Biography of Catherine Willoughby Duchess Suffolk 1519-1580

Paternal Family Tree: Willoughby

1533 Funeral of Mary Tudor

1536 Funeral of Catherine of Aragon

1540 Anne of Cleves Arrival at London

1549 Trial and Execution of Thomas Seymour

On 13 Jul 1499 [her grandfather] Christopher Willoughby 10th Baron Willoughby (age 46) died at Campsey, Suffolk. He was buried at Campsey Nunnery, Campsey. His son [her father] William Willoughby 11th Baron Willoughby (age 17) succeeded 11th Baron Willoughby de Eresby.

Before 07 Feb 1507 [her future husband] Charles Brandon 1st Duke of Suffolk (age 23) and Margaret Neville (age 41) were married. She the daughter of John Neville 1st Marquess Montagu and Isabel Ingaldsthorpe. They were half fourth cousins. She a great x 3 granddaughter of King Edward III of England.

After 07 Feb 1507 [her future husband] Charles Brandon 1st Duke of Suffolk (age 23) and Margaret Neville (age 41) were divorced. The marriage was declared void, the reason is unknown, by the Archdeaconry Court of London, and later by papal bull dated 12 May 1528.

In 1508 [her future husband] Charles Brandon 1st Duke of Suffolk (age 24) and Anne Browne were married secretly at Stepney [Map]. She, Anne, being the step-daughter of his first wife's (age 42) sister Lucy Neville (age 40). They, Charles and Anne, had possibly been betrothed before his marriage to Margaret Neville (age 42).

In 1513 [her future husband] Charles Brandon 1st Duke of Suffolk (age 29) was betrothed to Elizabeth Grey Countess Devon (age 7). He was created 1st Viscount Lisle in recognition of the betrothal.

In 1514 [her future husband] Charles Brandon 1st Duke of Suffolk (age 30) was created 1st Duke Suffolk by King Henry VIII of England and Ireland (age 22). Elizabeth Grey Countess Devon (age 8) by marriage Duchess Suffolk.

In May 1515 [her future husband] Charles Brandon 1st Duke of Suffolk (age 31) and Mary Tudor Queen Consort France (age 19) were married. She by marriage Duchess Suffolk. She had married Louis XII King France in Oct 1514; he had died on 01 Jan 1515. Around this time he surrendered the title Viscount Lisle which he had been created in anticipation of this marrige to Elizabeth Grey Countess Devon (age 10) which never took place. Viscount Lisle forfeit. She the daughter of King Henry VII of England and Ireland and Elizabeth York Queen Consort England.

Before 05 Jun 1516 [her father] William Willoughby 11th Baron Willoughby (age 34) and Mary Hussey Baroness Willoughby Eresby (age 32) were married. She by marriage Baroness Willoughby de Eresby.

On 05 Jun 1516 [her father] William Willoughby 11th Baron Willoughby (age 34) and [her mother] Maria de Salinas Baroness Willoughby (age 26) were married. She by marriage Baroness Willoughby de Eresby.

On 22 Mar 1519 Catherine Willoughby Duchess Suffolk was born to William Willoughby 11th Baron Willoughby (age 37) and Maria de Salinas Baroness Willoughby (age 29) at Parham Old Hall, Suffolk [Map].

On 26 Mar 1519 Catherine Willoughby Duchess Suffolk was christened at Parham Old Hall, Suffolk [Map].

On 19 Oct 1526 [her father] William Willoughby 11th Baron Willoughby (age 44) died at Parham, Suffolk [Map]. He was buried at All Saints Church, Mettingham Bungay [Map]. His daughter Catherine Willoughby Duchess Suffolk (age 7) succeeded 12th Baroness Willoughby de Eresby. Catherine Willoughby Duchess Suffolk (age 7) became a ward of Henry VIII (age 35).

On 01 Mar 1528 Henry VIII (age 36) sold the wardship of Catherine Willoughby Duchess Suffolk (age 8) to [her future husband] Charles Brandon 1st Duke of Suffolk (age 44) who subsequently married her.

Funeral of Mary Tudor

On 21 Jul 1533 Mary Tudor Queen Consort France (deceased) was buried at Bury St Edmund's Abbey. Catherine Willoughby Duchess Suffolk (age 14) chief mourner.

On 07 Sep 1533 Charles Brandon 1st Duke of Suffolk (age 49) and Catherine Willoughby Duchess Suffolk (age 14) were married. She by marriage Duchess Suffolk. The difference in their ages was 35 years.

On 01 Mar 1534 [her step-son] Henry Brandon (age 11) died at Southwark, Surrey [Map]. Earl Lincoln extinct.

Around 1535 Hans Holbein The Younger (age 38). Drawing of Catherine Willoughby Duchess Suffolk (age 15).

On 18 Sep 1535 [her son] Henry Brandon 2nd Duke of Suffolk was born to [her husband] Charles Brandon 1st Duke of Suffolk (age 51) and Catherine Willoughby Duchess Suffolk (age 16).

Funeral of Catherine of Aragon

Letters 1536. 21 Jan 1536. Great preparation is made for the Queen's burial, which, as Cromwell sent to inform me, will be so magnificent that even those who see it all will hardly believe it. It is to take place on the 1st February. The chief mourner will be the [her step-daughter] King's niece (age 17), daughter of the [her husband] Duke of Suffolk (age 52); the Duchess of Suffolk (age 16) will be the second; the third will be the wife of the Duke of Norfolk's son. of others there will be a great multitude; I think they mean to dress in mourning about 600 persons. Nothing is said yet of the lords who are to be present. Cromwell again, since I wrote to your Majesty, has twice sent to press on my acceptance the mourning cloth which the King wished to give me, and would gladly by this means bind me to be present at the interment, which the King greatly desires, but following the advice of the Queen Regent in Flanders, of the Princess, and of several good personages, I will not go, since they do not mean to bury her as Queen. I have refused the said cloth, saying simply that I did not do it of any ill intention, but only because I was already provided. The King had intended, or those of his Council, that solemn exequies should be made at the Cathedral Church of this city, and a number of carpenters and others had already been set to work to make preparations, but, since then, the whole thing has been broken off; I do not know if it was ever sincerely intended, or if it was only a pretence for the satisfaction of the people, to remove sinister opinions.

Letters 1536. Vienna Archives. 284. Death and Burial of Katharine of Arragon.

The good Queen (deceased) died in a few days, of God knows what illness, on Friday, 7 Jan. 1536. Next day her body was taken into the Privy Chamber and placed under the canopy of State (sous le dhoussier et drapt destat), where it rested seven days, without any other solemnity than four flambeaux continually burning. During this time a leaden coffin was prepared, in which the body was enclosed on Saturday, the 15th, and borne to the chapel. The vigils of the dead were said the same day, and next day one mass and no more, without any other light than six torches of rosin. On Sunday, the 16th, the body was removed again into the Privy Chamber, where it remained till Saturday following. Meanwhile an "estalage," which we call a chapelle ardente, was arranged, with 56 wax candles in all, and the house hung with two breadths of the lesser frieze of the country. On Saturday, the 22nd, it was again brought to the chapel, and remained until the masses of Thursday following, during which time solemn masses were said in the manner of the country, at which there assisted by turns as principals the Duchess of Suffolk (age 16), the Countess of Worcester (age 34), the young Countess of Oxford (age 18), the Countess of Surrey (age 19), and Baronesses Howard (age 21), Willoughby (age 24), Bray, and Gascon (sic).

25 Jan 1536. On Tuesday1 following, as they were beginning mass, four banners of crimson taffeta were brought, two of which bore the arms of the Queen, one those of England, with three "lambeaulx blancs," which they say are of Prince Arthur; the fourth had the two, viz., of Spain and England, together. There were also four great golden [standards]. On one was painted the Trinity, on the second Our Lady, on the third St. Katharine, and on the fourth St. George; and by the side of these representations the said arms were depicted in the above order; and in like manner the said arms were simply, and without gilding (? dourance), painted and set over all the house, and above them a simple crown, distinguished from that of the kingdom which is closed. On Wednesday after the robes of the Queen's 10 ladies were completed, who had not till then made any mourning, except with kerchiefs on their heads and old robes. This day, at dinner, the countess of Surrey held state, who at the vigils after dinner was chief mourner. On Thursday, after mass, which was no less solemn than the vigils of the day before, the body was carried from the chapel and put on a waggon, to be conveyed not to one of the convents of the Observant Friars, as the Queen had desired before her death, but at the pleasure of the King, her husband, to the Benedictine Abbey of Peterborough, and they departed in the following order:—First, 16 priests or clergymen in surplices went on horseback, without saying a word, having a gilded laten cross borne before them; after them several gentlemen, of whom there were only two of the house, "et le demeurant estoient tous emprouvez," and after them followed the maître d'hotel and chamberlain, with their rods of office in their hands; and, to keep them in order, went by their sides 9 or 10 heralds, with mourning hoods and wearing their coats of arms; after them followed 50 servants of the aforesaid gentlemen, bearing torches and "bâtons allumés," which lasted but a short time, and in the middle of them was drawn a waggon, upon which the body was drawn by six horses all covered with black cloth to the ground. The said waggon was covered with black velvet, in the midst of which was a great silver cross; and within, as one looked upon the corpse, was stretched a cloth of gold frieze with a cross of crimson velvet, and before and behind the said waggon stood two gentlemen ushers with mourning hoods looking into the waggon, round which the said four banners were carried by four heralds and the standards with the representations by four gentlemen. Then followed seven ladies, as chief mourners, upon hackneys, that of the first being harnessed with black velvet and the others with black cloth. After which ladies followed the waggon of the Queen's gentlemen; and after them, on hackneys, came nine ladies, wives of knights. Then followed the waggon of the Queen's chambermaids; then her maids to the number of 36, and in their wake followed certain servants on horseback.

In this order the royal corpse was conducted for nine miles of the country, i.e., three French leagues, as far as the abbey of Sautry [Map], where the abbot and his monks received it and placed it under a canopy in the choir of the church, under an "estalage" prepared for it, which contained 408 candles, which burned during the vigils that day and next day at mass. Next day a solemn mass was chanted in the said abbey of Sautry [Map], by the Bishop of Ely, during which in the middle of the church 48 torches of rosin were carried by as many poor men, with mourning hoods and garments. After mass the body was borne in the same order to the abbey of Peterborough, where at the door of the church it was honorably received by the bishops of Lincoln, Ely, and Rochester, the Abbot of the place, and the abbots of Ramsey, Crolain (Crowland), Tournan (Thorney), Walden and Thaem (Tame), who, wearing their mitres and hoods, accompanied it in procession till it was placed under the chapelle ardente which was prepared for it there, upon eight pillars of beautiful fashion and roundness, upon which were placed about 1,000 candles, both little and middle-sized, and round about the said chapel 18 banners waved, of which one bore the arms of the Emperor, a second those of England, with those of the King's mother, prince Arthur, the Queen of Portugal, sister of the deceased, Spain, Arragon, and Sicily, and those of Spain and England with three "lambeaulx," those of John of Gaunt, duke of Lancaster, who married the daughter of Peter the Cruel, viz., "le joux des beufz," the bundle of Abbot of arrows, the pomegranate (granade), the lion and the greyhound. Likewise there were a great number of little pennons, in which were portrayed the devices of king Ferdinand, father of the deceased, and of herself; and round about the said chapel, in great gold letters was written, as the device of the said good lady, "Humble et loyale." Solemn vigils were said that day, and on the morrow the three masses by three bishops: the first by the Bishop of Rochester, with the Abbot of Thame as deacon, and the Abbot of Walden as sub-deacon; the second by the Bishop of Ely, with the Abbot of Tournay (Thorney) as deacon, and the Abbot of Peterborough as sub-deacon; the third by the Bishop of  Lincoln (age 63), with the Bishop of Llandaff as deacon, and that of Ely as sub-deacon; the other bishops and abbots aforesaid assisting at the said masses in their pontificals, so the ceremony was very sumptuous. The chief mourner was lady [her step-daughter] Eleanor (age 17), daughter of the Duke of Suffolk (age 52) and the French Queen, and niece of King Henry, widower now of the said good Queen. She was conducted to the offering by the Comptroller and Mr. Gust (Gostwick), new receiver of the moneys the King takes from the Church. Immediately after the offering was completed the Bishop of Rochester preached the same as all the preachers of England for two years have not ceased to preach, viz., against the power of the Pope, whom they call Bishop of Rome, and against the marriage of the said good Queen and the King, alleging against all truth that in the hour of death she acknowledged she had not been Queen of England. I say against all truth, because at that hour she ordered a writing to be made in her name addressed to the King as her husband, and to the ambassador of the Emperor, her nephew, which she signed with these words—Katharine, Queen of England—commending her ladies and servants to the favor of the said ambassador. At the end of the mass all the mourning ladies offered in the hands of the heralds each three ells in three pieces of cloth of gold which were upon the body, and of this "accoutrements" will be made for the chapel where the annual service will be performed for her. After the mass the body was buried in a grave at the lowest step of the high altar, over which they put a simple black cloth. In this manner was celebrated the funeral of her who for 27 years has been true Queen of England, whose holy soul, as every one must believe, is in eternal rest, after worldly misery borne by her with such patience that there is little need to pray God for her; to whom, nevertheless, we ought incessantly to address prayers for the weal (salut) of her living image whom she has left to us, the most virtuous Princess her daughter, that He may comfort her in her great and infinite adversities, and give her a husband to his pleasure, &c. Fr., from a modern copy, pp. 6.

Note 1. This would be Tuesday, 1 Feb., if the chronology were strict; but the latest Tuesday that can be intended is 25 Jan.

Letters 1536. 08 Jun 1536. Statute Roll. 1087. Parliament.

Begun at Westminster 8 June 28 Henry VIII., Acts concerning:—

1. The attainder of Thomas Fitzgerald and his five uncles [c. 18].

2. Assurance of the manor of Southwark to the King [c. 19].

3. Jointure of Dame Grace, wife of Sir Henry Parker, son and heir to Henry lord Morley [c. 20].

4. Exchange between the King and the prior of St. Johns [c. 21].

5. Lands belonging to the earldom of Warwick [c. 22].

6. Pension to Robert Shurborn late Bishop of Chichester [c. 23].

7. Attainder of lord Thomas Howard [c. 24].

8. Assurance of lands to Viscount Beauchamp (age 36) [c. 25].

9. Assurance of lands in Kew to Viscount Beauchamp (age 36) and lady Anne (age 39) his wife [c. 26].

10. Church of Elsingspittle to be the parish church of St. Alphes, Cripplegate [c. 27].

11. Moiety of Ricard's Castle assured to John Onley [c. 28].

12. Exchange with the Abbot of Westminster for Covent Garden [c. 29].

13. Purchase of Stanton Barry from Thomas Pope [c. 30].

14. Enlargement of St. Margaret's churchyard, Southwark [c. 31].

15. Lands at Westminster conveyed to the King by the churchwardens of St. Martin's and St. Margaret's [c. 32].

16. Durham Place conveyed to the King by exchange [c. 33].

17. Baynard's Castle assured to the Duke of Richmond (age 16) [c. 34].

18. Exchange with lord Sandes [c. 35].

19. Award between Sir Adrian Fortescue and Sir Walter Stoner [c. 36].

20. Jointure of Dorothy, daughter to the Earl of Huntingdon, to be married to Richard Devereux, son of lord Ferrers [c. 37].

20a. Assurance of Paris Garden, &c. to the Queen [c. 38].

21. Earldom of March [c. 39].

22. Lands assured to Edward North [c. 40].

23. Manor of Birmingham assured to the King [c. 41].

24. Exchange with the Abbot of Abingdon [c. 42].

25. Lands assured to Thomas Jermyn [c. 43].

26. Manor of Haselyngfeld assured to the Charter House [c. 44].

27. The Queen's (age 27) jointure [c. 45].

28. Lands assured to Thomas Hatclyff, clerk of the Green Cloth [c. 46].

29. Lands assured to John Gostwyke [c. 47].

30. Concerning a marriage to be had between Lord Bulbeke (age 20), son and heir apparent to the Earl of Oxford (age 65), and Dorothy, eldest daughter of the Earl of Westmoreland (age 38) [c. 48].

31. Exchange of Covent Garden with the abbot and convent of Westmoreland [c. 49].

32. Exchange between the King, the archbishop of Canterbury, and Cromwell (Wimbledon, Mortlake, &c.) [c. 50].

33. Jointure of Catharine Duchess of Suffolk (age 17) [c. 51].

34. Lands of Lord Rochford (deceased), Norris (deceased), and others [c. 52].

35. Benefit of clergy restricted [c. 1].

36. Against servants embezzling [c. 2].

37. Power to allot townships in Wales [c. 3].

38. Repeal of statute for dowlas and lokerams [c. 4].

39. For prentices [c. 5].

40. For continuing the Statute of Beggars and other Acts [c. 6].

41. The Succession [c. 7].

42. For continuing statutes against exportation of copper, &c. [c. 8].

43. For continuing statutes against perjury and others [c. 9].

44. For extinguishing the authority of the Bishop of Rome [c. 10].

45. For restitution of first-fruits during vacancies to next incumbent [c. 11].

46. Declaring the limits of the King's palace of Westminster [c. 12].

47. Against non-residence of spiritual persons [c. 13].

48. Prices of wines [c. 14].

49. Punishment of pirates [c. 15].

50. Dispensations from Rome [c. 16].

51. The King's successors when 24 years of age to have power to annul Acts of Parliament made during their minority [c. 51].

In 1537 [her son] Charles Brandon 3rd Duke of Suffolk was born to [her husband] Charles Brandon 1st Duke of Suffolk (age 53) and Catherine Willoughby Duchess Suffolk (age 17).

Letters and Papers 1538. 23 Mar 1538. Spanish Calendar, V. ii. No. 220. 583. Chapuys (age 48) to the Queen of Hungary (age 32).

She has done well in writing to Cromwell (age 53), who was much gratified by her letter. The French ambassadors have had difficulty in getting an interview with the King (age 46), and were ill received; on which the Bishop of Tarbes said to the Venetian secretary he would do his best to promote a peace between the Emperor and France. Next day the Bishop received a present of 500 cr. and 150 cr. for a gentleman of his suite; but he has not yet got his passports, which the King (age 46) will probably not give till he has heard from Spain. On the same day, the 18th, the painter (age 41) returned with the Duchess' (age 16) likeness, which has pleased the King (age 46) much, and put him in much better humour. He has been masking and visiting the Duchess of Suffolk (age 19), &c. Does not think, however, that he is pleased at the meeting arranged between the Pope, the Emperor, and Francis. London, 23 March 1538.From a MS. at Vienna.

In 1539 [her mother] Maria de Salinas Baroness Willoughby (age 49) died.

Anne of Cleves Arrival at London

On 30 Jan 1540 Anne of Cleves (age 24) arrived at Blackheath, Greenwich [Map]. Henry Grey 1st Duke of Suffolk (age 23) carried the Sword of State. William Holles (age 69), [her husband] Charles Brandon 1st Duke of Suffolk (age 56), Robert Radclyffe 1st Earl of Sussex (age 57), John de Vere 15th Earl of Oxford (age 69), John de Vere 16th Earl of Oxford (age 24), Bishop Robert Parfew aka Warton and Catherine Willoughby Duchess Suffolk (age 20) were present.

In 1542 [her step-daughter] Mary Brandon Baroness Monteagle (age 32) died.

On 22 Aug 1545 [her husband] Charles Brandon 1st Duke of Suffolk (age 61) died. His son [her son] Henry Brandon 2nd Duke of Suffolk (age 9) succeeded 2nd Duke Suffolk.

On 27 Sep 1547 [her former step-daughter] Eleanor Brandon Countess Cumberland (age 28) died.

Trial and Execution of Thomas Seymour

On 20 Mar 1549 Thomas Seymour 1st Baron Seymour (age 41) was beheaded at Tower Hill [Map]. He was buried at St Peter ad Vincula Church, Tower of London [Map].

Catherine Willoughby Duchess Suffolk (age 29) became guardian to his daughter Mary Seymour.

After 1551 Richard Bertie Baron Willoughby (age 34) and Catherine Willoughby Duchess Suffolk (age 31) were married. He by marriage Baron Willoughby de Eresby.

Wriothesley's Chronicle 1551. 04 Nov 1551. The 4 of November the sayd Quene (age 35) rode from the sayd place to the Kinges pallace at Whitehall by Westminster in hir charyot, accompanyed with diuers knightes and gentlemen, carles and lordes, the Lady Margaret Dowglas (age 36), the Duches of Richmond (age 32), the Duches of Suffolke (age 32), the Duches of Northumberland (age 42), with diuers other noble women of England and ladyes of Scotland followinge after them; the Dukes of Northumberland (age 47) and [her son] Suffolke and the Lord Treasurer (age 68) receivinge her within the Court gate, all the guard standinge on euery syde of the Court; and at her entringe in at the hall the Kinges Maiestie (age 14) stode in the upper ende of the hall, the Earle of Warwicke (age 24) [Note. assumed to be referring to the subsiduary title of the Duke of Northumberland] houldinge the sworde afore the Kinge; she kneelinge downe, the Kinges Maiestie tooke her up and, kissinge her, he tooke her by the hand, she comminge with him, he led her up into the chamber of presence, and so from thence to the Queues chamber of presence, where he kissed all the ladyes of Scotland, and so departed for a while; and that daye she dyned on the Quenes syde with the Kinges Maiestie, the Kinges service and hers comminge both togeather, richely serued in gylt plate; the Kinges seruice on the right hand of the table, and the Quenes on the left hand, she sittinge by the Kinge apart by his cloth of estate; the goodly cupbord of plate of gould and gylte that day there occupyed, with the rich hanginges and costly meates, was wondrous to see. All the ladyes of England and Scotland dyned in the Quenes great chamber, and were serued in siluer all theyr meates; dinner ended, the Kinges Maiestie shewed her his galleries and gardens, with other commodityes of that place; and about foure of the clocke he brought her downe againe by the hand into the hall, where he received her and there kissed hir, and so she departed to the Bishops house againe to Pawles in lyke manner as she went thither.

In 1554 [her daughter] Susan Bertie Countess Kent was born to [her husband] Richard Bertie Baron Willoughby (age 37) and Catherine Willoughby Duchess Suffolk (age 34).

On 01 Mar 1555 Adrian Stokes (age 35) and [her former step-daughter] Frances Brandon Duchess of Suffolk (age 37) were married. She the daughter of Charles Brandon 1st Duke of Suffolk and Mary Tudor Queen Consort France. She a granddaughter of King Henry VII of England and Ireland.

On 12 Oct 1555 [her son] Peregrine Bertie 13th Baron Willoughby was born to [her husband] Richard Bertie Baron Willoughby (age 38) and Catherine Willoughby Duchess Suffolk (age 36) at Wesel, Wesel. He was named for his parents peregrinations through Germany avoiding religious persecution.

In 1557 [her illegitimate step-daughter] Anne Brandon Baroness Grey Powis (age 50) died.

On 20 Nov 1559 [her former step-daughter] Frances Brandon Duchess of Suffolk (age 42) died at Richmond, Surrey [Map]. She was buried at Chapel of St Edmund, Westminster Abbey [Map].

In Aug 1567 Catherine Willoughby Duchess Suffolk (age 48) became custodian to Mary Grey (age 22), sister to Lady Jane Grey.

Around 1570 [her son-in-law] Reginald Grey 5th Earl Kent (age 30) and [her daughter] Susan Bertie Countess Kent (age 16) were married. She by marriage Countess Kent. She the daughter of Richard Bertie Baron Willoughby (age 53) and Catherine Willoughby Duchess Suffolk (age 50).

On 25 Dec 1577 [her son] Peregrine Bertie 13th Baron Willoughby (age 22) and [her daughter-in-law] Mary Vere Baroness Willoughby Eresby were married. She the daughter of John de Vere 16th Earl of Oxford and Margery Golding Countess of Oxford. He the son of Richard Bertie Baron Willoughby (age 61) and Catherine Willoughby Duchess Suffolk (age 58).

On 19 Sep 1580 Catherine Willoughby Duchess Suffolk (age 61) died. Her son [her son] Peregrine Bertie 13th Baron Willoughby (age 24) succeeded 13th Baron Willoughby de Eresby. [her daughter-in-law] Mary Vere Baroness Willoughby Eresby by marriage Baroness Willoughby de Eresby.

She was buried at St James' Church, Spilsby [Map] with her second husband [her husband] Richard Bertie Baron Willoughby (age 63). Elizabethan Period. Sideboard Tomb. Cornice supported by three figures of a monk and two wildmen, each holding aloft a shield of arms. In the frieze are flowers, fruit and escutcheons.

Mary Vere Baroness Willoughby Eresby: she was born to John de Vere 16th Earl of Oxford and Margery Golding Countess of Oxford. On 25 Dec 1577 Peregrine Bertie 13th Baron Willoughby and she were married. She the daughter of John de Vere 16th Earl of Oxford and Margery Golding Countess of Oxford. He the son of Richard Bertie Baron Willoughby and Catherine Willoughby Duchess Suffolk. Around 24 Jun 1624 Mary Vere Baroness Willoughby Eresby died.

On 09 Apr 1582 [her former husband] Richard Bertie Baron Willoughby (age 65) died at Bourne. He was buried at St James' Church, Spilsby [Map].

Pepy's Diary. 11 Aug 1663. So I landed them at Greenwich, Kent [Map], and there to a garden, and gave them fruit and wine, and so to boat again, and finally, in the cool of the evening, to Lyon Kee1, the tide against us, and so landed and walked to the Bridge [Map], and there took a coach by chance passing by, and so I saw them home, and there eat some cold venison with them, and drunk and bade them good night, having been mighty merry with them, and I think it is not amiss to preserve, though it cost me a little, such a friend as Mrs. Turner (age 40).

Note 1. Lion Key, Lower Thames Street, where the famous Duchess of Suffolk in the time of Bishop Gardiner's persecution took boat for the continent. James, Duke of York (age 29), also left the country from this same place on the night of April 20th, 1648, when he escaped from St. James's Palace.

Royal Ancestors of Catherine Willoughby Duchess Suffolk 1519-1580

Kings Wessex: Great x 15 Grand Daughter of King Edmund "Ironside" I of England

Kings Gwynedd: Great x 12 Grand Daughter of Owain "Great" King Gwynedd

Kings Seisyllwg: Great x 18 Grand Daughter of Hywel "Dda aka Good" King Seisyllwg King Deheubarth

Kings Powys: Great x 13 Grand Daughter of Maredudd ap Bleddyn King Powys

Kings England: Great x 8 Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England

Kings Scotland: Great x 11 Grand Daughter of William "Lion" I King Scotland

Kings Franks: Great x 11 Grand Daughter of Louis VII King Franks

Kings France: Great x 9 Grand Daughter of Louis "Lion" VIII King France

Royal Descendants of Catherine Willoughby Duchess Suffolk 1519-1580

Diana Spencer Princess Wales x 1

Ancestors of Catherine Willoughby Duchess Suffolk 1519-1580

Great x 4 Grandfather: Robert Willoughby 4th Baron Willoughby 9 x Great Grand Son of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England

Great x 3 Grandfather: William Willoughby 5th Baron Willoughby 7 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Margery Zouche Baroness Willoughby Eresby 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

Great x 2 Grandfather: Thomas Willoughby of Parham 7 x Great Grand Son of King John "Lackland" of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Roger Strange 5th Baron Strange Knockin 8 x Great Grand Son of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England

Great x 3 Grandmother: Lucy Strange Baroness Willoughby Eresby 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King John "Lackland" of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Aline Fitzalan Baroness Strange Knockin 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King John "Lackland" of England

Great x 1 Grandfather: Robert Willoughby 5 x Great Grand Son of King Henry III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: John Fitzalan 1st Baron Arundel Baron Maltravers 2 x Great Grand Son of King Henry III of England

Great x 3 Grandfather: Richard Fitzalan 3 x Great Grand Son of King Henry III of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Eleanor Maltravers 2nd Baroness Maltravers Baroness Arundel and Cobham 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King John "Lackland" of England

Great x 2 Grandmother: Joan Fitzalan 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England

GrandFather: Christopher Willoughby 10th Baron Willoughby 6 x Great Grand Son of King Henry III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: John Welles 5th Baron Welles 6 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

Great x 3 Grandfather: Eudo Welles 3 x Great Grand Son of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Eleanor Mowbray Countess Rockingham 2 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England

Great x 2 Grandfather: Lionel Welles 6th Baron Welles 4 x Great Grand Son of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Ralph Greystoke 3rd Baron Greystoke 5 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

Great x 3 Grandmother: Maud Greystoke 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Catherine Clifford Baroness Greystoke 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King John "Lackland" of England

Great x 1 Grandmother: Cecily Welles 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: John Waterton

Great x 3 Grandfather: Robert Waterton Constable

Great x 4 Grandmother: Joan Mauley

Great x 2 Grandmother: Joan or Cecily Waterton

Great x 4 Grandfather: Robert Fleming of Woodhall

Great x 3 Grandmother: Cecily Fleming

Father: William Willoughby 11th Baron Willoughby 7 x Great Grand Son of King Henry III of England

Great x 1 Grandfather: William Jenney

GrandMother: Margaret Jenney Baroness Willoughby Eresby

Great x 2 Grandfather: Thomas Cawse

Great x 1 Grandmother: Elizabeth Cawse

Catherine Willoughby Duchess Suffolk 8 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England

GrandFather: Martín de Salinas

Mother: Maria de Salinas Baroness Willoughby

GrandMother: Josefa González de Salas