Biography of Mary Howard Duchess Richmond and Somerset 1519-1557

In 1513 [her father] Thomas Howard 3rd Duke of Norfolk (age 40) and [her mother] Elizabeth Stafford Duchess Norfolk (age 16) were married. The difference in their ages was 24 years. She the daughter of [her grandfather] Edward Stafford 3rd Duke of Buckingham (age 34) and [her grandmother] Eleanor Percy Duchess Buckingham. He the son of [her grandfather] Thomas Howard 2nd Duke of Norfolk (age 70) and [her grandmother] Elizabeth Tilney Countess of Surrey. She a great x 5 granddaughter of King Edward III of England.

In 1519 Mary Howard Duchess Richmond and Somerset was born to Thomas Howard 3rd Duke of Norfolk (age 46) and Elizabeth Stafford Duchess Norfolk (age 22).

Calendar of State Papers of Spain. 15 Apr 1533. 1061. Eustace Chapuys (age 43) to the Emperor (age 33).

On Saturday, the eve of Easter, Lady Anne went to mass in truly Royal state, loaded with diamonds and other precious stones, and dressed in a gorgeous suit of tissue, the train of which was carried by the daughter (age 34) of the [her father] duke of Norfolk (age 80), betrothed to the [her future husband] Duke of Richmond. She was followed by numerous damsels, and conducted to and from the church [Map] with the same or perhaps greater ceremonies and solemnities than those used with former Queens on such occasions. She has now changed her title of marchioness for that of Queen, and preachers specially name her so in their church prayers. At which all people here are perfectly astonished, for the whole thing seems a dream, and even those who support her party do not know whether to laugh or cry at it. The [her future father-in-law] King is watching what sort of mien the people put on at this, and solicits his nobles to visit and pay their court to his new Queen, whom he purposes to have crowned after Easter in the most solemn manner, and it is said that there will be banqueting and tournaments on the occasion. Indeed some think that Clarence, the king-at-arms who left for France four days ago, is gone for the purpose of inviting knights for the tournament in imitation of the Most Christian King when he celebrated his own nuptials. I cannot say whether the coronation will take place before or after these festivities, but I am told that this King has secretly arranged with the archbishop of Canterbury (age 63), that in virtue of his office, and without application from anyone he is to summon him before his court as having two wives, upon which, without sending for the Queen, he (the Archbishop) will declare that the King can lawfully marry again, as he has done, without waiting for a dispensation, for a sentence from the Pope, or any other declaration whatever.

On 23 Jul 1536 [her husband] Henry Fitzroy 1st Duke Richmond and Somerset (age 17) died at St James's Palace [Map]. He the illegitimate son of [her father-in-law] King Henry VIII of England and Ireland (age 45). He was buried at Church of St Michael the Archangel, Framlingham [Map]. Duke of Richmond and Somerset, Earl Nottingham extinct.

The History of England under Henry VIII 1546. The [her mother] Dutchess Elizabeth (age 49), daughter to [her grandfather] Edward Stafford, Duke of Buckingham, having for many years entertain'd so violent jealousies of the duke her husband's matrimonial affection and loyalty, as it broke out at last to open rancour, divers occasions of scandal were given: insomuch, that not being content with having surmized a long while since two articles against him, she again, in sundry letters to the lord privy-seal, both averred the articles, and manifestly accus'd some of his minions, repeated divers hard usages, she pretended to receive from them, and briefly discover'd all the ordinary passions of hei offended sex. This again being urg'd in a time when the king was in his declining age, and for the rest, disquieted with scruples, that the duke's greatness or interest in sequent times might interrupt the order he intended to give, was not unwillingly heard. So that notwithstanding his many important and faithful services, both in war and peace, at home and abroad, he and his son [her brother] Henry Earl of Surrey (age 30), were expos'd to the malignity and detraction of their accusers. This again fell out in an unfortunate time; for besides that the lady his dutchess had now for above four years been separated from him [[her father] Thomas Howard 3rd Duke of Norfolk (age 73)]; his son the Earl of Surrey was but newly, and perchance, scarce reconciled with him; his daughter Mary Dutchess of Richmond (age 27) not only inclined to the Protestant party, (which lov'd not the duke) but grown an extream enemy of her brother: so that there was not only a kind of intestine division in his family, but this again many secret ways fomented.

Wriothesley's Chronicle. 04 Nov 1551. The 4 of November the sayd Quene (age 35) rode from the sayd place to the Kinges pallace at Whitehall by Westminster in hir charyot, accompanyed with diuers knightes and gentlemen, carles and lordes, the Lady Margaret Dowglas (age 36), the Duches of Richmond (age 32), the Duches of Suffolke (age 32), the Duches of Northumberland (age 42), with diuers other noble women of England and ladyes of Scotland followinge after them; the Dukes of Northumberland (age 47) and Suffolke and the Lord Treasurer (age 68) receivinge her within the Court gate, all the guard standinge on euery syde of the Court; and at her entringe in at the hall the [her former brother-in-law] Kinges Maiestie (age 14) stode in the upper ende of the hall, the Earle of Warwicke (age 24) [Note. assumed to be referring to the subsiduary title of the Duke of Northumberland] houldinge the sworde afore the Kinge; she kneelinge downe, the Kinges Maiestie tooke her up and, kissinge her, he tooke her by the hand, she comminge with him, he led her up into the chamber of presence, and so from thence to the Queues chamber of presence, where he kissed all the ladyes of Scotland, and so departed for a while; and that daye she dyned on the Quenes syde with the Kinges Maiestie, the Kinges service and hers comminge both togeather, richely serued in gylt plate; the Kinges seruice on the right hand of the table, and the Quenes on the left hand, she sittinge by the Kinge apart by his cloth of estate; the goodly cupbord of plate of gould and gylte that day there occupyed, with the rich hanginges and costly meates, was wondrous to see. All the ladyes of England and Scotland dyned in the Quenes great chamber, and were serued in siluer all theyr meates; dinner ended, the Kinges Maiestie shewed her his galleries and gardens, with other commodityes of that place; and about foure of the clocke he brought her downe againe by the hand into the hall, where he received her and there kissed hir, and so she departed to the Bishops house againe to Pawles in lyke manner as she went thither.

On 25 Aug 1554 [her father] Thomas Howard 3rd Duke of Norfolk (age 81) died at Kenninghall, Norfolk. He was buried at Church of St Michael the Archangel, Framlingham [Map]. His grandson Thomas (age 18) succeeded 4th Duke Norfolk, 3rd Earl Surrey.

On 07 Dec 1557 Mary Howard Duchess Richmond and Somerset (age 38) died.