Tudor Times is the online repository for all things Tudor and Stewart (1485–1625)

On 30th October, 1600 Elizabeth I refused to renew Essex's monopoly on sweet wine with the words ‘an unruly horse must be abated of is provender that he may be the better brought to managing’. Monopolies were a common way for the Crown to give grants to favoured courtiers. As the name suggests, all imports and exports of the product in question were routed through the monopolist’s hands, who was then free to take a percentage of the profits. During the 1590s, the practice of granting monopolies was heavily criticised by the House of Commons as being in restraint of trade. In Elizabeth’s last Parliament she promised to look into the matter, but no changes were made. For Essex, the loss of the monopoly effectively bankrupted him and was a contributing factor in his descent into open rebellion – read more on that here

On 29th October 1514, Henry VIII wrote from his palace at Eltham to Louis XII, King of France, saying how happy he was to hear of the completion of the marriage ceremonies between Louis and Henry’s sister, Mary. He added that he was glad to hear of Mary’s ‘dutiful demeanour’ to her new husband. Louis had quite a chequered marital history. In 1476, when he was fourteen and she twelve, he had been obliged to marry Jeanne of France, daughter of Louis XI. Louis resented the match (apparently Jeanne had some sort of physical deformity, perhaps scoliosis, and he feared she would be infertile). When Louis became king on the death of Jeanne’s brother, Charles VIII, he swiftly requested an annulment, but, instead of using the popular expedient of their close relationship (second cousins), or even that he had not freely consented to the match, he chose to claim the marriage had not been consummated because of her deformities, which he enumerated in unnecessary detail. Despite Jeanne’s vehement objections, the Pope granted the annulment. She was granted the Duchy of Berry as a consolation prize.

Louis immediately married the widow of Charles VIII, Anne, Duchess of Brittany, to keep the Duchy annexed to the French crown. He became sincerely attached to Anne, and mourned her death, especially as the couple had only had daughters, Claude and Renee. Louis’ grief did not stop him eagerly snatching the chance to marry eighteen year old Mary of England, reckoned one of the most beautiful princesses in Europe. Mary found the experience less pleasing – although she appreciated the fabulous jewels he gave her.

Picture shows marriage ceremony of Louix XII and Mary of England

On 28th October 1561 a Royal Proclamation was made, ordering that the Ten Commandments be displayed in every church, behind the Communion Table (the word altar was avoided as too Catholic). Consequently, one can still see in many parish churches throughout England and Wales, the large painted boards that were introduced. The Commandments (painted on wooden boards, known as ‘Decalogue Boards’) were flanked by the Royal Arms which were also ordered to be displayed, to emphasise royal authority over the Church. The Creed and the Lord’s Prayer, although considered to be ‘very fit companions’ for the Commandments did not have to be shown.

The religious settlement instituted by Elizabeth, although probably more Protestant than her original intention, was an attempt to reconcile the vast majority of her subjects, still largely Catholic, with the more Protestant views of the Queen’s advisors, many of whom had Puritan leanings. Elizabeth’s first Archbishop, Matthew Parker, who had once been chaplain to Anne Boleyn, was of similar mind to the Queen.

Picture is of a 16th century Decalogue Board at Ludham Church, Norfolk (credit Stiffleaf).