Many years ago I copied the following note from a volume of Berkshire
pedigrees in the British Museum, my reference to which is unluckily
lost.
"Queen Elizabeth, in her first progress at Maidenhithe Bridge,
being mett by all the Nobility, Kn'ts, and Esquires of Berks,
they kneeling on both sides of her way, shee alighted at the
bridge foot, and walked on foote through the midst, and coming
just agaynst Sir Henry Nevill of Billingbear, made a stay, and
leyd her glove on his head, saying, 'I am glad to see thee,
_Brother Henry_.' Hee, not pleased with the expression, swore
she would make the court believe hee was a bastard, at which
shee laughed, and passed on."
The masquing scene in _Henry VIII._, as described by Holinshed, perhaps
furnishes a clue to the Queen's pleasantry, though Shakspeare has
omitted the particular incident relating to Sir Henry Nevill. The old
chronicler, after giving an account of Wolsey's banquet, and the
entrance of a noble troop of strangers in masks, amongst whom he
suspected that the king made one, proceeds as follows:--
"Then the Lord Chamberlain said to the Cardinal, Sir, they
confesse that among them there is such a noble personage whom,
if your Grace can appointe out 'from the rest, he is content to
disclose himself and to accept your place.' Whereupon the
Cardinal, taking good advisement among them, at the last quoth
he, 'Me seemeth the gentleman in the black beard should be even
he.' And with that he arose out of his chaire and offered the
same to the gentleman in the black beard, with his cap in his
hand. The person to whom he offered the chaire was Sir Edward
Nevill, a comelie knight, that much more resembled the king's
person in that mask than anie other. The King perceiving the
Cardinal so deceived, could not forbear laughing, and pulled
down his visor and Maister Nevill's too."
Sir Edward Nevill of Aldington, in Kent, was the second surviving son of
George Nevill, Lord Abergavenny, and the father of Sir Henry Nevill
above mentioned, who laid the foundation-stone and built the body and
one wing of Billingbear House, which still belongs to his descendant.
Sir Edward Nevill was beheaded for high treason in 1538, his likeness to
Henry VIII. not saving him from the fate which befell so many of that
king's unhappy favourites.