DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.32037#0056
32
ELTHAM PALACE, KENT.
rebuilt the manor-house of Eltham, making it one of the many mansions where
he occasionally resided; and at his death, which happened here in 1311,
he bequeathed it to the queen Isabella, wife to Edward II.* From this period
Eltham began to be a regular place of royal residence; and here, in 1315,
was born John of Eltham, the second son of Edward II., afterwards created
Earl of Cornwall. f Edward III. held a parliament here in 1329. A.D. 1347,
the king being engaged in the invasion of France, his third son, Lionel
of Antwerp, Duke of Clarence, being appointed regent of England in his
father’s absence, kept the solemn feast of Christmas at this palace. And
here in 1364, Edward III. entertained John, King of France, who was then
a prisoner of war, with magnificent feasting. Another parliament was
assembled at Eltham in 1375. The royal feasts at Christmas were celebrated
here in 1384, 1385, and 1386; and in the latter year Eltham was the scene
of a splendid feast, when Richard II. received Leo, King of Armenia, who
came to implore assistance from the Christian princes against his enemies
the Turks.
That delightful historian of chivalry, Sir John Froissart, has related, with
his peculiar liveliness and simplicity, how he came to Eltham in the year
1395, while Richard II. was holding a parliament, or rather a council of state,
in this palace;, and how he presented a volume of his Chronicles to the king,
who received him in the royal bed-chamber in the most gracious manner.
Henry IV. resided frequently at Eltham, and celebrated Christmas here
in the years 1405, 1409, and 1412; and in 1414, the succeeding monarch,
Henry V., kept that feast at Eltham, at which time an alarm was given by
sudden news of a tumultuous assembly of the Lollards in St. Giles’s Fields.
The feast of Christmas was again celebrated here in 1429 by Henry VI., with
great magnificence.
A.D. 1480, Bridget, the third daughter of Edward IV., was born at Eltham,
and christened in the chapel.
The solemnities of Christmas were kept here by Edward IV. and his
court in 1483, when two thousand persons were daily fed at the royal tables.
* See Dugdale’s Baronetage, Vol. I. It was only the mansion or palace of Eltham, with some
demesnes attached to it, which Bishop Beke left to the queen; for, on the death of John de Vesci,
the youngei’, who fell in the battle of Bannockburn, in 1314, the manor of Eltham came to his kins-
man and heir, Sir Gilbert de Aton, by whom it was sold soon afterwards to Geoffrey Scrope of
Masham, the conveyance being confirmed by royal patent.
-J- See his tomb in “ Specimens of Gothic Architecture,” Vol. II. p. 1S, Pl. XXXI.
ELTHAM PALACE, KENT.
rebuilt the manor-house of Eltham, making it one of the many mansions where
he occasionally resided; and at his death, which happened here in 1311,
he bequeathed it to the queen Isabella, wife to Edward II.* From this period
Eltham began to be a regular place of royal residence; and here, in 1315,
was born John of Eltham, the second son of Edward II., afterwards created
Earl of Cornwall. f Edward III. held a parliament here in 1329. A.D. 1347,
the king being engaged in the invasion of France, his third son, Lionel
of Antwerp, Duke of Clarence, being appointed regent of England in his
father’s absence, kept the solemn feast of Christmas at this palace. And
here in 1364, Edward III. entertained John, King of France, who was then
a prisoner of war, with magnificent feasting. Another parliament was
assembled at Eltham in 1375. The royal feasts at Christmas were celebrated
here in 1384, 1385, and 1386; and in the latter year Eltham was the scene
of a splendid feast, when Richard II. received Leo, King of Armenia, who
came to implore assistance from the Christian princes against his enemies
the Turks.
That delightful historian of chivalry, Sir John Froissart, has related, with
his peculiar liveliness and simplicity, how he came to Eltham in the year
1395, while Richard II. was holding a parliament, or rather a council of state,
in this palace;, and how he presented a volume of his Chronicles to the king,
who received him in the royal bed-chamber in the most gracious manner.
Henry IV. resided frequently at Eltham, and celebrated Christmas here
in the years 1405, 1409, and 1412; and in 1414, the succeeding monarch,
Henry V., kept that feast at Eltham, at which time an alarm was given by
sudden news of a tumultuous assembly of the Lollards in St. Giles’s Fields.
The feast of Christmas was again celebrated here in 1429 by Henry VI., with
great magnificence.
A.D. 1480, Bridget, the third daughter of Edward IV., was born at Eltham,
and christened in the chapel.
The solemnities of Christmas were kept here by Edward IV. and his
court in 1483, when two thousand persons were daily fed at the royal tables.
* See Dugdale’s Baronetage, Vol. I. It was only the mansion or palace of Eltham, with some
demesnes attached to it, which Bishop Beke left to the queen; for, on the death of John de Vesci,
the youngei’, who fell in the battle of Bannockburn, in 1314, the manor of Eltham came to his kins-
man and heir, Sir Gilbert de Aton, by whom it was sold soon afterwards to Geoffrey Scrope of
Masham, the conveyance being confirmed by royal patent.
-J- See his tomb in “ Specimens of Gothic Architecture,” Vol. II. p. 1S, Pl. XXXI.