A telling request is made, however, that the best of Elizabeth’s
furniture, jewels, etc., be set aside for the arrival of the new Queen. She
will soon follow behind.
As the Elizabeth’s Chamberlain, Lord Hunsdon, has been
quite ill for some time, James has appointed Lord Thomas Howard to be his
Chamberlain. In that role he will make the arrangements for the progress south.
He will officially be invested with the office in Theobalds on May 23.
To our right trusty and right wel-beloved Cousins and
Councellors, the Lords and others of our Privie Councell at London.
Right trusty and right well-beloved Cousins and Counsellors,
we greet you well. This day is Roger Ashton” come to us with the money sent by
you; for your diligence wherein used we give you our hartie thancks, and have
thought good to let you knowe that we are thus farre on our way, having made
our entry into this towne about four or five of the clocke in the afternoone,
and from hence we purpose within a day or two to remove to Newcastle, and so to
hasten towards you as much as convenyently we may; and will be at Burghley, as
you advise, we hope in short tyme, and there be glad to see you. But touching
your opynion that so farre we should come as it were in privat manner, and that
thither you would send us such provision as you should thinck to be needfull
for our honnor, we have thought good to let you understand that we could be
well contented so to do, were it not that our Citie of Yorke lyeth so neere in
our way as we cannot well passe by it; and, being a place of so much note in
these parts of our Kingdome, and the second Citie therof, and the country so
full of Nobillitie and Gentillmen of the best sort, we do think it fitt for our
honnor, and for the ostentation of our subjects in those quarters, to make our
Entry there in some such solempne maner as appertaynith to our dignitie.
Wherfore we require you, that all such things as you in your wisdomes thinck
meet for such a purpose, and which you intended to have sent to Burghley, that
you will cause them to be sent to Yorke, so as they may be there before we make
our Entry, and serve to do us honor at the same. For your owne persons we can
well be content to spare your travaile, the jorny being so long; and expect you
at Burghley, except anie of you that is able to abyde such travaile shall
thincke fitt to come to Yorke to us.
As touching our guard, because we are informed that the
custome of this Kingdome hath ben, that they should attend the corpse of the
Prince deceased untill the Funeralls, we can be well contented therein to do
that and all other honnor that we may unto the Queene defunct; and likewise for
the point of her enterrement to be done before our coming or after, we doe
referre it to your consideration, whether shall be more honor for her to have
it fynished before we come, or to have us present at it. For that we do so much
respect the dignitie to her appertayning, being not only successor to her in
the Kingdome, but so neere as we are of bloude, we will not stande so much upon
the ceremonies of our owne joy, but that we woulde have in that which
concernith her all that to be done, which may most testifie the honnor we doe
beare towards her memory. Wherfore as we referre this point to your
consideration, so do we desire to heare therein
your advises speedely, that we may frame our jorneys thereafter.
Further, forasmuch as we do intend to bring into this
Realme, as soone as possibly we can, both the Queene our Wyfe and our two elder
Children, which be able to abyde the travaile; we must recommend to your
consideration the sending hither of such Jewells' and other furnyture which did
appertaine to the late Queene, as you shall thincke to be meet for her estate;
and also coaches, horses, litters, and whatsoever els you shall thinck meet;
and in the doing thereof these shall be warrant to you to commaund those that
have the keeping of any such jewells or stuffes for the delyvery therof to you,
or to such persons as you shall appoint to receave and convey them to us. And
forasmuch as for many services necessarily to be attended both about the
Queene's Funeralls, our reception into the Cities and Townes of this our
Realme, and our Coronation, the use of a Lord Chamberlain is very needfull, and
that the Lord Hunsdon, who now hath that place, is not able, by reason of his
indisposition, to execute the services belonging to his charge, we have thought
good to appoint our right trustie and right welbeloved the Lord Thomas Howard
of Walden to exercise that place for the saide Lord Hunsdon; and for that
purpose we have directed our Lettres specially to him
Gyven under our signet at our towne of Barwick, the 6th of
Aprill 1603, the first yeare of our raigne of England.
Source: The Progresses, Processions, and Magnificent
Festivities, of King James the First…, Volume 1 (1828).
Also at Virtual Grub Street:
- Elizabeth I’s Progress to Cambridge University, 1564: The host is notified. March 15, 2021. “We learn from one Matthew Stokys, a beddle for the University, who kept a running record relating to matters of the progress,…”
- Sir Henry Bedingfeld’s Notes Regarding Princess Elizabeth in The Tower. February 7, 2021. “Itm, hir grace to have lib'tee to walke in the Gardeyn when so ever she doth comaunde, forenoone and afternoone,…”
- Gossip as History: The Murder of Amy Robsart. February 17, 2020. "The first sudden death Leicester was rumored to have caused was that of his wife, Amy Robsart, in 1560. In that year, it was still not clear whether the Queen would marry. But certainly not her beloved Leicester if he were married."
- Gossip as History: Anne Boleyn, Part 1. November 8, 2019. “This is more than just gossip, I submit. It is a vital part of the historical record.”
- Check out the English Renaissance Article Index for many more articles and reviews about this fascinating time and about the Shakespeare Authorship Question.
- Check out the Letters Index: Edward de Vere, 17th Earl of Oxford for many letters
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