 80 Lady Jane Grey inscription (Text page with coloured initials and line-fillers, and a portion of a message written in the margin by Lady Jane Grey to her father, the Duke of Suffolk (continued from f. 79v): ‘… youre gracys humble daughter Jane Duddley.’)

British Library – Harley 2342 f. 77 Lady Jane Grey inscription (Text page with coloured initials and line-fillers, and a portion of a message written in the margin by Lady Jane Grey to Sir John Bridges, Lieutenant of the Tower (continued from f. 76): ‘… youres as the lorde knoweth as a frende Jane Duddeley’.)