1551: Anne, Duchess of Somerset is Imprisoned in the Tower

Portrait of Anne Stanhope, Duchess of Somerset and wife of the Lord Protector. National Trust, Petworth House; supplied by The Public Catalogue Foundation. Image via Lisby1 on Flickr.

On this day in 1551, Anne Stanhope, Duchess of Somerset and her husband Edward, the Lord Protector, were sent to the Tower of London. It had been decided by King Edward VI and his Privy Council that his uncle, the Protector, was no longer acting in the Crown's best interests, but in his own. Anne was equally unpopular; in previous years, her public disrespect of the beloved Dowager Queen Katherine Parr (who had died in 1548) had earned her many enemies. The couple had previously been imprisoned in 1549. Anne, though an extremely proud and outspoken woman, was by no means as dangerous as her husband. Since she had not been directly involved in any of his political decisions, she was released shortly thereafter; Edward had been released in January of 1550. 

However, after their arrest in October of 1551, Edward would never experience freedom again. He was executed for treason on January 22nd, 1552 at the Tower of London; Anne was released the following year.

A 16th century portrait of Edward Seymour, Lord Protector of England, shown wearing his chain of office. Picture acquired through Wikimedia Commons. Image public domain. 

When Edward VI came to the throne after the death of his father, King Henry VIII, his uncle, Edward Seymour, Duke of Somerset, brother of the late Queen Jane Seymour, was entrusted to help govern during the boy-king's minority. His wife, Anne Stanhope, was thus elevated to an equally lofty position at court. Anne, who had previously been present at the wedding of King Henry VIII and Katherine Parr on July 12, 1543 (Martienssen, 153-154), became the sister-in-law of the widowed Queen of England when Katherine married Edward Seymour's dashing-but-dastardly brother Thomas, Admiral Seymour.

In theory, Anne and Katherine should have been great friends, or at least allies. Both were heavily involved in the Protestant reform movement in England, so much so that both selflessly put their own lives at risk to aid those who were persecuted for their beliefs during the reign of Henry VIII; but Anne's personality did not lend itself to making new friends. Anne was known in court circles as a lady with little discretion, despite her pedigree. Katherine Parr, on the other hand, had the good sense of knowing when to keep quiet; it hand saved her life on at least one occasion during her marriage to Henry VIII.

Anne did not exactly roll out the welcome mat for Katherine when she joined the family. Anne presumptuously claimed that by her marrying again, Katherine was forfeiting her title and rights as Queen Dowager, instead becoming merely the wife of an admiral (Martienssen, 231). It was recorded that the Duchess of Somerset said of her sister-in-law, "If Master Admiral (Thomas Seymour) teach his wife no better manners, I am she that will!" (Fraser, 402)

Dowager Katherine won this debate, however, as she called upon the terms of The Third Act of Succession of King Henry VIII to settle the score. The document stated that, beyond a shadow of a doubt, Queen Dowager Katherine Parr would have precedence above all other ladies in England. And, the Duchess of Somerset not only came behind Katherine Parr, but also the Lady Mary, the Lady Elizabeth, and Henry VIII's fourth wife, Anne of Cleves, who had remained in England after the annulment of their marriage as a wealthy property owner and satellite member of the royal family. History shows us that Katherine Parr was not an easy woman to anger, so her patience must have been tried significantly to refer to Anne Stanhope as, "that Hell" (Fraser, 403). In fact. Anne earned a lot of colorful nicknames during her lifetime, including "stirrer of heresy" from Spanish Ambassador Eustace Chapuys. 

For all of the negative aspects of Anne Stanhope's character, one cannot deny that she was quite an amazing woman. For one thing, she was a devoted wife and mother, who educated her children well. Some of her daughters grew up to become accomplished literary figures of the Elizabethan era. And the same tenacity and ferociousness that Anne wielded at court was equally applied to moving forward the Protestant religion in England, even at great personal risk to herself and her family. You can read more about the formidable Anne Stanhope, Duchess of Somerset in our BeingBess biography of her here.

Sources

Fraser, Antonia. The Wives of Henry VIII. Vintage, 1993. Print.

Martienssen, Anthony. Queen Katherine Parr. McGraw-Hill, 1974. Print. 

On This Day in Elizabethan History: Thomas Seymour is Executed

 

A portrait of Thomas Seymour, Lord High Admiral of England and 1st Baron Sudeley. Picture acquired through Wikimedia Commons. Image public domain.

On this day in Elizabethan history in 1549, Lord High Admiral Thomas Seymour was executed for a variety of reasons, including the attempted kidnapping of his nephew, King Edward VI, and the production of counterfeit money. In all, he was found guilty of 33 counts of treason. Princess Elizabeth was said to have remarked upon receiving news of his death, 'this day died a man of much wit, and very little judgement.' The young Princess had endured a very complicated relationship with her brother's uncle, who had also been her deceased stepmother's last husband.

A portrait of Princess Elizabeth from 1546. Attributed to William Scrots. The Royal Collection, Windsor Castle. Picture acquired through Wikimedia Commons. Image public domain.

While Princess Elizabeth was living in the household of her stepmother, Katherine Parr, and Thomas Seymour, Thomas began abusing Elizabeth, his ward, by behaving inappropriately with her. It is my opinion, evaluating the sources, that Seymour's attentions were sinister in nature and that he probably molested her. Katherine Parr, although a highly educated and perceptive woman, was conflicted as to how to handle the situation. Torn between her husband and the stepchild she regarded as her own daughter, Katherine began participating in her husband's escapades. Because of Thomas Seymour's actions toward Elizabeth, she was accessed of planning to marry him without her brother Edward VI's consent, and she was put under interrogation at the age of 15.  When Elizabeth Tudor was questioned about the longstanding unscrupulous activity of Thomas Seymour, she eventually earned the respect of her interrogator. You can read about her remarkable composure under pressure and the statement she wrote in 1549 addressing the nature of her relationship with Thomas Seymour in here.

Princess Elizabeth Tudor's signature, taken from a letter she wrote to Edward Seymour, the Lord Protector, who was Thomas Seymour's brother.

The Death of Anne Parr-Herbert

A sketch of Anne Parr, sister of Queen Katherine Parr. Picture acquired through Wikimedia Commons. Image public domain.

On this day in 1552, Anne Parr-Herbert, sister of Queen Katherine Parr and wife of William Parr, 1st Earl of Pembroke, died. The Countess died at Baynard's Castle and was buried at St. Paul's Cathedral.

To learn more about Anne's life and family, please view/follow these BeingBess Pinterest boards:

Herbert & Sidney Families

Katherine Parr 

To learn about Anne's son, Henry Herbert, 2nd Earl of Pembroke and his wife, Mary Sidney-Herbert, Countess of Pembroke, please read our BeingBess article, "Elizabethan Power Couple: The 2nd Earl and Countess of Pembroke".

On This Day in Elizabethan History: The Death of Katherine Willoughby-Bertie, 12th Baroness Willoughby de Eresby and Duchess of Suffolk

A miniature of Katherine Willoughby, Duchess of Suffolk. By Hans Holbein. Picture acquired from KateEmersonHistoricals. Image public domain.

On this day in Elizabethan history in 1580, Katherine Willoughby-Bertie, 12th Baroness Willoughby de Eresby (in her own right) and former Duchess of Suffolk, died. Katherine Willoughby-Bertie used her education and powerful position to influence and promote religious reform in England. Her beliefs and actions made her a target of the Marian government, and she and her family fled the tyranny of Mary I, only returning from abroad upon the succession of the Protestant Queen Elizabeth I.

The monument to Richard and Katherine Bertie in St. James Chapel, Spilsby. Picture shared for public use by Dave Hitchborne on Wikimedia Commons. Image public domain.

 
Katherine Willoughby was the only surviving child of Baron William Willoughby, 11th Baron Willoughby de Eresby and his Spanish wife, Maria de Salinas. Maria was a close friend and confidante of Henry VIII's first wife, Catherine of Aragon; she was also an extremely pious Catholic. Katherine's eventual Protestant convictions would put her in direct conflict with the religion in which she had been raised, and with her godfather, Stephen Gardiner, who would later become Bishop of Winchester and the enforcer of the Marian persecutions. It should be made clear that Katherine and other most early-modern evangelicals, were "late medieval Catholics, albeit ones who had become deeply unhappy with important aspects of medieval Catholic theology and devotion." (Marshall, reprinted in Harkrider)

When Baron Willoughby de Eresby died on October 26, 1526, Katherine became Baroness Willoughby de Eresby in her own right; all of the lands that were not bequethed to the next immediate male heir, who was the late Baron's brother, Sir Christopher Willoughby, were bequethed to Katherine. Katherine's uncle was not satisfied with his share, however, and a battle ensued between Sir Christopher and Maria de Salinas over Katherine's inheritance. The widowed Lady Willoughby sought help in high places, enlisting the Duke of Suffolk as her supporter. (Harkrider, 33-35).

Katherine, a very wealthy heiress, became a ward of Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk, who was not only the close friend of, but also the brother-in-law of King Henry VIII, through his marriage to the King's sister, Mary, former Queen of France. In 1528, Katherine joined the Duke and Duchess of Suffolk's household and was educated alongside their daughters, Frances and Eleanor Brandon (Levin, 284). 

The marriage portrait of Charles Brandon and Mary Tudor, Duke and Duchess of Suffolk, 1516. In the collection of the Earl Yarborough. Picture acquired through Wikimedia Commons. Image public domain.

Katherine was an exteremly wealthy ward, and the Duke and Duchess wished to keep her property within their family, so they began to negotiate a marriage between young Katherine and their son, Henry. However, the untimely death of Mary Tudor, Duchess of Suffolk presented the opportunity for a different scenario. Three months after Mary's death in 1533, Charles married his son's intended bride himself. Charles had a sordid marital history, even having lived in bigamy at one point, so nobody could have been shocked at his actions, although many disapproved. Anne Boleyn, perhaps Suffolk's most high-profile critic, said, "he has carried on an incestuous relationship with his son's fiancee" (quoted in Ives, 141).  The Duke was at least forty-seven, and Katherine was still a teenager. While the spouses difference in age was not unusual for the noble class, and would not have been seen as unseemly by even young Katherine, Katherine still had to make a difficult transition. She could no longer view Charles as a father figure; she now had to view him as her husband. Young Henry Brandon was spared the awkwardness of treating his former intended as his stepmother, as he died just six months after the marriage. 

A sketch by Holbein, identified as Katherine Willoughby, Duchess of Suffolk, dated between 1534-36. Picture acquired through Wikimedia Commons. Image public domain.

Lady Maria Willoughby supported the marriage, which elevated her daughter in rank and provided her with a considerable jointure. The marriage also gave Katherine and her mother extra leverage in her inheritance dispute (Harkrider, 35). The same year that Katherine became the new Duchess of Suffolk, Henry VIII broke from the Catholic Church and the new Church of England annulled his marriage to Catherine of Aragon, her mother's dear friend. 

"Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon Before the Papal Legates at Blackfriars in 1529". By Frank O. Salisbury, 1910. Picture acquired through Wikimedia Commons. Image public domain.

Despite their drastic age difference, the Duke and his new Duchess were compatible and the marriage was, by all accounts, a happy one. They were blessed with two sons early in their marriage; Henry was born in 1535, and Charles in 1537.

A miniature of Henry Brandon, son of Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk and Katherine, Duchess of Suffolk. By Holbein, 1541. Picture acquired through Wikimedia Commons. Image public domain.

A miniature of Charles Brandon, son of Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk and Katherine, Duchess of Suffolk. By Holbein, 1541. Picture acquired through Wikimedia Commons. Image public domain.

On behalf of his wife, the Duke secured Henry VIII's support in the Willoughby inheritance dispute, and in 1536, an Act of Parliament settled everything once and for all. The Act granted eight manors to Christopher Willoughby and his wife, in compensation for the 300 marks that the former Lord Willoughby had promised them. Maria de Salinas and her daughter received nine manors in Lincolnshire, giving Katherine a secure, consolidated seat of power (Harkrider, 35).

As the wife of Henry VIII's childhood friend and former brother-in-law, Katherine often accompanied her husband to court. She witnessed the rise and fall of Anne Boleyn, and was exposed to the evangelical ideas that circulated at court. She heard the sermons of Hugh Latimer, who preached at the royal court during the 1530's (Levin, 286). Katherine, during this time, became a firm believer in religious reform; henceforth, her religious beliefs would dictate her life, galvinizing her to become a Protestant leader, as well as putting her in extreme danger.

As head of the household staff and education in the ducal household, Katherine made the concientious decision to appoint clergy and staff sympathetic to reform; all the chaplains appointed to the household were what would become known as 'Protestant'. Meanwhile, Henry VIII, despite successfully breaking with the Church of Rome, was returning to his former conservative religious views, for political reasons. In 1539, Henry banned the clergyman whom he had once welcomed, Hugh Latimer, from preaching.

Henry VIII's sixth and final wife, Queen Katherine Parr, was a learned Protestant herself, and an old friend of Katherine Willoughby, Duchess of Suffolk. When The King wed Katherine Parr in 1543, the Duchess of Suffolk was one of only 17 people in attendance at their wedding in the chapel at Hampton Court (Levin, 286). The Duchess of Suffolk's influence with the new Queen of England was so great that Ambassador Chapuys remarked upon it, and her position in the Queen's inner circle allowed her to forge powerful, and sometimes dangerous connections.

The marriage certificate of King Henry VIII and Katherine Parr, dated July 12th, 1543. Picture acquired through Wikimedia Commons. Image public domain.

Around the same time, in the early 1540's, Katherine and her husband the Duke held a dinner party at their home. The Duke asked each lady in attendace to escort into dinner the man that she liked the best. Katherine, who was known for being intelligent, well-spoken and beautiful, was also known for her sharp wit and bold tongue; she found her godfather, Stephen Gardiner, among the guests. Gardiner had become active in the Henrician government's persecution of Protestants. Duchess Katherine explained to Gardiner that, because she could not ask her husband, who was busy with his hosting duties, she was asking him, saying, "since I may not ask my Lord, whom I like best, I ask our Grace whom I like least" (Read, 58). Katherine's actions illustrate for us a woman of strong character; due to her religious convictions, she ignored social etiquette and openly rebuked a very powerful man, her own spiritual godfather.

When her husband died in 1545, Katherine Willoughby was just twenty-six years old. Katherine continued to have a presence at court, often in the company of Queen Katherine Parr, until the King died just two years later in 1547. He was suceeded by his Protestant son, Edward VI. Edward's uncle, the Duke of Somerset, became the Lord Protector and ruled the country in the young king's stead. He sent Stephen Gardiner to the Tower because of an inflammatory sermon he preached against Edward VI. It was recorded that Katherine saw her godfather peering out of a window in his apartments in the Tower of London, and called up to him, saying, "It is merry with the lambs now that the wolf is shut up" (Read, 100).

A portrait of Stephen Gardiner. By an unknown artist, 16th century. Picture acquired through Wikimedia Commons. Image public domain.

With Queen Katherine no longer living at the royal court, Katherine Willoughby spent more and more time at her country estate of Grimsthorpe. She competently ran the estate and supervised the education of her sons, and the other children in her care. Katherine made an unusual parental decision for her time; having been married extremely young herself, she decided not to marry her sons off young, allowing them to contnue their educations and enjoy their formative years. Even when the Lord Protector proposed that his daughter marry Henry Brandon, Katherine said no. This was an unexpected rejection for the Duke, as Katherine and the Duchess of Somerset, Anne Stanhope, were friends who frequently exchanged letters (Harkrider, 49). 

A portrait of Anne Seymour, Duchess of Somerset. Picture acquired through Wikimedia Commons. Image public domain.

In addition to being a caring mother, Katherine continued to support church reform. Katherine supported the Edwardian's government efforts to remove religious idols and relics from churches, abolish what they deemed "unneccessary Holy Days", and ending the practice of pilgrimages altogether. Katherine, like all English Protestants, "believed that Catholicism placed such importance on the rituals of religion that it impeded people's faith." (Levin, 287) Protestants believed in a person's personal relationship with God, and that through faith alone, not actions, one could be saved.

In 1549, Katherine's sons entered St. John's College, Cambridge, aged fourteen and twelve, respectively. Katherine stayed close by in a property in Cambridge (Levin, 287). The ultimate tragedy befell this attentive mother; when the sweating sickness broke out in Cambridge, both of her children fell ill and died. Katherine, understandablley, fell into dispair. All male heirs to the Duke of Suffolk were now dead, so King Edward VI bequethed the dukedom to the husband of Charles and Mary Tudor's daughter, Frances. Henry Grey was now the Duke of Suffolk, and his wife the Duchess. And though Katherine was now Dowager Duchess, she continued to refer to herself as the Duchess of Suffolk, despite her stepdaughter holding the current title.

A detail from a portrait, possibly of Frances Brandon-Grey, Duchess of Suffolk. By an artist of the English school, circa 1560. The Royal Collection. Picture acquired through Wikimedia Commons. Image public domain.

During this difficult, transitory time in her life, it is likely that Katherine came to rely on the companionship of her gentleman usher, Richard Bertie. By 1552, they were enjoying some form of romantic relationship. The intelligent Katherine no doubt found it appealing that Richard Bertie was an academic; he had received a degree from Oxford University and was fluent in three languages. Like Katherine, Bertie was also a follower of Latimer, whom she frequently invited into her household (Levin, 288). Katherine would create her own happiness by marrying Bertie, a man far beneath her station, for love. It was only fitting that Latimer perform their wedding service, which he did in January of 1553. By the end of their first year of marriage, Katherine had given birth to their first child, a daughter, Susan.

A posthumous, 18th century portrait of Richard Bertie, alongside his wife, Katherine Willoughby. Picture acquired through Wikimedia Commons. Image public domain.

 

A posthumous, 18th century portrait of  Katherine Willoughby, alongside her husband, Richard Bertie. Picture acquired through Wikimedia Commons. Image public domain.

While their first year of marriage was filled with personal happiness, it was also filled with immense political strife. When Edward VI died, John Dudley, Duke of Northumberland orchestrated an unsuccessful coup to to put his son, Guildford, and Katherine's step-granddaughter, Lady Jane Grey, on the throne. Katherine Willoughby was godmother to one of the Earl's daughters (Harkrider, 49). Jane, her husband, and the other conspirators were executed, and the extremely Catholic Mary took back her throne.

"The Execution of Lady Jane Grey". By Paul De la Roche, 1833. Picture acquired through Wikimedia Commons. Image public domain.

One of Queen Mary's first acts was to release Katherine's godfather, Stephen Gardiner, from the Tower. She made him her chancellor, and put him in charge of restoring England to the Catholic faith. Katherine was now in great danger, but she did not cease to promote the Protestant cause. Fearless, she facilitated the distribution of the Bible in English and disseminated banned religious texts. The martyrologist John Foxe would include Katherine in his book as one of the women at court who were targeted for their beliefs (Harkrider, 50). Katherine and Richard watched in horror as their friend Hugh Latimer, and many others, were sent to the Tower. Katherine sent them comforts from home while they were in prison (Levin, 288). Katherine got a good scare when her beloved husband was summoned before her godfather in early 1554. Gardiner told Bertie that as Katherine's husband, it was his duty to forbid his wife from practicing her Protestant faith, and bring her back to Catholicism. Bertie, of course, would do no such thing, but he took this encounter as a warning, and he and Katherine became determined to flee the country with their daughter, before something truly terrible happened. Gardiner would have no qualms about charging his goddaughter with heresy and reposessing her wealth.

The Bertie's came up with a plan; Richard told Gardiner that the Holy Roman Emperor himself owed Katherine money, and that they needed to go and collect it. The Bertie's knew that Gardiner would not be able to resist the idea of Katherine acquiring extra wealth before he brought charges against her (Levin, 288). The Bertie's requested permission to go abroad. Richard left first to secure the escape route into the Protestant-friendly Low-Countries, and then Katherine, Susan, and their servvants fled to to join them in early 1555.

A 17th century illustration showing Katherine and Richard Bertie exiled with Susan and a wet-nurse. Picture acquired through Wikimedia Commons. Image public domain.

Part of the growing number of Marian exiles, the Bertie's adopted new identities, living in a small town near the Rhine River, called Santon. Gardiner was furious, and made use of his connections to discover the location of the Berties. Richard heard rumblings that the local bishop suspected their identity, so the Bertie family fled again; this time, Katherine was inconveniently pregnant. Meanwhile, back in England, Hugh Latimer was executed by being burnt alive at the stake as a heretic.

A woodcut illustration from Foxe's Book of Martyrs showing the burning of Bishops Latimer and Ridley. Picture acquired through Wikimedia Commons. Image public domain.

In Wesel, the Berties found sanctuary with a sympathetic pastor. Katherine's son Peregrine was born abroad, his name likely chosen to commemorate their flight. Their safety was short-lived, however. In 1556, Lord Paget arrived in Holland looking for the Berties, and he had managed to get permission from the Duke of Brunswick to arrest them for heresy. The Berties found out in enough time to Weinheim. The Berties were almost destitute, and they knew that they could not outrun the authorities forever.

By 1557,  King Sigismund of Poland had heard of the Berties and their troubles through a mutual Polish acquaintance who had met them in London. The King of Poland not only gave them refuge, but also entrusted them with governing the province of Samogitia, present day Lithuania (Levin, 289). Katherine and Richard's reputation as learned Protestants clearly had preceded them. The Berties ably ran Samogitia, but would not do so for long, as big changes were occuring in England.

In November of 1558, Queen Mary I died with no issue, and her Protestant half-sister Elizabeth succeeded to the throne. By 1559, Katherine and her family were back in England. The Berties would no longer have to live in constant fear for their lives due, to the more moderate regime of Queen Elizabeth I. The Elizabethan Church Settlement pleased the majority of the Queen's English subjects, but there were still some disenfranchised Catholics and extreme Protestants who were unhappy. Katherine was disappointed, as she had hoped that the Queen would reform the Church of England further.

A detail from The Coronation Portrait of Elizabeth I. Image public domain through Creative Commons licensing, NPG, London.

The Berties split their time as a family between their house in London and Grimsthorpe in Lincolnshire. Katherine Bertie continued to support reform in England, becoming regarded as a spiritual example for women; proof of this lies in the fact that two Elizabethan editions of Latimer's sermons, edited by his Swiss servant Augustine Bernher, were dedicated to her in 1562 and 1578. Meanwhile, Richard was elected to the House of Commons, where he served for four years. The Berties never enjoyed the royal favor that the more moderate English subjects did; their beliefs were too extreme.

Like Katherine had intended with her first two children, she permitted her second two children to choose their own spouses when they were ready. Susan Bertie first married Reginald Grey in 1571, but she was widowed young. She remarried eight years later, taking Sir John Wingfield as her husband. Wingfield was a friend of her brother, Peregrine. Peregrine married the Earl of Oxford's sister, Mary de Vere, in 1578. 

A detail from a portrait of Susan Bertie, Countess of Kent, 16th century. Picture acquired through Wikimedia Commons. Image public domain.

 

A detail from a portrait of Peregrine Bertie, 13th Baron Willoughby de Eresby, dated between 1588-90. Picture acquired through Wikimedia Commons. Image public domain.

Two years after her son was wed, Katherine died. Peregrine and Mary Bertie named their only child Katherine, after her fearless grandmother. Richard Bertie followed his wife to the grave just two years later. Katherine Willoughby-Bertie, Baroness Willoughby de Eresby and former Duchess of Suffolk has a legacy that lives on, not just as a Protestant leader, but as an ancestress of Prince William and Prince Harry. Lady Diana Spencer, Princess of Wales was a descendent of Peregrine Bertie. Thus, Katherine's blood will one day sit on the throne of England (Cornelius Kramer).

A bust of Katherine Willoughby in St. James, Spilsby, on the south wall of the chapel. Picture shared for public use by Dave Hitchborne on Wikimedia Commons. Image public domain.

Sources:

Harkrider, Melissa Franklin. Women, Reform and Community in Early Modern England: Katherine Willoughby, Duchess of 
     Suffolk, and Lincolnshire's Godly Aristocracy, 1519-1580. Woodbridge: Boydell Press, 2008. Print.

Ives, Eric. The Life and Death of Anne Boleyn. Oxford: Blackwell Publishing, 2004. Print.

Levin, Carole. "Catherine Willoughby (1520-1580)." Extraordinary Women of the Medieval and Renaissance World. Ed.     
     Levin, Barrett-Graves, Eldridge Carney, Spellman, Kennedy, Witham. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 2000.
     285-290. Print.

Read, Evelyn. My Lady Suffolk. London: Jonathan Cape, 1962. Print.

"Catherine Willoughby." Kyra Cornelius Kramer. Mantra & Wordpress. Web. 18 Sept. 2013.

The Death of Katherine Parr

 

A portrait of Queen Katherine Parr, circa 1545. Picture acquired through Flickr courtesy of Inor19. Image public domain.

 On this day in 1548, the Dowager Queen Katherine Parr died from “childbed fever”, or puerperal sepsis, at her home of Sudeley Castle. She is buried in the private chapel of her home, St. Mary's.

In tribute to the final wife of King Henry VIII, please read our article about her life, with a special focus on her influence on the young Princess Elizabeth, as well as her tumultuous and ultimately disappointing marriage to Thomas Seymour.

September 5th, 1548: The Death of Katherine Parr

The tomb of Katherine Parr in St. Mary's Chapel, Sudeley Castle. Photo shared for public use by Lara E. Eakins of TudorHistory.org.

On this day in Tudor history, 1548, the Dowager Queen Katherine Parr died from “childbed fever”, or puerperal sepsis, at her home of Sudeley Castle. With her final breaths, Katherine Parr voiced her disappointment in her husband, Thomas Seymour, for all the pain he had caused her. Thomas had been inappropriate with his wife's stepdaughter, Elizabeth Tudor (Plowden, 100-101). 

Henry VIII's sixth and final wife was laid to rest on the grounds of Sudeley Castle in St. Mary's Chapel.

An exterior view of Sudeley Castle. Picture acquired through Wikimedia Commons. Image public domain.

After being widowed just one year before, upon the death of her third husband, King Henry VIII, Katherine had seized her chance at happiness by marrying Thomas Seymour. Thomas had been pursuing Katherine before she had caught King Henry's eye (Porter, 284-291). Thomas Seymour was also the uncle of Katherine's stepson, the boy-king Edward VI.

The Jersey Portrait. The sitter was formally thought to be Jane Grey, but has now been identified as Katherine Parr. Picture acquired through Flickr courtesy of Inor19.

Katherine and Thomas's courtship appears to have been a passionate one, but their marriage suffered when Thomas became fixated on Katherine's young stepdaughter, Elizabeth Tudor (Porter, 307-315). Elizabeth was in their care, living under their roof. Thomas abused his ward by behaving inappropriately with her. 

Katherine Parr, although a highly educated and perceptive woman, was conflicted as to how to handle the situation. Torn between her husband and the stepchild she regarded as her own daughter, Katherine began participating in her husband's escapades. Who knows how she rationalized her involvement to herself; perhaps she believed it would bring her closer to her husband, or perhaps she thought it would help her to keep an eye on the behavior.

When Katherine became pregnant, she became far less tolerant of her husband interest in Elizabeth, and she had the Princess sent away (Porter, 313-314). Still, Elizabeth and Katherine were not on bad terms, and they wrote to one another during their separation (Porter, 315-316). Upon learning of her stepmother's death, Elizabeth was devastated. Despite the betrayal she had experienced in Katherine Parr's care, she would never forget that this was the woman who had treated her like she was her own child. She had loved her, interceded for her with her father, and given her with the best of educations (Plowden, 75, 93). Just a few years before (1545), the Princess Elizabeth had given her stepmother her own translation of The Mirror of the Sinful Soul, by Margaret of Navarre. This present was intended to show off her academic skills, which she had acquired thanks to the tutors provided to her by her stepmother. The cover was embroidered in her own hand, and included Katherine Parr's initials, "KP" in the center.

Elizabeth Tudor's translation of The Mirror of the Sinful Soul, given by her to her stepmother, Katherine Parr in 1545. Elizabeth hand-embroidered the cover, including the Dowager Queen's initials, "KP" in the center. Picture acquired through Wikimedia Commons. Image public domain.

Katherine herself was quite the role model for the young Elizabeth in matters of education, government,and religion. Katherine was an author, and she earned the distinction of becoming the first English Queen to have a work of literature published under her own name. Just one year after her wedding to Henry VIII, the mature and accomplished Katherine was entrusted to be regent of England for three months.  Finally, Katherine was a champion for church reform, even though it nearly cost her her life (Porter, 225-267).

Prayers and Meditations, a book authored by Queen Katherine Parr. This copy was perhaps written in her own hand. Picture acquired through Wikimedia Commons. Image public domain.

Sadly, the fate of Queen Katherine Parr's only biological child, Mary Seymour, is unknown. While she lived for a time in the care of Katherine Parr's friend, Katherine Willoughby, she disappears from the records and probably did not live into adulthood.

A portrait of Queen Katherine Parr, circa 1545. Picture acquired through Flickr courtesy of Inor19. Image public domain.

In Other Katherine Parr News...

This Sunday, September 9th, marks the grande finale of the year-long celebrations at Sudeley Castle for the Katherine Parr Quincentenary. The Quincentenary marks the 500th anniversary of the birth of Katherine Parr, the 6th and final wife of King Henry VIII.

An exterior view of a knot garden at Sudeley Castle. Picture acquired through Wikimedia Commons. Image public domain.

Sudeley Castle has undertaken a remarkable historical challenge: re-creating the funeral of England's Queen Dowager from 1548. The event, which is sold out, asks guests to participate, rather than mereley spectate, by having them portray actual funeral guests.This re-enactment, led by eminent Tudor historian Dr. David Starkey, truly is "living history" at its finest!

A close-up of the tomb of Queen Katherine Parr in St.Mary's Chapel, Sudeley Castle. Photo shared for public use by Lara E. Eakins of TudorHistory.org.

Sources

Porter, Linda. Katherine the Queen. New York: St. Martin's Press, 2010. Print.

Plowden, Alison. The Young Elizabeth. Gloucestershire: The History Press, 2011. Print.

July 12th, 1543: The Wedding of Henry VIII and Katherine Parr

A miniature portrait, most likely of Katherine Parr. Picture acquired through Wikimedia Commons. Image public domain.

On this day in Tudor history, 1543, King Henry VIII married his sixth and final wife, Katherine Parr at Hampton Court Palace. Queen Katherine Parr was to become the mother figure that the young Elizabeth and Edward never had. While Mary was now an adult and in no need of mothering, she and Katherine were friendly, even if they differed on matters of religion.

A view of some of the sumptuously recreated Hampton Court Palace Gardens. Picture acquired through Wikimedia Commons. Image public domain.

Twice widowed before she wed the King, Katherine was a mature and accomplished woman who made a competent Queen. Just one year after her wedding, Katherine would serve for three months as regent in England while Henry VIII embarked on another fruitless campaign in France. Henry VIII's decision to entrust his realm to Queen Katherine showed a tremendous amount of faith in his sixth wife's judgement and ability to govern, a trust he had not given since his marriage to Catherine of Aragon.

A portrait miniature of Catherine of Aragon with her pet monkey, by Lucas Horenbout. Painted between 1525-26. Picture acquired through Wikimedia Commons. Image public domain.

To learn more about the accomplished Queen Katherine Parr, I recommend reading,  Katherine the Queen: The Remarkable Life of Katherine Parr, the Last Wife of Henry VIII by Linda Porter. Read my review HERE.

To learn more about Elizabeth's relationship with her stepmother Katherine Parr, please see my article, published exclusively at On The Tudor Trail, An Education: The Shaping of Elizabeth I, through Childhood Events and Academic Pursuits.

To learn about the young Elizabeth's impressive gift to her stepmother, a lengthy translation of The Mirror of the Sinful Soul, and to read a letter written by Elizabeth to Queen Katherine in 1548, please see Elizabeth Tudor's letter to Katherine Parr.

The cover to Elizabeth Tudor's translation of The Mirror of the Sinful Soul, embroidered in her own hand. Elizabeth has incorporated her stepmother's initials, "KP" , in the center of the knot-work on the cover. Picture acquired through Wikimedia Commons. Image public domain.

And to learn more about the Katherine Parr Quincentenary celebrations at Sudeley Castle, visit the Sudeley Castle Website. 

An exterior view of Sudeley Castle. Picture acquired through Wikimedia Commons. Image public domain.

On This Day in Elizabethan History: The Death of Anne Stanhope, Duchess of Somerset

On This Day in Elizabethan History, Anne Stanhope, Duchess of Somerset, died in 1587. She is buried in Westminster Abbey. Anne was the second wife of Edward VI's uncle, the Lord Protector Edward Seymour, Duke of Somerset. Anne is most famous for her pride; her prestige as the Duchess of Somerset and the wife of one of the most powerful men in England led her to publicly declare precedence (without merit) over the Queen Dowager, Katherine Parr. Anne was, according to one Spaniard residing in London, "more presumptuous than Lucifer" (Fraser, 235). But Stanhope was no devil; she was also a reformer and a loyal wife...


Anne Stanhope, Duchess of Somerset's tomb and effigy at Westminster Abbey. The inscription says: "A Princesse descended of noble lignage, beinge daughter of the worthie knight Sir Edward Stanhope, by Elizabeth his wyfe, that was daughter of Sir Foulke Burgchier Lord Fitzwarin, from whom our moderne Erles of Bathe are spronge. Sonne was he hunto William Lord Fitzwarin, that was brother to Henry Erle of Essex and Jhon lord Berners; whom William theire sire, sometyme Erle of Eu in Normandy, begat on Anne the sole heire of Thomas of Woodstocke, Duke of Gloucester, younger sonne to the mighty prince Kinge Edward the Third, and of his wyfe Aleanoure coheire unto the tenth Humfrey de Bohun that was Erle of Hereford, Essex, and Northampton, High Constable of England." Picture acquired through Wikimedia Commons. Image public domain.

 Anne was born probably in 1497 in Suffolk to Sir Edward Stanhope and Elizabeth Bourchier. She had two elder-half brothers through her father's first marriage, Richard and Michael. One could argue that Anne's self-important nature had its root in her impressive ancestry: she was descended on her mother's side from Thomas of Woodstock, who was the youngest son of Edward III and his wife Philippa of Hainault (Martienssen, 125). 

A 14th century drawing of the coronation of Philippa of Hainault, the Queen Consort of Edward III. Picture acquired through Wikimedia Commons. Image public domain.

Anne enjoyed the privilege of being educated in her youth; she came to court in 1511 after the death of her father (Emerson, 214). She would soon become known for her tendency to voice her strong opinions.


A detail of a portrait of Anne Stanhope, wife of the Lord Protector and the Duchess of Somerset. Picture acquired through Wikimedia Commons. Image public domain.

 Somewhere between 1534 and 1535, Anne married Edward Seymour. It is said that she caught Edward's eye around 1520 when she was a maid of honour at court (Emerson, 214). Anne and Edward were equally matched in ambition and self-importance. By the time of Anne's marriage to Edward, King Henry VIII was already showing favor to Edward's younger sister, Jane Seymour, even though he was still married to Anne Boleyn. Anne must have surmised that either her new sister-in-laws relationship would bring great opportunities for her and her husband, or disastrous consequences.

By 1536, Jane Seymour had become the third wife of Henry VIII. As Henry had previously done for Anne Boleyn and her relations, the Seymour's were all promoted to new titles and high-ranking offices. Edward became Viscount Beauchamp, and in October of 1537, he enjoyed the distinction of becoming the Earl of Hertford. And long after the death of Jane Seymour in 1537, Edward was elevated to the title of the Duke of Somerset in 1547. As was customary, his wife became the Duchess of Somerset.

A detail of a portrait of Edward Seymour. The resemblance to his sister, brother, and eldest son is particularly noticeable in this representation. Picture acquired through Wikimedia Commons. Image public domain.


Anne and Edward were incredibly successful in creating little Seymour's; together they had ten children! One of these children, also called Edward, would secretly marry Lady Katherine Grey, who was in line for the throne of England; both were reprimanded by Elizabeth I for marrying without her permission. Three of Anne's daughters, another Jane Seymour, (who was the sole witness at her brother Edward and Katherine Grey's marriage) Anne (later Countess of Warwick) and Margaret Seymour would be celebrated in the 16th century for their writing. The three co-authored a compendium of 103 Latin verses for the tomb of Margaret Valois, Queen of Navarre (herself an author; she wrote The Mirror of The Sinful Soul). Anne Stanhope valued her education, and she afforded her own daughter's the same opportunities.


Edward Seymour, Edward and Anne's second child (their first, a son also named Edward, and of whom Queen Jane Seymour was godmother, had died when he was a toddler). Edward married Katherine Grey, a claimant to the throne, without Elizabeth I's knowledge. Both were imprisoned as a result. They had two sons, both of whom were declared illegitimate. Picture acquired through Wikimedia Commons. Image public domain.

 Anne Stanhope made a name for herself in court circles as one who spoke her mind, often at the expense of others feelings. She was still an intimate at court by the time Henry VIII married his final wife, Queen Katherine Parr. Anne was even present at their wedding on July 12, 1543 (Martienssen, 153-154). When Edward VI came to the throne after the death of his father, his uncle Edward Seymour was appointed to govern in the boy-king's minority. Anne became sister-in-law with the former Queen of England when Katherine Parr married Edward Seymour's brother, Thomas.


A miniature, probably of Queen Katherine Parr. Picture acquired through Wikimedia Commons. Image public domain.

 Anne did not exactly welcome Katherine to the family; it would appear that The Duchess of Somerset could not bare the thought of sharing the spotlight with another accomplished woman. Anne claimed that by Katherine Parr marrying again, Katherine was forfeiting her title and powers as Queen Dowager, instead becoming merely the wife of an Admiral (Martienssen, 231). It was recorded that the Duchess of Somerset said of her sister-in-law, "If Master Admiral (Thomas Seymour) teach his wife no better manners, I am she that will!" (Fraser, 402).

Katherine won this debate, however, as she called upon the terms of The Third Succession Act to settle the score; this document stated that, beyond a shadow of a doubt, Queen Dowager Katherine Parr would have precedence above all the other ladies in England. The Duchess of Somerset not only came behind Katherine Parr, but also the Lady Mary, the Lady Elizabeth, and Henry VIII's fourth wife, Anna of Cleves, who had remained in England, and was referred to as "the king's sister". History shows us that Katherine Parr was not an easy woman to anger, so her patience must have been tried significantly to cause her to start referring to Anne Stanhope as "that Hell" (Fraser, 403).  

In theory, Katherine Parr and Anne Stanhope could have been great friends; both were heavily involved in the Protestant reform movement, so much so that both put their own lives at risk to aid those who were persecuted for their beliefs. While no one should ever turn to the Showtime series The Tudors as gospel, the plot line of Anne Stanhope* sending aid to Anne Askew, who was burned at the stake as a heretic, was absolutely true. Both Parr and Stanhope were friends of Askew, and they were both profoundly affected by the nature of her death. Stephen Gardiner, one of my least favorite people in Tudor history, attempted to get Anne Askew to implicate the Queen and the Duchess of Somerset as fellow heretics, but she would not give in. Eustace Chapuys called Stanhope a "stirrer of heresy" for her promotion of reform. (*It should be mentioned that the character of the Duchess of Somerset in the show is a conglomeration of the real Anne Stanhope and Edward Seymour's first wife, Catherine Filliol, whom he divorced on grounds of her adultery.)

Anne's treatment of the beloved Queen Dowager had started to aggravate and alienate other courtiers. To make matter's worse, her husband Edward had grown exceedingly power hungry, and his wielding of absolute authority in England was unpopular. The Privy Council challenged him on his behavior, and he and his wife were sent to the Tower in October of 1549. Anne, though an irritant, was by no means as politically dangerous as her husband, and due to her distance from his professional missteps, she was released shortly thereafter (Loades, 150). After cooling his heels in prison, Edward was released in January of 1550.

A 16th century portrait detail of the Lord Protector of England, Edward Seymour, wearing his chain of office. Picture acquired through Wikimedia Commons. Image public domain.

 According to the Imperial Ambassador, the Duchess of Somerset had been working overtime on her husband's behalf, visiting the new chief advisor to the king, John Dudley, the Earl of Warwick (and father to Robert and Ambrose Dudley). She was petitioning him to allow her husband to rejoin the Privy Council after his brief disgrace. The plan worked, and as soon Somerset was back on the council, the Dudley's and Seymour's were arranging a marriage between Anne Seymour (the aforementioned writer) and John Dudley (jr).

Unfortunately, Somerset's freedom was to be short-lived, as he was arrested again in October of 1551, on charges that he had been conspiring against Warwick, now the Earl of Northumberland. Northumberland, like Seymour, was ambitious to a fault, and when he saw his opportunity to rid himself of another power-player, he took it. The Duchess of Somerset must have been frustrated when all her negotiating (or as she might have seen it, 'condesceding to') Dudley had come to naught, as she was also imprisoned, again, along with her husband.

On December 1st of that same year, Somerset was convicted of the charges against him, and  sentenced to death, and on January 22nd, 1552, the young King Edward VI's uncle was beheaded. His other uncle would soon share the same fate. The Duchess was not released from the Tower until May 3 of 1553 (Loades, 188-190). One can only imagine how she managed to bare the confinement and humiliation of her family's fall from power.

After Mary Tudor came to the throne and the Earl of Northumberland was executed for his role in a coup d'etat, the Duchess of Somerset was allowed to rummage through the personal belongings of the Dudley's to take whatever she wanted. This must have brought her great satisfaction!

A portrait of Queen Mary I early in her reign. Picture acquired through Wikimedia Commons. Image public domain. Picture acquired through Wikimedia Commons. Image public domain.

Anne Stanhope was made of strong stuff; she had endured the public backlash for her unfriendly behavior toward Katherine Parr, survived two stints in the Tower of London, and the public disgrace and execution of her husband. Anne gradually put herself back into society. She would marry for a second time to the former steward of her and her late husband, Francis Newdigate. This marriage was presumably for love, since she already had mothered ten children and because Newdigate was her social inferior (something that Stanhope typically paid great attention to!) Newdigate and Anne were likely already friends, or at least acquaintances, given their close proximity in earlier years.

In 1560, Queen Elizabeth I granted the manor of Chelsea to Stanhope for life, and granted "the widow of the Protector" an annuity for the payment of her household. Not much of Anne and her second husband's marriage is known, but in 1570 they were prosecuted for failing to pay rent on the property for ten years (History of the County of Middlesex, pages 108-115). Francis died shortly before his wife, in 1581. Anne lived the remainder of her life away from court, in Shelford, Nottinghamshire. On the 14th of July in 1586 she completed her will; it was later published in it's entirety in The Gentleman's Magazine issue from April of 1845, on page 371. In addition to being buried at Westminster, there is a memorial for Anne in St. Peter and St. Paul's Church in Shelford.

A detail from The Clopton Portrait of Queen Elizabeth I, circa 1560-65. Picture acquired through Wikimedia Commons. Image public domain.

Had Anne lived just one year more, she would have witnessed one of the greatest triumphs in English history...the defeat of the Spanish Armada.

Sources:

Emerson, Kathy Lynn. Wives and Daughters: The Women of the Sixteenth Century.Whitston Publishing Company, 1984. Print.

Fraser, Antonia. The Wives of Henry VIII. Vintage, 1993. Print.

Martienssen, Anthony. Queen Katherine Parr. McGraw-Hill, 1974. Print. 

Loades, David. John Dudley, the Duke of Northumberland 1504-1553. Oxford University Press, 1996. Print.

"Landownership: Chelsea manor", in A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 12: Chelsea (2004), pages 108-115, at http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=28701