Ordinances For A Royal Birth

‘Ordinances For A Royal Birth’

Margaret Beaufort occupied a dominant role in her son’s Henry Tudor’s life.
She was devoted to her son and his family, and genuinely sought the best for her dynasty.

Nowhere is this more apparent, than in her reaction to the news that her daughter~in~Law Elizabeth of York, was expecting the first Tudor heir, in 1486.

Margaret cast her critical eye over the arrangements for the royal birth, and to write her daughter-in-law’s birth plan.

Margaret produced a set of royal ordinances which survive to this day.

These ensured that the birth of her first grandchild ~ the heir to both the house of Lancaster and the house of York ~ was carried out with sufficient formality, right down to the finest details.

Margaret decreed that the queen, a month before the birth, should retire to an entirely female and candlelit world.

She began by choosing the furnishings and decorations, to be used in the queen’s chamber~

‘Her Highnes Pleasure beinge understoode in what Chamber she will be delivered in, the same chamber must be hanged with riche Clothe of Arras, Sydes, rowffe.
All, excepte one Windowe, must be hanged so as she may have light when it pleasethe her.
Then must there be set a Royall Bedde, and the Flore layed all over and over with Carpets.
A Cupboard covered with the same Suyte that the Chamber is hanged withall.
That Daye that the Queene (in good Tyme) will take her Chamber, the Chappell where her Highnes will receave and heare Devine Service, must be well and worshipfully arrayed.
The greate Chamber must be hanged with riche Arras, with a Clothe and Chaire of Estate, and Quishins [cushions]

She also specified the stuffing for the mattresses and the colour of the cushions.

Although no account survives of the birth of her first grandchild, it is certain that the ordinances were followed, and that both Margaret and the queen’s mother, Elizabeth Woodville, would have been present.

Margaret undoubtedly meant well in the care that she took to write her ordinances, and her daughter-in-law’s comfort – but to Elizabeth, the attention may well have seemed overbearing.

Margaret also laid down specifications for the decoration of the church for the christening of her grandson Prince Arthur, who was born in September 1486.

It cannot have pleased her that the baby’s maternal grandmother Elizabeth Woodville, was named the prince’s godmother.
Although, to please his mother, Henry appointed his stepfather Lord Stanley, as Arthur’s godfather.

Margaret was given a great deal of input into the young prince’s upbringing.

Her ordinances decreed the furnishings for the nursery, what servants should be appointed, and the precautions to be taken in the appointment and management of the wet nurse.

The wet nurse was to be observed by a doctor at every meal to ensure that ‘she geveth the Childe seasonable Meate and Drinke’.

Margaret was present at the birth of her second grandchild in November 1489, a girl who was named Margaret in her honour.

She was named godmother to the princess, making her a gift at her christening of ‘a chest of silver and gilt, full of gold’.

Elizabeth of York would eventually bear eight children.

elizabethnortonHistorian

lizabeth gives birth to a Tudor heir.

Jodie Comer as Elizabeth of York in ‘The White Princess’ 2017