marry one of his daughters. Thus, eventually one of the French King’s children would share the English throne, thereby creating an alliance between France and England against Spain. As it was, nothing came of the plan as events were developing in another direction. Two weeks after the formal betrothal of Princess Mary to Prince Henri, a church court was assembled in London to discuss the question of Henry VIII’s divorce from Catherine of Aragon.
In 1526, as the French marriage for Richmond had come to nothing, the situation in Italy caught English attention. On 11 February 1527, Wolsey received a letter from Sir John Russell in Rome, concerning Pope Clement VII’s niece, Catherine de Medici. This extremely wealthy heiress had attracted the attention of Monsieur de Vaudemont (the future Duke of Lorraine), who wanted to marry her, as did James V of Scotland and the Duke of Ferrare. ‘… then I showed Sir Gregory [Casale, Ambassador to Spain]that I thought she should be a mete marriage for my lord of Richmond.’ Russell reported that he had not pressed the matter and would not do so without Wolsey’s agreement. It was not forthcoming and Russell allowed the matter to drop. 13
Speculation was rife as to who would be chosen as Richmond’s bride. Spain was once more a potential ally, and Sir Richard Lee approached Charles V about his female relatives. The daughters of the Queen of Denmark (Charles’s sister), Dorothea and Christina, were mentioned. Princess Maria, the daughter of the Queen of Portugal (another sister) was already promised in marriage, although Wolsey suggested Richmond should marry her and that the couple should be given the Duchy of Milan. Once again, the marriage plans came to nothing. Foreign kings were reluctant to marry their sisters and daughters to a royal bastard while there was still a chance that Henry would have a legitimate son.
In May 1528 the sweating sickness had reached Pontefract. The Council moved Richmond to Ledestone, a priory house near Castleford, with just five servants to reduce the risk of infection, and asked for a physician, just in case. Having received remedies concocted by the King, Richmond wrote to Henry: ‘… thanks be to God and to your said highness, I have passed this last Summer without any peril or danger of the ragious sweat that has reigned in these parts and other, and much the better I trust with the help of such preservatives as your highness did sent unto me, whereof most humble and most lowly I thank the same.’
On 9 August 1529, aged just 10, Richmond was summoned to attend Parliament as one of the House of Lords. From then on, he would live in London, closer to his father, with a suite of rooms at Windsor usually assigned to the Prince of Wales (Princess Mary was given rooms of lesser magnificence). On 2 December, the new Duke of Northumberland replaced Richmond as Warden of the Northern Marches. However, Richmond did not remain without a major role in government for long. On 22 June 1530 Richmond was made Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, with Sir William Skeffington as his Deputy. It was a courtesy title only; Richmond never visited Ireland.
In April 1530, Gilbert Tailboys, Richmond’s stepfather, died and was buried at Kyme. In 1532, the widowed Lady Tailboys was approached by Lord Leonard Grey, brother of the Earl of Dorset and later Lord Deputy of Ireland. He wrote to Cromwell: ‘Written at Kayme, my lad Taylbusshe house, the 24 day of May, at 12 of the clock at noon … so it is I have been hunting in Lincolnshire, and so came by my lady Taylbusshe homewards, and have had communication with her in the way of marriage, and so I have had very good cheer with her ladyship, ensuring you that I could be better contented to marry with her (God and the king pleased) than with any other lady or gentlewomen living.’ 14
Whereas Lord Leonard Grey was enthusiastic for the match, Lady Tailboys was less so. She may have had her eye on a greater prize. Now
In 1526, as the French marriage for Richmond had come to nothing, the situation in Italy caught English attention. On 11 February 1527, Wolsey received a letter from Sir John Russell in Rome, concerning Pope Clement VII’s niece, Catherine de Medici. This extremely wealthy heiress had attracted the attention of Monsieur de Vaudemont (the future Duke of Lorraine), who wanted to marry her, as did James V of Scotland and the Duke of Ferrare. ‘… then I showed Sir Gregory [Casale, Ambassador to Spain]that I thought she should be a mete marriage for my lord of Richmond.’ Russell reported that he had not pressed the matter and would not do so without Wolsey’s agreement. It was not forthcoming and Russell allowed the matter to drop. 13
Speculation was rife as to who would be chosen as Richmond’s bride. Spain was once more a potential ally, and Sir Richard Lee approached Charles V about his female relatives. The daughters of the Queen of Denmark (Charles’s sister), Dorothea and Christina, were mentioned. Princess Maria, the daughter of the Queen of Portugal (another sister) was already promised in marriage, although Wolsey suggested Richmond should marry her and that the couple should be given the Duchy of Milan. Once again, the marriage plans came to nothing. Foreign kings were reluctant to marry their sisters and daughters to a royal bastard while there was still a chance that Henry would have a legitimate son.
In May 1528 the sweating sickness had reached Pontefract. The Council moved Richmond to Ledestone, a priory house near Castleford, with just five servants to reduce the risk of infection, and asked for a physician, just in case. Having received remedies concocted by the King, Richmond wrote to Henry: ‘… thanks be to God and to your said highness, I have passed this last Summer without any peril or danger of the ragious sweat that has reigned in these parts and other, and much the better I trust with the help of such preservatives as your highness did sent unto me, whereof most humble and most lowly I thank the same.’
On 9 August 1529, aged just 10, Richmond was summoned to attend Parliament as one of the House of Lords. From then on, he would live in London, closer to his father, with a suite of rooms at Windsor usually assigned to the Prince of Wales (Princess Mary was given rooms of lesser magnificence). On 2 December, the new Duke of Northumberland replaced Richmond as Warden of the Northern Marches. However, Richmond did not remain without a major role in government for long. On 22 June 1530 Richmond was made Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, with Sir William Skeffington as his Deputy. It was a courtesy title only; Richmond never visited Ireland.
In April 1530, Gilbert Tailboys, Richmond’s stepfather, died and was buried at Kyme. In 1532, the widowed Lady Tailboys was approached by Lord Leonard Grey, brother of the Earl of Dorset and later Lord Deputy of Ireland. He wrote to Cromwell: ‘Written at Kayme, my lad Taylbusshe house, the 24 day of May, at 12 of the clock at noon … so it is I have been hunting in Lincolnshire, and so came by my lady Taylbusshe homewards, and have had communication with her in the way of marriage, and so I have had very good cheer with her ladyship, ensuring you that I could be better contented to marry with her (God and the king pleased) than with any other lady or gentlewomen living.’ 14
Whereas Lord Leonard Grey was enthusiastic for the match, Lady Tailboys was less so. She may have had her eye on a greater prize. Now
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