THE CHEQUE BOOKS OF THE CHAPEL ROYAL
with additional material from the manuscripts of william lovegrove and marmaduke alford
transcribed and edited by
Andrew Ashbee and John Harley
VOLUME TWO
First published 2000 by Ashgate Publishing
Reissued 2018 by Routledge
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Copyright Andrew Ashbee and John Harley 2000
The editors have asserted their rights under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988, to be identified as the editors of this work.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers.
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Publishers Note
The publisher has gone to great lengths to ensure the quality of this reprint but points out that some imperfections in the original copies may be apparent.
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The publisher has made every effort to trace copyright holders and welcomes correspondence from those they have been unable to contact.
A Library of Congress record exists under LC control number: 00023896
ISBN 13: 978-1-138-73348-0 (hbk)
ISBN 13: 978-1-138-73342-8 (pbk)
ISBN 13: 978-1-315-18762-4 (ebk)
CONTENTS
Volume One
List of illustrations
Preface
Introduction
The Old Cheque Book
The New Cheque Book
Index of Persons
Index of Subjects and Places
Volume Two
The Chapel Royal holds a singular position in English ecclesiastical and musical life, as a body of priests and musicians appointed by and serving the personal religious needs of the sovereign. Its historical significance owes much to its location at a court which was, for many centuries, the centre of national power and culture. It was, indeed, both an instrument and a visible manifestation of policy, and its history can be seen as reflecting the fortunes of government. While its origins are lost in the mists of time, its growth and membership become increasingly apparent from the thirteenth century, and can be traced in detail from the sixteenth century. Chief among the documents which provide evidence of the Chapels development and administration are the two surving Cheque Books, preserved in the Archive of the Chapel Royal at St Jamess Palace. These cover a period from Queen Elizabeth I to Queen Victoria (and contain a few later entries as well).
The Old Cheque Book has been widely used by scholars since an edition was published by Edward F. Rimbault in 1872. The inadequacies of that edition have, however, long been recognized, and a new, full and accurate transcription has now been prepared by Andrew Ashbee and John Harley, both known for their work on records of the English court and its musicians. They have added transcriptions of the New Cheque Book, and of the valuable personal memoranda compiled by William Lovegrove and Marmaduke Alford, respectively Serjeant and Yeoman of the Vestry of the Chapel Royal.
These documents not only provide a register of the Chapels personnel and their appointments, but reveal many of the day to day concerns of the group of men who formed the Chapel. Students of political and ecclesiastical history will find much to interest them in details of the administration of a unique part of the royal household, while musical scholars will value information about an institution whose traditions span several centuries and whose members have included men of the calibre of Orlando Gibbons and William Boyce.
About the editors:
Andrew Ashbee is a music lecturer for the Workers Educational Association, and a member of the Editorial Committee of Musica Britannica. He has twice won the C. B. Oldman prize for bibliography, with his Biographical Dictionary of English Court Musicians and the series Records of English Court Music, both published by Ashgate.
John Harley is a retired civil servant. Ashgate publishes his two-volume British Harpsichord Music, and his studies William Byrd: Gentleman of the Chapel Royal and Orlando Gibbons and the Gibbons family of Musicians.
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
Volume One
Part of a plan of Whitehall Palace (c.1670), showing the position of the Chapel.
The Old Cheque Book, f.l6r: 1558 The othe ffor the gentn of the Chappell, and other officers therto belonginge.
The Old Cheque Book, f.19r: 1592. June. 18. A p petual decrye made in a Chapter holden at Greenwch.
The Old Cheque Book, f.37r: Be it remembred that uppon the xxixth daie of June 1620 Thoms Peirs was swome gent of his Mates Chappell in ordinarie.
The New Cheque Book, p.8: Rules for Performing due Order & Government in His Maj.tys Chapel Royal.
The New Cheque Book, p.40, recording dates of swearing in.
Volume Two
William Lovegroves manuscript, p.232: Lovegroves letter to the Bishop of Exeter, 26 July 1771.
The Chapel Royal at St. Jamess Palace, prepared for the wedding of the Princess Royal and Prince Frederick in January 1858.
Transcribed from the manuscript in the Archive of Her Majestys Chapel Royal, by gracious permission of Her Majesty The Queen.
The leaves of the manuscript are approximately 36.2cmx 24cm. The present binding incorporates the original green cover of Lovegroves book, on the front of which he wrote:
Memorandums
By
William Lovegrove Esq
Serjeant of His Majestys
Chapels Royal
1752
Inside the front cover is the bookplate of the Royal Library
Windsor Castle
WILLIAM LOVEGROVES MANUSCRIPT
Three receipts, recording the manuscripts sale by widows of Serjeants of the Vestry to their husbands successors, are stuck on to a modern flyleaf.
May 12: 1777.
Received of William Dickes Esq Serjeant of the Vestry of His Majestys Chapels Royal the Sum of Ten Pounds & Ten Shillings in full for a Fol. Book with a Green Vellum Cover, containing, Minutes, Memorandums &c &c &c made by W.m Lovegrove Esq late Serjeant of the Vestry of the said Chapels Royal & being the sum directed by him to be paid for the said Book. I say rec.d
10:10:0 by me Sarah Lovegrove
Dec. 27. 1790 Received of M.r Joseph Roe Serjeant of the Vestry of His Majestys Chapels Royal the Sum of Ten Pounds and ten Shillings for a Fol. Book with a Green Vellum Cover, containing Minutes, Memorandums &c. &c. &c. made by W.m Lovegrove Esq.r late Serjeant of the Vestry of the said Chapels and purchased of his Executrix for the said Sum, by the late M.r William Dickes. I say rec.d the same for the use of M.rs Susanna Dickes sole Executrix of the said M.r William Dickes deceased