MARY I (1516-1558), Queen of England and Ireland. Illuminated royal letters patent signed (above the initial letter, 'Marye the quene') WITH IMPOSING COLOURED INITIAL LETTER PORTRAIT, 175 x 195mm, Westminster, 9 May 1554, granting lands in Flintshire to John David ap Griffyn ap Llewelen, gentleman, for the sum of £101-13-4, subscribed by Sir John Godsalve as clerk of the signet, in Latin on vellum, 65 lines in Chancery hand on one membrane, approx 540 x 727mm, the initial letter portrait depicting Mary, her loose hair representing her virginal state, enthroned in state on a massive ochre-coloured throne with crown, orb and sceptre, the first line in engrossed majuscules with illuminated strapwork initials, decorated at upper margin with heraldic devices including the pomegranate/Tudor rose emblem of Mary on a ground of flowers, 18th-century docket to verso (blackening of silvered areas, old damp damage to left margin causing some shrinking of vellum and marking six bands of approx 50 x 300mm, causing some transfer of colour from initial letter, archivally restored and enclosed in acid-free plastic), great seal of Mary I pendant on laces of green silk and silver thread (fragment only, approx 90 x 80mm). The letters patent grant, in exchange for a payment of £101-13-4 to her councillor Sir Edmund Peckham, the reversions and rents of lands leased by Edward VI under his seal of the Court of Augmentations and Revenues on 8 April 1552 to Peter Powell alias Peter Moston, for lands at Grauntesmore by the sea, Flintshire, and on 8 June 1548 to John ap Thomas Griffith, 100 acres of land confiscated from the rebels David ap Tudder ap David or his brother Rhys at Dolbethles and Listenkenneth in the parish of Kilkenney or at Garnethwen in the parish of Skiviock, Flintshire, retaining for the King in each case certain rights over forestry and minerals, and by Henry VIII under the great seal on 29 April 1542 to Robert ap Jevan, five tofts and 80 acres at Dolbethles, Listenkenneth, Nannerth and Lesockelt in the commote of Coleshill, the three leases all for 21 years at rents of 45s, 26s and 30s 8d respectively; the crown is to reserve only the unenclosed land, lead and advowsons, the lands to be held as of the manor of Flint in free and common socage, without fine or fee. Of the officials named, Sir Edmund Peckham (c.1495-1564) had been high treasurer of the royal mints since 1544 and was commissioned earlier in 1554 to receive the issues of sales of crown lands; Sir John Godsalve (c.1505-1556) was at various times clerk of the signet, protonotary in chancery, MP for Norwich and comptroller of the Mint; there is a drawing of him by Holbein in 1532. The date of the document places it between the consolidation of Mary's hold on the throne with the defeat of Wyatt's rebellion and her marriage later in the summer to Philip II of Spain.