The Privy Purse Expenses of King Henry VIII from November MDXXIX, to December MDXXXII

by Sir Nicholas Harris Nicolas

January, 31 Hen. VIII. 1540, "To the Quenes pleyers for playing before the kinge, iiijli.;" also, "to the kingis pleyers for pleyng before the king, vjl. xiijs. iiijd.;" "to the princis pleyers for playnge before the king, iiijli.;" and a grant for life of 2l. 2s. 4d. per annum to "Richard Parrowe, one of the King's interlude players," in February, 1540.

The expences of preparing beds at Dartford and Rochester, for the king and Anne of Cleves;

January, 31 Hen. VIII A^o. 1540.—"Item, to Edward Lloid yoman of the Warderobe of Beddes and John Askowe grome of the same, for themself and a Smythe that was with them to set up twoo bedds of the kingis, one at Dertford and an other at Rochestre, and for making redy there for the Quenes Grace, by the space of xxx days, the yoman at ijs the dey, the grome at xxd. and the Smythe at xijd. the day, as apperith by a bill, signed with the Lorde Chamberlains hande, vijli."

In January, 32 Hen. VIII. A^o. 1541.—"To the Ducke of Suffolkis pleyers for pleyinge in the kingis hawle on twelf even, the somme of xxs.;" and we learn from another entry that the names of three of the King's players were Robert Histow, George Birche, and Richard Parrowe, and that the quarterly wages of the three were 1l. 13s. 4d.

Henry's fondness for jewellery was profusely gratified; and in the period embraced by these accounts the enormous sum of 10,801l. 8s. 9d. was expended in precious stones, gold chains, &c. besides 1517li. to his goldsmith for plate. A considerable share of his attention was, it is well known, directed to his navy, and the few entries relating to it are of much interest. Horses or geldings, particularly racing horses, and horses "that did run," as well as "riding boys," clothes bought for the boys "that ride the running horses," and riding caps for them, are constantly spoken of; and dogs for the chace were a frequent, and doubtlessly, acceptable present. At the christenings of the children of some of the chief noblemen, and of those of his favourites, Henry was sometimes a sponsor; and the sums paid to the nurse and midwife on such occasions are carefully noticed. The inferior attendants of the Court, as huntsmen, falconers, and those of the king's guard, received small presents on their marriages, which varied from two to five pounds, according to their situations, or the degree of favor which they enjoyed: on the marriage of the son of "Master Nevill", however, the king gave him ten pounds. Gifts to minstrels, to the astronomer, to physicians, to the keepers of the clocks at the different palaces, to posts and servants for bringing letters, to copyists, to the master of his barge, and the keepers of his Majesty's dogs, bears, hawks, &c. are very numerous. His fools, jester, and minions are prominent characters in these Accounts, and the information afforded respecting them tends to illustrate the manners of the age.

Although it would be preposterous to follow a recent example of attempting to remove the stains on Henry the Eighth's character—stains which throw all common crimes into the shade—it would be no less absurd to deny him the common merit of having a few redeeming traits in his disposition. Besides the instances which have been alluded to of his taste for architecture, music, painting, and literature, we frequently find payments which must have originated in the best feelings of the human heart; and of which it will be sufficient to cite, gifts "to an old poor man by the king's charitable alms that laboured to obtain a bill to be signed;" to a footman, "to relieve him in his sickness;" to a French fletcher, "towards his surgery;" to the almoner, "for two sick men at Waltham;" to a "sick priest at Hampton Court;" to "a poor man that had thirteen children, for their relief;" to "little Guilliam, in way of reward, because he was sick in London;" to "three sick women at Greenwich;" to "a poor woman in Chertsey, to purchase out the great seal;" to "a blind woman, being a harper;" "to a poor woman for to redeem her husband out of prison;" to "a poor woman, to obtain her husbands freedom, and hers in London;" to "a frantick man;" to "Great William, for his surgery, when he was sick at London," &c. These could only have emanated from momentary emotions of benevolence; and they prove that, like even greater monsters, Henry's heart was not entirely shut to the wants and sufferings of his fellow creatures. It is true that pity was a stranger to his breast when either his pride, or safety, or lust, or revenge was in question; but he was undoubtedly compassionate upon less selfish occasions.

Independently of gifts in charity, and to persons supposed to be healed by the King's touching them, payments of 10l. per month were regularly made to Dr. Baugh for his Majesty's private alms. Henry's principal associates, besides his fool, jester, Thomas Smith, Mark Smeton, the two Williamses, Domingo, and one or two other minions, all of whom appear to have been wholly supported and clothed at his expence, were his favorites, Sir Francis Bryan, Sir Henry Norris, Lord Rochford, Sir Francis Weston, Sir Edward Seymour, the Serjeant of the Cellar, and a few others; and on perusing the evidence here afforded of the favor which they enjoyed, and the intimacy to which they were admitted, the mind is impressed with horror at the reflection of how few of them escaped falling victims to his suspicion, jealousy, or revenge. But when the partners of his bed and throne met a similar fate, it would have been a subject of surprise had the companions of his hours of revelry and enjoyment, or the sharers of his sports and amusements been spared. Of Anne Boleyn and her family, numerous curious particulars will be found, many of which tend to show the manner in which she was treated at court from November, 1529, until her elevation to the throne; and as every thing which relates to her is of great interest, the following abstract of them may be acceptable.

The precise time when Henry's attachment to her commenced is uncertain, but three years before her marriage, the Master of the Robes paid for some purple velvet for her; and on the 28th, for stuff prepared for her use. In December following, 180l. were given to her by the King's order: in April, 1530, her servant was paid for finding a hare;[141] and in May, the taylor and skinner were paid for her dresses; and bows, arrows, and other articles for shooting were bought for her.[142] The large share of the king's affection which she then possessed, and which was perhaps deemed to be the harbinger of her subsequent honors, is evident from the fact of the Mayor of London having sent her a present of cherries on the 5th of June; and the servant who brought them was rewarded with 6s. out of the privy purse. More bows were purchased for her on the 10th of that month; and in an entry in July as well as in the December preceding a person called George Taylor, is expressly styled, "my Lady Anne's servant." Linen cloth for her was paid for in September, in which month ten shillings were given for a cow that one of her greyhounds had killed. A remarkable entry occurs in November, in that year, from which it appears that Anne Boleyn had pawned one of her jewels to her sister Mary, and that Henry ordered 20l. to be given to redeem it; a few days afterwards, about twenty yards of crimson satin were purchased for her use. In December, eight guineas were given for budge skins or furs for her; on the 21st of that month she received twenty shillings in silver: the next day linen cloth for her shirts was paid for, and she was repaid 5l., which she had given to Henry Webb by the King's command. On the 23rd, the same sum was given to her for playing money, in groats, and on the 30th, Henry gave her 100l. as a New Years' gift. In February, 1531, her mercer's bill was again paid, and on the 17th, her servant Taylor, received 11l. 6s. 8d. to be "employed about my Lady Anne Rochford's business;" before the end of which month a farm was purchased for her at Greenwich, and for which 86l. 13s. 4d. were given. Her desk was garnished with laten and gold in April following; when her embroiderer was paid for work done for her. Early in May, 40l. were given her "to play;" on the 22nd, having lost 12l. 7s. 6d. at bowls to the Sergeant of the Cellar, that sum was paid to him out of the Privy Purse by his Majesty's commands; and on the 10th, eight yards of crimson cloth of gold were bought for her. From that time nothing more is said of Anne Boleyn until December, when her taylor's bill amounting to 28l. 6s. 4d. for her clothes was discharged; shortly after which her skinner's bill of 40l. 15s. 8d. was likewise paid. On the 29th of May, 1532, the King's watermen were remunerated for conveying her to Durham House. In June a splendid cloak and night-gown were purchased, and the price of all the materials, is detailed with the minuteness of a milliner's bill of the present day, from which it seems that both were made of black satin; that the former was edged, and the latter lined with velvet of the same colour; and that the cloak cost altogether 9l. 4s. 8d.; whilst the night-gown was lined with black taffeta, and cost 10l. 15s. 8d.: at the same time sixteen yards of green damask were also purchased for her.

In August in this year, her future elevation became so certain that the wife of one of the most distinguished courtiers of the time, in imitation of the example set nearly two years before by the Mayor of London, endeavoured to propitiate her favour by a present; as on the 17th of that month, Lady Russell, afterwards Countess of Bedford sent her a stag and a greyhound, which she gave to the King, who ordered 40s. to be paid to the servant who brought them. On the 1st of September, Anne Boleyn was created Marchioness of Pembroke, and on the 19th of that month, the Master of the Robes was paid for stuff which was delivered to her servant, probably for the costume in which she appeared at the ceremony; and about a fortnight afterwards certain silks were provided by him for her apparel, the costs of which were 56l. She accompanied Henry to Calais in October, 1532; and her reception by Francis the First as well as the prominent part which she performed in the festivities that attended the interview between the two Monarchs, are fully described by Hall. From these Accounts we learn that the Great Master sent her a present of grapes and pears at Calais on the 14th of October; that on the 11th of November, fifteen shillings were paid to her which she had won of Henry at cards at that place; that on the 20th a few days after her return from France, she, Sir Francis Bryan and Sir Francis Weston, formed a party with the King at Pope Julius' game at Stone Castle in Kent; and again on the 25th, 26th and 31st at Greenwich, on which occasions his Majesty was as usual unsuccessful; that on the 28th she won 11l. 13s. 4d. of Henry at Cards; and on the 25th of December more stuff was bought for her clothes. It is to be observed, that according to some authorities, Anne Boleyn was privately married to Henry, early in November, 1532, immediately after their arrival at Dover from Calais; but nothing is to be found in these accounts either corroborative of, or contradictory to, the assertion. During the three years the whole sum expended for her clothes, &c. was 468l. 6s. 1d., and within the same time she received in money 218l. These sums are not, it is true, remarkable for their amount, but they are sufficient to shew the manner in which she was treated by Henry, and the place which she occupied in his affections. Before concluding these observations relative to this celebrated woman, the singular manner in which her sister and herself are described must be pointed out. Until December, 1530, she is merely spoken of as "my Lady Anne," but from February to May, 1531, with one exception, she is called "Lady Ann Rochford," though from that time until her creation to the Marquisate of Pembroke, she is again styled "Lady Ann," after which event she is mentioned either as "my Lady Marquess," or "my Lady Marquess of Pembroke." Her sister Mary too, though married, is called Lady Mary Rochford. Rochford was the title of their father when elevated to the Earldom of Wiltshire, and was then borne by their brother George, who having become involved in his royal sister's supposed crime, died, like her, upon a scaffold.