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Maid of Honour is in Royal Household.
Around 1513 Elizabeth "Bessie" Blount Baroness Clinton and Tailboys (age 15) came to court as a Maid of Honour to Catherine of Aragon Queen Consort England (age 27).
In 1576 Elizabeth Howard Countess Carrick (age 11) was appointed Maid of Honour to Queen Elizabeth I of England and Ireland (age 42) which position she held until 1583.
In 1577 Mary Grey (age 32) was appointed Maid of Honour to Queen Elizabeth I of England and Ireland (age 43).
Around 1580 Elizabeth Trentham Maid of Honour Countess of Oxford was appointed Maid of Honour to Queen Elizabeth I of England and Ireland (age 46).
Around 1595 Mary Fitton (age 16) was appointed Maid of Honour to Queen Elizabeth I of England and Ireland (age 61). Her father Edward Fitton (age 47) recommended her to the care of the married William Knollys 1st Earl Banbury (age 51) who developed a crush on her to the amusement of the court. In Jan 1599 she left court.
Around 1630 Cecilia Crofts (age 20) was appointed Maid of Honour to Henrietta Maria Bourbon Queen Consort England (age 20).
Before 1669 Margaret Blagge (age 16) was appointed Maid of Honour.
William of Worcester's Chronicle of England
William of Worcester, born around 1415, and died around 1482 was secretary to John Fastolf, the renowned soldier of the Hundred Years War, during which time he collected documents, letters, and wrote a record of events. Following their return to England in 1440 William was witness to major events. Twice in his chronicle he uses the first person: 1. when writing about the murder of Thomas, 7th Baron Scales, in 1460, he writes '… and I saw him lying naked in the cemetery near the porch of the church of St. Mary Overie in Southwark …' and 2. describing King Edward IV's entry into London in 1461 he writes '… proclaimed that all the people themselves were to recognize and acknowledge Edward as king. I was present and heard this, and immediately went down with them into the city'. William’s Chronicle is rich in detail. It is the source of much information about the Wars of the Roses, including the term 'Diabolical Marriage' to describe the marriage of Queen Elizabeth Woodville’s brother John’s marriage to Katherine, Dowager Duchess of Norfolk, he aged twenty, she sixty-five or more, and the story about a paper crown being placed in mockery on the severed head of Richard, 3rd Duke of York.
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John Evelyn's Diary. 31st July 1672. I entertained the Maids of Honor (among whom there was one (age 19) I infinitely esteemed for her many and extraordinary virtues) at a comedy this afternoon, and so went home.
John Evelyn's Diary. 10th June 1673. Came to visit and dine with me my Lord Viscount Cornbury (age 11) and his Lady (age 10); Lady Frances Hyde, sister to the Duchess of York; and Mrs. Dorothy Howard (age 22), Maid of Honour [Note. Dorothy Howard and Colonel James Graham (age 24) were married in 1675 - may be an example of Evelyn writing his diary retrospectively she being referred to as 'Mrs' although possibly the term was used irrecspective of marriage - see John Evelyn's Diary 9th October 1671]. We went, after dinner, to see the formal and formidable camp on Blackheath, Greenwich [Map], raised to invade Holland; or, as others suspected for another design. Thence, to the Italian glass-house at Greenwich, Kent [Map], where glass was blown of finer metal than that of Murano [Map], at Venice.
John Evelyn's Diary. 11th July 1675. In this journey, went part of the way Mr. James Graham (age 26) (since Privy Purse to the Duke (age 41)), a young gentleman exceedingly in love with Mrs. Dorothy Howard (age 24), one of the maids of honor in our company. I could not but pity them both, the mother not much favoring it. This lady was not only a great beauty, but a most virtuous and excellent creature, and worthy to have been wife to the best of men. My advice was required, and I spoke to the advantage of the young gentleman, more out of pity than that she deserved no better match; for, though he was a gentleman of good family, yet there was great inequality.
Before 1677 Barbara Villiers Viscountess Fitzhardinge (age 22) became a Maid of Honour to the daughters of King James II of England Scotland and Ireland (age 43): Princess Mary (age 14) and Princess Anne (age 11) and possibly others.
John Evelyn's Diary. 15th September 1685. I accompanied Mr. Pepys (age 52) to Portsmouth [Map], whither his Ma* (age 51) was going the first time since his coming to the Crowne, to see in what state the fortifications were. We tooke coach and six horses, late after dinner, yet got to Bagshot that night. Whilst supper was making ready I went and made a visit to Mrs. Graham (age 34), some time maid of honour to ye Queene Dowager (age 46), now wife to James Graham, Esq (age 36) of the privy purse to the King; her house being a walke in the forest, within a little quarter of a mile from Bagshot towne. Very importunate she was that I would sup, and abide there that night, but being obliged by my companion, I return'd to our inn, after she had shew'd me her house, wch was very commodious and well furnish'd, as she was an excellent housewife, a prudent and virtuous lady. There is a parke full of red deere about it. Her eldest son was now sick there of the small-pox, but in a likely way of recovery, and other of her children run about, and among the infected, wnh she said she let them do on purpose that they might whilst young pass that fatal disease she fancied they were to undergo one time or other, and that this would be the best: the severity of this cruell disease so lately in my poore family confirming much of what she affirmed.
John Evelyn's Diary. 24th March 1688. I went with Sir Charles Littleton (age 60) to Sheen [Map], a house and estate given him by Lord Brounker; one who was ever noted for a hard, covetous, vicious man; but for his worldly craft and skill in gaming few exceeded him. Coming to die, he bequeathed all his land, house, furniture, etc., to Sir Charles, to whom he had no manner of relation, but an ancient friendship contracted at the famous siege of Colchester, forty years before. It is a pretty place, with fine gardens, and well planted, and given to one worthy of them, Sir Charles being an honest gentleman and soldier. He is brother to Sir Henry Littleton (age 64) of Worcestershire, whose great estate he is likely to inherit, his brother being without children. They are descendants of the great lawyer of that name, and give the same arms and motto. He is married to one Mrs. Temple (age 39), formerly Maid of Honour to the late Queen (age 49), a beautiful lady, and he has many fine children, so that none envy his good fortune.
Before 27th August 1718 Anne Temple Lady Lyttelton (age 69) was appointed Maid of Honour to Catherine of Braganza Queen Consort England.
In 1761 Frances Bishopp (age 20) was appointed Maid of Honour to Charlotte Mecklenburg Strelitz Queen Consort England (age 16).
After 8th September 1761 Susan Tracy Keck Maid of Honour (age 16) was appointed Maid of Honour to Charlotte Mecklenburg Strelitz Queen Consort England (age 17).
The History of William Marshal was commissioned by his son shortly after William’s death in 1219 to celebrate the Marshal’s remarkable life; it is an authentic, contemporary voice. The manuscript was discovered in 1861 by French historian Paul Meyer. Meyer published the manuscript in its original Anglo-French in 1891 in two books. This book is a line by line translation of the first of Meyer’s books; lines 1-10152. Book 1 of the History begins in 1139 and ends in 1194. It describes the events of the Anarchy, the role of William’s father John, John’s marriages, William’s childhood, his role as a hostage at the siege of Newbury, his injury and imprisonment in Poitou where he met Eleanor of Aquitaine and his life as a knight errant. It continues with the accusation against him of an improper relationship with Margaret, wife of Henry the Young King, his exile, and return, the death of Henry the Young King, the rebellion of Richard, the future King Richard I, war with France, the death of King Henry II, and the capture of King Richard, and the rebellion of John, the future King John. It ends with the release of King Richard and the death of John Marshal.
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In 1802 Charlotte Elizabeth Digby (age 23) was appointed Maid of Honour to Charlotte Mecklenburg Strelitz Queen Consort England (age 57).
In 1857 Horatia Stopford (age 22) was appointed Maid of Honour to Queen Victoria (age 37)
In 1863 Lucy Caroline Lyttelton (age 21) was appointed Maid of Honour to Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom (age 43).
Elizabeth Vere Countess Derby was appointed Maid of Honour to Queen Elizabeth I of England and Ireland.
Jane Seymour was appointed Maid of Honour.
Mary Hale was appointed Maid of Honour to Queen Anne of England Scotland and Ireland.
Frances Radclyffe was appointed Maid of Honour to Queen Elizabeth I of England and Ireland.
Dorothy Elizabeth Wheler was appointed Maid of Honour to Catherine of Braganza Queen Consort England.