We all know that Leofric and Godiva built a great priory in Coventry in 1046, but in the years that followed in a round about way it became annexed to earldom of Cornwall and became the object of Royal favour. Edward III made the city into a corporation, consisting of a mayor, and two bailiffs, the frist mayor was John ward in 1318. In 1451 bestowed on the city a mark of his affection by erecting with considerable districts around into a city and a county and that bailiffs became Sheriffs, and so it was governed by by a mayor, recorder, two sheriffs, ten aldermen, thirty-one superior and twenty-five inferior common council-men. Henry then came to Coventry heard mass in St Michael's church, presented the church with a gown of cloth of gold and then created the first sheriffs.
Two parliaments were held in this great city, the first in the great chamber of the priory. In 1404 by Henry 1V. Not that it consisted of a great number of blockheads than normal inveteracy against the clergy it was called the Laymen’s Parliament.
The other was held in the Chapter house of the priory, in 1459 by Henry VI parliament diabolicum, reason of the multitude of attainers passed against Richard Duke of York and his adherents.
The city was well known for it’s manufacture of cloth, caps and bonnet’s as early as 1436.