Combing through patent rolls and other official documents, I end up catching little tidbits of information that I always intend to do something with later on. One of these is the trace of the people that make up the households of members of the royal family. And as so much of my research involved the period of the Wars of the Roses (this is why) I found out quite a bit about the household of one of its most resilient queens, Elizabeth Woodville.
This post is intended to be one I keep updating as I find more information, so check back or comment below with anyone I might have missed. It's not exhaustive, and will be definitely updated in the future. Her household was large, but encompassed many roles. In March 1465, the spring following her marriage, Edward granted her £757 ‘in part support of her expenses in her chamber’ so we know that her household cost more than this to run even from the beginning of her queenship. (CPR 1461-1467, p430)
The reference where the name is given follows their name. CPR is short for Calendar of Patent Rolls.
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| Elizabeth Woodville giving up the Duke of York. Rijksmuseum, Public Domain. |
Members of Elizabeth Woodville's household, 1464-1483
Servants
Alice Hulcote, 'a servant'. (CPR 1476-1484, p351)
Alice Hulcote, 'a servant'. (CPR 1476-1484, p351)
Nursery and Childbearing
Note: Edward and Elizabeth set out very specific rules surrounding the care of their children, in particular the young Prince Edward. See A Collection of Ordinances, published by the Society of Antiquaries in London, in 1790.
Elizabeth Darcy, lady mistress of the king’s nursery rewarded in 1481 (CPR 1476-1485, p241)
Isabel Stidolf was nurse to Cecily, the daughter of Edward IV and Elizabeth Woodville (CPR 1476-1485, p226)
Isabel Stidolf was nurse to Cecily, the daughter of Edward IV and Elizabeth Woodville (CPR 1476-1485, p226)
Agnes Butteler nurse to Anne and George of Windsor (CPR 1476-1485, p157)
Marjorie Cobbe called in for births although not regular part of household (CPR 1467-1477, p547)
Administration and Daily Tasks
Richard Brampton, gentleman, of the pantry of the queen (CPR 1476-1485, p172)
John Yotton her secretary (CPR 1476-1485, p159)
John Yotton her secretary (CPR 1476-1485, p159)
William Burton gentleman of the queen’s ewry (CPR 1476-1485, p92)
William Witney, usher of the chamber of queen (CPR 1476-1485, p91-92)
William Witney, usher of the chamber of queen (CPR 1476-1485, p91-92)
Bishop of Carlisle, Henry Earl of Essex, Thomas Bouchier knight, William Alyngton, Richard Haute the elder, John Holcote, Thomas Stedolfe, John Staunford, Robert Broun Richard Isham justices appointed eyre of the queen in the forests granted to her. 1477. (CPR 1476-1485, p52)
Note: The Paston Letters refer to someone named Haute.
Nicholas Gaynesford usher of her chamber 1476 (CPR 1467-1477, p567)
Note: Nicholas served Edward IV and was one of those who raised the Buckingham Rebellion against Richard III in 1483. His wife Margaret served Elizabeth Woodville. Both are notably absent from Richard III and Anne Neville's household but return to serve Henry VII and Elizabeth of York after 1485. For more on Margaret and Nicholas see Forgotten Women of the Wars of the Roses by Pen and Sword Books.
William Thurlby gentleman cook of the queen
Wm Spenne yeoman of the pantry mentioned in December 1468 (CPR 1467-1477 p165)
John Gunthorp king’s clerk, secretary of the queen, appointed master of a college called King’s Hall at the University of Cambridge by Edward IV in 1467 (CPR 1467-1477 p32)
Wm Spenne yeoman of the pantry mentioned in December 1468 (CPR 1467-1477 p165)
John Gunthorp king’s clerk, secretary of the queen, appointed master of a college called King’s Hall at the University of Cambridge by Edward IV in 1467 (CPR 1467-1477 p32)
Master Thomas Brent was almoner (responsible for distributing money to the poor) (CPR 1476-1485, p138)
Prince Edward's Administration 1471+
Appointment of the king's consort Elizabeth, queen of England, the King’s kinsman Thomas, Cardinal Archbishop of Canterbury, George Clarence (*Edward IV's brother, executed in 1478 for treason), Richard Glos (*the future Richard III), Robert, Bishop of Bath and Wells and Chancellor, L. Bishop of Durham, E. Bishop of Carlisle, J. Bishop of Rochester, the king's kinsmen John, Earl of Shrewsbury, and Anthony, Earl of Ryvers (*Elizabeth Woodville's brother), Thomas, Abbot of Westminster, Chancellor of the king's firstborn son Edward, prince of Wales, William Hastynges of Hastynges, knight, the king's Chamberlain, Richard Fenys of Dacre, knight, Walter Devereux of Ferrers, knight, John Fog, knight, John Scot, knight, Thomas Vaghan, Chamberlain of the said prince, John Nedeham, knight, Richard Chokke, knight, Richard Fowler, Master Richard Martyn, clerk, William Alyngton, Richard Haute, John Sulyard and Geoffrey Coytemore as tutors and councillors of the said prince until he shall be of the age of fourteen years, with full power to administer his possessions within the principality of Wales, the duchy of Cornwall, the counties of Chester and Flint and elsewhere, to grant licences for ecclesiastical elections, to receive fealties, to present to churches and other benefices, to dispose of custodies of lands and marriages of heirs, to grant pardons, to appoint and remove stewards, sheriffs, bailiffs, reeves, chamberlains, escheators and other ministers and officers and to grant letters patent, provided that no office shall be granted for life or for a term of years but during pleasure of the said prince only. (1467-1477 CPR, p366)
Do you know of any I can add? Let me know in the comments below.
You might also like: The Women of the Princes in the Tower Mystery, Danielle Burton and Anthony Woodville - Sophisticate or Schemer?, and The Woodville Brides.
I explore some of the forgotten nurses, midwives, servants and other women of the period in book Forgotten Women of the Wars of the Roses, published by Pen and Sword. Order your copy here.
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1 Comments
Hello - thanks for posting ... had not seen the painting/engraving of Queen Elizabeth surrendering her son Richard Duke of York... very sad story about the young princes in the Tower of London. I am a direct descendant of Anthony Woodville, Earl Rivers, brother of Queen Elizabeth, wife of King Edward IV. Anthony is my 15th great-grandfather. Am descended from his only surviving illegitimat4e child, Margaret Woodville, who married my ancestor Sir Robert Poyntz. Through the Poyntz family I shave ancestors with late Princess Diana and her sons, Prince William and Harry. I just finished reading "The Woodvilles - The Wars of the Roses and England's Most Infamous Family" by Susan Higginbotham. I do not know if you can access Ancestry.com but if you can, the link to him is https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/26578538/person/26223664116/facts - if you want to contact me directly you can reach me at ..... grandypace at aol dot com. Thanks Randy Pace
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