The women who served Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth : ladies, gentlewomen and maids of the Privy Chamber, 1553-1603
A brief introduction to the history of the Tudor Court and the subject in hand is enlarged upon in the second 'chapter ('The Court'). which describes the nature of the evidence available, the process of admission to the Privy Chamber, the hierarchy within it and the titles given to the various Privy Chamber posts, and official payment (wages, food and accommodation). Chamber reform and the status of the womens' own servants are also discussed. The third chapter ('Recruitment') turns to the criteria used by the queens in selecting their women and discusses specialised duties (laundry, dancing etc.), the use by the queens of service as a form of house arrest, the eager pursuit of places in the Privy Chamber by women and their families and the alternatives in the event of failure to obtain them. The low turnover and stability in overall numbers and membership is also considered, as are the unofficial, material rewards of office. The fourth chapter ('The Privy Chamber') is concerned with the womens' official duties: the daily routine; the administration for and care of the Wardrobe of Robes, the jewels and royal books; the manufacture of royal clothing; and their duties in cooking, distilling, chaperoning and
Merton, Charlotte Isabelle
History
The women who served Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth : ladies, gentlewomen and maids of the Privy Chamber, 1553-1603. A brief introduction to the history of the Tudor Court and the subject in hand is enlarged upon in the second 'chapter ('The Court'). which describes the nature of the evidence available, the process of admission to the Privy Chamber, the hierarchy within it and the titles given to the various Privy Chamber posts, and official payment (wages, food and accommodation). Chamber reform and the status of the womens' own servants are also discussed. The third chapter ('Recruitment') turns to the criteria used by the queens in selecting their women and discusses specialised duties (laundry, dancing etc.), the use by the queens of service as a form of house arrest, the eager pursuit of places in the Privy Chamber by women and their families and the alternatives in the event of failure to obtain them. The low turnover and stability in overall numbers and membership is also considered, as are the unofficial, material rewards of office. The fourth chapter ('The Privy Chamber') is concerned with the womens' official duties: the daily routine; the administration for and care of the Wardrobe of Robes, the jewels and royal books; the manufacture of royal clothing; and their duties in cooking, distilling, chaperoning and
woman serve queen mary queen elizabeth lady privy chamber brief_introduction history tudor court subject hand enlarge upon second chapter the court describes nature evidence_available process admission privy chamber hierarchy within title give various privy chamber post official payment wage food accommodation chamber reform status woman servant also_discuss third recruitment turn criterion_use queen select woman discus specialised duty dance etc use queen service form house arrest pursuit place privy chamber woman family alternative event failure obtain them low turnover stability overall_number membership also_consider unofficial material reward office fourth the privy chamber concern woman official duty daily routine administration care royal book manufacture royal clothing duty cook distil