Virtual Grub Street: Lady Anne’s Alms, a Banqueting-House, Fortnight Beards and much more!

It's that time, again!
It's Tudor Trivia Tuesday!

1) The city of Coventry was visited by pestilence in the years 1350, 1564, 1574, 1578, 1603, and 1625.

2) The house William Shakspere of Stratford upon Avon dubbed “New Place” was originally erected by Sir Hugh Clopton, Knt. during the reign of Henry VII. and was called the Great House in Sir Hugh's will.

3) In the reign of Henry the VIII. there were nine parliaments; the average duration of which did not much exceed one year and eight months: the longest being five years, five months, and one day; and the shortest one month and two days.

4) Lady Anne Dacre's alms houses were founded in the year 1601. In her will she directed that out of the revenues of her estates, her executor should, in case she did not live to accomplish it herself, build a neat and convenient house with rooms for twenty poor grown persons and another for twenty poor children.

5) In the year 1581, was held a most sumptuous tournament, in honor of the commissioners sent from the duke of Anjou, to propose a marriage with Queen Elizabeth. A banqueting-house at the expense of 1,700l. was erected, and most superbly ornamented. 'The galleries adjoining to her majesty's house at Whitehall,' says Holinshed, 'whereat her person should be placed, was called, and not without cause, the castell, or fortresse of perfect beautie!' The queen, then in her forty-eighth year, received every flattery that the charms of fifteen could claim. ‘The fortresse of perfect beautie was assailed by Desire, and his four foster children.'

6) The Antiquarian Society was first formed in London about the year 1580 at the head of which was Archbishop Parker. Their first meetings were held weekly, at the house of sir William Dethick, knight, garter king at arms, in the College of Heralds.

7) In the first year of Queen Elizabeth’s reign, it was ‘ordered, that no fellow of [Lincoln Inn] should wear a beard above a fortnight's growth,' under the penalty of loss of commons; and, in case of obstinacy, of final expulsion. Such was the love for long beards, however, that it triumphed at last over every restriction; and, in November, 1562, all previous orders touching beards were repealed.

8) Elizabeth succeeded, however, ordering watches to be set at each gate of the city of London, in enforcing the rule that no man's sword exceed three feet in length. The inns of court gentlemen were farther obliged to lay their rapiers aside on entering their halls and to content themselves with their daggers.

9) Philip Henslowe put more in his diary than theater business. Among the many recipes and charms he entered is one for causing someone to recall in their sleep where they have misplaced an item.

Take vergine waxe & write vpon yt Jasper + melchiser

+ Balthasar + & put yt vnder his head to whome

the good partayneth & he shall knowe in his sleape wher

the thinges is become

10) The invention of striking watches is ascribed to Peter Hele, of Nuremberg, about the year 1510.

Many of these facts are taken all or in part from the History and Antiquities of London, and A Topographical and Historical Description of the County of Warwick.