Henry VII Prepares for Christmas and the Great Jubilee of 1499-1500

A rare early document of a sitting monarch from the 15th century

Henry won the throne of England when his forces defeated those of King Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth Field in 1485, the culmination of the lengthy and bitter Wars of the Roses, that lasted for thirty years. Henry was the last king of England to win his throne on the field of battle. He cemented his claim by marrying a woman from the opposing side, Elizabeth of York, daughter of King Edward IV and niece of Richard III. Henry was successful in restoring the power and stability of the English monarchy after the political upheavals of civil war. He founded the Tudor dynasty, and after a reign of nearly 24 years was peacefully succeeded by his son, King Henry VIII.

The concept of the Jubilee is a Biblical one, appearing in the Book of Leviticus, which states that it occurred every 50th year. It was a special year of remission of sins and universal pardon, in which slaves and prisoners would be freed, debts would be forgiven and the mercies of God would be particularly manifest. In Christianity, the tradition dates to 1300, when Pope Boniface VIII convoked a holy year, following which ordinary Jubilees have generally been celebrated every 25 or 50 years; with extraordinary Jubilees in addition depending on need.

The year 1500 was such a year, and since the calendar set Christmas 1499 as the start of this year of Jubilee, it began December 25, 1499.

By the late 15th century the Great Wardrobe, the section of the royal household that supplied the King and his household with clothing and furnishings, was well established in the London parish of St Andrew by the Wardrobe (many of the suppliers of fabric to the Great Wardrobe and many of the individuals who worked for it lived and worked in the city). The King's wardrobe and his dressings were the height of elegance at a time when he could afford what others could not and his style and luxury were unrivaled.

Letter signed, to Sir Robert Litton, Under-Treasurer of England and Keeper of the Great Wardrobe, ordering him to deliver various items, including lace, hooks, brushes, paper and thread to Richard Gray, Yeoman of the Wardrobe of Beds, Westminster, December 13, 1499.  "We wol and charge that ye deliver thritty pound of lace for bedde spreddes and clothes of estate; Item thousand hookes of the myddel size; Item three thousand smale brushes and two greate brusshes; Item three quiers of spendable paper; Item one pound of white thred and another pound of blewe thred…"