HENRY VII.

nothing to do with the animal wolf. The first syllable is spelled in the Domesday Record, "Ulf," which was probably the name of some more ancient owner. The people of the neighbourhood still keep up the original pronunciation, calling it "Oolfall.”1

Between the laundry and the old farm house stood the mansion of Wulfhall, the residence first of the Esturmy and then of the Seymour family, about a mile outside of Savernake Forest, and commanding a view of it.

Sir John Seymour of Wulfhall, who died 1536 (28 Hen. VIII.), had married a Wentworth of Nettlested; by whom he had, with other children, the three so famous in English History, Jane Seymour (Queen of Henry VIII., and mother of Edward VI.), Edward Seymour, the Protector, and Thomas Seymour, Lord Sudeley, who married Queen Katherine Parr, widow of Henry VIII. There is every reason to believe that Queen Jane Seymour and her brothers were born at their father's house at Wulfhall; but the Registers of the parish of Great Bedwyn are not old enough to tell us. The Manor of Wulfhall, as appears from an old Survey, consisted at that time of about 1270 acres, including what was, and still is, called "Suddene Park," also a "Horse Park," and a "Red Deer Park." (Appendix, No. i.) About the house, which is said to have

1 The name in the Wiltshire Domesday is Ulfela. In the same volume we have an Ulf as a land-holder at Bradford-on-Avon. At Lincoln, in 1049, there was a Clerk of the name of Ulph: and at York they still show a horn of one Ulphus, a Dane. The name has come down to our own time. In the Obituary of the Times newspaper, in April last, appeared the death of John Burt Ulph, Esq., of St. Ives, Cornwall. Similarity of sound deceived Leland and Tanner. The former (Itin., ix., 36) calls it, in Latin, "Lupinum, villa splendida Semarii : also in his "Genethliacon, Edw. vi."

"Vergit in occasum fœcunda Severia tellus.
Illie Semarius, vir bello strenuus, amplam
Incoluit villam, quæ nomine dicta Lupinum.”

Tanner (Bibliot. Brit. Hibern.) speaks of certain Epistles written by Edward (the future Protector) son of John Seymour "de Puteo Lupino vulgo Wolf-hall." Puteus Lupinus, however, begging the learned Bishop Tanner's pardon, would not be first-rate Latin for Wolf-hall: but it would do, as Latin, for the Saxon "Wolf-hol," a wolf's pit or den. The derivation of Wulf-hall being thus obscure, etymologists may choose. To the writer, Ulf, as an owner's name, seems the most probable.

been timber-framed, there were several gardens, "the Great paled garden," "My Old lady's garden," and My Young Lady's garden.” There was a Long Gallery, a Little court, a Broad chamber: and a Chapel: as appears from these entries in the Household Book;

* Paid for a pastall for the Chapel, of 1 lb weight, 17d.”

+ Two morteyses for the Sepulchre, 13 lb. 18. 6d."

"Two tapers for the Chapel, 6d. Frankincense, 1d.

There was also a Kennel of Hounds. About the house was an Establishment of 44 men of various positions, and 7 females. The highest, the Steward, received £3 10s. Od. a year; the lowest, two Turnbroches (turnspits), each 138. 4d. a year. (Appendix, No. ii.)

Queen Jane Seymour was married at Wulfhall, in 1536, the year of her father's death. In the farm-yard is still standing the fine old barn made of wood and thatched, in which her wedding festivities were kept. The Rev. G. Stallard, of Grafton, has kindly furnished me with a drawing of it, for the purpose of being preserved in our Magazine, which is the more desirable, because the old barn is in a most dilapidated condition, especially as to the roof, and unless speedily restored will soon cease to be the national curiosity that it is. It is 172 feet long, by 26 feet wide, inside, and there are still to be seen, against some of the beams and walls, nails or hooks to which were attached the tapestry and hangings used to smarten it up for the dancers at Queen Jane's wedding. I was in hopes of being able to meet with all the particulars of that affair, but was disappointed. There is however, an account of part of the expenses of carpenter's work in altering Westminster Hall for her Coronation. (Appendix, No. iii.) She died October, 1537, after about a year-anda-half of married life.' In August, 1539, a few months before the King's next marriage, with Anne of Cleves, (which took place in January, 1540,) the King and his whole Court came down to Wulfhall on a visit to Edward Seymour, the late Queen Jane's brother, afterwards Protector, but at that time Earl of Hertford. Of this Royal visit every particular is preserved in the large Household

1

"Pastall: " meaning probably “Paschall." a large wax candle used at Easter.

+ Morteyses: a kind of taper.

1 For the account of some tapestry and bed furniture worked by Queen Jane Seymour, see Appendix, No. xix.

Barn in which the Wedding Festivities were held, on the Marriage of King Henry VIII,

with lane daughter of Sir John Seymour, of Wulfhall.

COWELLE ANASTATIC PRESS. IPS CH