Henry VII & the Glorious Wool Churches of the Cotswolds
A Brief Introduction to Cotswold Wool Churches Known for its rolling hills and charming villages, the Cotswolds is home to…
A Brief Introduction to Cotswold Wool Churches Known for its rolling hills and charming villages, the Cotswolds is home to…
John Felde gromes [grooms] of the Quenes chambre for thaire costes wayting upon the Quenes joyelles [jewels] from Langley to Northlache [Northleach] from Northlache to Coberley from Coberley to the Vineyarde from the Vyneyarde to Flexley Abbey from Flexley Abbey to Troye and from Troye to Ragland by the space of vj dayesโฆ
Privy Purse Expenses of Elizabeth of York, 2 September 1502.
Just as with Northleach, the only way we know that Elizabeth and Henry travelled through Coberley on the 1502 progress is on account of an entry into Elizabeth’s Privy Purse, recording money paid to the Grooms of the Queen’s Chamber for their part in transporting her jewels from place to place alongside Elizabeth’s household.
This blog details the history of Coberley Hall and the royal visit of 1502.
Welcome to the 1502 progress!
For this journey, we are principally following in the footsteps of Elizabeth of York during the 1502 summer progress. It would be Elizabeth’s last summer on Earth. She would die shortly after giving birth to a baby girl the following February.
The progress comes on the back of several deeply personal losses for Elizabeth and Henry VII, including the death of Prince Arthur just three months earlier.
Thus, we see an unusual progress and one the looks rather more like a trip down memory lane than the usual state affair, as the King and queen grapple with their grief.
IN this progress we will be heading from Woodstock in Oxfordshire to Raglan Castle and back again. ready to join me on progress?
Northleach was the second documented stop on the 1502 progress of Henry VII and Elizabeth of York after leaving the Old Manor at Woodstock ….There were six, or perhaps, seven stages that broke up the journey from Woodstock in Oxfordshire to their destination, Raglan Castle in South-East Wales. This suggests a rhythm of one day of travelling followed by one day of rest. This makes sense when Elizabethโs pregnancy and recent illness.
But why did the King choose to rest in Northleach – the answer to that question is explored in this post
Around 5 August, Henry VII and Elizabeth of York arrived at The Old Manor of Langley. Elizabeth seems to have recovered from her sickness; at least enough to continued the onward journey. This brief period of illness may have been related to her pregnancy. However, as we shall see shortly, the Privy Purse account points out that the Queen was not the only member of her household to fall ill while at Woodstock