th
of May, in the year 1553, before the lady Jane had attained her
seventeenth year. The nuptials were solemnized with great magnificence
at Durham House, the then princely residence of the Earl of
Northumberland, who appears to have been particularly earnest in their
conclusion, as they were celebrated but two months previous to the death
of Edward VI., who at that time "lay dangerously sicke,"[2] and being
unable to attend, sent costly presents as marks of his approval. Three
other marriages, also, appear to have taken place at the same time, as
recorded by the chronicler Stow.[3]

[Footnote 2: Stow's _Summarie of the Chronicles of England_, p. 245.]

[Footnote 3: Lord Gilford, the Duke of Northumberland's fourth son,
married Lady Jane, the Duke of Suffolk's daughter, whose mother being
then alive, was daughter to Mary, King Henrie's sister, which was then
married to the French king, and after to Charles, Duke of Suffolke. Also
the Earle of Pembroke's eldest son married Lady Katharine, the said
duke's second daughter. And Martin Keie's gentleman porter married Mary,
the third daughter of the Duke of Suffolke. And the Earle of
Huntington's son, called Lord Hastings, married Katharine, youngest
daughter to the Duke of Northumberland.--Stow's _Chronicle_, p. 1029,
edit. 1600.]

Durham House, which formerly occupied that extensive space of ground on
the southern side of the Strand, now covered by the stately pile of
buildings called the Adelphi, was erected, according to Stow,[4] in the
reign of Edward III., by Thomas de Hatfield, created Bishop of Durham in
1345. Pennant,[5] however, but upon what authority does not appear,
traces its foundation to a period prior to the abovementioned, that
of Edward I., when he says it was erected by Anthony de Beck, patriarch
of Jerusalem and Bishop of Durham, but was afterwards rebuilt by Bishop
Hatfield. In 1534, Tonstal, the then bishop, exchanged Durham House with
Henry VIII. for a mansion in Thames Street, called "Cold Harborough,"
when it was converted by that monarch into a royal palace. During
the same reign, in the year 1540, a grand tournament, commencing on
"Maie daie," and continuing on the five following days, was held at
Westminster; after which, says Stow, "the challengers rode to Durham
Place, where they kept open household, and feasted the king and queene
(Anne of Cleves) with her ladies, and all the court."[6] In the reign
of Edward VI., a mint was established at D