In particular the legend of The Seven Champions of Christendom went into print, recounting the valiant deeds of St George and six other saints. By the seventeenth and eighteenth century, versions of the story are appearing as scenes in plays or chapters in Chap books. In many of these stories St George's birthplace is no longer Cappadocia, but Coventry. George's father is Lord Albert, an English peer and George's birth takes place at Caludan Castle in Wyken, Coventry. As a young man George travels to Egypt and slaughters a dragon whilst rescuing a princess. In some versions he marries the princess and they return to Coventry. They have three sons, one of whom becomes Guy of Warwick.

George's dragon slaying days continue after his wife dies. He journeys to Jerusalem and on his return slays another dragon. This particular slaying takes place on Dunsmore Heath in Warwickshire. The adventure however proved fatal. One eighteenth century chapbook indicates that the vast amount of poison thrown upon him by the beast "so infected his vital spitals that............he died".

A second story has George coming back from his travels to save the people of Coventry from a great Dragon which was residing in a cavern under present day, Hill Top. In this battle George sustained severe injuries, whilst routing the beast. He later died and was buried in state in Coventry.

Processions to celebrate his life and legendary adventures, were conducted every year around the city of Coventry. They were later taken over by the Lady Godiva procession, but a figure representing Saint George invariably appeared before the Lady.

An original oak figure of St George still exists today in Coventry. The oak figure is believed to have come from either St George's Chapel, which once stood in Gosford Street, or more likely the lost Priory of St Mary, because in the list of relics is included details of 'and image of St George, with a bone of his shield in silver'. Over the years this oak figure has undergone a metamorphism both physically and in whom it represents. In 1659 the figure had its arms sawn off, in order to accomodate it within a window by Coventry Cross at the junction of Broadgate and Cross Cheaping. In 1678 Alderman Owen had the figure placed in a window at his home in Greyfriars Lane. When the house was demolished in around 1775, the figure was aquired by antiquarian and hatter Thomas Sharp. He had it placed in a specially constructed nook in his shop near the top of Smithford Street.

When Hertford Street was constructed in 1812-13 Thomas Sharp's shop had the vantage point which allowed the reconstructed 'Peeping Tom' to look towards Broadgate and down Hertford Street. This oak figure was removed to various places around the city. Peeping Tom now resides in a glass case overlooking the statue of Lady Godiva from Cathedral Lanes¹. So Saint George still has a presence in modern day Coventry.

References ¹ David McGrory, The City of Coventry, Images From the Past
(Jones, Sands Publishing 1996)