Diary: 1551

The Diary of Henry Machyn, Citizen and Merchant-Taylor of London, 1550-1563. Originally published by Camden Society, London, 1848.

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'Diary: 1551', in The Diary of Henry Machyn, Citizen and Merchant-Taylor of London, 1550-1563, (London, 1848) pp. 3-13. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/camden-record-soc/vol42/pp3-13 [accessed 26 April 2024]

1551

The xiiij day of Feybruarii was dysposyd of ys bysshoppr [icke] of Wynchestur, the old bysshope M. Stevyn (fn. 1) Gardener, and cared in to the Towre—the v yer K. E. vjth.

. . . . . and the compyny of the Clarkes . . . cheyffe mornar was sir Garves Clyfftun and M. . . . . dyd pryche ther, and after they whent to dener unto the [earl of] Ruttland plasse in Wyttyngton Colege parryche.

The vij day of Marche was bered my lord Wentworth, the lord Chamburlayn of the kynges howse, in Westminster abbay, in the sam chapell that the old abbatt was be [red; there] was iiij of the cheyffe harolds ther, M. Garter, M. Clar [enceux,] M. Yorke, M. Chester, beyryng the cote armur, the elmett, t[arget], then cam the standard, and then mornars alle in blake . . . and a C. chylderyn and prestes and clarkes in ther surpl[ices; then] the cors with iiij baners rolles, and the qwyre was hangyd [with black] and the raylles and armes. Mylles Coverdalle dyd pryche, and ther [was a grett] dolle, and a grett compeny of lordes and knyghtes and genty[lmen] morners.

The ix day of Marche was a proclamasyon that no [man or] woman shuld nott ett no flesse in lent, nor fryday, nor [wednesday] thrught the yere, nor ymberyng days, nor no days that ys co[ndemned?] by the chyrche apone payne of forfyte.

The xiiij day of Marche was hangyd, in Smyth-feld, on John Mosbe and ys syster, for the death (fn. 2) of a gentyll man of Feyversham, one M. Arden the custemer, and ys owne wyff was decaul. . . . . and she was burnyd at Canturbery and her sarvand hangyd ther, and ij at Feyversham and on at Hospryng, and nodur in the he way to Canturbery, for the death (fn. 3) of M. Arden of Feyversham. [and at Flusshyng was bernyd Blake Tome (fn. 4) for the sam deth of M. Arden. (fn. 5).]

The xiiij day of Marche wa(s) raynyd at the yeld-halle a C. mareners for robyng on the see, and the captayne, behyng a Skott, (fn. 6) was cared to Nugate the sam day, and serten cast. (fn. 7)

The sam day was cared in-to Norfoke on (fn. 8) Wyth, a grett ryche man, and he was condemnyth to be drane and hangyd, for the besenes that was done in Norffoke, at ys owne dore.

[The xv day the Lady Mary rode through London unto St. John's, her place, with fifty knights and gentlemen in velvet coats and chains of gold afore] her, and after her iiij [score gentlemen and ladies, every] one havyng a peyre of bedes (fn. 9) [of black. She rode through] Chepe-syde and thrugh Smythfeld, —the v. K. E. vj.

The xvij day my lade Marie rod thrugh from Saynt [John's through] Flettstrett (fn. 10) unto the court to Westmynster [with many] nobull men of lordes and knyghtes and gentyllmen and ladies and gentyllwomen, and at the court gatte she a-lyttyd, and M. [Wingfield], the comtroller of the kynges howse, and mony lordes and [knights], and so she was browth thrught the halle unto the cham[ber of] pressens; and so she tared there and ade a goodly ba[nquet] ij owrs, and sone after she toke her horse and rod unto Sy[nt John's ;] and ther she laie alle nyght, and on the morowe her [Grace] rod to Nuw Hall in Exsex, and ther byd yn grasse (fn. 11) with honor, thanke be God and the kyng her brodur.

The iij day of May ther was a grett tryhumpe at Grenwyche. The Kyng and alle ys compeny wher alle blacke and whyt, fott men and trumpeters, hats, clokes, and baners blacke and whytt, and speres; and the thodur parte was the yerle of Harfford, and a grett compeny of lords and knyghts, alle yonge men, and trompeters, ther hats, baners, and fott men alle in yelow, and so they rayne [at the] rynge, and at tornay with swords—the v yer K. E. vjth.

The xiiij day of May, Chestur the reseyver (fn. 12) toke possessyon [of] the halle of the compeny of the Clarkes of London by fre . . the gentyllman, of wyche they have as sure a corporasyon [as] any haff in London, has I pray God gyff ym ylle sped, be [cause] of the pore men and women and other that yff they had falne to a [sudden] poverte ther they wher sure of a onest lyvyng as longe as [life did last.]

The xv day of May was bered my lade Hobullthorne, late [mayoress] of London, with ij harolds, iiij penons of armes, and ther was [the] Clarkes of London, and ther had powre men and women had many fryse gownes, and ther was iiij aldermen mornars, and ij of them knyghts, and ther a grett dolle (fn. 13) was, and the morow a grett dener.

. . . . . for the spasse of xiiij days.

The xxij day of Maij was bered my lade Mores, wyff of sir Crystoffer Mores knyght, and the M. of [the Ordnance] by kyng Henry the viijth, the wyche he ded of the h . . at Bullayn, and she ded in saynt Peters in Cornhyll . . . in saynt Towlles (fn. 13) in the Oll' Jury, and ther she . . . her first husband, with ij harolds; and she gayff . . . men and women vijxx mantylls, fryse gownes, and o[ther] gownes and cotts a iiijxx, and then cam the corse [with banners] of armes borne abowt her, with iiij morners . . . . dyd pryche the Skott the curett, and a gret dolle and a gret [dinner] as I have sene off fysse and odur thynges.

The xxv day of May was be syd Rygatt and Croydon, Suttun, and Darkyng, a grett wondernus of herth (fn. 15) . . . and spesshall (fn. 16) at Darkyng, and in dyvers plasys . . . . pottes, panes, and dyssys donst, (fn. 17) and mett (fn. 18) felle doune . . . abowt howse, and with mony odur thyngs.

The xxxj day of May my lord the yerle of Darbe [came] to Clessay (fn. 19) owt of the North, with a goodly compeny of men and horssys.

The v day of Juin cam to Clessay the yerle of Shrusbery with vijxx hors, and a-for hym xl welvet cotts and chynes, (fn. 20) and in ys owne leveray, to hys plasse, and the resyduw of ys servandes.

The vj day of July the Kynges grace rod thrugh Grenwyche parke unto Blake heth, and my lord of Darbe, and my lord of Warwyke, and my lord admerall Clyntun, and sir Wylliam Harbard, and odur lordes and knyghts and gentyllmen, and trumpeters playhyng, and alle the gardes in ther dobelets and ther hosse, with bowes and arowes and halbards ij and ij to-gether, and the Kynges grace in the myds on horsse-bake, and ther the Kynges grace ran at the ryng on Blake heth with lordes and knyghtes. [The earl of Warwick met the King there with a hundred men of arms, and great horses, and gentlemen] in clothe, and brodered the alffe, and the same night the Kyng suppyd at Depforth (fn. 21) in a shype with my lord Admyral, [and the lords] of the conselle, and with many gentylmen.

The vij day of July begane a nuw swet in London, and . . . ded my lord Crumwell in Leseter-shyre, and was bered [with a stand] ard, a baner of armes, and cote, elmett, sword, targett, and sc [ochyons, and] harold; and the sam tyme ded my lord Powes, and the x day [at W]ollwyche, sir John Lutterell, knyght, a nobull captayne.

The viij day of July was a plage, and a proclamasyon that [a testern shou]ld be but ixd, and a grot iijd; and anodur proclamasyon cam [out the] xviij day of August, that testerns cryd at vjd a pese; a grot [at ijd]; ijd but jd; and a jd ob.; and a alpeny a fardyng.

The x day of July the Kynges grace removyd from Westmynster unto Hamtun courte, for ther ded (fn. 22) serten besyd the court, and [that] causyd the Kynges grase to be gone so sune, for ther ded in Lo[ndon] mony marchants and grett ryche men and women, and yonge men and [old], of the nuw swett,—the v of K. E. vjth.

The xij day of July ded sir Thomas Speke knyght in Chanseler lane,z in saynt Donstonys parryche in the whest, at ys owne howsse; he fell [sick] in the court; and was bered with standard, penon, cote armur, elmet, sword, and target; and vj dosen of shokchyons of armes, and the compeny of the Clarkes; and the sam day ded on of the Gard, and bered ther by.

The xiij day of July ded the old knyght and gentyll sir John [Wallop] and knyght of the nobull order of the garter, and captayn of the castyll [of Gynes], for he was a nobull captayne as ever was, the wyche I [pray] Jhesu have mercy on ys solle; and he was bered with standard and [banners] of ys armes, cote armur, elmet, target of the garter, sw[ord,] and viij dosen of skochyons; and a marmed (fn. 24) was ys crest; and [in his] stede ys chossen captayn sir Andrew Dudley knyght of the ga[rter.]

The xvj day of July ded of the swet the ij yonge dukes of Suffoke of the swet, boyth in one bed in Chambryge-shyre; and [buried] at (blank in MS.); and ther ded from the viij day of July unto the xix ded of the swett in London of all dyssesus, (fn. 25) viijc. iijxx. and xij. and no more in alle, and so the chanseller is serteffyd.

The ensuing imperfect passage probably relates to the funeral of sir Peryn Negroo knt. (Strype, Mem. ii. 279.)

. . . . .targett, elmet, and sword . . . and apone the castyll a man with a shurt of . . . hand and with xij stayffes, torchys bornyng . . . flut playng, hoveles, and ys flag borne, and . . . . . in the grond, and the stret honge with blake with ys armes . . . ther dyd pryche the Doyttur Bartelet, and ther was the compeny [of Clarkes,] and a harold of armes, and mony morners of capt. . .

The xxvij day of July was the nuw bisshope of W. . . was devorsyd from the bucher wyff with shame enog[h.]

The xx day of August was the berehyng of M. Har[ry Wylliam] sqwyre, sune and here unto sir John Wylliam knyght, with [banners of] armes and cote armur, and iiij dosen of schochyons,—the v.K.E. vj.

The xxj day of August bered yonge M. Sandes, sun unto the lord Sandes, sqwyre, with a penon and cote armur [and] iiij dosen of skochyons,—the v. K. E. vj.

The xxij day of August was bered sir Recherd Ly[ster], sune and here to the lord cheyffe Justes, with standard, penon, and a baner rolle, target, elmet, and vj dosen of [skochyons].

The xxiij day of August ded the bysshope of Lynckolne, (fn. 26) —the v yer of Kyng Edward the vjt.

The xxiij day [of] August the Kynges grace went from Amton courte unto Wyndsore, and ther was stallyd the Frenche Kyng of the nobull order of the garter, with a grett baner of armes inbrodered with flowrs delusys of gold bosted, the mantylls of tysshuw, and the elmett clene gylt and ys sword; and the goodly gere was. (fn. 27).

The iiij day of September ded my lade Admerell' wyffe (fn. 28) in Lynkolne-shyre, and ther bered.

The v day of September was bered serjant Heth, and of the Kynges bake howse, and was bered at Lyntun at M. Parryche sqwyre, in the conte of Cambrygshyre. . . . . . . . . . . . . chyke, and hard cheysse ob fardyng . . .

The xxj day of September ded M. Roger [ . . of] the Catre one to (fn. 29) owre soverayn lord kyng Edward the vjth, and bered at (blank).

The xxij day of September was the monyth ['s mind of the] ij dukkes of Suffoke in Chambryge-shyre, with [ij] standards, ij baners grett of armes and large, and banars rolles of dyver armes, with ij elmets, ij [swords, ij] targetts crownyd, ij cotes of armes, ij crests, and [ten dozen] of schochyons crounyd; and yt was grett pete of [their] dethe, and yt had plesyd God, of so nobull a stok they wher, for ther ys no more left of them.

The xxix day of September was Saynt Myghell, the Kyng grase dyd where (fn. 30) the robes of order of [Saint] Myghell with skalopshells of Franse; and the sam tyme was chossen of the order of the gar ter the lord chamburlayne Darcy, in the plasse of ser John Wallop knyght of the gartter and captayn of Gynes.

The ix day of October was stallyd at Wyndsore the lord chamburlayne Darcy knyght of the garter.

The same day was bered Gylles the kynges bere [-brewer] dwellyng at Sant Katheryns, and bered at Algate, with ys armes, and the craft of the Bruars; the wyche he ded with a chrache (fn. 31) of ys lege, and bled to deth.

The xv day of October was had to the Towre the duke of Somersett and and the lord Gray.

The xvj day of October was had to the Towre the duches of Somersett and Sir Raff a Vane and Sir John Thyn, [as also Sir Thomas Holcroft, Sir Michael Stanhope, Mr. Hammond, Mr. John Seimour, Mr. Walley, Mr. Nudigate, Mr. Banister, Mr. Brayne, Mr. Crane and his wife, (fn. 32) ] Sir Myles Parterege, and Sir Thomas Aru[ndell and Lady].

The xxj day of October was cared [to the Tower] my lord Pagett by the gard—the v yer K. [E. vjt.]

The xj day of October wher creatyd [at Hampton] curtte my lord marqwes Dorsett duke of Suffolk; the yerle of Warwyke duke of Northumburland; [the earl] of Wyllshere created the marqwes of Wyncha[ster; sir] Wylliam Harbard made lord of Cardyff, and after the yerle of Penbroke; and knyghtes mad the sam [time, sir William] Syssyll, (fn. 33) secretery, knyght, and M. Hare (fn. 34) Nevylle knyght, [sir William] Sydney knyght, and M. Cheke, the kynges scollmaster.

The xxij day of October was alle the craftes [of London] commandyd to go to ther halles, and ther yt was [shewed] them that the duke of Somersett wold have taken the Towre, and to have taken the brod-selle, and to have [destroyed] the cete, (fn. 35) and then to go to the ylle of Whyth; and so evere craft to ward at evere gatt in London, and to have a rydyng wache thrugh the cete,—the v K. E. the vjth.

The ij day of November cam to Londun from Hamton courtte and landyd at Benard castyll the old Qwyne of Schottes, and cam rydyng to the bysshope('s) palles at Powlles with many lordes, the duke of Suffoke, my lord marqwes of Northamptun, my lord of Warwyke, the lord Welebe, my lord Haward, my lord Rosselle, lord Bray, and dyvers mo lords and knyghtes and gentyllmen, and then cam the Qwyne of Schottes and alle owre lades and her gentyll women and owre gentyll women to (fn. 36) the nomber of a C. and ther was sent her mony grett gyftes by the mayre and aldermen, as beyffes, mottuns, velles, swines, bred, wylld ffulle, wyne, bere, spysys, and alle thyngs, and qwaylles, sturgeon, wod and colles, and samons, by dyver men.

[The iiij day of November the Queen rode unto the court, attended with a great train of noblemen, gentlemen, and ladies. At the Court gate stood all the guards in their best coats.] Ther the yerle of Pe [mbroke saluted her and brought her] to the hall dore, and ther mett her the duke [of Northumberland] and broyth her into the hall, and ther mett the [King's grace, who salu]tyd her, and dyd inbrasse her and kyssyd her, and [took her by] the hand, and led her up in to the chambur of [presence; and] so ther was a bankett, and so when all was [done, the Queen] toke her horsse and was browght unto the bysshopes palesse to soper, and ther she laye ther tyll the (blank)

The vj day of November the Qwyne rod thrught [London] to Bysshope-gatt, and the duke of Northumberland [and a hundred] of grett horsys and cotes of welvet in-brodery, [with] hats of velvet and whyt fethers and chynes (fn. 37) of gold; [and the] yerle of Penbroke with a C. gret horsses, cotes gardy [d with] velvet, and chynes, (fn. 37) hats and whyt fethers, and every [man] havyng a new gayffelyns (fn. 38) in ther hands, and a bage (fn. 39); and then cam the lord Tresorer with a C. gret horsse and ther cotes of marbull, with bage the facon (fn. 40) of gold and gayffelins; and with gret nombur of lords and knyghts, and gentyllmen and lades; and ther the Qwyne reseyvyd of the chamburlain of London at the gatt a C. marke owt of the chambur.

The viij day of November was cared to the Towre the good yerlle of Arundell and my lord Pagett.

The xxv day of November was cared to the Towre the lord Dacurs of the North,—the v yer kyng Edward the vjt.

The xxx day of November ther was a grett skaffold mad in Westmynster halle agaynst the next day, that was [the] ffurst day of Desember, for the duke of Somersett, the [which] was raynyd of tresun and qwyt of ytt, and cast of fe[lony], and ther was shyth a shutt (fn. 41) of men and women, for they thowght that he had byne qwytt, for [they] thruw a C. caps on he (fn. 42) for gladnes, for ther was mony lost ther . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . and the stret hangyd with blake . . . mantyll frysse gowne boyth . . . meny blake gownes, and then cam the cors with . . . of armes borne a-bowt her, and a gret . . . and ther was the compeny of the Clarkes, and a gret . . .

The vij day of Desember at Hyd parke a gret muster of men of armes: the furst the kynges trumpeters; [then] my lord Bray, in gylt harnes, captayn of the pe[nsioners, and a] gret baner of the kynges armes ; and then cam the pensyoners in caumplet (fn. 43) harnes, and gret hars (fn. 44), in [white and] blake, v and v a ranke, and after them cam the[ir servants, in number] a C. with grett harse (fn. 44), and harnes in whyt and blake, [and speres]. The secound my lord Tresorer, a C. men of (fn. 45) arms, broderyd cott, red and whyt, and ther spers, ys [standard] a faucon of gold. The iij was [the] duke of Northumberland, with [C. men] of armes in welvet in-brodery, trumpeters, [his standard] a lyon crounyd gold. The iiij my lord marqws Northamtun a C. men of armes, in yelow and [black], spers and pensels and trumpeters. The yerlle of Bedford a C. men of armes and [in] red and whyt, ys standard a gott (fn. 46) whyt, and a trumpeter, and pensels and spers, cotes red and whyt and blake. The yerle of Rottland a C. men of armes in yelow and bluw; ys standard a pekoke, and pensels. The yerle of Huntyntun men of armes 1. in bluw, and speres, and standard, and pensels. The yerle of Penbroke C. men of armes. My lord Cobam 1. men of armes, in blak and whyt. My lord Chamburlayne l. men of armes, cote(s) of whyt [and] red, and speres cotes in-brodere, and pensels. M. tresorer Cheyney a C. men of armes, all blake, and speres and pensells, by-syd costerells and geton. . . . . . and armes a-pone the blake at . . . pryche the Skott of saynt Peters in Cornhyll . . . the morow dyd pryche doythur (fn. 47) Bartelett a godly . . . at the berehyng was the masters and compeny of the . . .

Footnotes

  • 1. MS. Stheyn.
  • 2. MS. derth.
  • 3. MS. derth.
  • 4. Black Will in other accounts.
  • 5. This last line was added to the entry some time after it was written.
  • 6. MS. shott.
  • 7. i.e. some were condemned.
  • 8. one.
  • 9. Beads; "To make an open profession, no doubt," remarks Strype, "of their devotion for the Mass."
  • 10. MS. fflettrett.
  • 11. i. e. grace.
  • 12. In the margin is written, [I] pray God he be a good man.
  • 13. dole.
  • 14. St. Olave's.
  • 15. earthquake.
  • 16. specially.
  • 17. dishes danced?
  • 18. meat.
  • 19. Chelsea?
  • 20. chains.
  • 21. Deptford.
  • 22. died, of the Plague.
  • 23. Chancery Lane.
  • 24. mermaid.
  • 25. Sic in MS. the sense appears to be, that during the prevalence of the sweat there died of all diseases 872.
  • 26. Henry Holbech.
  • 27. Sic in MS.
  • 28. The wife of Edward Lord Clinton, Lord Admiral.
  • 29. i. e. unto.
  • 30. i. e. wear.
  • 31. i. e. scratch.
  • 32. Strype supplies these names, all apparently from our Diary, which is here burnt, the passage being at the top of a page.
  • 33. Cecil.
  • 34. Harry.
  • 35. city.
  • 36. MS. tho.
  • 37. chains.
  • 38. javelin.
  • 39. badge.
  • 40. falcon.
  • 41. such a shout.
  • 42. on high.
  • 43. complete.
  • 44. horse.
  • 45. MS. or.
  • 46. goat.
  • 47. doctor.