Barracks Square, Black Bull Inn

December 1935

BARRACKS SQUARE

BLACK BULL INN

Expecting to hear of the death of her father, and little knowing the plot had been discovered, and the Princess being safely hidden only five hundred yards from the Bull Inn, they proceeded on their journey, only to learn "too late" the plot was discovered, and although the rider from London covered the ground in less than eight hours on relays of horses to warn them, it was too late, and none evaded capture for long. Meanwhile, the Mayor of Coventry, Matthew Collings, with a number of armed men, (with armour now in St. Mary's Hall), stood in readiness to receive the Princess at the Crown House, now called Palace Yard, where the Hopkins family resided for close on 200 years. The gates of the city were guarded, and the Princess arrived by Gosford Gate, in the charge of Lord Holcroft, who was paying a visit to Coombe, and was hidden in an inner room,

Little did the plotters know that the Princess was safely housed within 500 yards of their plotting place, the ''Black Bull Inn." Much excitement was created at Coventry when it was known to the people. It would be interesting to know which room the Princess slept in; possibly King James' room, as it would be the farthest from the street. In the museum at Hill Street there is to be seen a wooden crown, which is said to have been in her room at the "Crown House". A few years ago a stone head was dug up in a garden close by and has the appearance of a king's head, with a crown. This no doubt has at some time been plastered to a wall at the "Crown House". It is now in the possession of Messrs. T. Bushill & Sons, Ltd.

The Princess had on leaving Coventry a present made by the Corporation of Coventry of two bullocks worth £18. Why such a present it is hard to under-stand, unless they were for a bullock conveyance which may have been used to bring her from Coombe.

One of her school companions at Coombe was Lord John Harrington, the son of her guardian, who was three or four years older than the Princess. Their teacher was one named Tovey, who was previously a master at the Grammar School, Hales Street. This teacher, in years after, travelled in Spain with Lord John, and while there the Jesuits administered a slow poison, which proved fatal to Tovey shortly on his return, and Lord John being younger fought it for a few years, but at last died as a result.

James I., father of the Princess, gave permission to Lord Harrington to mint farthings, in return for his care of the Princess. Lord Harrington also held large shares in a factory for making tapestry, of which several fine specimens are in Coombe Abbey, now in the possession of Mr. J. G. Gray.

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