DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.67417#0064
CHAPTER III
EDWARD VI. AND QUEEN MARY
1547-1558
Edward VI., who succeeded his father at the age of
ten, was, as we have seen, born at Hampton Court,
and spent the first year of his life in the rooms on
the north side of the Chapel Court, long known as
“ my Lord Prince’s Lodgings.” Sir William Sidney
was appointed head of the infant prince’s household,
with a Lady Mistress, steward, nurses, and rockers
under him, and his sister-in-law, Mrs. Sibel Penn,
became head-nurse. Edward was much attached
to his foster-mother, and both he and his sisters
regularly gave Mistress Penn New Year’s presents,
and allowed her to live at Hampton Court until she
died of the smallpox in 1562. Princess Mary, who
was the little Prince’s godmother, often came over
from Richmond to pay him visits, and Queen Katha-
rine treated him with motherly affection as long as
she lived. Some charming little notes which Edward
addressed to her have been preserved. One in
Latin was written in August 1546, before the visit
of the French ambassador to Hampton Court. The
Prince asks anxiously whether the Lord Admiral is
a good Latin scholar, as in that case he must be
careful to prepare what he has to say beforehand.
38
EDWARD VI. AND QUEEN MARY
1547-1558
Edward VI., who succeeded his father at the age of
ten, was, as we have seen, born at Hampton Court,
and spent the first year of his life in the rooms on
the north side of the Chapel Court, long known as
“ my Lord Prince’s Lodgings.” Sir William Sidney
was appointed head of the infant prince’s household,
with a Lady Mistress, steward, nurses, and rockers
under him, and his sister-in-law, Mrs. Sibel Penn,
became head-nurse. Edward was much attached
to his foster-mother, and both he and his sisters
regularly gave Mistress Penn New Year’s presents,
and allowed her to live at Hampton Court until she
died of the smallpox in 1562. Princess Mary, who
was the little Prince’s godmother, often came over
from Richmond to pay him visits, and Queen Katha-
rine treated him with motherly affection as long as
she lived. Some charming little notes which Edward
addressed to her have been preserved. One in
Latin was written in August 1546, before the visit
of the French ambassador to Hampton Court. The
Prince asks anxiously whether the Lord Admiral is
a good Latin scholar, as in that case he must be
careful to prepare what he has to say beforehand.
38