Biography of Frances Vere Countess of Surrey 1517-1577
Paternal Family Tree: Vere
Maternal Family Tree: Elizabeth Louches Baroness Camoys
Before 04 Nov 1498 [her father] John de Vere 15th Earl of Oxford (age 27) and Christian Foderingay (age 17) were married. He a great x 5 grandson of King Edward I of England.
Before 1512 [her father] John de Vere 15th Earl of Oxford (age 40) and [her mother] Elizabeth Trussell Countess of Oxford (age 15) were married. She by marriage Countess of Oxford. The difference in their ages was 25 years. He a great x 5 grandson of King Edward I of England.
Around 1517 Frances Vere Countess of Surrey was born to John de Vere 15th Earl of Oxford (age 46) and Elizabeth Trussell Countess of Oxford (age 21) at Suffolk.
Letters and Papers 1530. 14 Jun 1530. Add. MS. 28,580, f. 145. B. M. 6452. Mai to Charles V (age 30). Arguments used to the Pope against delay. They say it is the [her future father-in-law] Duke of Norfolk's (age 57) daughter-in-law who is dead, and that Boleyn desires to marry his (the Duke's) son to Mistress Anne (age 29),-which may be believed as being good for all parties; first, for her, as she cannot marry the King, that she should marry the greatest lord in the realm; and secondly, to the King, as he cannot marry her. This is the third version of the story; I hope the true one at last. Yesterday the auditor of the Chamber and Benet asked brother Felice de Prato to write for the King, and he refused, neither would he show them what he had written on our behalf. Rome, 14 June 1530.
Note. Unclear as to who the Duke of Norfolk's daughter-in-law is since his son [her future husband] Henry Howard (age 14) appears to have only married Frances Vere Countess of Surrey (age 13) who survived until 1577.
Around 1533 Hans Holbein The Younger (age 36). Drawing of Frances Vere Countess of Surrey (age 16).
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 39), 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 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.
Before 10 Mar 1536 Henry Howard (age 20) and Frances Vere Countess of Surrey (age 19) were married. She the daughter of John de Vere 15th Earl of Oxford (age 65) and Elizabeth Trussell Countess of Oxford. He the son of Thomas Howard 3rd Duke of Norfolk (age 63) and Elizabeth Stafford Duchess Norfolk (age 39).
On 10 Mar 1536 [her son] Thomas Howard 4th Duke of Norfolk was born to [her husband] Henry Howard (age 20) and Frances Vere Countess of Surrey (age 19) at Kenninghall Palace, Norfolk [Map].
Around 1538 [her daughter] Katherine Howard Baroness Berkeley was born to [her husband] Henry Howard (age 22) and Frances Vere Countess of Surrey (age 21).
On 25 Feb 1540 [her son] Henry Howard 1st Earl of Northampton was born to [her husband] Henry Howard (age 24) and Frances Vere Countess of Surrey (age 23) at Shotesham, Norfolk.
On 30 Jan 1543 [her daughter] Margaret Howard Baroness Scrope Bolton was born to [her husband] Henry Howard (age 27) and Frances Vere Countess of Surrey (age 26).
On 19 Jan 1547 [her husband] Henry Howard (age 31) was beheaded at Tower Hill [Map]. He was buried at Church of St Michael the Archangel, Framlingham [Map]. He had foolishly added the arms of Edward the Confessor to his own arms. He was charged with treasonably quartering the royal arms. His father survived sentence since the King died the day before it was due to take place.
In Sep 1554 [her son-in-law] Henry Berkeley 7th Baron Berkeley (age 19) and [her daughter] Katherine Howard Baroness Berkeley (age 16) were married at Kenninghall, Norfolk. She by marriage Baroness Berkeley.
In 1556 [her son] Thomas Howard 4th Duke of Norfolk (age 19) and [her daughter-in-law] Mary Fitzalan Duchess Norfolk (age 16) were married. She by marriage Duchess Norfolk, Countess Surrey. She the daughter of Henry Fitzalan 19th Earl of Arundel (age 43) and Katherine Grey. They were second cousin once removed.
In 1558 [her son] Thomas Howard 4th Duke of Norfolk (age 21) and [her daughter-in-law] Margaret Audley Duchess Norfolk (age 18) were married. She by marriage Duchess Norfolk, Countess Surrey. They were fourth cousins.
After 1558 [her son-in-law] Henry Scrope 9th Baron Scrope of Bolton (age 24) and [her daughter] Margaret Howard Baroness Scrope Bolton (age 14) were married. She by marriage Baroness Scrope of Bolton. They were third cousins.
Around 1564 [her son-in-law] Charles Neville 6th Earl of Westmoreland (age 21) and [her daughter] Jane Howard Countess of Westmoreland were married. She by marriage Countess of Westmoreland. He the son of Henry Neville 5th Earl of Westmoreland and Anne Manners Countess of Westmoreland. They were second cousins.
In 1567 [her son] Thomas Howard 4th Duke of Norfolk (age 30) and [her daughter-in-law] Elizabeth Leybourne Duchess Norfolk (age 31) were married. She by marriage Duchess Norfolk, Countess Surrey.
On 30 Jun 1577 Frances Vere Countess of Surrey (age 60) died at Soham. She was buried at St Mary and All Saints Church, Fotheringhay [Map].
[her daughter] Jane Howard Countess of Westmoreland was born to Henry Howard and Frances Vere Countess of Surrey.
Kings Wessex: Great x 14 Grand Daughter of King Edmund "Ironside" I of England
Kings Gwynedd: Great x 13 Grand Daughter of Owain "Great" King Gwynedd
Kings Seisyllwg: Great x 17 Grand Daughter of Hywel "Dda aka Good" King Seisyllwg King Deheubarth
Kings Powys: Great x 14 Grand Daughter of Maredudd ap Bleddyn King Powys
Kings England: Great x 6 Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Kings Scotland: Great x 13 Grand Daughter of King Duncan I of Scotland
Kings Franks: Great x 10 Grand Daughter of Louis VII King Franks
Kings France: Great x 14 Grand Daughter of Robert "Pious" II King France
Great x 4 Grandfather: John de Vere 7th Earl of Oxford
Great x 3 Grandfather: Aubrey de Vere 10th Earl of Oxford 5 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Maud Badlesmere Countess of Oxford 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: Richard de Vere 11th Earl of Oxford 5 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: John Fitzwalter 3rd Baron Fitzwalter 3 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Alice Fitzwalter Countess of Oxford 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Eleanor Percy Baroness Fitzwalter 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 1 Grandfather: Robert de Vere 6 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 2 Grandmother: Alice Sergeaux Countess Oxford
GrandFather: John de Vere 4 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Hugh Courtenay 10th Earl Devon 6 x Great Grand Son of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Edward Courtenay Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret Bohun Countess Devon Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: Hugh Courtenay 2 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 1 Grandmother: Joan Courtenay 3 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Father: John de Vere 15th Earl of Oxford 5 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
GrandMother: Alice Colbroke
Frances Vere Countess of Surrey 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Laurence Trussell
Great x 3 Grandfather: William Trussell
Great x 2 Grandfather: Thomas Trussell
Great x 4 Grandfather: John Ludlow
Great x 3 Grandmother: Margery Ludlow
Great x 4 Grandmother: Isabel de Lingen
Great x 1 Grandfather: William Trussell
GrandFather: Edward Trussell
Mother: Elizabeth Trussell Countess of Oxford 11 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 1 Grandfather: John Donne
GrandMother: Margaret Donne 10 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Ralph Hastings
Great x 3 Grandfather: Ralph Hastings
Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret Herle
Great x 2 Grandfather: Leonard Hastings
Great x 1 Grandmother: Elizabeth Hastings 9 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 4 Grandfather: John Camoys 6 x Great Grand Son of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Thomas Camoys 1st Baron Camoys 7 x Great Grand Son of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Elizabeth Latimer
Great x 2 Grandmother: Alice Camoys 8 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 4 Grandfather: William Louches
Great x 3 Grandmother: Elizabeth Louches Baroness Camoys