The Royal Almshouse at Westminster c.1500-c.1600 Christine Merie Fox TNA E33/2 fo. 59r. Submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Royal Holloway, University of London 2012 1 Declaration I confirm that the work presented in this thesis is entirely my own work. ................................................. Date .......................................... 2 Abstract: The Royal Almshouse at Westminster c.1500 - c.1600 This dissertation provides a study of Henry VII’s almshouse at Westminster Abbey from its foundation, c.1500, throughout the Dissolutions of the sixteenth century, up to the Elizabethan Reformation; a period covering just over a hundred years. The almshouse was built in conjunction with Henry VII’s new Lady Chapel at Westminster Abbey and helped to support his chantry while providing care to ex-crown officials who had served the King and Abbey loyally. Henry VII’s Lady Chapel at the Abbey has been studied extensively but the almshouse has been omitted from most of these studies. There is an extensive and diverse range of primary source material, mostly in the Westminster Muniments [WAM], and National Archive [TNA] relating to the almshouse.1 These sources range from social, architectural, economic, and political aspects to the everyday functions of the almshouse. These sources also provide some detail about the almsmen. Surviving both the Dissolution of the Monasteries and the Reformation the almshouse has a remarkable history and was able to continue its service to the Crown until its demolition in 1779. Along with the primary source material relating to Henry VII’s almshouse, a contextual study of medieval almshouses will also be provided to highlight what was distinctive about Henry’s almshouse. In particular, this study intends to examine the foundations and administrations of the following almshouses: Richard Whittington’s almshouse founded in 1423/4 and overseen by the Mercer’s Company; God’s House in Ewelme founded in 1437 by William and Alice de le Pole, and finally, St. Cross at Winchester established by Henry VII’s great, great uncle Cardinal Beaufort. These were the grandest almshouses founded in England before Henry’s foundation, and 1 The British Library also has a number of important documents pertaining to Henry VII’s memorial. 3 exercised a significant influence on the style and administration of Henry’s almshouse at Westminster Abbey. The thesis is broken into four chapters. The first chapter focuses on the foundation of the almshouse using the original indentures established by the King and Abbot John Islip. The second chapter is an analysis of the endowment for Henry VII’s memorial at Westminster Abbey with a specific focus on provisions Henry made towards the almshouse. The third chapter looks at the almshouse site and buildings and how it survived the turbulent period of the Dissolution and reformations of the Abbey. Finally, the fourth chapter is an analysis of the almsmen and administration of the almshouse during the sixteenth century. This study will contribute to current work on the transformation of medieval charity into Protestant philanthropy; the practicalities of administering almshouses on a day to day basis; the topography and development of the vill of Westminster and, in particular, to a deeper understanding of the piety and charity of the last medieval and first Tudor King of England. 4 Table of Contents List of Abbreviations 7 List of Figures 9 List of Tables 10 Introduction 12 Chapter 1: Founding an Almshouse: A Study of the Indentures for Henry VII’s Memorial 45 i. Medieval Westminster ii. Henry VII’s Statutes for the Westminster Almshouse iii. The Will of Henry VII and his Memorial iv. Conclusion Chapter 2: The Endowment for Henry VII’s Memorial at Westminster Abbey 86 i. The Logistics of an Endowment ii. The Sources iii. Funding the Endowment of the Westminster Memorial iv. Endowment Properties Section A: Spiritual Properties Granted by Henry VII Section B: Spiritual and Temporal Properties Purchased by Abbot John Islip v. Further Analysis vi. Interim Periods and Refoundations 1540-1559 vii. Conclusion Chapter 3: The Almshouse Site and Buildings 126 i. The Expansion of Westminster ii. Ownership and Management of Westminster Abbey and the Almshouse Site iii. The Sources and the Site: How do we know? iv. The Almshouse Site and its Buildings Section A: The Western Section of the Almshouse Site Section B: The Eastern Section of the Almshouse Site v. Later History of the Almshouse and Subsequent Renovations vi. Almshouse Interior vii. Conclusion 5 Chapter 4: The Almsmen and Administration 186 i. Daily Life in the Almshouses According to the Statutes ii. Payments and Provisions iii. The Management of the Almshouse in the Period 1540-1545/6 iv. The Management of the Almshouse 1545/6-1557/8 v. The Management of the Almshouse 1558-1600 vi. Conclusion Conclusion 237 Appendices i. Abridged Transcription of BL, Harley MS 1498 251 Section A: Introduction and Description of the Manuscript Section B: Transcription ii. A Comparison of the Almshouse Statutes 278 iii. Warden’s Account Chart from 1502-1533 287 WAM, 24236-24242, 24244, 24246, 24248-24249 iv. Receiver’s Accounts for Henry VII’s Memorial: 292 WAM, 24243, 24245, 24247, 24250, 28043 v. Expenses for Henry VII’s Memorial at Westminster Abbey: Warden’s Accounts (1502-1533) 293 vi. The Transcription of the Seventeenth Century Copy of the Statutes of the Queen’s Almshouse at Westminster Collegiate Church. 295 Bibliography 297 6 List of Abbreviations Act Books Acts of the Dean and Chapter of Westminster 1543-1609, ed. by C. S. Knighton, 3 vols (Woodbridge, 1997 and 1999) BL British Library CCR (1500-1509) Calendar of Close Rolls Preserved in the Public Records Office, Henry VII 1500-1509, no ed., vol. 2, (London, 1963) CPR (1494-1509) Calendar of Patent Rolls Preserved in the Public Records Office, Henry VII 1494-1509, 2 vols (London, 1916) CSP Domestic Series with Addenda Calendar of State Papers, Domestic Series, of the Reign of Elizabeth 1601-1603; with Addenda, 1547-1565, no ed. (London, 1870) Colvin, The History of the King’s Works H. M. Colvin, and others eds., The History of The King’s Works 1485-1660, no ed., vol. 3, pt. 1 (London, 1975) Condon, ‘God Save the King!’ Margaret Condon, ‘God Save the King! Piety, propaganda and the perpetual memorial’, in Westminster Abbey: The Lady Chapel of Henry VII, ed. by Tim Tatton- Brown and Richard Mortimer (Woodbridge, 2003), pp. 59-98 Condon, ‘The Last Will of Henry VII’ Margaret Condon, ‘The Last will of Henry VII: document and text’, in Westminster Abbey: The Lady Chapel of Henry VII, ed. by Tim Tatton-Brown and Richard Mortimer (Woodbridge, 2003), pp. 99-140 Harvey, Westminster Abbey and its Estates Barbara Harvey, Westminster Abbey and its Estates in the Middle Ages (Oxford, 1977) HRO Hampshire Record Office 7 Letters and Papers Letters and Papers Foreign and Domestic of the Reign of Henry VIII, ed. by J. S. Brewer, J. Gardiner and R. H. Brodie, 35 vols (London, 1862-1932) LMA London Metropolitan Archives Rosser, Medieval Westminster Gervase Rosser, Medieval Westminster 1200-1540 (Oxford, 1989) TNA The National Archives VCH Victoria County History V & A Victoria and Albert Museum V.E. Valor Ecclesiasticus temp. Henry VIII, auctoritate regia institutis, ed. by J. Caley and J. Hunter, 6 vols (London, 1810-34) WAM Westminster Abbey Muniments 8 List of Figures Title Page TNA E33/2 fo. 59r. Abbot Islip receiving the indentures from Henry VII. Almsmen are shown behind Islip with long grey hair, prayer beads, and crowned badges on their gowns. Figure 0.1 Watercolour of Henry VII’s Almshouse by Dr. Claire Anne Martin 12 Figure 2.0 Map of Endowment Lands for Henry VII’s Memorial at Westminster Abbey c.1500-1530 97 Figure 3.0 Henry Keene’s Map is WAM 34508 A-J (c.1775) 130 Figure 3.1 (A) A. E. Henderson’s Map (Reproduction of Westminster Abbey c.1532 but Drawn 1938) 131 Figure 3.1 (B) Southeastern Corner of A. E. Henderson’s Map 132 Figure 3.2 Sketch Map of the Sixteenth Century Almshouse Complex 141 Figure 3.3 Sketch Plan of the Almshouse c.1719/20 (WAM 18410) 150 Figure 3.4 Sketch Plan of the Almshouse c.1779 (WAM 66003) 151 Figure 3.5 Reconstruction Sketch Plan of the Almsmen’s Living Accommodations Sixteenth Century 152 Figure 3.6(A) Plan of the Hospital of St. Cross in Winchester 155 Figure 3.6(B) Enlargement of the Southwest Corner of Hospital of St. Cross in Winchester 155 Figure 5.0 An Intercessory Lift 245 Figure 5.1 Queen’s Almsmen c.1966 250 9 List of Tables Table 0.1 Timeline for Henry VII’s Almshouse at Westminster Abbey 18 Table 0.2 Henry VII’s Bipartite and Septipartite Indentures 36 Table 1.0 Almsmen’s Wages 73 Table 1.1 Time Table for the Almsmen 76 Table 1.2 Weekly Mass Time Table for Henry’s Almsmen 77 Table 2.0 Endowment of Henry VII’s Memorial at Westminster Abbey: Properties Listed in the Indentures (BL, Harley MS 1498 ff. 52r-56v) and the Warden’s Accounts (WAM, 24326-24250, 28043) 92-3 Table 2.1 Total Average Income Gifted by Henry VII and Purchased by Abbot Islip for the Memorial (Warden’s Accounts) 103 Table 2.2 Average Annual Income Comparisons between Warden’s Accounts and Receiver’s Accounts (1515-1518) 111 Table 2.3 Henry VII’s memorial endowment properties’ contribution to the income of Westminster Abbey 1537-1539: WAM, 33332, 43947-8 114 Table 2.4 Henry VII’s Memorial Endowment Properties which Formed Part of the New Endowment for Westminster Cathedral, 1545: WAM, 6478 118 Table 3.0 Payments Made for the Building of the Almshouse and its Grounds 171 Table 3.1 First Part: Elizabethan Repairs (1566) 177 Table 3.2 Second Part: Elizabethan Repairs (1566) 179 Table 3.3 Third Part: Elizabethan Repairs (1566) 180 Table 4.0 Money Spent on the Almsmen Per Annum 201 Table 4.1 Expenditure Verses Income Per Annum in Pounds for Henry VII’s Memorial 203 Table 4.2 Almsmen List: Court of Augmentation Accounts 1541-1545/6 206 Table 4.3 Almsmen Payment List: Treasurer Accounts and Act Books 1547-1558 210 Table 4.4 Referral and Admittance of Almsmen According to the Act Books 1546-1558 211 10 Table 4.5 Almsman Payment List: Treasurer’s Accounts 1560-1600 (Parts 1-5) 220-24 Table 4.6 Referral Admittance of Almsmen According to the Act Books 1558-1600 225-26 11 Fig.