Biography of William Somerset 3rd Earl of Worcester 1526-1589

Paternal Family Tree: Anjou aka Plantagenet

Maternal Family Tree: Aoife NI Diarmait Macmurrough Countess Pembroke and Buckingham 1145-1188

1550 Visit of the French Ambassadors

1553 Coronation of Mary I

1571 Triple Wedding

1586 Trial of Mary Queen of Scots

On 15 Jun 1514 [his father] Henry Somerset 2nd Earl of Worcester (age 18) and Margaret Courtenay Countess of Worcester (age 15) were married. She by marriage Countess Worcester. She the daughter of William Courtenay 1st Earl Devon and Catherine York Countess Devon (age 34). He the son of [his grandfather] Charles Somerset 1st Earl of Worcester (age 54) and [his grandmother] Elizabeth Herbert 3rd Baroness Herbert Raglan. They were second cousins. He a great x 4 grandson of King Edward III of England. She a granddaughter of King Edward IV of England.

Before 1526 [his father] Henry Somerset 2nd Earl of Worcester (age 29) and [his mother] Elizabeth Browne Countess of Worcester (age 23) were married. She by marriage Countess Worcester. He the son of [his grandfather] Charles Somerset 1st Earl of Worcester (age 65) and [his grandmother] Elizabeth Herbert 3rd Baroness Herbert Raglan. They were fourth cousins. He a great x 4 grandson of King Edward III of England. She a great x 4 granddaughter of King Edward III of England.

In 1526 William Somerset 3rd Earl of Worcester was born to Henry Somerset 2nd Earl of Worcester (age 30) and Elizabeth Browne Countess of Worcester (age 24).

On 17 Oct 1549 [his father] Henry Somerset 2nd Earl of Worcester (age 53) died. His son William Somerset 3rd Earl of Worcester (age 23) succeeded 3rd Earl Worcester, 5th Baron Herbert of Raglan.

Before 1550 William Somerset 3rd Earl of Worcester (age 23) and Christina North Countess of Worcester were married. She by marriage Countess Worcester. He the son of Henry Somerset 2nd Earl of Worcester and Elizabeth Browne Countess of Worcester (age 47). He a great x 5 grandson of King Edward III of England.

Around 1550 [his son] Edward Somerset 4th Earl of Worcester was born to William Somerset 3rd Earl of Worcester (age 24) and [his wife] Christina North Countess of Worcester.

Visit of the French Ambassadors

Diary of Edward VI. 23 May 1550. Mon. Chastil(lon) (age 31) and Mortier, and Bouchetel, accompanied with the Ringrave (age 46)1, Dandelot2, the constable's secound sone3, and Chenault the ligier4, cam to Durasme place, where in their journei thei wer met by mr. tresoror (Oheyne) and threscore gentlemen5 at Whulwhich [Map], and also saluted with great peales both at Whulwich, Dettford [Map], and the Towre [Map].1a

Note 1. The Rhinegrave John Frederick was deprived of his electorate by the emperor after the battle of Muhlberg in 1547, and remained a prisoner at Innspruck until 1552. His nephew Otho-Henry, called the Magnanimous, whose proper title was only count of Neuburg until after his uncle's death in 1556, was at this time in the service of France, and was made a knight of St. Michael in Oct. 1550 (see Tytler, i. 325).

Note 2. The seigneur d'Andelot was François de Coligny (age 29), younger brother of the seigneur de Chastillon, already noticed in p. 250, and like him a zealous Calvinist and intrepid soldier. He became comte of Laval and Montfort in Britany; and in 1555 he was appointed colonel-general of the French infantry in place of his brother. He died in 1569. (Anselme, vii. 155; viii. 215.)

Note 3. The second son of the constable of France was Henry (age 15) afterwards duc de Montmorency, who now, during his father's (age 57) lifetime, bore the title of seigneur de Damville. (Anselme, Histoire Genealogique, vi. 229.) If the King writes with accuracy, he must have been one of the train; but if he meant one and the same person by "Dandelot, the constable's second sone," this may have arisen from d'Andelot being (by his mother's side) "the constable's nephew, and one of the (French) king's minions." (Tytler, i. 160.)

Note 4. Of Chenault no particulars have occurred. Among the illustrious visitors on this "occasion, or immediately after, appears to have been Claude de Lorraine, due d'Aumale, third son of the late due de Guise. On the 6th Oct. following sir John Mason (age 47) writes from Rouen to the council: "The due d'Aumale is much desirous to have a portrait of the King's person, which he says the King himself promised him at his departing out of England. He hath been in hand with me twice or thrice herein, praying me in my next despatch to desire your lordships to put his Majesty in remembrance hereof. If any shall be sent unto him, this is a very good time therefor, while yet he remaineth in Roan. He speaketh very much honour of the King and of the realm, and hideth not the courtesy he found the time of his being there. He is, as your lordships knoweth, of right good estimation, and therefore the remembring of him in this his request cannot be but well bestowed." (Tytler, i. 330.)

Note 5. In order that the court might make a good show of nobility when the Frenchmen arrived, the council had despatched, on the 17th of April, "Lettres severall to the earles of Rutland (age 23), Bathe (age 51), and Worcester (age 24), to the viscount Hereford (age 62), and the lord Fitzwalter, to repayre to the court out of hand, bringing with them their best apparell and furniture, for the receiving and entertaining of the ambassadors and noble men that came out of France."

On the 4th May, "For the receaving of mounsr Chastillion, and the rest of the Frenche ambassadors, the lord warden of the Cinque portes, thresorer of the King's Majesties household, was appointed to be the chief, and a nombre of lords and gentlemen apoincted to accompanie him by water with the King's barges, bicause th'ambassadors are determined to come from Bulloigne in their owne galleys up alongest the Teames [River Thames]."

"May xviij. A warrant to the master of the jewelhouse to deliver unto Benjamin Gonstone, threasorer of the King's shippes, one peir of potts, one peir of flagons, iij. nest of bolles, ij. basons and ewers, a garnish and a half of vessell, ij. dozen of plates, and ij. saltes of silver, for the furniture of the galley appointed for the lord wardeigne to mete the French ambassadors coming up by the Temes [Thames], to be restored again upon retorne of the same galley. A warrant to sir John Williams to delyver to the said John Gonstone xlli. in prest towards the furniture of the said galey." (Council Book.)

Note 1a. "On Friday was seven-night [May 23] the galley Subtle, with two other of the King's pinnaces, under the charge of sir William Woodhouse, mr. Brook, and others, were sent to the Thames mouth to meet with the French galleys, and to conduct them upwards, and at their first meeting received them with an honest banquet; so accompanied them along the Thames, where, passing by sundry of the King's ships, they were saluted by honest peals of ordnance; and, a little above Greenwich, I, the lord warden of the Cinque Ports (Cheyne), being accompanied with the earl of Worcester, the lord Grey of Wilton (age 41), the lord William Howard, with divers other young lords and gentlemen, to the number of sixty, in sundry barges, met with them upon the water, bade them welcome on the King's maties behalf, with other good words to the purpose, and so received them into those barges. They were conveyed by water through the bridge to their lodging, being appointed at Durham-place, which was furnished with hangings of the King's for the nonce: where, against their coming, was ready laid in a very large present of beer, wine, beeves, muttons, wild fowls, poultry, fish, and wax. By the way the King's ships at Deptford shot off; and at the Tower, as they passed, a great peal of ordnance was discharged to welcome them. As soon as they were landed, and in their lodgings, a gentleman was sent from the King's matie, willing me the lord warden, in the King's highness' behalf, to bid them welcome, and tell them that if they would aught, being signified, it should be provided; and so for that night left them." (Narrative of the council addressed to sir John Mason, the ambassador lieger in France, printed from Mason's letter-book in the State Paper office, by Tytler, i. 284.;

Around 1551 [his daughter] Elizabeth Somerset was born to William Somerset 3rd Earl of Worcester (age 25) and [his wife] Christina North Countess of Worcester.

After 1551 [his son-in-law] William Windsor and [his daughter] Elizabeth Somerset were married. She the daughter of William Somerset 3rd Earl of Worcester (age 25) and [his wife] Christina North Countess of Worcester.

Coronation of Mary I

Henry Machyn's Diary. 30 Sep 1553. The xxx day of September the Qwuyen('s) (age 37) grace cam from the Towre thrugh London, rydyng in a charett gorgusly be-sene unto Westmynster; by the way at Fanche-chyrche a goodly pagant, with iiij grett gyants, and with goodly speches, the geneways mad yt; at Grache-chyrche a-nodur goodly pajant of esterlyngs makyng; and at Ledyne-hall was nodur pagant hangyd with cloth of gold, and the goodlyst playng with all maner of musyssoners, and ther was on blohyng of a trumpet all the day longe; at the conduyt in Cornhyll a-nodur of the sete; and (at) the grett condutt a-nodur goodly on, and the standard pentyd and gyldyd, and the crosse pentyd; and (at) the lytyll conduyt a goodly pagant; in Powlles chyrche-yerde ij pagants; and ij scaffolds on Powlles stepull with stremars; andt Ludgat pentyd; at the conduyd in Flett-stret a goodly pajant and pentyd .... holy] water-stokes and sensers and copes ... Westmynster chyrche, and ther her grace hard masse, and was crounyd a-pon a he stage, and after [she was] a-nontyd Qwene, the forst day of October. [When all] was don, her grace cam to Westmynster hall .... yt was iiij of the cloke or she whent to dener [or pa]st; and ther the duke of Norffoke rod up and done the hall, my lord the yerle of Darbe (age 44) he constabull, the yerle of Arundell (age 41) he boteler, and my lord of Borgane cheyff larderer, master Dymmoke (age 45) the qwyen('s) champyon; and ther was [great me]lode; and the erle of Devonshyre (age 26) bare the sword, and the yerle of Westmorland (age 28) bare the cape of mantenans, and the erle of Shrowsbery (age 53) bare the crowne, and the duke of Norffoke (age 80) [was earl] marshall, and the yerle of Arundell lord stuard, and the erle of Surray (age 17) was doer under the duke ys grandshyr, and the erle of Woseter (age 27) was her grace('s) carver that day at dener, my lord Wyndsore (age 54) was (blank); and at the end of the tabull dynyd my lade Elisabeth (age 20) and my lade Anne of Cleyff (age 38); and so yt was candyll-lyght or her grace or she had dynyd, and so [anon] her grace toke barge.

Between 1557 and 1587. Unknown Painter. The Almain Armourers' Album. Armour of William Somerset 3rd Earl of Worcester (age 31).

Before 1558 Henry Scrope 9th Baron Scrope of Bolton (age 23) and [his wife] Christina North Countess of Worcester were married. She by marriage Baroness Scrope of Bolton.

Around 1558 [his wife] Christina North Countess of Worcester died.

In 1569. Unknown Painter. Portrait of William Somerset 3rd Earl of Worcester (age 43).

In 1570 William Somerset 3rd Earl of Worcester (age 44) was appointed 353rd Knight of the Garter by Queen Elizabeth I of England and Ireland (age 36).

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 Sutton 4th Baron Dudley (age 46) and Mary Howard Baroness Dudley (age 23) were married. She by marriage Baroness 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.

[his son] Edward Somerset 4th Earl of Worcester (age 21) and [his daughter-in-law] 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 [his former wife] Christina North Countess of Worcester. They were third cousin once removed.

Around 1574 George Gower (age 34). Portrait of [his grandson] Charles Somerset. Armorial top left quarterly 1&4 Beaufort Arms with a yellow band top and bottom 2 Herbert Arms 3 Woodville Arms. The attribution here possibly incorrect since Charles Somerset was born in 1587 ie before the 1574 date when painted. A possible subject is William Somerset 3rd Earl of Worcester (age 48) who has the same armoiral in another

Charles Somerset: he was appointed Knight of the Bath. In 1587 he was born to Edward Somerset 4th Earl of Worcester and Elizabeth Hastings Countess of Worcester. In 1665 Charles Somerset died.

Trial of Mary Queen of Scots

On 21 Feb 1589 William Somerset 3rd Earl of Worcester (age 63) died at Hackney. He was buried at Church of St Cadoc Raglan, Monmouthshire. His son [his son] Edward Somerset 4th Earl of Worcester (age 39) succeeded 4th Earl Worcester, 6th Baron Herbert of Raglan.

[his son] Lucy Somerset was born to William Somerset 3rd Earl of Worcester and Christina North Countess of Worcester.

William Somerset 3rd Earl of Worcester 1526-1589 appears on the following Descendants Family Trees:

Ralph Neville 1st Earl of Westmoreland 1364-1425

Joan Beaufort Countess of Westmoreland 1379-1440

Alice Montagu 5th Countess of Salisbury 1407-1462

Richard Neville Earl Salisbury 1400-1460

Jacquetta of Luxemburg Duchess Bedford 1415-1472

Richard Beauchamp 13th Earl Warwick 1382-1439

Royal Ancestors of William Somerset 3rd Earl of Worcester 1526-1589

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

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

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

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

Kings England: Great x 5 Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Kings Scotland: Great x 14 Grand Son of King Duncan I of Scotland

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

Kings France: Great x 7 Grand Son of Philip IV King France

Royal Descendants of William Somerset 3rd Earl of Worcester 1526-1589

Diana Spencer Princess Wales

Ancestors of William Somerset 3rd Earl of Worcester 1526-1589

Great x 4 Grandfather: John of Gaunt 1st Duke Lancaster Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 3 Grandfather: John Beaufort 1st Marquess Somerset and Dorset Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Katherine Roet Duchess Lancaster

Great x 2 Grandfather: Edmund Beaufort 1st or 2nd Duke of Somerset Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Thomas Holland 2nd Earl Kent Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England

Great x 3 Grandmother: Margaret Holland Duchess Clarence 2 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Alice Fitzalan Countess Kent 2 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England

Great x 1 Grandfather: Henry Beaufort 2nd or 3rd Duke of Somerset 2 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Thomas Beauchamp 12th Earl Warwick 5 x Great Grand Son of King John of England

Great x 3 Grandfather: Richard Beauchamp 13th Earl Warwick 4 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret Ferrers Countess Warwick 3 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England

Great x 2 Grandmother: Eleanor Beauchamp Duchess Somerset 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Thomas Berkeley 10th and 5th Baron Berkeley, Baron Lisle 2 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England

Great x 3 Grandmother: Elizabeth Berkeley Countess Warwick 3 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret Lisle Baroness Berkeley 3rd Baroness Lisle 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King John of England

GrandFather: Charles Somerset 1st Earl of Worcester 3 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 3 Grandfather: Robert Hill of Shilston

Great x 2 Grandfather: Robert Hill of Shilston

Great x 1 Grandmother: Joan Hill

Great x 3 Grandfather: Richard Champernoun

Great x 2 Grandmother: Margaret Champernoun

Great x 4 Grandfather: Giles Daubeney

Great x 3 Grandmother: Katherine Daubeny

Father: Henry Somerset 2nd Earl of Worcester 4 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 2 Grandfather: William Herbert 1st Earl Pembroke

Great x 4 Grandfather: Dafydd Gam Brecon

Great x 3 Grandmother: Gwladys ferch Dafydd Gam "Star of Abergavenny" Brecon

Great x 1 Grandfather: William Herbert 2nd Earl Pembroke 1st Earl Huntingdon 9 x Great Grand Son of King John of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Walter Devereux 6 x Great Grand Son of King John of England

Great x 3 Grandfather: Walter Devereux 7 x Great Grand Son of King John of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Agnes Crophull 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King John of England

Great x 2 Grandmother: Anne Devereux 8 x Great Grand Daughter of King John of England

Great x 3 Grandmother: Elizabeth Merbury

GrandMother: Elizabeth Herbert 3rd Baroness Herbert Raglan 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: John Woodville

Great x 3 Grandfather: Richard Woodville

Great x 2 Grandfather: Richard Woodville 1st Earl Rivers

Great x 4 Grandfather: Thomas Bittelsgate

Great x 3 Grandmother: Joan Bittelsgate

Great x 4 Grandmother: Joan Beauchamp

Great x 1 Grandmother: Mary Woodville Countess Pembroke and Huntingdon 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: John Luxemburg Count St Pol 3 x Great Grand Son of King Henry III of England

Great x 3 Grandfather: Peter Luxemburg I Count Saint Pol 4 x Great Grand Son of King Henry III of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret Brienne

Great x 2 Grandmother: Jacquetta of Luxemburg Duchess Bedford 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Francesco Baux 1st Duke Andria

Great x 3 Grandmother: Margherita Baux 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King John of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Sueva Orsini 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King John of England

William Somerset 3rd Earl of Worcester 5 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 1 Grandfather: Thomas Browne

GrandFather: Anthony Browne 6 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: John Fitzalan Baron Maltravers 2nd Baron Arundel 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 of England

Great x 2 Grandfather: Thomas Fitzalan 4 x Great Grand Son of King Henry III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Edward Despencer 1st Baron Despencer, Baron Burghesh 2 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England

Great x 3 Grandmother: Elizabeth Despencer Baroness Zouche, Harringworth, Maltravers and Arundel 3 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Elizabeth Burghesh 3rd Baron Burghesh 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King John of England

Great x 1 Grandmother: Eleanor Fitzalan 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England

Great x 2 Grandmother: Joan Moyns

Mother: Elizabeth Browne Countess of Worcester 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: John Neville 3rd Baron Neville of Raby 4 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

Great x 3 Grandfather: Ralph Neville 1st Earl of Westmoreland 5 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Maud Percy Baroness Neville Raby 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

Great x 2 Grandfather: Richard Neville Earl Salisbury Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: John of Gaunt 1st Duke Lancaster Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 3 Grandmother: Joan Beaufort Countess of Westmoreland Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Katherine Roet Duchess Lancaster

Great x 1 Grandfather: John Neville 1st Marquess Montagu 2 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: John Montagu 3rd Earl Salisbury 2 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England

Great x 3 Grandfather: Thomas Montagu 1st Count Perche 4th Earl Salisbury 3 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Maud Francis Countess of Salisbury

Great x 2 Grandmother: Alice Montagu 5th Countess of Salisbury 3 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Thomas Holland 2nd Earl Kent Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England

Great x 3 Grandmother: Eleanor Holland 2 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Alice Fitzalan Countess Kent 2 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England

GrandMother: Lucy Neville 3 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: John Ingaldsthorpe

Great x 3 Grandfather: Thomas Ingaldsthorpe

Great x 4 Grandmother: Elizabeth Burgh

Great x 2 Grandfather: Edmund Ingaldsthorpe

Great x 4 Grandfather: Walter Pole

Great x 3 Grandmother: Margaret Pole

Great x 4 Grandmother: Elizabeth Bradeston

Great x 1 Grandmother: Isabel Ingaldsthorpe 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Pain Tiptoft

Great x 3 Grandfather: John Tiptoft 1st Baron Tiptoft

Great x 4 Grandmother: Agnes Wrothe

Great x 2 Grandmother: Joan Tiptoft 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Edward Charleton 5th Baron Cherleton 3 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England

Great x 3 Grandmother: Joyce Charleton Baroness Tiptoft 3 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Eleanor Holland Countess March and Ulster 2 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England