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Chamberer
A chamberer was a female attendant of an English queen regnant, queen consort, or princess. There were similar positions in aristocratic households.
At court, the position was similar to a male groom of the privy chamber. The names of ten women who served Elizabeth I as chamberers are known. They were daughters of landowning gentry families. Duties could include some domestic labour, embroidery, and administration, as well as attendance on the queen. The details of the distinctions between women of the chamber and their hierarchy can be obscure.
An indication of chamberer's duties concerning the wardrobe of Elizabeth was included in a note written by William Cecil around 1560. Cecil was concerned about the risk that Elizabeth might be assassinated, especially by poisoning. He wanted increased security to the "chamberer's chambers, where laundresses, tailors, wardrobers, and such use to come". It was thought that assassins might apply poisons to perfumed gloves and other items of apparell brought to the queen and accepted by the chamberers.
Other servants present in the royal lodging who carried out laundry work were of lower status than chamberers, and were called "lavenders". Chamberers would embroider and launder some linen items, especially ruffs. In Scotland, Elizabeth Gibb, took on this role for Anne of Denmark, the queen consort of James VI and I, in 1590, making and looking after ruffs and other garments.
Chamberers were close to the queen and could become influential. They could also provide information to inquisitive diplomats. The French ambassador Charles de Marillac obtained a description of Princess Mary in 1541 from a woman of her chamber (femme de chambre), presumably a chamberer, who had served her since infancy and was married to a French man.
Outside the Tudor court, Mary Halle alias Lassels, who gave evidence concerning Catherine Howard, Henry Mannox, and Alice Wilkes, had been a nurse and a chamberer to the "old Lady of Norfolk".
Usually the queen was served by between two and four chamberers at any one time. Mary Tudor, Princess of Castille had three chamberers in 1508, including Mistress Parker and Mistress Gynes. In October 1511, Catherine of Aragon's chamberers Elizabeth Colins, Elizabeth Lisle, Margaret Pennington, and Elizabeth Vergas all received gowns of damask cloth trimmed with miniver and "lettice" fur, and in November 1514 her four chamberers received russet damask gowns trimmed with mink and "calabre". When Catherine Howard was sent to Syon House in November 1541, her household was reduced to four gentlewomen including Lady Baynton and two chamberers.
In December 1553, a warrant was issued for a yearly clothing allowance to the women of Mary's privy chamber, including the four chamberers Jane Russell, Elizabeth Golbourne, Barbara Rice, and Elizabeth Skirlock. Every Christmas, they would each receive 14 yards of satin and three yards of velvet, with an allowance for the making of a gown. The gentlewomen of the chamber would receive 15 yards of "good velvet".
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Chamberer
A chamberer was a female attendant of an English queen regnant, queen consort, or princess. There were similar positions in aristocratic households.
At court, the position was similar to a male groom of the privy chamber. The names of ten women who served Elizabeth I as chamberers are known. They were daughters of landowning gentry families. Duties could include some domestic labour, embroidery, and administration, as well as attendance on the queen. The details of the distinctions between women of the chamber and their hierarchy can be obscure.
An indication of chamberer's duties concerning the wardrobe of Elizabeth was included in a note written by William Cecil around 1560. Cecil was concerned about the risk that Elizabeth might be assassinated, especially by poisoning. He wanted increased security to the "chamberer's chambers, where laundresses, tailors, wardrobers, and such use to come". It was thought that assassins might apply poisons to perfumed gloves and other items of apparell brought to the queen and accepted by the chamberers.
Other servants present in the royal lodging who carried out laundry work were of lower status than chamberers, and were called "lavenders". Chamberers would embroider and launder some linen items, especially ruffs. In Scotland, Elizabeth Gibb, took on this role for Anne of Denmark, the queen consort of James VI and I, in 1590, making and looking after ruffs and other garments.
Chamberers were close to the queen and could become influential. They could also provide information to inquisitive diplomats. The French ambassador Charles de Marillac obtained a description of Princess Mary in 1541 from a woman of her chamber (femme de chambre), presumably a chamberer, who had served her since infancy and was married to a French man.
Outside the Tudor court, Mary Halle alias Lassels, who gave evidence concerning Catherine Howard, Henry Mannox, and Alice Wilkes, had been a nurse and a chamberer to the "old Lady of Norfolk".
Usually the queen was served by between two and four chamberers at any one time. Mary Tudor, Princess of Castille had three chamberers in 1508, including Mistress Parker and Mistress Gynes. In October 1511, Catherine of Aragon's chamberers Elizabeth Colins, Elizabeth Lisle, Margaret Pennington, and Elizabeth Vergas all received gowns of damask cloth trimmed with miniver and "lettice" fur, and in November 1514 her four chamberers received russet damask gowns trimmed with mink and "calabre". When Catherine Howard was sent to Syon House in November 1541, her household was reduced to four gentlewomen including Lady Baynton and two chamberers.
In December 1553, a warrant was issued for a yearly clothing allowance to the women of Mary's privy chamber, including the four chamberers Jane Russell, Elizabeth Golbourne, Barbara Rice, and Elizabeth Skirlock. Every Christmas, they would each receive 14 yards of satin and three yards of velvet, with an allowance for the making of a gown. The gentlewomen of the chamber would receive 15 yards of "good velvet".