Before these proofs of the esteem in which Anne Boleyn was held by Henry are contrasted with her subsequent fate, it is impossible to avoid reflecting on the little regard which was then paid to the virtuous Katherine. That her name should be but twice mentioned speaks volumes on her secluded situation; and whilst all that wealth and power could command were lavished on the new favourite, the magnanimous wife was equally neglected by her husband, his satellites, and the world. Remorse seems, however, at length to have touched Henry's heart, for a few years after her death, namely, in November, 1539, the following entry occurs in the "Book of Quarterly Payments," in the Library of the Royal Society.
"Item, to Mrs. Blanch Twyford, by the Lord Privy Seal's letter, for her long and painful service done unto the Princess Dowager, by way of the King's reward—66l. 13s. 4d."
Mrs. Twyford was bequeathed 10l. by Katherine's will.
The Princess, afterwards Queen, Mary, is frequently noticed, but all which we learn is, that she was ill in June or July, 1531, and apparently again in March, 1532; and that from 10l. to 20l. were occasionally given to her for pocket-money, or to be distributed in charity. The Duke of Richmond, Henry's natural son, is also spoken of; as well as his niece, the Lady Margaret Douglas, daughter of the Earl of Angus, but she is here called Lady Margaret Anguishe.
A few entries are strongly indicative of the superstition of the age; the most striking of which are the King's offerings to the images of our Lady at Calais, Boulogne, Dover, Walsingham and of the Pue; and of persons being "touched for the evil," to whom 22l. 2s. 6d. were paid in three years, each having received 7s. 6d., and which proves the number "touched" in that period to have been fifty-nine. They came wherever his Majesty was, whether in town, or on his progresses, and even at Calais.
A few entries require to be separately noticed, as well as being referred to in the index; namely, the PRESENTS brought to the King, the PRICES OF LABOUR, SERVANTS' WAGES and LIVERIES, the VALUE OF LAND, HOUSE RENT, and the different kinds of MONEY which are mentioned.
Upon the presents brought, few remarks are required, for it will at once be seen that they chiefly consisted of articles of food of every description, including fish, poultry, game, baked lampreys, swans, pies, fruit, meat, puddings, brawn, cranes, birds; of dogs, horses, foxes, hawks, deer, mules, wild boars, and on one occasion, a lion; of fishing-rods, whistles, wood-knives, &c. and indeed whatever was then in common use.
Nor were these offerings sent only by the higher classes of society; even the poorest of Henry's subjects presented him with something which they fancied would be acceptable to his palate. The bringer uniformly received a gratuity "in reward" proportionate to the value of the gift; thus, the German who brought a lion was paid 6l. 13s. 4d.; he who brought a stag, 20s.; Lady Sidney's servant for bringing quince pies, 6s. 8d.; and Dyrick's wife of Greenwich received the same sum for a capon and chickens. Similar gratuities were given to the gardeners of the king's different seats for bringing fruit and herbs; and as no gift was too contemptible to be accepted, the money thus paid "in reward" sometimes exceeded the value of the donation. In most cases these offerings were doubtlessly tendered as testimonies of respect, but in many the "reward" was, perhaps, the real motive. As the index contains a reference to every thing presented to Henry, it is needless to enlarge on the subject.
Of the PRICE OF LABOUR the best evidence, besides the wages of servants, which will be more particularly noticed, are the sums paid for different articles purchased. We learn, also, that two men in July, 1530, were paid 13s. 4d.. for ten days' work in mowing, i. e., 8d. a-day each. In February, 1532, the hire of seven horses, and the expences of the same number of men for sixteen days, sent into Wales, and other places, at 1s. 8d. per day for each man, amounted to 9l. 6s. 8d., and in July in the same year 1l. was paid for the hire of ten men for three days, in drawing the fishponds at Ampthill, at 8d. a day each.
The WAGES OF SERVANTS differed of course according to their situations; those of a Falconer were generally a groat a day, and he was allowed one penny a day for the food of each hawk intrusted to his care; but those of Nicholas Clamp, one of the principal falconers, were 10l. per annum. A Huntsman received 35s. 5d. a quarter, and as well as most of the other servants, he had 4d. per day for his board wages. The allowance for the board of the boys of the stable was 1s. 8d. per week each; and of the boys that "run the King's geldings," or as they are sometimes called, "the King's riding boys," 2s. a week each, whilst on one occasion we find six days' meals for them paid for at the rate for each of them five pence a day. The keeper of the Barbary horse was allowed 1s. 8d. per week for his board, his wages being 4l. a year; the Hen-taker was however better paid, as he received 45s. 7d. a quarter. The regular wages of the King's watermen were 10s. a quarter; but it would appear that they were paid extra upon every occasion when they were employed. Sexton the Fool's, servant's wages, were 15s. a quarter. The gardeners of York Place and of Beaulie, or New Hall, in Suffolk, received about 12l. per annum; the gardener of Greenwich 20l. a year; and the gardeners of Windsor and Wanstead 41. a year.