EARLE, WALTER (d.1581). Groom/Gentleman of the Privy Chamber; 1539 - 1558-; [virginals; composer]

Earle first appears in the Court records around 1540 as a page in ordinary in the household of Anne of Cleves. In April 1543 and again on 1 Jan 1543/4 he was given 15s by Princess Mary. On 2 Nov 1543 he received a grant of lands in Colyton, Devon, which was renewed on 1 July 1546. A lay subsidy list endorsed on 10 Nov 1545 assesses him at £22. By 1546 he appears among the officers of the Squillery and Woodyard and in June that year he was granted an unspecified gift 'at the Queen's suit'. He was one of three men granted rents of lands in the parish of Puddletown, Dorset, by patent of 8 Sep 1546. That November a letter to 'Nicholas' [Nicola?] Erle, daughter and heir to John Erle, deceased, was 'in favour of Walter Erle, the Queen's servant, for marriage'.