Medieval and Tudor Topics: The Famous Grand Feast at the Inner Temple, December 1561.

Gerard Leigh informs us, in a fictionalized narrative, in his Accidence of Armory, published more than 10 years after the event, that he had come to the end of traveling the world. His final stop was at the curious port of London.

After I had travailed through the East parts of the unknown world, to understand of deedes of armes, and so arriving in the fair river of Thames, I landed within half a league from the City of London, I landed within half a league from the City of London, which was (as I conjecture) in December last; and drawing neer the City, suddenly heard the shot of double canons, in so a great a number, and so terrible, that it darkened the whole ayr; wherewith, although I was in my native country, yet stood I amazed, not knowing what it meant. Thus, as I abode in despair, either to return or continue my former purpose, I chanced to see coming towards me an honest citizen, clothed in a long garment, keeping the highway, seeming to walk for his recreation, which prognosticated rather peace than perill; of whom I demanded the cause of this great shot ; who friendly answered, 'It is,' quoth he, 'a warning shot to the Constable Marshall of the Inner Temple, to prepare to dinner.'

In his walks Leigh had entered the vicinity of the Inns of Court. The four Inns were gathered around the venerable old church and buildings left behind by the Knights Templar when their order was disbanded. In particular, he had been passing when the Grand Christmas Feast of 1561/2 was about to begin in the Great Hall of the Inner Temple.

The famous Christmas feasts at the Inns were held in the highest fashion of the Royal Court. A ruling Prince was coronated. High officers of the Prince were appointed. A grand kitchen and wait staff (Gentlemen of the Household) was formed from the underclassmen of the Inn.

On this year, Robert Dudley was crowned Prince Palaphilos in respect of Royal favors he had attained for the Inn from Queen Elizabeth I. The Queen could rarely bring herself to refuse the dashing Dudley.

Thus talking, we entred the Prince his Hall, where anon we heard the noise of drum and fyfe. ' What meaneth this drum?' said I. Quoth he, 'This is to warn Gentlemen of the Houshold to repair to the dresser; wherefore come on with me, and ye shall stand where ye may best see the Hall served : and so from thence brought me into a long gallery, that stretched itself along the Hall neer the Prince's table, where I saw the Prince set : a man of tall personage, a manly countenance, somewhat brown of visage, strongly featured, and thereto comely proportioned in all lineaments of body. At the nether end of the same table were placed the Embassadors of sundry Princes. Before him stood the carver, sewer, and cup-bearer, with great number of gentlemen-wayters attending his person ; the ushers making place to strangers of sundry regions that came to be hold the honour of this mighty Captain. After the placing of these honourable guests, the Lord Steward, Treasurer, and Keeper of Pallas Seal, with divers honourable personages of that Nobility, were placed at a side-table neer adjoining the Prince on the right hand : and at another table, on the left side, were placed the Treasurer of the Houshold, Secretary, the Prince his Serjeant at the Law, four Masters of the Revels, the King of Arms, the Dean of the Chappel, and divers Gentlemen Pensioners to furnish the same.

Although the descriptions of the uniforms of office of these officers were given comical flourishes, the offices themselves were those of the English Royal Court. The offices also came with similarly onerous duties and fines for failure to perform them. All the characters in this grand affair would retain their offices for all the 12 Days of Christmas. Sometimes at a cost to their pockets and dignities that they found unsustainable. Even in grand feasts, Tudor lads tended to play rough. Especially after the empty wine bottles began adding up.

At the nether end of the Hall began the table, the High Butler, the Panter, Clerks of the Kitchin, Master Cook of the Privy Kitchin, furnished throughout with the souldiers and guard of the Prince: all which, with number of inferior officers placed and served in the Hall, besides the great resort of strangers, I spare to write.

The Prince so served with tender meats, sweet fruits, and dainty delicates confectioned with curious cookery, as it seemed wonder a world to observe the provision: and at every course the trumpetters blew the couragious blast of deadly war, with noise of drum and fyfe, with the sweet harmony of violins, sackbutts, recorders, and cornetts, with other instruments of musick, as it seemed Apollo's harp had tuned their stroke.

The reference to Apollo was surely a joke and one much appreciated by those who had been present. Each course was introduced first to the Prince and was accompanied with a deafening flourish of trumpets accompanied by a collection of jangling lesser instruments.

The food, however, was sure to be as rich, delicious and costly as advertised. The wine carefully tested to be sure that it was the best the budget could afford.

At the end of the feast the Prince announced that he would be knighting his favorites in an exaggerated mock ceremony sure to have been shot through with lewd inference and uproarious laughter. But we will leave that to another day.

Source: Dugdale, William. Origines Juridiciales (1680). 150-2.