The following warrant for the allowance of the "diet" of a lady of the
bedchamber, will be found to be a good and curious illustration of the
Note of ANTIQUARIUS upon the domestic establishment of Queen Elizabeth,
although more than half a century earlier than the period referred to,
as it relates to the time of Elizabeth's majestic sire:--
"HENRY R.--By the King.
"We wol and commaunde you to allowe dailly from hensforth unto
our right dere and welbilovede the Lady Lucy into hir chambre
the dyat and fare herafter ensuying; Furst every mornyng at
brekefast oon chyne of beyf at our kechyn, oon chete loff and
oon maunchet at our panatry barre, and a Galon of Ale at our
Buttrye barre; Item at dyner a pese of beyfe, a stroke of roste,
and a rewarde at our said kechyn, a cast of chete bred at our
Panatrye barre, and a Galon of Ale at our Buttry barre; Item at
afternone a manchet at our Panatry bar and half a Galon of Ale
at our Buttrye barre; Item at supper a messe of Porage, a pese
of mutton and a Rewarde at our said kechyn, a cast of chete
brede at our Panatrye, and a Galon of Ale at our Buttrye; Item
at after supper a chete loff and a maunchet at our Panatry
barre, a Galon of Ale at our Buttrye barre, and half a Galon of
Wyne at our Seller barre; Item every mornyng at our Wood yarde
foure tall shyds and twoo ffagottes; Item at our Chaundrye barre
in winter every night oon pryket and foure syses of Waxe with
eight candelles white lights and oon torche; Item at our
Picherhouse wekely LIX white cuppes; Item at every tyme of our
remoeving oon hoole carre for the carriage of her stuff. And
these our lettres shal be your sufficient Warrant and discharge
in this behalf at all tymes herafter. Yeven under our Signet at
our Manour of Esthampstede the xvjth. day of July the xiiijth
year of our Reigne. {86}
"To the Lord Steward of our Household, the Treasurer,
Comptroller, Cofferer, Clerke of our Grene Clothe, Clerke of our
kechyn, and to all other our hed Officers of our seid Houshold
and to every of theym."
As to Sir Christopher Hatton, I would refer ANTIQUARIUS, and all other
whom it may concern, to Sir Harris Nicolas's ably written _Memoirs of
the "Dancing Chancellor"_, published in 1846. Hatton had amble means for
the building of Holdenby, as he was appointed one of the Gentlemen
Pensioners in 1564, and between that time and his appointment as
Vice-Chamberlain in 1577 (five years prior to the period referred to by
ANTIQUARIUS), he received numerous other gifts and offices.