George Brediman

George Brediman or Bredyman or Brideman (died 1580) was an English courtier serving Mary I of England and Elizabeth I. Brediman was a groom of the privy chamber and keeper of the privy purse.[1] His wife, Edith Brediman, was a chamberer at court.[2]

Mary I of England

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Mary made Brediman Keeper of the Royal Park of Freemantle near Hannington and Kingsclere with an allowance to feed the wild animals in winter.[3] She gave him various rewards, including, in 1557, the manor of Podington, a part of the Honour of Ampthill,[4] and a lease of Brook Hall at Tolleshunt Knights. Brediman was granted the custody and ward of Edmund Brockelsby (died 1565), heir of the manor of Glentworth in July 1557, and was granted the custom duties from the markets and fairs of three Welsh border townships, Builth, Presteigne, and Elvell.[5]

Brediman and the royal tapestry

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Mary also allowed Brediman to use some verdure tapestry of the "broad bloom" with birds and apples and another suite of verdure featuring roses and pomegranates in the corners.[6][7] The pomegranate was an emblem of Catherine of Aragon.[8] Some rose and pomegranate borders may have been produced by Cornelius van der Strete or made by makers in centres including Enghien.[9] Tapestry, with corner pomegranates, roses, apples, and "pots", was listed in 1547 in the inventory of Henry VIII at Oatlands Palace.[10]

Several pieces of a suite of tapestry of the "broad bloom" featuring apples and pomegranates were held by the wardrobe of Lady Elizabeth in 1547,[11] and at least one related piece of tapestry with corner pomegranates is thought to survive.[12]

Edith Brediman and a Book of Hours

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In 1556, he married Edith Brocas or Brokwesse (died 1590), one of Mary's chamberers.[13][14] Mary gave "Edeth Brydeman" a New Year's Day gift of a gilt salt in 1557, a more valuable gift than that received by George Brediman.[15] The gift rolls record that "Edeth Brydeman" took delivery of a gift of sweetmeats, figs, sugar loaves, and orange water for Mary, and she may have been in charge of such foodstuffs and medicinal materials in the queen's chamber.[16]

Edith was rewarded for attending Mary during her final illness on 28 October 1558.[17] She signed her name in a Book of Hours which had once belonged to Henry VII, writing under an illustration for the Office of the Dead:

In all tyme of neccessitye: with your prayer remember me
Edeth Bredyman.[18]

Elizabeth I

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Mary I made him Keeper of Westminster Palace, and York Place, with the houses occupied by the armourer Hans Hunter and the goldsmith Everard Everdyes, the gardens and orchards, and a tennis court.[19] This included responsibility for the Wardrobe of Robes (as a successor to Arthur Stourton). He continued as Keeper for Elizabeth I. Several royal warrants directed to Brediman survive, referring both to the wardrobe at Whitehall or at Westminster. At this time, the same store was meant.[20]

In October 1559, Brediman sent £3000 to Ralph Sadler at Berwick-upon-Tweed. Sadler was to use the money to reward any Scottish people who might further peace with England.[21] Brediman issued textiles for the queen's use, and to the queen's tailor Walter Fyshe.[22] Brediman issued copes and vestments from the wardrobe to Kat Ashley, chief gentlewoman of the bedchamber to Elizabeth I in December 1560. By the same warrant, fabrics were requested for "masking garments" to be sent to Thomas Benger, Master of the Revels.[23]

In February 1569, Brediman supplied cloth by warrant to Elizabeth's tailor Walter Fyshe and sable furs to her furrier Adam Bland.[24] Brediman supplied cloth for the costumes used in The Masque of Amazons performed at Richmond Palace on 11 January 1579.[25]

George Brediman died in 1580. Thomas Knyvet became Keeper of Westminster Palace and the Wardrobe of Robes.[26]

He was survived by his wife Edith, who lived at Tingrith,[27] and a son Edmund.[28] George Brediman was buried at St Martin-in-the-Fields, where his son Edmund had been baptised in 1561, and the previous keeper of Westminster Palace, Arthur Stourton, was buried in 1557.[29] Edith Brediman was buried at St Edmund's Chapel in Westminster Abbey.[30]

References

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  1. ^ David Loades, Mary Tudor (Basil Blackwell, 1989), p. 192.
  2. ^ John Nichols, llustrations of the manners and expences of antient times in England (London, 1797), p. 22
  3. ^ Calendar of Patent Rolls, Mary, 1554/55 (London, 1936), vol. 2, p. 117
  4. ^ Daniel Lysons, Magna Britannia: Bedfordshire, Berkshire, and Buckinghamshire, vol. 1 (London, 1806), p. 125.
  5. ^ Calendar of the Patent Rolls Preserved in the Public Record Office: Philip and Mary, vol. 4 (London, 1939), pp. 210, 305
  6. ^ HMC 9th Report (London, 1883), p. 416.
  7. ^ John Nichols, 'Warrant of Queen Mary', Illustrations of the manners and expences of antient times in England (London, 1797), no. 1
  8. ^ Pomegranate and Rose, Museum of London
  9. ^ Thomas P. Campbell, Henry VIII and the Art of Majesty (Yale, 2007), pp. 109-110.
  10. ^ David Starkey, Inventory of Henry VIII (London, 1998), p. 295 nos. 12626-12628.
  11. ^ Maria Hayward, The 1542 Inventory of Whitehall Palace, 1 (Illuminata Press, 2004), pp. 29–30, 211, 258.
  12. ^ Elizabeth Cleland, The Tudors: Art and Majesty in Renaissance England (New York, 2023), p. 105 fig. 37: David Starkey, Inventory, 1 (London, 1998), p. 381 no. 15276: British Library Harley 1419 f.9v.
  13. ^ Calendar of the Patent Rolls Preserved in the Public Record Office: Philip and Mary, vol. 3, pp. 270, 479
  14. ^ David Loades, Mary Tudor: A Life (Oxford, 1992), p. 355.
  15. ^ John Nichols, 'Gifts Presented by Queen Mary', Illustrations of the manners and expences of antient times in England (London, 1797), pp. 22, 26
  16. ^ 'New Year's Gifts', Illustrations of the manners and expences of antient times in England, p. 6
  17. ^ Index of Additions to the Manuscripts in the British Museum (London, 1849), p. 59: British Library Add MS 6362 f.40, see external links.
  18. ^ M. R. James, A Descriptive Catalogue of the Manuscripts in the Fitzwilliam Museum (Cambridge, 1895), p. 142 MS 57: Eamon Duffy, Marking the Hours: English People and Their Prayers 1240-1570 (Yale, 2006), pp. 60-61 illustrated: Fitzwilliam Museum MS 57 f.127r: William George Searle, The Illuminated Manuscripts of the Fitzwilliam Museum (Cambridge, 1876), p. 156
  19. ^ Calendar of the Patent Rolls Preserved in the Public Record Office: Philip and Mary, vol. 4 (London, 1939), pp. 166-168
  20. ^ Janet Arnold, Queen Elizabeth's Wardrobe Unlock'd (Maney, 1988), pp. 141, 166, 171-2, 178, Arnold uses the name "Brideman".
  21. ^ Arthur Clifford, Sadler State Papers, vol. 1 (Edinburgh, 1809), p. 726: Henry Ellis, Original Letters, 3:3 (London, 1846), pp. 331–334.
  22. ^ Craven Ord, 'Writs of Privy Seal', Archaeologia, vol. 16 (1812), pp. 91-94.
  23. ^ Craven Ord, "Copies of Five Curious Writs of Privy Seal", Archaeologia, vol. 16 (London, 1812), pp. 92–93
  24. ^ "Skinner to Queen Elizabeth" Notes & Queries, 5th S. VII (3 February 1877), p. 97 citing BL Add. MS 5751.
  25. ^ Martin Wiggins & Catherine Richardson, British Drama 1533-1642: A Catalogue: 1567-1589, vol. 2 (Oxford, 2012), p. 218.
  26. ^ Janet Arnold, Queen Elizabeth's Wardrobe Unlock'd (Maney, 1988), pp. 166, 184.
  27. ^ Dixwells, Bedfordshire Archives
  28. ^ Calendar of the Patent Rolls Preserved in the Public Record Office: Elizabeth I, p. 55.
  29. ^ Thomas Mason, A register of baptisms, marriages, and burials in the parish of St. Martin in the Fields (London, 1898), pp. 5, 107, 124
  30. ^ A survey of the cities of London and Westminster, vol. 2 (London, 1735), p. 553
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