Biography of Elizabeth Stafford Countess Sussex 1479-1532

The Antiquarian Repertory. The Sunday [12th February 1503] next following the corps (deceased) was removed from her Chamber to the Chappell [Map] in manner that followeth.

First there was The Abbott of Westminster (age 39) in pontificalibus with the Dean of the kings Chappell (age 63) and the whole company of the same fowr knights bearing the Canapye with great Number of Gentlemen which went two and two together on every syde of the prossion great Number of torches brening borne by the Kings and the Queens servants after them the Officers of Armes and the Greatest estates and other Lords their present layd their hands to the Corps the Lady Elizabeth Stafford (age 24) was that day principall Mourner and all the other Laides followed her two and two together in such most sadd and simplest Clothing that they had on their heads thredden kierchiefs hanging on their shoulders and close under their Chins and this daily until their slopps mantells hoodes and paris were made and Ordyned. And when the Corps was sett under the hearse in the Chapell [Map] Coverd with a rich Cloth of black velvet with a Crosse of Cloth of Gold. And an Officer of Armes in an high voice said for Queen EHzebeth soule and all Xtn souls Pater noster and every ...... and atoremus before the Collect Aminabus inlykewise.

That night and every Night following was ordyned a goodly watch both of men and Gentlewomen at the lest iiij gentlewomen ij [2] officers of Armes and vij yeomen and grooms. The gentlewomen were relieved with vj [6] ladies which continually did knele about the Corps.

Then the kings Chaplin began and Redd the sawter that done to the laudes and Commendations.

After that the Deane of the kings Chappell all the nobles officers of Armes other gentle and honest persons went to the great chamber for the Ladys to the Masse of Requiem.

Then was the Lady Catherin (age 23) sister of the noble Queene Cheif mourner led by the Earle of Surry (age 60) and Earle of Essex her train borne by the Lady Elizabeth Stafford accompanied also with all the other Laidies and Gentlewomen of the Court And when they were comen to the quier the foresaid vj Laides gave roome to there betters in tyme masse was done after which they continued their watch.

The Cheif Mourner kneled at the heade alone then an officer of Arms began for the Queene &c And so began the masse songen by the Abbot of Westminster at the Offringe the Lady was led by ij [2] of the greatest Estates there present and the lest gave her the offring having before her the Chamberlain and the Officers of Arms passing always by the Corps did their obeysance as before.

Then offered the other six Laides before any Estate ij [2] and ij [2] together then the greatest estates and all the Laides and Gentlewomen then all the other Laides and knights and squires with other Gentlemen. So this order as before was dayly kept as long as she was in the Tower every day in pontificalibus by a Bishop or an Abbott at the least as the next day by the Abbott of Barmsey The iij [3] by the Abbott Albones The iiijth by the Abbott of Winchcomb The v^th by the Abbott of Towerhill The vj^th by the Abbott of Stratford The vij^th day there was iij [3] solempne masses. The first of our lady sungen by the Abbott of Redyng att that masse offered a piece of Gold of xld for the masse pennye the principle Mourner and no other person The second masse songen by the bishop Landaffe and likewise at the masse none offered but she and then offered a piece of Gold of 5s. The iij^d Masse songen by the bishop of Norwigge and att that Masse she offered a Noble Then offered the Laides and the Nobles as before The viij^th day the service was done by the Bishop of Bangor The ix^th day by the Bishop of Exeter the xii day by the Bishop of Lincolne.

The Antiquarian Repertory. The Sunday [22nd February 1503]. That Masse done the Lords and Laides went to breakfast and in meane tyme the Corps was conveyd into the Chaire which was eniparralled as followeth:

First all the bayles sydes and Coffers were covered with black velvett and over all along of a prety depnes a Cloth of black velvett with a Crosse of White Cloth of gould well frindged drawn with vi [6] horses traped with black velvett and all the draught of the same.

And when the Corps was in the Chest there was Ordeyned an Image or a personage like a Queene Clothed in the very Roabes of Estate of the Queene having her very rich Crowne on her Head her heire about her shoulders her septer in her right Hand and her fingers well garnished with Gould and precious Stones.

And on every end of the Chair on the Coffer kneeled a Gentleman Usher by all the way to Westminster.

On the fore horse and the tyller ij [2] charriott men and on the other vij [7] horses iiij [4] henchmen in black gowns and mourning hood over their heads every horse having iiij [4] lozengs of the quenes Armes beaten in oyle rolled upon sarcenett with fine Gould and the fore horse having one on his forehead and none but he.

And by every horse there was a man of honour a foot with mourning hoods over their heads and at every corner of the Chaire a White banner of our Lady borne by a knight the banners were all White in token that she dyed in Childbed their wereordeyned and appoynted.

Certain knights and Esquires to go by the Chaire and the horse to beare the banner and every each to assist other whose names followeth S^r Edward Haward (age 27) S^r Henery Wylongby (age 52) S^r Thomas West (age 46) sonne and heir of the Lord Lavarres S^r Edward Darell (age 37) S^r John Petche (age 53) S^r George Manners (age 33) S^r Richard Carew (age 34) S^r Edward Wingfield S^r William Sands (age 68) Sr^r Raufe Verney (age 48).

Sir John Hodelston Sr John Rainsford William Denton Richard Wingfuld Raphe Dacre Xtofer Wylongby (age 22) Edward Guilford (age 29) William West John Gawge (age 23)

Also their were ordyned viij [8] palferys saddled traped and empelled with black velvett for the viij Laidesof honour to follow the Chaire that is to say the Lady Katherine (age 23) The Lady Elizebeth Stafford (age 24) The Countess of Essex [Note. Possibly Mary Saye Countess Essex and Eu (age 29) although she is believed to have married the Earl in 1512. The previous Countess of Essex Isabel York Countess Eu and Essex died in 1484.] The Lady Harbert (age 27) The Lady Lucey of Mountagne The Lady Anne Percy (age 17) The Lady Lisle The Lady Scrope of Upsall.

All these Laides Roode alone in their slopps and mantles every horse led with a man a foote without hood in a demy black gowne The ij [2] Chaire drawn with vi [6] horses trapped with Black Cloth and also covered with the same having iij [3] Charriott men in that Chaire was the Lady Anne The Lady Marquesse The Lady Daubeny and the Lady Clifford following the Chaire the horses empelled with black Cloth The Lady Dacres The Lady Verney The Lady Guilford The Lady Darell The Lady Egrernonnt The Lady Risseley The Lady Petche The Lady Bryan and in like manner the iij [3] Chaire in which was the Lady Gordon The Lady Fitzwater The Lady Monjoy and the Lady Bray following that Chaire Mrs Cromer Mrs Burn Mrs, Stafford Mrs Belknappe Mrs Weston Mrs Anne Browne Mrs Brent Mrs Yon Then iiijth Chaire emparelled as before in the which, was The Lady Pudsey Mrs Catesby Mrs Lary Mrs Tendringe Mrs Florence Bruges Mrs Balstrod Mrs Ffog Mrs Fitzharbert and Mrs Jones in the lyke manner as before was the vtb Chaire apperrelled in the Avhich was Mrs Dany Mrs Skilling Mrs Elizebeth Mrs. ITrancs.

Then after them the honest persons citizens of London on horseback in a great number after them the kings servants after them the Lords Servants in great number And from the foremost horse backward they were C of the Kings servants as Marshells servants yeomen and gromes with mourning hoods over their heads bearing a hundred of staffe torches of pure wax.

Here followeth the ordering before the Chaire through London to Westminster.

First next before the foremost horse of the first Chaire The Earle of Derby Constable of England Before him Garter andthe Maior of London The Queenes Chamberlain in manner between the Maior and the Lord Constable before them the Queens Confessor and Aumnoer and before them in manner as ensueth on the left syde the pression of London Also first next to the Corps the kings Chappell before them the quier of Poules and so forth on the same syde the generall pression of London in their ould Custome that is to say the Crossed fryers the white the Augustines and the black and in the middes as farr fourth as they might strydeing the cannells one after another in mourning habitt ijC poore men ewych bearing a weyghty torch.

The manner of the right syde next before the Confessor and aulmoner all the great Lords after there Estate ij [2] and ij [2] together and next before them ij [2] of the Cheif Judges and Mtr of the Rovvles before them knights of the Garter not lords before them the great Chapleines that be of dignitye as the secretary to the king almoner the Deane of York The archdeacon of Richmond The Dean of Windsor and such other Before them the Aldermen of London Before them all knights before them the squires for the Body before them Chapleines of dignitye before them gentlemen and squires before them The Esterlings before them the frenchmen before them the portingalls before them the Venetians before them the Jannayes before them the Lewknors before them the trumppetts and mynsterells on horseback without their instruments before them the messengers.

From Mark lane to Temple bar by estimation were beyond iiij or v thousand torches set all the street along of the parish Churches in there best manner with Crosses pressions and singing antam.es and orasons envyroned the Corps.

Att fanchers were set xxxvij [37] Virgins all in White linnen having Chappletts of white and grene on their heads eiiych houlding a breningtap of wax in the honour of our Lady and that the foresaid good quene was in xxxvij^th [37th] year.

On 11th May 1509 King Henry VII of England and Ireland (deceased) was buried in the King Henry VII Chapel, Westminster Abbey [Map]. Henry Willoughby (age 58) and Anthony Wingfield (age 22) attended. The ladies given mantelets and kerchiefs were as follows:

Household of Mary Tudor:

Mary Tudor Queen Consort France (age 13).

Catherine York Countess Devon (age 29).

Elizabeth Stafford Countess Sussex (age 30). Possibly Margaret Whetehill.

Anne Percy (age 65) or Anne Percy Countess Arundel (age 23).

Elizabeth Hussey Countess Kent.

Eleanor Pole (age 47).

Mary Brandon.

Elizabeth Empson.

Mary Scrope (age 33).

Jane Popincourt.

Alice Vaux.

Household of the Princess of Wales Catherine of Aragon:

Catherine of Aragon (age 23).

Agnes or Inez Vanegas.

Maria de Salinas Baroness Willoughby (age 19).

Household of Margaret Beaufort the King's Mother:

Margaret Beaufort Countess Richmond (age 65).

Joan Vaux "Mother Guildford" (age 46).

Mary Hussey Baroness Willoughby of Eresby (age 25).