Item, delivered for the said William Somer eyght dossen of round silke buttons, thre ounce thre quarters of sylke, twelve shirtes of Holland cloth, twelve handkerchers of holland, fowre peyre of woollen hose, sixe peyre of lynnen hose, also two peyre of black buckram hose.
Item, delivered for the said Jane foole thirty one ounce thre quarters of frenge in collours for frenging of the said two gownes and cappes of fustian of Naples, and for making of the same cappes And for thirteene peyre of black knit hoose.
The next item is a long list of velvet shoes for the Lady Jane Seymour—so long, indeed, that one must think she had to supply the other ladies of the Chamber.
Item for twelve peire of shewes for the saide Jane Foole.
Item, for the said Thomas Perrye for furring of a gowne of clothe for the said William Somer, with thre tymber of Callake(?) and thyrte & eighte white lambe skynnes.
Item to the saide Mary Wilkenson, for four elles of Holland delivered to the said William Somer, etc.
The special feature of handkerchiefs in the wardrobe of William Sommers is noticeable. Other retainers do not seem to have had similar grants. He had apparently had this year a visit from his sister, whose relatively humble position is implied by the material of her garment. It may be remembered that Armin in his “Nest of Ninnies” gives a delightful account of the visit of William Sommers’ uncle to Court in Henry’s days. But we hear nothing further of the sister.
It is difficult to decide which “Mʳ Barnes” was Jane’s Valentine this year.
Then comes the last account of all, which becomes touching when we remember how Mary, crushed with ill-health, and the neglect of the husband for whom she had risked so much, with the loss of Calais, with long-continued “evil weather,” with the disaffection of her subjects, and the shrinking of her income, gave up all gaiety and expense.
Yet Mary, about to die, does not limit her expenditure upon her Court Fools, faithful among many faithless. (Exchequer Accounts, 31st October, 6 Mary 427, 18.) St. James: