GREY, John II, of Bedford.

In 1387 Grey and his wife made a release and quitclaim of a messuage and four acres of land in Renhold, Bedfordshire, to William King and his trustees, among whom were William Clerevaux and William Cotterstock. He is mentioned in 1399 as having been a surety for the parker of Haynes in the same county; and he was present at views of frankpledge held by the mayor of Bedford in 1400 and 1401. It was, perhaps, in an official capacity as keeper of the town gaol that he offered bail of £10 on five separate occasions for offenders. He was certainly appointed well before December 1401, when he received a royal pardon for the escape of a felon from his custody there. This was, in fact, the second pardon to come his way, as in the previous February a sentence of outlawry passed against him in Warwickshire had been revoked. On this occasion he had persistently refused to appear in court to answer a plea of trespass.1CP25(1)5/69/16; CPR, 1396-9, p. 486; 1399-1401, p. 493; 1401-5, p. 29; Bedford Town Hall, Bedford ct. bk. 1400-1, mm. 1d, 4, 5.