We have already seen the lying-in instructions [link] that Margaret
Beaufort wrote for her daughter-in-law’s royal servants and visitors. The weeks
among lavish hangings and every possible protection, physical and emotional,
ended in a successful delivery, mother and son both healthy by all indications.
The kingdom had an heir.
The instructions are provided in the great antiquary John Leland’s
de rebus Britannicis collectanea, V4, where we also are informed of
details around the prince’s christening. All involved were aware that the
condition of mother and/or child could suddenly decline. In those days, a royal
child was baptized immediately in order to assure salvation should it suddenly
die.
ON St. Eustachius’ Day, which was in the Year of our Lord M.CCCC.LXXXVI.
the Dominical Letter A, and and the ijde Yere of the Reigne of our saide
Souveraigne, the Prince Arture was born at Winchester, whiche was the firste
begotten Sone of our said Souveraigne Lorde King Henry the VIIth,
and cristened in Manner and Forme as ensueth,…
The John, the 13th Earl of Oxford, was at his seat,
at Lavenham, at the time.
Why the Earls of Oxford chose the De Vere House at Lavenham,
apparently built by the 13th Earl, as a favorite residence is not
clear. Earls 13-16 were not courtiers. They seem to have preferred hunting to court
or city activities. Lavenham was equally distant from their castles at
Colchester and Hedingham and from a number of Royal forests in all of which
they likely had permission to hunt. Mostly, it was a wealthy village that
offered much greater distance from London.
The Earls had been on one side and another from the
beginning of the War of the Roses, and, by the greatest good fortune, Richard
III attainted John just in time for the spurned Earl to throw in his lot with the
future Henry VII. He had led his men brilliantly. Without him , Henry had
likely failed and he knew it. Leland continues:
…but not untill the Soneday next folowing, bycause th Erle of
Oxynforde was at that Tyme at Lanam[1]
in Suffolke, whiche shulde have ben on[e] of the Godfaders, at the Font, and also
that Season was al[l] rayny.
Christenings were particularly effective occasions to bond personally
and politically with essential noble allies. Oxford was to be godfather to the
prince — a high honor, indeed. Many more honors would follow.
In the meantime, the court and country celebrated.
Incont[i]nent[2]
after the Birth, Te Deum with Procession was songe in the Cathedrall Chirche,
and in all the Chyrches of that Citie; great and many Fi[re]s made in the
Streets, and Messengers lent to al[l] the [E]stat[e]s and Cities of the Realme
with that comfortable and good Tydynge, to whom were geven great Giftes. Over
al[l] Te Deum Laudamus songen, with Ringyng of Belles, and in the moest
Parties, Fi[re]s made in the Praysing of God, and the Rejoysing of every true
Englissman.
The prince had the good grace to be born just nine days before
Michaelmas, England’s great feast [link] that marked the end of the harvest and the
beginning of the business year. It is not immediately clear whether Henry
gave out more in the way of gifts and grants than any other Michaelmas term.
Knowing his well-deserved reputation, it seems likely he took advantage of the
coincidence to pay two occasions with one reward.
The cathedral made preparations for the time whenever it
should come.
al[l] the Cathedral Chyrche of Wynchester was hangede with
Clothes of Arras, and in the M[i]dell, beside the Font of the saide Chirche,
was ordeyned and prepared a solempne Fonte…
The font was raised on a dais seven steps above the floor. A
high cross was draped in red worsted. A rich canopy was raised above the dais
and the pure silver basin in the font.
Essex, Westmorland, Derby, Lord Strange, etc.: on Sunday,
the great Lords of the realm assembled. To take part in the ceremony was a high
honor.
And the Queen Elizabeth was in the Chirche abyding the Comyng
of the Prince. At whiche Tyme Tydings came that th Erle of Oxinforde was within
a Myle.
In high dramatic fashion, the great Earl of
Oxford arrived just in the nick of time.
After certeyn Ceremony, whan the [Gospel] was [done], Veni
Creator Spiritus was began, and solempnely songen by the Kings Chapell with
Org[a]ns, and Te Deum also. During whiche Season th Erle of Oxynforde
toke the Prince in his right Arme,…
The hulking warrior cradled his prince in his right arm for
the bishop of Worcester to speak his part and to sprinkle the princely head
with holy water.
The king received christening gifts after his servants eased
off the cloth of gold he had been wearing. For him, the coincidence of the christening
and Michaelmas meant even more gifts to be received.
Th’ Erle of Oxynforde gave a P[air] of gilte Basonns, with a
Sayer[3],
whiche were borne by Sir William Stone; th Erle of Derbye gave a riche Sa[ck]
of Golde coverede, whiche was borne by Sir Raynolde Bray: And the Lorde
Maltravers gave a Cofer of Golde, whiche was borne by Sir Charles of Somersett.
The messengers may already have gone out to negotiate for the
hand of the daughter of Isabel of Castile.
All quotes are from Joannis Lelandi antiquarii de rebus
Britannicis collectanea, V4, 204-207.
[1]
Lanam] Lavenham.
[2] Incont[i]nent]
Unable to hold back their emotions.
[3] Apparently
a pair of scales. An “assayer”.
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