"His history is one which the present editor (Dr. Routh) truly says will never lose its importance, but will continue to furnish materials for other historians, and to be read by those who wish to derive their knowledge of facts from the first sources of information. The accuracy of his narrative has often been attacked with vehemence, and often, it must be confessed, with success, but not so often as to overthrow the general credit of his work."—Quarterly Review.
"Rarely polished, I never read so ill a style."—Swift.
QUEEN ELIZABETH'S DOMESTIC ESTABLISHMENT.
Your readers may be curious to see a list of the persons composing the domestic establishment (as it may be called) of Queen Elizabeth in the middle of her reign, and an account of the sums of money severally allowed to them out of the privy purse of the sovereign. The payments will seem remarkably small, even allowing for the great difference in the value of money then and now. What that difference may be, I am not prepared to say; and I will venture here to put it as a "Query," to be answered by some competent person who may read this "Note." I have seen it stated by more than one writer, that the difference in the value of money at the end of Elizabeth's reign was at least five times, i.e. that one pound then would go as far as five pounds now; but I am not aware of the data upon which the calculation was made. I apprehend, besides, that the difference was greater in 1582, to which what follows applies, than afterwards, and I should be glad to have the matter cleared up. The subsequent account is indorsed in the hand-writing of Lord Burghley, Lord Treasurer, in these words:—"1582. The payment of the Ladies of the Privy Chamber;" but it applies also to the gentlemen.
| The Bedchamber: | £ | s. | d. |
| The Lady Cobham, by the year | 20 | 0 | 0 |
| The Lady Carewe | 33 | 6 | 8 |
| Mrs. Blanch Apprye[8] | 33 | 6 | 8 |
| Gentlewomen of the Privy Chamber: | |||
| Bridget Cave | 33 | 6 | 8 |
| The Lady Howard | 33 | 6 | 8 |
| The Lady Stafford | 33 | 6 | 8 |
| The Lady Arundell | 33 | 6 | 8 |
| The Lady Leighton | 33 | 6 | 8 |
| Frances Howard | 33 | 6 | 8 |
| Dorothy Edmundes | 33 | 6 | 8 |
| Chamberers: | |||
| The Lady Bartlett | 20 | 0 | 0 |
| The Lady Drury | 20 | 0 | 0 |
| Mrs. Mary Skydmore | 20 | 0 | 0 |
| Mrs. Katherine Newton | 20 | 0 | 0 |
| Mrs. Jane Brucella | 20 | 0 | 0 |
| Gentlemen of the Privy Chamber: | |||
| Sir Christopher Hatton, Knight | 50 | 0 | 0 |
| John Ashley, Esq. | 33 | 6 | 8 |
| Gentlemen Usher of the Privy Chamber: | |||
| Sir Drew Drury, Knight | 30 | 0 | 0 |
| Grooms of the Privy Chamber: | |||
| Thomas Ashley | 20 | 0 | 0 |
| Henry Sackford | 20 | 0 | 0 |
| John Baptiste | 20 | 0 | 0 |
| Thomas Knevett | 20 | 0 | 0 |
| Edward Carey | 20 | 0 | 0 |
| Thomas George | 20 | 0 | 0 |
| William Killigrew | 20 | 0 | 0 |
| —— | —— | —— | |
| Summa Totalis | 673 | 6 | 8 |
| === | === | === |
The above 673l. 6s. 8d. was the whole sum paid out of the privy purse; but it is to be borne in mind that these persons were allowed diet and lodging in the Court, so that, after all, the payments were not quite as insignificant as they may at first seem. Whatever also may have been the case with the ladies, it is certain that the gentlemen had other sources of emolument derived from the Crown, such as monopolies, valuable grants of royal domains, leases of customs, &c., which altogether made up an ample income. Sir Christopher Hatton, for instance, could not have built Holdenby out of his 50l. a year as Gentleman of the Privy Chamber.
ANTIQUARIUS.