PART II.

HISTORICAL NOTES & ILLUSTRATIONS.

NOTE A.

Description of the Banquet at Hampton Court, in the time of Cardinal Wolsey. By George Cavendish, his Gentleman Usher.

THE Cardinal called for "his principal officers of his houseas his steward, comptroller, and the clerks of his kitchen-whom he commanded to prepare for this banquet at Hampton Court; and neither to spare for expenses or travail, to make them such triumphant cheer as they may not only wonder at it here, but also make a glorious report in their country, to the king's honour and that of his realm. His pleasure once known, to accomplish his commandment they sent forth all the caterers, purveyors, and other persons, to prepare of the finest viands that they could get, other for money or friendship, among my Lord's friends; also they sent for all the expertest cooks, besides my Lord's, that they could get in all England where they might be gotten, to serve to garnish this feast. The purveyors brought and sent in such plenty of costly provisions, as ye would wonder at the same. The cooks wrought both night and day in divers subtleties and many crafty devices; where lacked neither gold, silver, ne any other costly things meet for the purpose. The yeomen and grooms of the wardrobes were busied in hanging of the chambers with costly hangings, and furnishing the same with beds of silk and other furniture apt for the same in every degree. Then my Lord Cardinal sent me, being gentleman-usher, with two other of my fellows, to Hampton Court, to foresee all things touching our rooms to be

nobly garnished accordingly. Our pains were not small or light, but travelling daily from chamber to chamber. Then the carpenters, the joiners, the masons, the painters, and all other artificers necessary to glorify the house and feast, were set at work. There was carriage and re-carriage of plate, stuff, and other rich implements; so that there was nothing lacking or to be imagined or devised for the purpose. There was also fourteen score beds provided and furnished with all manner of furniture to them belonging, too long particularly here to rehearse. But to all wise men it sufficeth to imagine, that knoweth what belongeth to the furniture of such triumphant feast or banquet. The day was come that to the Frenchmen was assigned, and they ready assembled at Hampton Court something before the hour of their appointment. Wherefore the officers caused them to ride to Hauworth, a place and park of the King's, within two or three miles, there to hunt and spend the time until night; at which time they returned again to Hampton Court, and every of them conveyed to his chamber severally, having in them great fires, and wine ready to refresh them, remaining there until their supper was ready; and the chambers where they should sup were ordered in due form. The first waiting chamber was hanged with fine arras, and so was all the rest, one better than another, furnished with tall yeomen. There was set tables round about the chamber banquet-wise, all covered with fine cloths of diaper. A cupboard of plate parcel gilt; having also in the same chamber, to give the more light, four plates of silver set with lights upon them, and a great fire in the chimney. The next chamber, being the chamber of presence, hanged with very rich arras, wherein was a gorgeous and a precious cloth of estate, hanged up, replenished with many goodly gentlemen ready to serve. The boards were set as the other boards were in the other chamber before, save that the high table was set, and removed beneath the cloth of estate towards the midst of the chamber, covered with fine linen cloths of damask work, sweetly perfumed. There was a cupboard, made for the time, in length of the breadth of the nether end of the same chamber, six desks high, full of gilt plate, very sumptuous, and of the newest fashions, and upon the nethermost desk, garnished all with plate of clean gold, having two great candlesticks of silver and gilt, most curiously wrought, the workmanship whereof, with the silver, cost three hundred marks, and lights of wax as big as torches, burning upon the same. This cupboard was barred in round about, that no man might come nigh it; for there was none of the same plate occupied or stirred during this feast, for there was sufficient besides. The plates that hung on the walls to give light in the chamber were of silver and gilt, with lights burning in them, a great fire in the chimney, and all other things necessary for the furniture of so noble a feast.

Now

was all things in a readiness, and supper time at hand. My Lord's officers caused the trumpets to blow to warn to supper, and the said officers went right discreetly in due order, and conducted these noble personages from their chambers unto the chamber of presence, where they should sup. And they being there, caused them to sit down; their service was brought up in such order and abundance, both costly and full of subtleties, with such a pleasant noise of divers instruments of music, that the Frenchmen, as it seemed, were rapt into a heavenly paradise. Ye must understand that my Lord was not there, ne yet come, but they being merry and pleasant with their fare, devising and wondering upon the subtleties. Before the second course, my Lord Cardinal came in among them, booted and spurred, all suddenly, and bade them preface; at whose coming they would have risen and given place with much joy. Whom my Lord commanded to sit still and keep their rooms; and straightways being not shifted of his riding apparel, called for a chair, and sat himself down in the midst of the table, laughing, and being as merry as ever I saw him in all my life. Anon came up the second course with so many dishes, subtleties, and curious devices, which were above a hundred in number, of so goodly proportion and costly, that I suppose the Frenchmen never saw the like. The wonder was no less than it was worthy indeed. There were castles with images in the same; Paul's Church, and steeple in proportion for the quantity as well counterfeited as the painter should have painted it upon a cloth or wall. There were beasts, birds, fowls of divers kinds, and personages, most lively made and counterfeit in dishes; some, fighting as it were, with swords, some with guns and cross-bows, some vaulting and leaping; some dancing with ladies, some in complete harness, justing with spears, and with many more devices, than I am able with my wit to describe. Among all, one I noted: there was a chess-board, subtilely made of spiced plate, with men to the same; and for the good proportion, because that Frenchmen be very expert in that play, my Lord gave the same to a gentleman of France, commanding that a case should be made for the same in all haste, to preserve it from perishing in the conveyance thereof into his country. Then my Lord took a bowl of gold, which was esteemed of the value of five hundred marks, filled with hypocras, whereof there was plenty, putting off his cap, said, "I drink to the king my sovereign lord and master, and to the king your master," and therewith drank a good draught. And when he had done, he desired the Grand Master to pledge him, cup and all, the which cup he gave him; and so caused all the other lords and gentlemen in other cups to pledge these two royal princes. Then went cups merrily about, that many of the Frenchmen were fain to be led to their beds. Then went my Lord, leaving them sit

G

ting still, into his privy chamber, to shift him; and making ther a very short supper, or rather a small repast, returned again among them into the chamber of presence, using them so nobly, with so loving and familiar countenance and entertainment, that they could not commend him too much. And whilst they were in communication and other pastimes, all their liveries were served to their chambers. Every chamber had a bason and a ewer of silver, some gilt and some parcel gilt, and some two great pots of silver in like manner, and one pot at the least, with wine and beer, a bowl, or goblet, and a silver pot to drink beer in; a silver candlestick or two, with both white lights and yellow lights, of three sizes of wax; and a staff torch, a fine manchet, and a cheat loaf of bread. Thus was every chamber furnished throughout the house, and yet the two cupboards in the two banqueting chambers not once touched. Then being past midnight, as time served, they were conveyed to their lodgings, to take their rest for that night. In the morning of the next day (not early) they rose and heard mass, and dined with my Lord, and so departed towards Windsor, and there hunted, delighting much of the Castle and College, and in the Order of the Garter.'

NOTE B.

Extracts from the Original Accounts of Works executed at Hampton Court Palace, temp. Henry VIII., preserved in the Public Record Office.

I. THE

BUILDING OF THE HALL.

THE TAKING DOWN OF THE OLD HALL,

(In the 22nd and 23rd years of King Henry the Eighth.)

1. Three sawers of tymber (by taske) for the new scaffalde to take downe the olde hall [were paid] at 12d. every hundred foot. 16 Oct., Anno 22.

2. Carpenters makyng of a framyd scaffold to take down the rouff of the olde hall, every of them [paid] at 6d. the day.

3. Payd to Thomas Ward for his wages, by the space of 24 workyng daies, makyng of hodds and helpyng the scaffold maker to make long barrowes, whele barrowes, and ladders for the said works, 8s.

4. Tylers takyng down and sortyng of tyles of the old hall [were paid, some] at 8d., some 6d., and some 5d. the day.

5. Payd to Hugh Diker, tiler, for his wages helpyng to taken

down tiles and to uncover the olde hall, by the space of 4 daies, at 6d. the day.

6. Laborers helpyng to take down the olde hall [received] 4d. the day.

7. Warden and setters takyng down of the freeston of the olde hall [paid] 38. 8d. the week, each of them.

8. Carpenters helpyng to take down the olde hall, and sortyng of the tymber of the rouff of the same [some paid] at 8d., some 6d., and some 4d. the day.

PURCHASE OF IMPLEMENTS AND MATERIALS FOR THE BUILDING OF THE NEW HALL,

(From the 22nd to the 25th of Henry VIII.)

9. Empcyon of mattocks for to dygge the foundacyons of the new hall. Anno 22.

10. Empeyon of scaffold polls for to make the scaffold for the new hall, at 6d. the lod: also of great longe oken and alder polls, at 2s. 6d. the lode.

11. Payd to William Love, of Bronxam, for 10,000 of bryke, at 4s. 6d. the thowsande, of him bowght and delyveryd at Taplow quarry.

12. Carters carrying of briks from the brik-kill, and also chalke from the water side to the foundacions of the hall, at 14d. the day. [This sum no doubt included the hire of horses.]

13. Paid Henry Burde, of Kyngston, for a new cowle for the morter pytt, 12d.

Item, for a scope for the same, 4d.

Item, for mendyng and repayring of the old cowle, a new bottom, 6 hopes and 2 eyrs, 10d.

14. Fifty-two lodes 4 quarters 6 boshells of lyme, reddy burnyd and delyveryd at Taplow quarre, at 10d. the quarter.

15. Chalke at 2d. the lode.

16. Payd to John Norse, merchaunt of Rone, for 4 mounghte of plaister of Paryshe, of him bought and delyvered at the Toure wharf, at 6s. the mounghte.

17. Rygate stone, at 4s. 2d. the ton.

18. Payd to Thomas Yerley of Kyngston, for two handropes to rere the rouff of the New Hall, ponderyng, 291b. at 2d. the lb. 19. Six crowys of irne, servyng to raise the rouff of the New Hall, ponderyng, 104 lb. at 11⁄2d. per lb. Thirteen pynnys servyng to joyne the ruff together of the New Hall, ponderyng, 46 lb. at 13d. per lb.

LABOUR OF BRICKLAYERS, MASONS, AND CARPENTERS.

20. Bricklayers working in and uppon the foundacions of the New Hall, every of them at 6d. the day. March, anno 23 H. VIII.