Beinecke MS 610
England, c. 1571
Bouche of courte

f. 1r	A declaracion of bouche of court of every perticuler thinge to be served to everie person 
beinge of the ordinarie of the Kinge's honorable house, accordinghe to everie one of them for 
ther degryes as hereafter doath ensewe.
f. 2v	Measses of meate to be served to the Kinge's highnes and for his syde.
f. 4r	The charge of the dietes for the Kinge's highnes and his side.
f. 5r	The bouche of courte ingrosse to be served to th'ordinarie of the Kinge's syde.
f. 5v	The wages and fees of the ordenarie of the Kinge's syde.
f. 7v	The ordinarie of the same side which doo eate and drinke in the Quene's chambre.
f. 8r	The ordinarie of the same syde which have ther allowannce of wages and borde wages 
without any meate or bouche of court.
f. 9r	Meases of meate to be servede to the Quene's grace and hir syde.
f. 10r	The charge of the dietes for the Quene's grace and hir syde.
f. 11r	Rottulus nominorum officiariorum omnium officiorum hospicii domine regis Hendrici 
octavo [sic].
f. 19r	The charge of dietes of houseoulde ingrose.
f. 20v	The bouch to th'ordinary of houshoulde.
f. 21r	An estimate vieue of suche requisight provisions ... for the expences of the Kinge's 
houshoulde.
f. 22v	A declaracion of the particular ordenance of fares for the dietes to be served to the 
Kinge's highnes, the Quene's grace ... (menus for all ranks of courtiers and personnel).
f. 34r	Provisions of househould (regulations established in the 17th year of King Henry VIII, 
with Table of Contents).
f. 55r	Th'appoyntemente of herbigage to be ordenarie for all noble estates ... (allowed space in 
stables and numbers of beds for all ranks, same date).
f. 60r	The nombre of all the Kinge's majestes horses, courssers, hobbies etc.
f. 71v	Memoranda concerning the government of the household, dating from the reigns of 
Edward VI and Queen Mary.
f. 74v	Copy of a letter dated November 1558. Proclamations and regulations concerning the 
household. 
f. 84r	 An estimat viewe for the waiges ... for an armie of a thousand men.
f. 88r	A proporcion of spice for the bankyt ... for the Quene's majesty in the XIIth yere of her 
reigne.
f. 95r	Ratum panis.
f. 98r	Anno nono regine Elizabeth. Ratum cervisie. Ratum vini.
f. 109v		Nombers of officers ordinarie of the chambre (numbers of personnel for all offices 
at court).
f. 113r		A breif declaracion made for the viewe of the accounte of Edmunde Pekham 
esquier, cofferer to the Kinge's moste honorable howsholde.
f. 114v		A breif declaracion for the viewe of the accompte of Thomas Weldon esquier, late 
cofferar of the Quene hir majesty moste honorable housholde.

The documents in this archival register cover the period from King Henry VIII (1509-1547) 
through Queen Elizabeth (1558-1603).


Paper, ff. 115 (many blank pages), 305 x 205 mm. 
No ruling, varying number of lines.

Copied by a single hand in Gothica Cursiva Libraria (Secretary).

Limp vellum binding with remains of leather ties. Preserved in a modern cardboard folder 
covered with paper decorated with vertical red and purple stripes. On the brown leather spine the 
gold-tooled inscription: "KING HENRY VIII'S OWN MS. BOUCH OF COURT".

According to Shailor, the manuscript has certain affinities with British Library, Harley MS 642. 
The inside of both covers and f. 115v are filled with numerous  s. XVI pen-trials by different 
hands in varying script types. Among these: "Qui plus expendit quam copia rerum tendit, non 
admiratur si magna paupertate sequatur" (variant of Walther, Proverbia, v. 4, p. 239, no. 24503). 
Acquired by Laurence Witten at Swann's Auction, 10 May 1979 (Sale 1141, lot 114). Purchased 
from Laurence Witten, 14 May 1979 on the Edwin J. Beinecke Fund.

Bibliography:
Shailor, "Acquisitions", pp. 97-98.

Albert Derolez

R 04.06.08