Title:NICOLAS WOTTON to CROMWELL. [Passage of Anne of Cleves to England]
4 Dec.[1539] 634. NICOLAS WOTTON to CROMWELL.
It is purposed to send over the following persons (the writer gives some description of most of the persons named) with Lady Anne, to continue with her, Mistress Gylmyn, who is taken for first of her gentlewomen, because she was sent here by the King, and four servants; also the widow of the late lord of Wissem, sister to Willik, steward of Cleves, who is "howmestrinne," i.e., governor to the other gentlewomen, with five servants; five other young gentlewomen, one being a baron's daughter called Swartzenbroch, with three to wait on them; eight pages, one being son to the earl of Waldeck, my lady's cousin germain, an aged gentleman, named Tennagel, my lady's steward, formerly the Duke's waltgrave, i.e. master of forests, with six persons, eight young gentlemen, four with two servants, and four with one. There are also a secretary, a chaplain and others. Making in all 88 persons.
The following will come over with her but return:—The ambassadors of Saxe, the Marshal Dultzik, and the vice-chancellor Burgartus, the earl of Oversteyn, the steward Hoghesteyn, and Dr. Olisleger with their servants.
The following will come to Calais, but not cross unless the King desires it:—The young earl of Nuenare, whose wife is a kinswoman of my lady, and would have come but that she fell sick. He speaks Latin and French well besides his own tongue. With him is a gentleman named Roussenberg. Also the elder Palant, lord of Bredebent, one of the Duke's Council, John Buren, drossart or captain of Tolhuis, Hantzeler, drossart of Millen, the younger Palant, a knight of the Sepulchre (the elder Palant of Bredebent, and he be brothers and jolly fellows both), and 26 other gentlemen. There are also 13 trumpeters sent by the elector of Saxony and other officers and servants. The lady Keteler and the elder Palant's wife are also going. Total 263 persons, with 228 horses.
Hovemester Willik, one of the greatest men about the Duke, is left sick at Ravesteyn. Another drossart of that name also stayed at home, being diseased. He is not unlike the King in height and face, and of good knowledge and experience. The order in rank is Oversteyn, Newenare, Hoghesteyn, Olisleger, the elder Palant, and Tennagel; and of the ladies Mrs. Gylmyn, lady Keteler, the Hovemestrinne, and the elder Palant's wife. The gentlewomen's names are, Swartzenbroch, Brempt, Ossenbruch, Loe, and Willik.
Kept Francisco yesterday to enquire about the bruidstuckes. Hears from Sir Michel Mercator, of Grave, that the morning after marriage, a lord or great man gives his wife a morgengave, the value at his pleasure. Mons. de Bure gave his lady the value of 1,000 franks. He also gives for bruidstuckes to the gentlewomen, proper rings or brooches, and to the men, doublets or jackets of velvet or silk, or velvet gowns. These gifts are to those who do service about the feast at the marriage, and to the rest, it is at his pleasure. Mr. Vaughan enquired of one Harman, a merchant of the Company, who says that bruidstuckes are only given by the lord to his own servants, and by the lady to hers; to the men caps or doublets, jackets or gowns, and chains to some; and to the women garlands, little rings or brooches.
This is what the elector of Saxe did when he married the lady Sybil, and the Lantgrave when he married Duke George's daughter. The value is very arbitrary. Lord Buren and Ferry de Melen ..., Master of the Emperor's ordnance, are commissioners to conduct my lady to Gravelyne. Lord Buren has feasted all her train. To-day she leaves Antwerp, and trusted to be at Bruges on Saturday, but as the horses could not be put over the Schelde yesterday because of the low water, it will be Sunday before she gets there, and Thursday or Friday, at Calais.
Have made hitherto but five miles a day. Take great thought how to pass the Selinges; specially now the weather begins to change.
Mr. Vaughan and the merchants should be thanked for my lady's entertainment at the English house here. Lord Bure says he never saw so many people gathered in Antwerp at any entry, even the Emperor's. What with my lady's train, and Mr. Vaughan, and the merchants, it was a goodly sight. Antwerp, 4 Dec