Biography of Anne of Denmark Queen Consort Scotland England and Ireland 1574-1619

On 3rd June 1603 a number of English noble ladies selected by the Privy Council greeted Anne of Denmark Queen Consort Scotland England and Ireland (age 28) at Berwick on Tweed, Northumberland [Map] with two-hundred horse including ...

Frances Howard Countess Kildare

Elizabeth Hastings Countess of Worcester (age 57)

Philadelphia Carey Baroness Scrope Bolton

Penelope Devereux Countess Devonshire (age 40).

Anne Lady Herbert (age 20)

Audrey Shelton Lady Walsingham (age 34).

On 8th January 1604 the Masque of the Twelve Goddesses was performed in the Great Hall at Hampton Court Palace, Richmond [Map]. The performers included:

Anne of Denmark Queen Consort Scotland England and Ireland (age 29) played Pallas.

Catherine Knyvet Countess Suffolk (age 40) played Juno.

Frances Howard Duchess Lennox and Richmond (age 25) played Diana.

Lucy Harrington Countess Bedford (age 24) played Vesta.

Elizabeth Vere Countess Derby (age 28) played Proserpine.

Margaret Stewart 1st Countess Nottingham (age 13) played Concordia.

Penelope Devereux Countess Devonshire (age 41) played Venus.

Elizabeth Cecil Lady Hatton (age 26) played Macaria.

Audrey Shelton Lady Walsingham (age 35) played Astraea.

Susan Vere Countess Montgomery (age 16) played Flora.

Dorothy Hastings (age 25) played Ceres.

Elizabeth Howard Countess Banbury (age 21) played Tethys.

On 6th January 1605, Twelfth Night, the Ben Johnson (age 33) Masque of Blackness was performed at the Banqueting House, Whitehall Palace [Map]. The performers included:

Anne of Denmark Queen Consort Scotland England and Ireland (age 30) played Euphoris.

Lucy Harrington Countess Bedford (age 25) played Aglaia.

Anne Lady Herbert (age 22) played Diaphane.

Elizabeth Vere Countess Derby (age 29) played Eucampse.

Catherine Knyvet Countess Suffolk (age 41) played Kathare.

Penelope Devereux Countess Devonshire (age 42) played Ocyte.

Frances Knyvet Lady Bevill (age 39) played Notis.

Anne St John Lady Effingham (age 30) played Psychrote.

Elizabeth Howard Countess Banbury (age 22) played Glycyte.

Susan Vere Countess Montgomery (age 17) played Malacia.

Mary Sidney Lady Wroth (age 18) played Baryte.

Audrey Shelton Lady Walsingham (age 36) played Periphere.

Memorials of affairs of state in the reigns of Q Elizabeth and K James I Volume 2. At Night we had the Queen's Maske in the Banqueting-House [Map], or rather her Pagent. There was a great Engine at the lower end of the Room, which had Motion, and in it were the Images of Sea-Horses with other terrible Fishes, which were ridden by Moors: The Indecorum was, that there was all Fish and no Water. At the further end was a great Shell in form of a Skallop,wherein were four Seats; on the lowest sat the Queen (age 30) with my Lady Bedford (age 25); on the left were placed the Ladies Suffolk (age 41), Darby (age 29), Rich (age 42), Effingham (age 30), Ann Herbert (age 22), Susan Herbert (age 17), Elizabeth Howard (age 22), Walsingham (age 36) and Bevil (age 39). Their Apparell was rich, but too light and Currizan-light for such great ones. Instead of Vizzards, their Faces, and Arms up to the Elbows, were painted black, which was Disguise sufficient, for they were hard to be known; but it became them nothing so well as their red and white, and you cannot imagine a more ugly Sight, then a Troop of lean-cheeked Moors. The Spanish and Venetian Ambassadors were both present, and sate by the King in State; at which Monsieur Beaumont quarrells so extreamly, that he saith the whole Court is Spanish. But by his Favour, he should fall out with none but himself, for they were all indifferently invited to come as private Men, to a private Sport; which he refusing, the Spanish Ambassador willingly accepted, and being there, feeing no Cause to the contrary, he put off Don Taxis, and took upon him El Senor Embaxadour, wherein he outstript our little Monsieur. He was privately at the first Mask, and fate amongst his Men disguised; at this he was taken out to dance, and footed it like a lusty old Gallant with his Country Woman. He took out the Queen, and forgot not to kiss her Hand, though there was Danger it would have left a Mark on his Lips. The Night's Work was concluded with a Banquet in the great Chamber, which was so furioufly assaulted, that down went Table and Tresses before one bit was touched. They say the Duke Holst will come upon us with an after reckoning, and that we shall see him on Candlemas Night in a Mask, as he hath shewed himself a lusty Reveller all this Christmas.

Memorials of affairs of state in the reigns of Q Elizabeth and K James I Volume 2. Jan 1605. Dudley Carleton (age 32) to Ralph Winwood (age 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 (age 21) and the Lady Susan (age 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 [her son] Prince (age 11) and [her brother] Duke of Holst (age 26) led the Bride to Church, the Queen (age 31) follow'd her from thence. The [her husband] King (age 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 (age 25), the Lord Willoby, Sir Samuel Hays, Sir Thomas Germain, Sir Robert Cary (age 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.

On 10th January 1608 the Ben Johnson (age 36) Masque of Beauty was performed at the Banqueting House, Whitehall Palace [Map] to celebrate the completion of its refurburbishment. [her husband] King James I of England and Ireland and VI of Scotland (age 41) attended.

The performers included:

Anne of Denmark Queen Consort Scotland England and Ireland (age 33).

Alethea Talbot Countess Arundel, Surrey and Norfolk (age 23).

Catherine Brydges Countess Bedford (age 28).

Elizabeth Vere Countess Derby (age 32).

Susan Vere Countess Montgomery (age 20).

Lettice Perrot Baroness Chichester (age 48).

Audrey Shelton Lady Walsingham (age 39).

Catherine Somerset Baroness Windsor (age 33).

Anne Clifford Countess Dorset and Pembroke (age 17).

Elizabeth Barkham Lady Garrard (age 15).

Elizabeth Somerset (age 18).

Elizabeth Cecil Lady Hatton (age 30).

Mary Neville 3rd Baroness Despencer (age 54).

Catherine Somerset Baroness Windsor.

Arabella Stewart (age 33).

On 5th June 1610 the Tethy's Festival Masque was performed at Whitehall Palace [Map] to celebrate the the investiture of [her son] Prince Frederick (age 16) as Prince of Wales. The script was written by Samuel Daniel at the request of the Queen (age 35), who appeared in person as Tethys a goddess of the sea. Inigo Jones (age 36) designed the staging and scenery.

[her son] Prince Charles (age 9) took the part of Zephyrus,.

[her daughter] Princess Elizabeth Stewart Queen Bohemia (age 13) appeared as the companion or daughter of Tethys, the "Nymph of Thames",.

Arabella Stewart (age 35) took the part of the "Nymph of Trent",.

Alethea Talbot Countess Arundel, Surrey and Norfolk (age 25) as "Nymph of Arun".

Elizabeth Vere Countess Derby (age 34) as "Nymph of Derwent",.

Frances Howard Countess Essex and Somerset (age 20) as "Nymph of Lee",.

Anne Clifford Countess Dorset and Pembroke (age 20) as "Nymph of Air",.

Susan Vere Countess Montgomery (age 23) as "Nymph of Severn",.

Elizabeth Radclyffe Viscountess Haddington as "Nymph of Rother",.

Elizabeth Talbot Countess Kent (age 28) as "Nymph of Medway",.

Four sisters, daughters of Edward Somerset 4th Earl of Worcester (age 60) and Elizabeth Hastings Countess of Worcester (age 64), danced as the rivers of Monmouthshire:

Catherine Somerset Baroness Windsor (age 35) the "Nymph of Usk".

Katherine Somerset Baroness Petre (age 35) the "Nymph of Olwy".

Elizabeth Somerset (age 20) the "Nymph of Dulesse" (Dulas), and.

Mary Wintour the "Nymph of Wye".