To the Queen’s servant £3. 6s. 8d. and to the servant (probably a domestic) bringing a gift from his son and heir, Lord Percy, only 12d. The noblemen also had similar customs in their own households.
An account has recently been published of New Year’s Gifts, presented by Henry VI. in 1437,[1] taken from Cott. MS. Cleop. F. iv. fol. 108,. consisting principally of articles of jewellery, of which one of the chief is the following:— “Fyrste, delivered by youre graciouse comaundemt and appointemt to send to Quene Kaζine for her yerisgifte on New yeris day, she beyng at Bermondesey, j tabulett of golde with a crucifixe garnized with sapħ and pt weyng aboute xiiij unc of gold, and was bought of John Patteslee, goldesmyth, for the some of xlii.”
Henry VII. in 1495, as appears from his privy purse expences, gave away £120 in New-year’s gifts. It must be recollected that he was an avaricious monarch; or this sum might have been given in rewards to those who brought him New-year’s gifts.
In the accounts of the Duke of Richmond and Somerset, natural son of Henry VIII. in the 17th year of that monarch’s reign, are the following entries connected with New-year’s gifts.[2] “ Item, paied for certayrie newe yeres giftes, £6. 9s. 5d. Item, rewardes yeven to diverse parsons for newe yeres giftes presented unto the saied Duke upon newe-yeres daye last, £9. 6s. 8d.”
Among those presented to the Lady Mary in the 34th of Henry VIII. are a little chain, and a pair of hose wrought in gold and silk from the Princess Elizabeth; a gown of carnation satin of the Venice fashion, from my Lady Margaret; a wrought smock
