Biography of Anne Russell Countess Warwick 1548-1604

Before 1548 [her father] Francis Russell 2nd Earl Bedford (age 20) and [her mother] Margaret St John Countess Bedford (age 14) were married. He the son of [her grandfather] John Russell 1st Earl Bedford (age 62) and [her grandmother] Anne Sapcote Countess Bedford (age 68).

In 1548 Anne Russell Countess Warwick was born to Francis Russell 2nd Earl Bedford (age 21) and Margaret St John Countess Bedford (age 15).

Around 1549 [her future husband] Ambrose Dudley 3rd Earl Warwick (age 19) and Anne Whorwood were married. He the son of John Dudley 1st Duke Northumberland (age 45) and Jane Guildford Duchess Northumberland (age 40).

In 1553 [her future husband] Ambrose Dudley 3rd Earl Warwick (age 23) and Elizabeth Tailboys Countess Warwick (age 30) were married. She the daughter of Gilbert Tailboys 1st Baron Tailboys and Elizabeth "Bessie" Blount Baroness Clinton and Tailboys. He the son of John Dudley 1st Duke Northumberland (age 49) and Jane Guildford Duchess Northumberland (age 44). They were half fourth cousin once removed.

On 27th August 1562 [her mother] Margaret St John Countess Bedford (age 29) died at Woburn, Bedfordshire. She was buried at St Michael's Church, Chenies [Map].

On 11th November 1565 Ambrose Dudley 3rd Earl Warwick (age 35) and Anne Russell Countess Warwick (age 17) were married. She by marriage Countess Warwick. She the daughter of Francis Russell 2nd Earl Bedford (age 38) and Margaret St John Countess Bedford. He the son of John Dudley 1st Duke Northumberland and Jane Guildford Duchess Northumberland.

On 25th June 1566 [her father] Francis Russell 2nd Earl Bedford (age 39) and [her step-mother] Bridget Hussey Countess Bedford (age 40) were married. She by marriage Countess Bedford. He the son of [her grandfather] John Russell 1st Earl Bedford and [her grandmother] Anne Sapcote Countess Bedford.

On 23rd July 1577 Thomas Wenman (age 29) died. He left significant debts to the Crown requiring some of his lands to be sold. Eaton, Berkshire was sold to John Danvers (age 37) for £7700. Richard Wenman 1st Viscount Wenman (age 4) was made a ward of his mother Jane West (age 19) and [her brother-in-law] Robert Dudley 1st Earl of Leicester (age 45). Robert Dudley 1st Earl of Leicester sold his interest to James Cressy who subsequently married Jane West.

On 21st September 1578 [her brother-in-law] Robert Dudley 1st Earl of Leicester (age 46) and Lettice Knollys Countess Essex (age 34) were married secretly much to the anguish of Queen Elizabeth I of England and Ireland (age 45) who developed a deep hatred of Lettice Knollys Countess Essex. She by marriage Countess of Leicester. Roger North 2nd Baron North (age 48) was present. He the son of John Dudley 1st Duke Northumberland and Jane Guildford Duchess Northumberland. They were fifth cousins.

On 28th July 1585 [her father] Francis Russell 2nd Earl Bedford (age 58) died. His grandson Edward (age 12) succeeded 3rd Earl Bedford, 3rd Baron Russell of Cheneys.

Bedford Chapel, St Michael's Church, Chenies. Monument to [her father] Francis Russell 2nd Earl Bedford and [her mother] Margaret St John Countess Bedford.

The armorials on the visible south side being, left to right:

Dudley Arms impaling Russell Arms. [her husband] Ambrose Dudley 3rd Earl Warwick (age 56) and Anne Russell Countess Warwick (age 38).

Bourchier Arms impaling Russell Arms. William Bourchier 3rd Earl Bath (age 28) and [her sister] Elizabeth Russell Countess Bath

Clifford Arms impaling Russell Arms. George Clifford 3rd Earl of Cumberland (age 27) and [her sister] Margaret Russell Countess Cumberland (age 25).

On 4th September 1588 [her brother-in-law] Robert Dudley 1st Earl of Leicester (age 56) died at Cornbury Park, Oxfordshire. He was buried at Beauchamp Chapel, St Mary's Church, Warwick [Map]. Earl of Leicester extinct.

Diary of Anne Clifford. March 1603. About five miles from London there met them my [her sister] Mother (age 42), my Lord of Bedford (age 30)¹ and his Lady (age 23), my uncle Russell (age 45), and much other company, so that we were in number about three hundred, which did all accompany them to Bath House where they continued most of that summer, whither I went daily and visited them, and grew daily more inward with my cousin Frances (age 16) and Mrs Carey. About this time my Aunt Warwick (age 55) went to meet the Queen (age 28), having Mrs Bridges (age 25) with her and my Aunt Vavisor (age 43). My Mother and I should have gone with them, but that her horse (which she borrowed of Mrs Elmes,) and old Mr Hickley were not ready, yet I went the same night and overtook my aunt at Tittinhanger, Lady Blount's house, where my Mother came to me the next day about noon, my aunt being gone before. Then my Mother and I went on our journey to overtake her, and killed three horses that day with extremity of heat, and came to Wrest, my Lord of Kent's, where we found the doors shut and none in the house but one servant, who only had the keys of the hall, so that we were forced to lie in the hall all night, till towards morning, at which time came a man and let us into the higher rooms where we slept three or four hours. This morning we hasted away betimes and came that night to Rockingham Castle [Map], where we overtook my Aunt Warwick, and her company, where we continued a day or two with old Sir Edward Watson (age 54) and his Lady (age 57), then we went to Lady Needham's (age 43) who once served my Aunt of Warwick, and from thence to a sister of hers whose name I have forgotten.

Note 1. Edward, 3rd Earl, and his Lady, Lucy, daughter of Lord Harrington (age 63).

Diary of Anne Clifford. 26th June 1603. The next day we went along with the Queen (age 28) to Althorpe [Map]¹ Lord Spencer's (age 33) house, where my Mother saw my cousin Henry Clifford (age 12)², my uncle's (age 44) son, which was the first time we ever saw him.

Note 1. Here Ben Jonson's Masque of the Fairies was performed. ED.

The Queen and Prince came to Althorpe the 25th of June, on Saturday; my mother, Aunt Warwick (age 55) and I not till the next day, which Sunday was kept with great solemnity, there being an infinite number of lords and ladies. There we saw the Queen's favour to Lady Hatton (age 22) and Lady Cecil, for she shewed no favour to the elderly ladies, but to Lady Rich and such like company.

Note 2. Afterwards 5th and last Earl of Cumberland.

On 9th February 1604 Anne Russell Countess Warwick (age 56) died. She was originally interred at St Marys Church, Watford. The monument subseuently moved to the Bedford Chapel, St Michael's Church, Chenies.

Diary of Anne Clifford. 27th July 1619. The 27th about this time my Lady Bedford (age 39) had the smallpox and had them in that extremity that she lost one of her eyes. About this time my Coz. Cilifford's wife was brought to bed at Lanesboro of a son, which lived not seven hours and was christened Francis and was buried there. The same day Lord Rutland and Lady Kath. Manners came and dined here from the Wells and in the evening went to London.

Note. This Sunday my Coz. Oldworth was true and shewed those remembrances me which are to be set up at Cheyneys for my Great Grand Father of Bedford and my Grand Father of Bedford and my Aunt Warwick. About this time my Lady Law was married to Secretary Maunton.

All this Summer Lady Penniston (age 24) was at the Wells near Tunbridge drinking the waters. This coming hither of Lady Penniston's was much talked of abroad and my Lord (age 30) was condemned for it.