Privy chamber facts for kids
A privy chamber was a very private room in a royal home in England. Think of it as the king's own special space, like a private office or living room.
The Gentlemen of the Privy Chamber were important people who served the King. They spent time with him in private, helping him and joining him for court events and fun activities. They were trusted so much that they could even carry out the King's spoken orders without needing a written note. This group was started by King Henry VII.
Below these Gentlemen were the Grooms of the Privy Chamber, who also helped the King.
Contents
History of the Privy Chamber
What was the Privy Chamber?
The privy chamber was a very important part of an English royal household. It included the king's private rooms, like his bedroom, library, and study.
At first, there was just a "chamber." Later, it was split into the privy chamber (the most private part) and the outer chamber (also called the presence chamber). Many people wanted to enter the presence chamber, but real power came from being allowed into the privy chamber. Being close to the King meant you could talk to him often and have a lot of influence.
The Privy Chamber under the Tudors
The idea of the privy chamber began during King Henry VII's rule (1485–1509). By the time his son, Henry VIII, became king, the privy chamber had its own regular staff. This included gentlemen, ushers, grooms, and pages. It grew even more important during Henry VIII's time, especially between 1518 and 1536.
The gentlemen in the privy chamber were usually chosen because they shared the king's beliefs and had his personal trust. They helped manage the Crown's money and even played a role in the army. Often, these gentlemen were important people in the government. They worked with the Groom of the Stool and the Chief Gentleman of the Chamber, who were in charge of all the staff. These people often planned fun activities like hunting trips for King Henry, or games for the young King Edward VI, who came after him. This helped them spend time with the King and build strong bonds.
The main job of the gentlemen of the privy chamber was to "diligently attend upon... [the king's] person." This meant they kept the king company, helped him get dressed, and did many other personal tasks.
King Henry VIII and His Privy Chamber
The privy chamber really became important under Henry VIII. When he was young, Henry wanted friends around him, especially those who liked sports and jousting as much as he did. The Gentlemen of the Privy Chamber often became very influential, sometimes even more so than the King's wife.
As Henry's rule continued, more people joined the privy chamber. This was partly because outsiders saw how helpful it was to be close to the King. It also helped make sure there were enough staff so people could have time off. Sometimes, being too close to the privy chamber could even lead to trouble, as happened with Thomas Wolsey.
An old document from 1526, called the Ordinances of Eltham, said that people in the privy chamber should be friendly and keep secrets. It also said they should not try to find out where the King was or what he was doing when he wasn't with them.
In Henry VIII's early years, the title "Gentleman of the Privy Chamber" was given to the sons of noble families or important gentry. They spent a lot of time with the King. Over time, they also started acting as personal assistants, doing many tasks in his private rooms. This job was highly respected because it meant they could often get the King's attention.
The Ordinances of Eltham also explained that six gentlemen of the privy chamber had to be ready by 7 AM to help the King get dressed. No other staff, like grooms or ushers, were allowed to touch the King's person unless told to. They could only bring clothes to the gentlemen.
Grooms of the Stool under Henry VIII
The job of Groom of the Stool became very powerful, especially when King Henry got older and needed more help. Even though this job involved helping the King with very personal needs, it was seen as a great honor, not something embarrassing.
Here are some of the Grooms of the Stool during Henry VIII's reign:
- Sir William Compton (1509–1528): He passed away in 1528.
- Sir Henry Norris (1526–1536): He was executed in 1536 for betraying the King.
- Sir Thomas Heneage (1536–1546)
- Sir Anthony Denny (1546–1547)
- Sir Michael Stanhope (1547–1551): He was executed in 1552 for betraying the King.
King Edward VI and His Privy Chamber
From 1549 to 1553, there were six "principal gentlemen" and twenty-six "ordinary gentlemen" in Edward VI's Privy Chamber. Most of these gentlemen were 10 to 15 years older than the young King. Usually, the "principal gentlemen" were very close to the monarch. However, with a young and less experienced king like Edward, some of these men might have tried to gain control over him.
For their work, a gentleman received £50 a year, a gentleman usher £30, and a groom £20. These were regular court jobs.
The privy chamber helped many powerful men rise to fame. Later in King Edward VI's rule, Sir John Gates became a powerful figure. He was based in the privy chamber and could control who got to see the young King, helping his boss, the Duke of Northumberland. Often, the person closest to the King (like the Lord Chancellor) would fill the privy chamber with their friends and allies. This shows that the members of the privy chamber changed depending on who was in power. It also hints that the privy chamber was very useful for keeping powerful people in control. For example, John Fowler helped Thomas Seymour keep influence over Edward by taking gifts and allowing them to meet often.
Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth
When Queen Mary passed away, her Privy Chamber included seven Ladies and thirteen Gentlewomen, but only a few Gentlemen and Grooms. Under Elizabeth I, the number of men in the Privy Chamber was reduced even further to just one Gentleman and one Groom.
James VI and I
When James VI of Scotland became King of England in 1603, he brought some changes. The Scottish court was different from the English one. Some English courtiers, like John Fortescue, lost their jobs when Scottish courtiers were appointed. The new Privy Chamber, set up in May 1603, had 48 gentlemen, with twelve serving at any time. The new grooms seemed to be from less important families than those under Queen Elizabeth. However, the ushers gained more importance. The Duke of Lennox was the Chamberlain, but Sir Thomas Erskine was in charge. John Murray of Bedchamber became a very influential courtier who helped people get favors from the King.
