Richard Preston 1st Earl Desmond was born to Richard Preston of Whitehill in Midlothian.
On 25th July 1603 King James I of England and Ireland and VI of Scotland [aged 37] was crowned I King England Scotland and Ireland at Westminster Abbey [Map].
Charles Howard 1st Earl Nottingham [aged 67] was appointed Lord High Steward.
On 26th July 1603 Thomas Bennett [aged 60] and Thomas Cambell [aged 67] were knighted.
On 27th July 1603 William Wrey 1st Baronet was knighted at Whitehall Palace [Map].
On 30th July 1603 Richard Preston 1st Earl Desmond was knighted at Whitehall Palace [Map].
Bishop Thomas Bilson [aged 56] gave the sermon. While the wording conceded something to the divine right of kings, it also included a caveat about lawful resistance to a monarch.
Memorials of affairs of state in the reigns of Q Elizabeth and K James I Volume 2. Jan 1605. Dudley Carleton [aged 32] to Ralph Winwood [aged 42]
Sir
I had written unto you at this time, though I had not been invited by your Letters I received by Captain Doyly. For in Mr. Chamberlain's Absense, I come in quarter, and have waited so diligently at Court this Christmas, that I have Matter enough, if the Report of Masks and Mummings can please you.
On St. John's Day we had the Marriage of Sir Philip Herbert [aged 21] and the Lady Susan [aged 18] performed at Whitehall, with all the Honour could be done a great Favourite. The Court was great, and for that Day put on the best Bravery. The Prince [aged 11] and Duke of Holst [aged 26] led the Bride to Church, the Queen [aged 31] follow'd her from thence. The King [aged 39] gave her, and she in her Tresses, and Trinketts brided and bridled it so handsomly, and indeed became her self so well, that the King said, if he were unmarried he would not give her, but keep her himself. The Marriage Dinner was kept in the great Chamber, where the Prince and the Duke of Holst, and the great Lords and Ladies accompanied the Bride. The Ambassador of Venice was the only bidden Guest of Strangers, and he had place above the Duke of Holst, which the Duke took not well. But after Dinner he was as little pleased himself; for being brought into the Closet to retire himself, he was there suffered to walk out his Supper unthought of. At Night there was a Mask in the Hall, which for Conceit and Fashion was fuitable to the Occasion. The Actors, were the Earle of Pembrook [aged 25], the Lord Willoby, Sir Samuel Hays, Sir Thomas Germain, Sir Robert Cary [aged 22], Sir John Lee, Sir Richard Preston, and Sir Thomas Eager. There was no smal Loss that Night of Chaines and Jewells, and many great Ladies were made shorter by the Skirts, and were well enough served that they could keep cut no better. The Presents of Plate, and other Things given by the Noblemen, were valued at £2500, but that which made it a good Marriage, was a Gift of the King's of £500 Land for the Bride's Joynture. They were lodged in the Councill Chamber, where the King in his Shirt and NightGown gave them a Reveille Matin before they were up, and spent a good time in or upon the Bed, chuse which you will believe. No Ceremony was omitted of Bride-Cakes, Points, Garters, and Gloves, which have been ever since the Livery of the Court; and at Night there was sewing into the Sheet, casting off the Bride's left Hose, with many other petty Sorceries.
Around September 1614 Richard Preston 1st Earl Desmond and Elizabeth Butler were married. The King imposed this marriage on Black Tom, Elizabeth's father, who did not want the royal favourite for a son-in-law but could not oppose the King's will. She the daughter of Thomas "Black Tom" Butler 10th Earl Ormonde 3rd Earl Ossory [aged 82] and Elizabeth Sheffield Countess Ormonde and Ossory.
On 25th July 1615 [his daughter] Elizabeth Preston Duchess Ormonde was born to Richard Preston 1st Earl Desmond and [his wife] Elizabeth Butler. She married December 1629 her second cousin once removed James Butler 1st Duke Ormonde and had issue.
On 19th July 1619 Richard Preston 1st Earl Desmond was created 1st Earl Desmond.
In 1628 [his wife] Elizabeth Butler died.
On 28th October 1628 Richard Preston 1st Earl Desmond was drowned whilst travelling between Dublin [Map] and Holyhead, Anglesey.
Theobald Butler and Elizabeth Butler were married. She the daughter of Thomas "Black Tom" Butler 10th Earl Ormonde 3rd Earl Ossory and Elizabeth Sheffield Countess Ormonde and Ossory. They were first cousins.