Biography of Anne Cecil Countess of Oxford 1556-1588

Paternal Family Tree: Cecil

Maternal Family Tree: Anne Fitzwilliam 1504-1588

1564 Elizabeth I's visit to Cambridge University

1566 Elizabeth I's visit to Oxford University

1571 Triple Wedding

In 1541 [her father] William Cecil 1st Baron Burghley (age 20) and Mary Cheke were married.

On 21 Dec 1546 [her father] William Cecil 1st Baron Burghley (age 26) and [her mother] Mildred Cooke Baroness Burghley (age 20) were married.

On 05 Dec 1556 Anne Cecil Countess of Oxford was born to William Cecil 1st Baron Burghley (age 36) and Mildred Cooke Baroness Burghley (age 30).

Before 02 Feb 1559 Edward Windsor 3rd Baron Windsor (age 27) and [her future sister-in-law] Katherine Vere Baroness Windsor (age 19) were married. She by marriage Baroness Windsor of Stanwell in Buckinghamshire. She the daughter of John de Vere 16th Earl of Oxford (age 43) and Dorothy Neville Countess of Oxford.

On 03 Aug 1562 John de Vere 16th Earl of Oxford (age 46) died. His son [her future husband] Edward de Vere 17th Earl of Oxford (age 12) succeeded 17th Earl of Oxford.

Elizabeth I's visit to Cambridge University

In Aug 1564 Queen Elizabeth I of England and Ireland (age 30) visited Cambridge University accompanied by William Howard 1st Baron Howard (age 54) and [her father] William Cecil 1st Baron Burghley (age 43). William Cecil 1st Baron Burghley (age 43) was created Master of Arts: Cambridge University.

John Astley (age 57) was created Master of Arts: Cambridge University.

On 10 Aug 1564 Edward Manners 3rd Earl of Rutland (age 15) was created Master of Arts: Cambridge University.

Elizabeth I's visit to Oxford University

Around Aug 1566 Queen Elizabeth I of England and Ireland (age 32) visited Oxford University. [her father] William Cecil 1st Baron Burghley (age 45) was created Master of Arts: Oxford University.

After 1571 [her future husband] Edward de Vere 17th Earl of Oxford (age 20) and Anne Cecil Countess of Oxford (age 14) separated.

On 25 Feb 1571 [her father] William Cecil 1st Baron Burghley (age 50) was created 1st Baron Burghley. [her mother] Mildred Cooke Baroness Burghley (age 45) by marriage Baroness Burghley.

1571 Triple Wedding

On 16 Dec 1571 a triple wedding was celebrated at Whitehall Palace [Map] ... with Queen Elizabeth I of England and Ireland (age 38) present ...

Edward Dudley 4th Baron Dudley (age 46) and Mary Howard Baroness Dudley (age 23) were married. She by marriage Baroness Sutton of Dudley. The difference in their ages was 23 years. He a great x 5 grandson of King Edward III of England.

Edward de Vere 17th Earl of Oxford (age 21) and Anne Cecil Countess of Oxford (age 15) were married. She by marriage Countess of Oxford. He the son of John de Vere 16th Earl of Oxford and Margery Golding Countess of Oxford.

Edward Somerset 4th Earl of Worcester (age 21) and Elizabeth Hastings Countess of Worcester (age 25) were married. She by marriage Countess Worcester. She the daughter of Francis Hastings 2nd Earl Huntingdon and Catherine Pole Countess Huntingdon (age 60). He the son of William Somerset 3rd Earl of Worcester (age 45) and Christina North Countess of Worcester. They were third cousin once removed.

On 02 Jul 1575 [her daughter] Elizabeth Vere Countess Derby was born to [her husband] Edward de Vere 17th Earl of Oxford (age 25) and Anne Cecil Countess of Oxford (age 18) at Theobalds House, Hertfordshire.

On 25 Dec 1577 Peregrine Bertie 13th Baron Willoughby (age 22) and [her sister-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).

Around 1582 [her husband] Edward de Vere 17th Earl of Oxford (age 31) and Anne Cecil Countess of Oxford (age 25) were reconciled.

Around 1583 [her daughter] Frances de Vere was born to [her husband] Edward de Vere 17th Earl of Oxford (age 32) and Anne Cecil Countess of Oxford (age 26).

Around 1583 [her daughter] Frances de Vere died.

On 06 Apr 1584 [her daughter] Bridget Vere Baroness Norreys Rycote was born to [her husband] Edward de Vere 17th Earl of Oxford (age 33) and Anne Cecil Countess of Oxford (age 27) at Theobalds House, Hertfordshire.

On 26 May 1587 [her daughter] Susan Vere Countess Montgomery was born to [her husband] Edward de Vere 17th Earl of Oxford (age 37) and Anne Cecil Countess of Oxford (age 30).

On 05 Jun 1588 Anne Cecil Countess of Oxford (age 31) died. She was buried at the Chapel of St Nicholas, Westminster Abbey [Map]. She shares a monument with her mother [her mother] Mildred Cooke Baroness Burghley (age 62). The monument rises to twenty-four feet, and is constructed of various coloured marbles, after a design of the Corinthian order. The Latin inscriptions, which are very long, were written by [her father] Lord Burleigh (age 67) himself, and set forth the varied accomplishments and the virtues of the two ladies who are represented in effigy in the lower part of the monument. The figure of Lord Burleigh (age 67), in his robes, and in a kneeling attitude, appears in the upper part of the monument.

In 1591 [her former husband] Edward de Vere 17th Earl of Oxford (age 40) sold Hedingham Castle [Map] to his father-in-law [her father] William Cecil 1st Baron Burghley (age 70) in trust for his three daughters [her daughter] Elizabeth Vere Countess Derby (age 15), [her daughter] Bridget Vere Baroness Norreys Rycote (age 6) and [her daughter] Susan Vere Countess Montgomery (age 3) by his first wife Anne Cecil Countess of Oxford.

Before 27 Dec 1591 [her former husband] Edward de Vere 17th Earl of Oxford (age 41) and Elizabeth Trentham Maid of Honour Countess of Oxford were married. She by marriage Countess of Oxford. She brought her husband a dowry of £1000 bequeathed to her in her father's will, payable at the rate of 500 marks a year for three years. He the son of John de Vere 16th Earl of Oxford and Margery Golding Countess of Oxford.

On 04 Aug 1598 [her father] William Cecil 1st Baron Burghley (age 77) died. His son [her half-brother] Thomas Cecil 1st Earl Exeter (age 56) succeeded 2nd Baron Burghley. He was buried at St Martin's Church, Stamford [Map] with a large free-standing Elizabethan Period monument under the north chapel arch, in coloured marbles with a figure on tomb chest under an arched canopy supported on paired columns. Attributed to Cornelius Cure. The emblem of the Knights of the Garter on William's left shoulder. Leg Garter. In his right-hand he is holding the Lord Treasurer Staff of Office; originally white.

The inscription one the monument is on contained within three panels: two on the south (Chancel) side, and one on the north (Chapel) side.

Sacred to God most good and great, and to memory. The most honourable and far renowned Lord William Cecil, Baron of Burghley, Lord High Treasurer of England, President of the Court of Wards, knight of the most noble order of the Garter, Privy Counsellor to the most serene Elizabeth, Queen of England, &c., and Chancellor of the University of Cambridge, under this tomb awaits the second coming of Christ: Who for the excellent endowments of the mind, was first made Privy Counsellor to Edward the sixth, King of England; afterwards to Queen Elizabeth: under whom being intrusted with the greatest and most weighty affairs of this kingdom, and above all others approved, in promoting the true religion, and providing for the safety and honour of the commonwealth; by his prudence, honesty, integrity, and great services to the nation, he obtained the highest honours: and when he had long enough to nature, long enough for glory, but not long enough to his country, quietly fell asleep in Christ. He had two wives: Mary, sister of Sir John Cheeke, knight, of whom ie begat one son, Thomas (age 56), now Baron of Burghley; and [her mother] Mildred, daughter of Sir Anthony Cooke, knight, who bore to him Sir [her brother] Robert Cecil (age 35), knight, Privy Counsellor to Queen Elizabeth and President of the Court of Wards; Anne, married to Edward, Earl of Oxford (age 48); and [her sister] Elizabeth (age 34) to William Wentworth, eldest son of Baron Wentworth.

Mary Cheke: she was born to Peter Cheke. In 1541 William Cecil 1st Baron Burghley and she were married. In Feb 1543 Mary Cheke died.

Elizabeth Cecil: On 01 Jul 1564 she was born to William Cecil 1st Baron Burghley and Mildred Cooke Baroness Burghley. On 26 Feb 1582 William Wentworth and she were married.

On 24 Jun 1604 [her former husband] Edward de Vere 17th Earl of Oxford (age 54) died at his home In King Street Covent Garden. His son Henry de Vere 18th Earl of Oxford (age 11) succeeded 18th Earl of Oxford.

Royal Ancestors of Anne Cecil Countess of Oxford 1556-1588

Kings Wessex: Great x 18 Grand Daughter of King Edmund "Ironside" I of England

Kings Gwynedd: Great x 19 Grand Daughter of Maredudd ab Owain King Deheubarth King Powys King Gwynedd

Kings Seisyllwg: Great x 21 Grand Daughter of Hywel "Dda aka Good" King Seisyllwg King Deheubarth

Kings Powys: Great x 19 Grand Daughter of Maredudd ab Owain King Deheubarth King Powys King Gwynedd

Kings England: Great x 12 Grand Daughter of King John "Lackland" of England

Kings Scotland: Great x 16 Grand Daughter of Malcolm III King Scotland

Kings Franks: Great x 23 Grand Daughter of Louis "Pious" King Aquitaine I King Franks

Kings France: Great x 17 Grand Daughter of Robert "Pious" II King France

Royal Descendants of Anne Cecil Countess of Oxford 1556-1588

Diana Spencer Princess Wales x 5

Ancestors of Anne Cecil Countess of Oxford 1556-1588

Great x 3 Grandfather: Philip Cecil

Great x 2 Grandfather: Richard Cecil

Great x 1 Grandfather: David Cecil

GrandFather: Richard Cecil

Great x 1 Grandmother: Alice Dicons

Father: William Cecil 1st Baron Burghley

Great x 1 Grandfather: William Heckington

GrandMother: Jane Heckington

Anne Cecil Countess of Oxford 12 x Great Grand Daughter of King John "Lackland" of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Robert Cooke of Lavenham in Suffolk

Great x 3 Grandfather: Thomas Cooke

Great x 2 Grandfather: Philip Cooke

Great x 1 Grandfather: John Cooke of Gidea Hall

Great x 2 Grandmother: Elizabeth Belnap

GrandFather: Anthony Cooke

Great x 2 Grandfather: William Saunders of Banbury in Oxfordshire

Great x 1 Grandmother: Alice Saunders

Great x 3 Grandfather: John Spencer of Hodnell in Warwickshire

Great x 2 Grandmother: Jane Spencer

Mother: Mildred Cooke Baroness Burghley 11 x Great Grand Daughter of King John "Lackland" of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: William Fitzwilliam 9 x Great Grand Son of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England

Great x 3 Grandfather: John Fitzwilliam 7 x Great Grand Son of King John "Lackland" of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Maud Cromwell 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King John "Lackland" of England

Great x 2 Grandfather: John Fitzwilliam 8 x Great Grand Son of King John "Lackland" of England

Great x 1 Grandfather: William Fitzwilliam 9 x Great Grand Son of King John "Lackland" of England

GrandMother: Anne Fitzwilliam 10 x Great Grand Daughter of King John "Lackland" of England