Henry VII on his Deathbed

Though he may not have been present, the Garter King of Arms, Sir Thomas Wriothesley (d.1534), wrote a detailed account of the proceedings surrounding the death of Henry VII and drew this picture of the King on his deathbed.

The dying King is in his Privy Chamber, surrounded by his most intimate courtiers and household (clockwise round the bed): Richard Fox, Bishop of Winchester (d.1528); George, Lord Hastings (d.1544); Richard Weston, Esquire of the Body (a household officer in constant attendance on the king) and Groom of the Privy Chamber (d.1541); Richard Clement, Groom of the Privy Chamber (d.1538); Matthew Baker (or Basquer), Esquire of the Body (d.1513); John Sharpe and William Tyler, Gentlemen Ushers; Hugh Denys, Esquire of the Body; and William Fitzwilliam, Gentleman Usher (d.1542), who holds a staff of office and closes the King’s eyes.

Also present are two tonsured clerics and three physicians holding urine bottles. It was possible to keep Henry’s death a secret, as he was out of the public eye, and it was Weston who is described by Wriothesley as keeping up the pretence that the old King was still alive until 23 April.

http://www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/onlineex/henryviii/birthaccdeath/deathbed/index.html

One Response to Henry VII on his Deathbed

  1. Julian Wilson says:

    This picture is of the Deathbed of King Henry VII NOT King Henry VIII – so you really should change the Caption.
    One of the 3 Doctors would certainly have been Henry’s Chief Physician, Giovanni Battista Boerio. One of the un-identified clerics was Thomas Wolsey [yes THAT man who became a Cardinal and Chancellor under King Henry VIII] – he wasn’t identified by Garter King of Arms because at the time of Henry VII’s death he was still a young priest, and not yet entitled to “bear Armory”. The other un-identified cleric was Henry’s chief confessor. John Sharp and William Tyler were members of the “secret chamber”, [de facto 'intelligence officers'] and had reported to the King Thomas More’s insubordination in the parliament of 1504.
    Richard Fox was not simply Bishop of Winchester, he was also present as Lord Privy Seal. Richard Weston was not “just” an ‘Esquire of The Body’ – he was de facto head of Henry’s “secret chamber” – in effect Henry’s latest “spymaster”. And of all the men in that death chamber at the Palace of Sheen, Matthew Baker – [ boyhood companion at Raglan Castle; Henry's chief of security in Brittany and France 25 years before; Governor of Jersey with 'vice-regal powers' for 8 years after Henry's victory at Bosworth in 1485; noted jouster; Henry's companion at archery and in hunting; "man of shadows cynnyinge in open & secret battel"; diplomat and thrice Ambassador to foreign Courts thereafter] – had known the dying King the longest.

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