Tudor Citizen – 16th Century issue. 2. Prince Philip of Spain ... the hall, a parlour
by the hall, a kitchen, a little house by the kitchen, the first and second lofts over ...
Produced by Hampshire Archives & Local Studies education service
The Tudor Citizen 16th Century Issue (1500-1600) The King dissolves local monasteries The King, Henry Vlll, was persuaded by his chief minister, Thomas Cromwell, to close down all religious houses in the country. These included the following Hampshire sites: St. Denys, Netley, Quarr on the Isle of Wight, Titchfield, Beaulieu, Southwick and St. Swithuns at Winchester.
the north east of the county. It was feared that many of the King’s subjects might rebel against the closure of the monasteries as jobs would be lost in the monasteries themselves and on their farms. The poorest also relied on monks for food and money, so how would they survive?.
Cromwell’s argument for closing the religious houses was that they held vast treasure stores and great estates which the King could take for himself and sell off at a profit. Two men to profit from the sale of monastic properties were to be William Paulet, the Marquis of Winchester, and Thomas Wriothesley, the Earl of Southampton. Another leading figure in the county, William Sandes, the Lord Chamberlain, Above: portrait of King Henry from a gained Holy Trinity Priory at Mottisfont royal grant to Thomas Wriothesley. and its associated manors and pensions, in return for swapping land at Chelsea with the King. Holy Trinity supported 10 canons of whom eight were priests and two novices, as well as 29 others including servants. Although the outhouses Inside This Issue were in ruin and decay the King Henry dissolves monasteries 1 church and mansion were Queen Mary married at Winchester 2 in good condition. Lord Plague hits town of Alresford 3 Sandes already held property in Hampshire Sanitation concerns in Winchester 4 including The Vyne which Queen Elizabeth visits Elvetham Hall 5 he had built for himself in Content and Images copyright Hampshire County Council.
Tudor Citizen – 16th Century issue Above: portrait of Queen Mary from a royal grant
Prince Philip of Spain marries Queen Mary at Winchester
Bishop Stephen Gardiner, bishop of Winchester, was released from the Tower of London where he had been placed during the reign of King Edward, in order to marry Philip of Spain and Queen Mary at Winchester cathedral in 1554. Mary stayed at Wolvesey Palace, the Bishop’s residence in Winchester. The couple married on July 25th, St. James’ Day, as he is patron of saint of Spain. The wedding ceremony was spoken in Latin with only the vows by the Bride and Bridegroom taken in English. Bishop Gardiner was assisted throughout the ceremony by the bishops of London, Durham and Ely. The City of Winchester benefited from hosting the royal marriage through a series of grants, including a reduction in certain taxes as well as receiving former monastic properties.
Below can be seen one side of the great seal of Philip and Mary, showing the King and Queen on horseback.
Last Will & Testament of William Agulley of Winchester William Agulley, Yeoman, died two years after the royal marriage in 1556. In his will he gave to his wife Maude his mansion house in ‘Jayle Street’ (known now as Jewry Street) ‘being my great stone hows in which I doo inhabytt’. The house included a hall, a buttery by the hall, a parlour by the hall, a kitchen, a little house by the kitchen, the first and second lofts over the hall, the ‘appull’ loft, and a little house in the garden. An inventory of his goods made after he died included a great deal of pewter pots and plates, as well as much wooden furniture in the hall.
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Tudor Citizen – 16th Century issue
Concerns over poor sanitation in Winchester The following people were presented to the City Court of Winchester in 1575: ‘Steven Knight for making a dounghill at his garden hedge by Sir Henry Seymours house.’
Above: William Agulley’s house in ‘Jayle’ or Jewry Street, Winchester.
The Plague hits Alresford The town and parish of Alresford near Winchester was visited by the plague in 1563, and the parish burial register records the deaths of the following people ‘Ex Peste’ [of the plague]: Thomasin wife of Richard Quallet Anne daughter of William Prior Thomasin daughter of Richard Quallet William son of Richard Quallet Isod daughter of Richard Quallet
‘John Whit and Frauncis Wodshaw that theyr servauntes do lay theyr filthy pottes in the way by Saint Peters churche.’ ‘Mr William Lane, Christopher Jenens, Bartylmew Lardner and Andrew Haselbye for letting theyr dogges go abrod without moselles contrary to the ordinances of the City.’ ‘Andrew Haselbee and Wylliam Pavier for keeping hoggestyes over the water wiche is a great annoyance to the Queen’s people.’ ‘William White and Edward Eridge for that they doo washe theire sheepe skins in the river at the wasshinge place to the great nusance of the Queen’s people.’
Clase daughter of Richard Quallet John Whyte Richard Quallet Peter son of Richard Quallet John son of Widow Whyte Joane daughter of William Prior
Above: Book of Ordinances for the City of Winchester including orders and decisions made by the Corporation
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Tudor Citizen – 16th Century issue
Queen Elizabeth treated to spectacular event at Elvetham Queen Elizabeth, anxious to avoid the plague which was raging in London, took her court on a royal progress in 1591. One of the country houses they visited was Elvetham Hall in Hampshire home of the Earl of Hertford, who had lost favour with the Queen after marrying Catherine Grey the younger sister of Lady Jane Grey who was executed at the Tower of London by Queen Mary.
More Resources Available If you would like to find out more about life in Tudor Hampshire there are other resources available to download free from the Hampshire Archives website. http://www3.hants.gov.uk/archives/archiveeducation/online-resources.htm
To make amends the Earl of Hertford put on a magnificent entertainment for the Queen which lasted for four days.
Above: Inspeximus charter of Elizabeth I reciting and confirming an earlier charter of confirmation of Philip and Mary dated 1544.
Above: sketch of the ‘entertainment’ for Queen Elizabeth at Elvetham Hall from a Broadsheet printed in 1591.
Given at Westminster18 Jun 1561, the first line of the charter is decorated and includes a portrait of the Queen, the words 'Vivat Regina' in a capital E and the royal arms and supporters.
The well-known poet and playwright William Shakespeare is said to have written a number of sonnets especially for the event, and it is thought that his play ‘A Midsummer Nights Dream’ was first performed there before the Queen. Other entertainments included tennis, an opera and fireworks performed from the island in the great pond as seen above.
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