The Middleton Accounts of 1525: #3

For this entry in the Middleton household accounts of Sir Henry Willoughby from 1525, we get to wish everyone a Happy Valentine’s Day a day early! This entry was described as a reward to my Master’s valentine for Saint Valentine’s Day and was dated 13th February. His gift to his valentine was 4 pence, which is the equivalent of about £7.35 today.

Sir Henry Willoughby was married four times. His first wife was Margaret, the daughter of Sir Robert Markham, and she died about 1489. His second marriage was to Lady Elizabeth Fitzhugh, the daughter of Lord Thomas Burgh of Gainsborough and widow of Lord Richard Fitzhugh, and she died in 1507. His third marriage was to Ellen, the daughter of John Egerton of Wrinehill. It is unknown when Ellen died. Finally, Henry’s fourth wife, who he married on 21st January 1521, was Alice Walleys or Walters. Although Sir Henry died at Middleton Hall, he was buried at St Leonard’s Church at Wollaton. His tomb depicts a large effigy of himself along with four small effigies of each of his wives.

Tomb of Sir Henry Willoughby and his four wives in Wollaton Church, Nottinghamshire, 2013. Photograph taken by Richard Jordan.

So how was Valentine’s Day observed in Tudor times?

St Valentine’s Day has more than one St Valentine martyrdom story attached to it although they tend to all contain the theme of performing illegal marriages in the time of the Roman Emperor Claudius II. In Roman times, St Valentine’s Day coincided with the pagan festival of Lupercalia, which promoted purification, health and fertility … but not love and romance. The first recognised indication of Valentine’s Day being associated with love is in the 14th century, in the poetry of Geoffrey Chaucer in his Parlement of Foules (Parliament of Fowls). By the 15th century, it was written that it was custom for people to “choose their love” on St Valentine’s Day.

Records also indicate that, for wealthy households in Tudor England at least, by the end of the 15th century it was also customary to give a gift on St Valentine’s Day. In fact, multiple sources mention the drawing of “lots” for whom to give a valentine to, very much in the mode of the modern Secret Santa! This observance, with its modern associations of romance and gift-giving, was further entrenched in society when, in 1537, King Henry VIII declared St Valentine’s Day to be a holiday in England. It was thus one of the few Christian feast days to survive the King’s religious reformation! From that time, the celebration of St Valentine’s Day became more and more popular.

Further Reading: W. H. Stevenson, Report on the Manuscripts of Lord Middleton, Historical Manuscripts Commission, 1911. p.376.

Author - Debbie Jordan, Middleton Hall Volunteer.

Please consider supporting Middleton Hall Trust by sending us a donation.