Biography of Catherine Woodville Duchess Buckingham and Bedford 1458-1497

On 22nd April 1433 John Duke Bedford (age 43) and [her mother] Jacquetta Luxemburg (age 18) were married at Thérouanne [Map]. She by marriage Duchess Bedford. The difference in their ages was 25 years. She the daughter of [her grandfather] Peter Luxemburg I Count Saint Pol (age 43) and [her grandmother] Margherita Baux (age 39). He the son of King Henry IV of England and Mary Bohun. They were half fifth cousins. She a great x 5 granddaughter of King Henry III of England.

The marriage caused a rift with Philip "Good" Duke Burgundy (age 36), John's late wife's brother, who regarded the marriage, some five months after his sister's death, an insult to her memory. There was no issue from the marriage with John dying a year and a half later.

On 20th July 1460 Thomas Scales 7th Baron Scales (age 63) was murdered by boatmen whilst travelling from the Tower of London [Map] to Sanctuary, Westminster Abbey [Map]. His daughter [her future sister-in-law] Elizabeth succeeded 8th Baroness Scales. She was, or had been married to, Henry Bourchier (the year of his death may been 1458). She was in 1466 married to [her brother] Anthony Woodville 2nd Earl Rivers (age 20), brother of [her future brother-in-law] King Edward IV's (age 18) wife [her sister] Elizabeth Woodville Queen Consort England (age 23); an example of the Woodville family marrying rich heiresses.

On 2nd February 1461 following the battle Owen Tudor (age 61) was beheaded in the Market Place, Hereford [Map]. He was buried thereafter in Greyfriars Church, Hereford in a tomb paid for by his son [her illegitimate brother-in-law] David Owen (age 2). Somewhat curious that his other son [her future husband] Jasper Tudor 1st Duke Bedford (age 29) didn't contribute although the political situation may have made it difficult to do so.

Memorial to Owen Tudor in the Market Place, Hereford [Map]. Somewhat incongruously between a toddlers merry-go-round and a baked potato stall on the day of our visit.

On 1st May 1464 [her brother-in-law] King Edward IV of England (age 22) and [her sister] Elizabeth Woodville Queen Consort England (age 27) were married at Grafton Regis, Northamptonshire [Map]. [her mother] Jacquetta of Luxemburg Duchess Bedford (age 49), Elizabeth's mother, being the only witness. The date not certain. She the daughter of [her father] Richard Woodville 1st Earl Rivers (age 59) and Jacquetta of Luxemburg Duchess Bedford. He the son of Richard Plantagenet 3rd Duke of York and Cecily "Rose of Raby" Neville Duchess York (age 48). They were sixth cousins. He a great x 2 grandson of King Edward III of England.

On 26th May 1465 [her sister] Elizabeth Woodville Queen Consort England (age 28) was crowned Queen Consort England by Cardinal Thomas Bourchier (age 47) at Westminster Abbey [Map].

[her brother-in-law] King Edward IV of England (age 23) attended.

John Cheney 1st Baron Cheyne (age 23), [her brother] Anthony Woodville 2nd Earl Rivers (age 25), [her brother] Richard Woodville 3rd Earl Rivers (age 12) and William Calthorpe (age 55) were created Knight of the Bath.

Elizabeth Tilney Countess of Surrey (age 21) carried her train.

Richard Choke (age 45) was created Knight of the Bath.

On 27th July 1469 William Herbert 1st Earl Pembroke (age 46) was executed following his capture at the Battle of Edgecote Moor. His son [her brother-in-law] William (age 18) succeeded 2nd Earl Pembroke, 2nd Baron Herbert of Raglan. [her sister] Mary Woodville Countess Pembroke and Huntingdon (age 13) by marriage Countess Pembroke.

On 12th August 1469 Woodvilles father and son were beheaded at Kenilworth Castle [Map] by supporters of Richard "Kingmaker" Neville Earl Warwick, 6th Earl Salisbury (age 40).

[her father] Richard Woodville 1st Earl Rivers (age 64) was beheaded. His son [her brother] Anthony (age 29) succeeded 2nd Earl Rivers, 2nd Baron Rivers. [her sister-in-law] Elizabeth Scales Countess Rivers by marriage Countess Rivers.

[her brother] John Woodville (age 24) was beheaded.

On 30th May 1472 [her mother] Jacquetta of Luxemburg Duchess Bedford (age 57) died. Not known where she was buried.

On 9th April 1483 [her brother-in-law] King Edward IV of England (age 40) died at Westminster [Map]. His son [her nephew] Edward (age 12) succeeded V King of England. Those present included [her sister] Elizabeth Woodville Queen Consort England (age 46), William Hastings 1st Baron Hastings (age 52) and [her nephew] Thomas Grey 1st Marquess Dorset (age 28).

On 13th June 1483 Richard, Duke of Gloucester (age 30), [future King Richard III] held a Council meeting at the Tower of London [Map] attended by William Hastings 1st Baron Hastings (age 52), Cardinal John Morton (age 63), Archbishop Thomas Rotherham (age 59) and [her husband] Henry Stafford 2nd Duke of Buckingham (age 28). During the course of the meeting Richard accused William Hastings 1st Baron Hastings, Cardinal John Morton and Archbishop Thomas Rotherham of treasonable conspiracy with the [her sister] Queen (age 46).

William Hastings 1st Baron Hastings was summarily beheaded at Tower Green, Tower of London [Map]. He was buried in North Aisle St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle [Map] next to [her former brother-in-law] King Edward IV of England. His son Edward (age 16) succeeded 2nd Baron Hastings.

Cardinal John Morton and Archbishop Thomas Rotherham were arrested.

On 2nd November 1483 [her husband] Henry Stafford 2nd Duke of Buckingham (age 29) was beheaded in Salisbury Marketplace [Map] for his part in the rebellion. Duke of Buckingham forfeit. His son [her son] Edward (age 5) succeeded 8th Earl Stafford, 9th Baron Stafford.

On 28th October 1485 [her future husband] Jasper Tudor 1st Duke Bedford (age 53) was created 1st Duke Bedford by Henry VII (age 28) for having supported Henry's claim to the throne. Catherine Woodville Duchess Buckingham and Bedford (age 27) by marriage Duchess Bedford.

Thomas Stanley 1st Earl of Derby (age 50) was created 1st Earl Derby.

Edward Courtenay 1st Earl Devon (age 26) was created 1st Earl Devon. It is believed he was restored as 11th Baron Okehampton at the same time?

Reginald Bray (age 45), John Fitzwalter, Thomas Cokesge, Roger Lewknor, Henry Haydon and John Verney were appointed Knight of the Bath.

Collectanea by John Leland [1502-1552]. On the Morne, the Day of the Coronation [25th November 1487], she was apparelde in a Kirtill and a Mantell of Purple Velvett furred with Ermyns, with a Lace afor the Mantell. On her Hair, a Serkelett of Golde richely garnysshede with Perle and precious Stonys. And fo apparelled, my [her niece] Lady Cecill (age 18) bering her Trayne, the remevede furthe of Westminster Hall, and ther stode under a Cloth of Aftate unto the Tyme the Proceffion was orderde, from the whiche Place to the Pulpit in Westminster Chirche she wentt upon new Ray Clothe¹. Al the Day from thens forth, the Bande of the v Ports [Cinque Ports] bare the Canapie according to ther Privileges. And the Order of the Proceffion was as eufueth.

Furst, Esquiers proceded, and Knyghts folowed them. After theym went the new made Knyghts wele besene in dyvers Silks, every Man as hym best likede after his Degre. After theym the Barons, and other Estats in Order as they wer, the Heraldes on every Side the Proceffion, and Sergeannts of Armes to make Rome. Then folowed Abbotts, and next theym Bisshops in Pontificalibus, to the Nomber of xv [15] Bishops, besyde Abbotts, wherof the Bisshop of bare Seint Edwards Chales, the Bishop of Norwiche bare the Patent, byfor whiche Prelats went the Monks of Westminster al in Albes, and the Kings Chapell folowing theym. Next to the Quene went al the other Bishops, except the Bisshop of Wynchester, and the Bishop of Ely, whiche went on ether Hande the Quene under the Canapie to fufteyne her Grace. Then went th Archebisshop of Yorke (age 64). After him was Garter King of Armes; the Maire of London next byfor the Counstable and Marshall as befor rehersede. Next unto theym th Erle of Aronndell (age 70) bering the Virge of Iverye, with a Dove in the Tope. After hym the Duc of Suffolke (age 45) bering the Septre. Then th Erle of Oxinforde (age 45) Great Chamberlayn, in his Parliament Roobees, having in his Hand the Staff of his Office. Then the [her husband] Duc of Bedforde (age 56) bar hedede in his Roobees of Aftate bering a riche Corowne of Golde. Then folowed the Quene apparelde as is afor rehersede; and next her my Lady Cecill, whiche bar her Trayne. Next her folowd the Duchesse of Bedeforde (age 29), and another Duchesse and Comtesse apparelled in Mantells and Sircoots of Scarlet, furred and powderde, the Duchesses having on ther Heds Coronatts of Golde richely garnysshed with Perle and precious Stones, and the Comtesse on her Hed Serkeletts of Golde in like wife garnysshed, as dooth apper in the Bok of Picture therof made. But the more Pitie ther was so Hoge a People inordynatly presing to cut the Ray Cloth, that the Quenes Grace gede upon, so that in the Prefence certeyne Persones wer slayne, and the Order of the Ladies folowing the Quene was broken and diftrobled.

The Quenes Grace thus comyng forth, when she came to the Entre of the West Dore of the Chirche of Westminster, ther was saide by the. this Orifon, Omnipotens fempiterne Deus, &c. That doon she procedede thorowgh the Quer unto the Pulpit, wherin was a Sege Royall² dressed with Cloth of Golde, and Cusshins accordingly. Th Archebisshop of Canterbury (age 67) ther being present, and revested as apperteyneth to the Celebration of the Maffe, receyved the Quene comyng from her Royall Sege with the Lordes bering her Crowne, Septer, and Rodde, and the Bisshops fusteynyng her as is abovesaide. The Grecis byfor the High Auter wer honorably dressed and arrayed with Carpetts and Cufshions of Aftate, wherupon the Quene lay prostrate afor the Archebisshop, whiles he seide over her this Orifon, Deus qui folus habes, &c. That doon she aros and kneled, and my Lady .... toke her Kerchef from her Hede, and th Archebysshop opend her Brest, and anoynted her ij [2] Tymes. Furst, in the former Parte of her Hede, and fecondly, in her Breste afor, sayng thies Wordes, In nomine Patris & Filii, &c. profit tibi hec unctio, with this Orison, Omnipotens Sempiterne Deus. That doon the said Lady closed her Breft, and folowingly the saide Archebisshop blessed her Ring, seing this Orifon, Creator, and cast holy Water upon it. Then he put this same Ring on the iiij [4] Finger of the Quenes right Hande, saing theyes Words, Accipe annulum, and then he faid, Dominus vobifcum, with this Collect, Deus cujus, &c. Then after the said Archebisshop had blessed the Quenes Corone, seing, Oremus Deus tuorum, he sett the Crowne uppon her Hede, wherupon was a Coyff put by my seid Lady for the Conservation of the holy Uncion, whiche is afterwarde to be delyverede unto the saide Archebisshop, feing theys Words, Officium noftrum, &c. Then he delyverede unto the Quene a Septer in her right Hande, and a Rodde in her left Hande, faing this Orifon, Omnipotens Domine. The Quene thus corowned, was lede by the abovefaide Bisshops up into the Sege of her Estate, al the Ladies folowing her. Whiles the Offratory was in playing at Organs, she was ledde corowned, from her Sege Roiall by the faide ij [2] Bisshops unto the High Auter, her Septer and Rodde of Golde borne byfor her as is aforsaide. Then th Archebisshop turned his Face to the Quer warde, and after this the Quene was, as byfor, brought up ageyn to her Sege Royall of Aftate, wher the fatt stille, until Agnus Dei was begone, and after Per omnia fecula feculorum, he turned hym to the Quene, blessing her with this Orifon, Omnipotens Deus carismate, &c. wherunto the Quene answerde, Amen. In the Tyme of finging of Agnus Dei, the Pax was brought to the Qwene by the Bishop of Worcester, whiche brought, when the Quene had kissed it, she descendid and came to the High Auter, and had a Towell holden byfor her by ij [2] Bisshops. And ther the lowly inclynyng herself to the Grounde, feide her Confiteor, the Prelats feing Misereatur, and th'Archebisshop the Abfolution, and then the Quene fumwhat areyfyng her: self, receyved the Blessed Sacrament. Thies Things reverently accomplishede, the Quene retourned to her Sette Roiall, and ther abode til the Masse was ended. The Maffe doon, her Grace, accompanyed with Prelats and Nobles, descended from her Sege Roiall of Aftate, and went to the High Auter, and then the faide Archebisshop arrayde in Pontificalibus, as he saide Masse, with all the Mynifters of the Auter byfore hym, went byfor the Auter of the Shryne of Seint Edwarde the King, and after hym folowed al other Prelats and Lordes. Then the Quenes Grace commyng byfor the faide Auter of the Shryne, the said Archebisshop toke the Crowne from her Hede, and fett upon the fame Auter.

Note 1. In the Tudor period a 'ray cloth' (sometimes rey, raie, ray, or reye, ray-cloth or rays cloth) is a woollen textile characterized by weft-faced coloured stripes or bands, used especially for floor coverings, procession carpets, and sometimes garments. The word “ray” comes from Old French raie meaning 'stripe' or 'line'.

Note 2. 'Sege Royall' i.e. Royal seat, throne.

On 21st December 1495 [her husband] Jasper Tudor 1st Duke Bedford (age 64) died at Thornbury Manor without legitimate issue. He was buried at Keynsham Abbey [Map]. Duke Bedford, Earl Pembroke extinct.