But wished the King to do good deeds great store
Which caused the Court to love him more and more.
But though Henry VIII granted his Fool’s requests, he did not array Somers anything like so handsomely as Mary did. So it does not seem surprising that she liked to deck her Woman Fool almost gorgeously at times. One can only wonder how Jane could wear out all the shoes that were made for her, unless she had some poor relatives whom they fitted. The more limited gifts of Mary’s early days were, no doubt, eked out by home-made “translations,” and certainly aided by grants from the King. The earliest entry (Royal MSS. British Museum, 17B. xxviii) runs: “December 1537. Payd for housen and shewes to Jane the Foole 20ᵈ.”
In 1538: “Payd for a yerde and a halfe Damaske for Jane the Fole 7/. Item payed to Mʳˢ Laundress for stuff by hir bought for Jane the Fole 15/.”
In 1542 appears: “Item for a pair of shews for Jane the Fole 6/.” In April 1543: “Item for three elles clothe to make Jane the Fole smocks 3/.” In July 1543: “Item payd for Jane the Fole for the tyme of her seekness 22/6.” In September of that year:
“Payd for a Kirtle for Jane Foole 15/.
“Item for nedles for Jane 1ᵈ.”
In January 1543-4: “Payed for shaving of Jane Fole’s head 8ᵈ,” an expense which was again incurred in July 1544, in August and September of that year, as if some weakness in the hair had followed her severe illness.
In June-1544: “Item for a coffer for Jane the Foole 3/4.”
From another source we find other facts. In 1540 there had been a warrant issued by Henry VIII to Sir Anthony Denny, Master of the Great Wardrobe, to deliver certain quantities of silks and stuffs to “The nurse of Prince Edward, to Catharine Champernoone, to Ann Basset, and to Jane the Foole” (Add. MS. 7100, Brit. Mus.).