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and Queen, persons of high estate, and the abbats of religious Houses, to perform their Maundy; that is to wash the feet of a certain number of poor people, frequently twelve, in imitation of Our Saviour's washing the feet of his disciples. The Kings and Queens of England, indeed, increased the number, and usually washed the feet of as many persons either as they themselves were years old, or had reigned. They afterwards gave them meat, clothing, and a little bag of small money.

Catherine of Arragon, having been declared PRINCESS DOWAGER OF WALES only, in the parliament held at the beginning of 1533, appears to have seized upon the practice of this Ceremony as affording her a quiet opportunity of asserting her right as Queen, at least till her marriage had been dissolved by the Pope. The Letter announcing the King's refusal to let her perform the ceremony in any other character than that of Princess Dowager is now before the reader.

King James the Second was the last of our Kings who washed the feet of the poor people in person. The author of "Le Guide de Londres pour les E'trangers," 8° Lond. 1693. informs us that King William the Third was the first of our Sovereigns who deputed the performance of this ceremony to his Almoner.

From the Earl of Northumberland's Household Book, begun in 1512, we find that he kept his Maundy, if at home, for as many poor men as he was years of age. Wolsey also, in 1530, performed the same ceremony at the Abbey of Peterborough while on his Journey to the North. "Upon Palme Sunday," says Cavendish, "he bare his palme and went in procession, with the monks, setting forth the divine service right honorably with such singing men as he then had there of his own. And upon MaundyThursday he made his Maundy there, in our Lady's chapel, having fiftynine poor men, whose feet he washed and kissed; and after he had wiped them, he gave every of the said poor men twelve pence in money, three ells of good canvass to make them shirts, a pair of new shoes, a cast of red herrings, and three white herrings; and one of these had two shillings."

a

It may not be quite unconnected with this subject to state, that the Maundy is likewise used at the present day in the Greek Church. Dr. E. D. Clarke in his Travels in Russia, 4to. Cambr. 1810. vol. i. p. 55. says, “the second grand ceremony of this Season takes place on Thursday before Easter, at noon, when the archbishop of Moscow washes the feet of the Apostles. This we also witnessed. The priests appeared in their most gorgeous apparel. Twelve monks, designed to represent the twelve Apostles, were placed in a semicircle before the archbishop. The ceremony is performed in the Cathedral, which is crowded with spectators. The archbishop, performing all, and much more than is related of our Saviour in the

a Cavend. Life of Wolscy, Wordsworth's Edit. p. 485.

thirteenth chapter of St. John, takes off his robes, girds up his loins with a towel, and proceeds to wash the feet of them all, until he comes to the representative of St. Peter, who rises; and the same interlocution takes place as between our Saviour and that Apostle."

MAISTER Secretarie after moost herty recommendacions, this shall be to advertise you that the Kings Highnes hath had consultation with my Lord of Norffolk and with me, upon the contents of the Lettre herein inclosed. And forasmoch as it appereth by the said Lettre that the Lady Princesse Dowager intendeth to kepe a Maundy, alledging for her self that my Lady the Kings Grauntdame during her lif kept a yerely Maundy, and that diverse and many Houses of Relygion within this Reame dooth yerely the same, she thinketh her selff as far bounde, and maye as well kepe a Maundy as they. His Highnes pleassor is that ye doo advertise her Officers, whose names bee subscribed in the same Lettre, that in caas she wilbe contented to kepe her Maundy in her Chamber, secretely, or openly, in the name of Princesse Dowager, in like maner as my Lady the Kings graunt-dame did in the name of the Countesse of Richemount and Derby, his Highnes is right wel contented that she shall kepe her said Maundy as honorably and liberally as any Lady hath within this Reame, the Quenes Grace excepted; and if she will refuce so to doo, but alledge that she woll kepe her said Maundy in the name of Quene, that then they shall shewe unto her that yf she shulde attempte

soo to doo, that not oonly she but also.

a and all suche pore people as shulde receyve her said Maundy shuld encurre to farre in daungier of . . Lawes, and of High Treason, which they cannot ner in any wise maye suffer and that they see she shall have no Maundy otherwise then in the name of Princesse dowager. And thus the blessed Trinitie have you in his blessed preservacion. At Richemount this . . . . . day at night

Yo' hon"..

"THE xviiith, day of December this year," says Hall," the duke of Suffolk was sent by the King and his Council to Bugden beside Huntingdon, where the Lady Catherine Princess Dowager lay. For the King was advertised, and had good proofs of the same, that she of froward mind would consent, neither to the determination of the Universities, nor yet to the sentence of the whole convocation of the Realme, but being counselled by a few Spaniards which had little learning, did all that she could to infringe the determination of the said Universities and Clergy. Insomuch that she wrote to the Pope and other potentates to grieve the King and his realme, because he would not follow her mind and break the commandment of God. Wherefore the King's Council motioned the King that such as were about her and moved her thereto, should be put from her, for thei thought it no reason that she should have such liberty to work that thing by the which the King and his realm might have detriment or damage. Wherefore the said Duke was sent to her, which shewed to her openly Articles of her suits to the Pope, and how she sought means to grieve the King and his realm, which hereafter she should not be suffered to do. For the same time was a curse sent from the Pope which accursed both the King and the whole realme, which curse the bearer thereof, being not by like the hardiest man that ever shewed himself in front of battle, thought it a great deal more better for him to bestow it without the King's reach than to adventure to come within his dominions, and therefore set it up in the town of Dunkirk in Flanders, where it was taken down by William Locke mercer of London. The Queen answered the Duke very highly and obstinately, with many

a f. they.

high words, and suddenly in a fury she departed from him into her Privy Chamber, and shut the door. He, seing that, brake all the order of the Queen's court, and discharged a great sort of her household servants, and yet left there a convenient number to serve her like a Princess. There was great lamentation among them that departed, but there was no remedy. Then they that remained to serve her were sworn to serve her as a Princess Dowager, and not as Queen. Some said they were sworn to her as Queen, and otherwise they would not serve, and so they departed. Other that were sworne to serve her as Princess, and remained there, she them utterly refused for her servants: wherefore she remained with the less number of servants." a

LETTER CXI.

The Princess Mary to Secretary Cromwell.

[MS. COTTON. VESP. F. III. fol. 18. Orig.]

MARYE PRINCESSE.

MAISTER Cromewell I commende me to you, and hertely thanke you for your kyndenes and favor lately shewed at my desyre unto my servante Richard Wilbram in the bihalfe of his father. I nowe eftsones desire and hertely praye you to shewe your laufull favor and goodnes unto Sir Rice Mauncell this beirer, in suche matters and buysenes as he is a suter unto you; for the said Sir Rice hathe maried oon of my gentilwomen, whome, for her long and acceptable service to me done, I myche esteme and favor. Wherfore if ye wolde, at this my desyre, extende your goodnes

Hall, Chron. ut supr. pp. 807, 808.

and favor unto him in that bihalfe, so that he myght perceive his said suit th'rather therby to take good effecte, ye theryn shulde mynestre unto me veraye acceptable pleasor, whiche I shall herafter remembre accordingly. From Otforde the xxvijth daye of June.

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King Henry the Eighth to the Lord Steward and other Officers of the Household, appointing the Diet for the Lady Lucy. A. D. 1533.

[FROM THE ORIGINAL IN THE CHAPTER HOUSE AT WESTMINSTER.]

The particular post which the Lady Lucy held at Court has not occurred to the editor of the present Volumes. She was probably one of the Ladies of the bed-chamber. The allowance of diet, from its quantity, must have included provision for her ordinary servants.

HENRY R.

By the King.

WE wol and commaunde you to alleuea dailly from hensforth, unto our right dere and welbilovede the Lady Lucye, into hir Chambre, the dyat and fare herafter ensuyng. Furst, every mornyng at Brekefast oon Chyne of Beyf at our Kechyn; oon chete loff and oon maunchet at our Pantry barr; and a galon of Ale at our Buttrye barr. Item, at Dyner a pese of Beyfe, a stroke of Roste, and a Rewarde at our said kechyn;

• allow.

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