Dorothy Bray, Baroness Chandos
Encyclopedia
Dorothy Bray, Baroness Chandos (c. 1524 – 31 October 1605) was an English noblewoman, who served as a Maid of Honour to three queens consort of King Henry VIII of England
; Anne Of Cleves
, Catherine Howard
, and Catherine Parr
. From 1541 to 1543, she had an affair with the latter's brother, William Parr, 1st Marquess of Northampton
, whose own wife, Anne Bourchier, 7th Baroness Bourchier
had eloped with a lover.
In 1546, Dorothy married her first husband Edmund Brydges, 2nd Baron Chandos
.
, the youngest daughter and child of Sir Edmund Braye, 1st Baron Braye
, and Jane Halliwell. She had a brother, John Bray, 2nd Baron Braye, of whom she was one of his co-heirs, along with her five older sisters. The eldest, Anne, Baroness Cobham
was 23 years her senior.
Dorothy's affair with Parr lasted until 1543, when he began to court her niece, Elizabeth Brooke
, who had also been one of Catherine Howard's Maids of Honour up until the Queen's execution for High treason
. It was during that time (1543) that King Henry himself was courting Parr's sister, Catherine, whom he married in July. Dorothy entered the new Queen's houshold as one of her Maids of Honour.
. Together they had five children:
On 12 April 1557, when her husband succeeded to his title, Dorothy was styled as Baroness Chandos, however in later years, she became known as "Old Lady Chandos".
They made their home at Sudeley Castle
in Gloucestershire
.
On 11 March 1573, Edmund died and he was succeeded by their eldest son, Giles. The following year, Queen Elizabeth
visited Dorothy at Sudeley Castle.
She married her second husband, William Knollys MP
, who was 20 years younger than her. The date of their marriage was not recorded.
A portrait of a woman painted by John Bettes the Younger in about 1578, is allegedly that of Dorothy.
Church, Oxfordshire
, where her effigy can be seen. Her grandson Grey Brydges, 5th Baron Chandos inherited her estate.
Less than two months after Dorothy's death, William Knollys married his second wife, Lady Elizabeth Howard. It was uncertain as to whether Elizabeth's two sons were fathered by William, and as a result they were not permitted to take their seats as Earls of Banbury in the House of Lords
.
Henry VIII of England
Henry VIII was King of England from 21 April 1509 until his death. He was Lord, and later King, of Ireland, as well as continuing the nominal claim by the English monarchs to the Kingdom of France...
; Anne Of Cleves
Anne of Cleves
Anne of Cleves was a German noblewoman and the fourth wife of Henry VIII of England and as such she was Queen of England from 6 January 1540 to 9 July 1540. The marriage was never consummated, and she was not crowned queen consort...
, Catherine Howard
Catherine Howard
Catherine Howard , also spelled Katherine, Katheryn or Kathryn, was the fifth wife of Henry VIII of England, and sometimes known by his reference to her as his "rose without a thorn"....
, and Catherine Parr
Catherine Parr
Catherine Parr ; 1512 – 5 September 1548) was Queen consort of England and Ireland and the last of the six wives of King Henry VIII of England. She married Henry VIII on 12 July 1543. She was the fourth commoner Henry had taken as his consort, and outlived him...
. From 1541 to 1543, she had an affair with the latter's brother, William Parr, 1st Marquess of Northampton
William Parr, 1st Marquess of Northampton
William Parr, 1st Marquess of Northampton, 1st Earl of Essex and 1st Baron Parr, KG was the son of Sir Thomas Parr and his wife, Maud Green, daughter of Sir Thomas Green, of Broughton and Greens Norton...
, whose own wife, Anne Bourchier, 7th Baroness Bourchier
Anne Bourchier, 7th Baroness Bourchier
Anne Bourchier was the suo jure 7th Baroness Bourchier, suo jure Lady Lovayne, and Baroness Parr of Kendal. She was the first wife of William Parr, 1st Marquess of Northampton, Earl of Essex, and the sister-in-law of Catherine Parr, the sixth wife of Henry VIII of England.She created a scandal in...
had eloped with a lover.
In 1546, Dorothy married her first husband Edmund Brydges, 2nd Baron Chandos
Edmund Brydges, 2nd Baron Chandos
Edmund Brydges, 2nd Baron Chandos was an English peer and politician. He was a Knight of the Garter, Baron Chandos, Lord Lieutenant of Gloucestershire and Vice-Admiral of Gloucestershire.-Life:...
.
Family
Dorothy was born in about 1524 at Eaton Bray, BedfordshireBedfordshire
Bedfordshire is a ceremonial county of historic origin in England that forms part of the East of England region.It borders Cambridgeshire to the north-east, Northamptonshire to the north, Buckinghamshire to the west and Hertfordshire to the south-east....
, the youngest daughter and child of Sir Edmund Braye, 1st Baron Braye
Edmund Braye, 1st Baron Braye
Edmund Braye , 1st Baron Braye , was an English peer.Edmund Braye was the son of John Braye of Eaton Bray in Bedfordshire and the older brother of Sir Edward Braye....
, and Jane Halliwell. She had a brother, John Bray, 2nd Baron Braye, of whom she was one of his co-heirs, along with her five older sisters. The eldest, Anne, Baroness Cobham
Anne Bray, Baroness Cobham
Anne Brooke, Baroness Cobham, born Anne Braye , was the wife of Sir George Brooke, 9th Baron Cobham. She was the attendant horsewoman at Anne Boleyn's coronation as Queen Consort on 1 June 1533, and she was allegedly one of the first accusers of Queen Anne in 1536...
was 23 years her senior.
At the English royal court
Dorothy first came to court in 1540, where she served as a Maid of Honour to Anne of Cleves, fourth wife of Henry VIII. When that marriage was annulled, Dorothy went on to serve in the same capacity, Anne's successor, Catherine Howard, whom the King had married in July 1540. In 1541, Dorothy embarked on a love affair with William Parr, Baron Parr of Kendal, who would later hold the title of 1st Marquess of Northampton. In that same year, Baron Parr's wife, Anne Bourchier had created a scandal when she eloped with her lover, John Lyngfield, and shortly afterwards bore him an illegitimate child.Dorothy's affair with Parr lasted until 1543, when he began to court her niece, Elizabeth Brooke
Elizabeth Brooke
Elizabeth or Elisabeth Brooke may refer to:*Elizabeth Brooke, Lady Wyatt, alleged mistress of Henry VIII and estranged wife of the poet Thomas Wyatt...
, who had also been one of Catherine Howard's Maids of Honour up until the Queen's execution for High treason
High treason
High treason is criminal disloyalty to one's government. Participating in a war against one's native country, attempting to overthrow its government, spying on its military, its diplomats, or its secret services for a hostile and foreign power, or attempting to kill its head of state are perhaps...
. It was during that time (1543) that King Henry himself was courting Parr's sister, Catherine, whom he married in July. Dorothy entered the new Queen's houshold as one of her Maids of Honour.
Marriages and issue
Sometime in about 1546, she married her first husband, Edmund Brydges, son of John Brydges, 1st Baron ChandosJohn Brydges, 1st Baron Chandos
John Brydges, 1st Baron Chandos was an English Member of Parliament and later peer. His name is also sometimes spelt Bruges....
. Together they had five children:
- Mary Brydges
- Katherine Brydges (died before December 1597), married Sir William Sands, Lord Sandes of the Vine, by whom she had one daughter, Elizabeth.
- Eleanor Brydges, married George Giffard
- Giles Brydges, 3rd Baron ChandosGiles Brydges, 3rd Baron ChandosGiles Brydges, 3rd Baron Chandos of Sudeley was an English courtier in the reign of Elizabeth I.He was born at Sudeley Manor, Gloucestershire, the son of Edmund Brydges, 2nd Baron Chandos and his wife Dorothy Bray...
(1547- 21 February 1594), married Frances Clinton de Fiennes (1553–1623), daughter of Edward Clinton, 1st Earl of LincolnEdward Clinton, 1st Earl of LincolnEdward Fiennes, 1st Earl of Lincoln, KG, also known as Edward Clinton was an English nobleman and Lord High Admiral.-Background:...
and Ursula Stourton, by whom he had two daughters. - William Brydges, 4th Baron Chandos (c.1552- 18 November 1602), married Mary Hopton, by whom he had one son, Grey Brydges, 5th Baron ChandosGrey Brydges, 5th Baron ChandosGrey Brydges, 5th Baron Chandos was an English nobleman and courtier.-Early life:He was the only son of William Brydges, 4th Baron Chandos, who died on 18 November 1602, and Mary Hopton, who was daughter of Sir Owen Hopton. He was M.P. for Cricklade, in 1597.Brydges and his family were friendly...
, and a daughter, Frances Brydges.
On 12 April 1557, when her husband succeeded to his title, Dorothy was styled as Baroness Chandos, however in later years, she became known as "Old Lady Chandos".
They made their home at Sudeley Castle
Sudeley Castle
Sudeley Castle is a castle located near Winchcombe, Gloucestershire, England. It dates from the 10th century, but the inhabited portion is chiefly Elizabethan. The castle has a notable garden, which is designed and maintained to a very high standard. The chapel, St. Mary's Sudeley, is the burial...
in Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire is a county in South West England. The county comprises part of the Cotswold Hills, part of the flat fertile valley of the River Severn, and the entire Forest of Dean....
.
On 11 March 1573, Edmund died and he was succeeded by their eldest son, Giles. The following year, Queen Elizabeth
Elizabeth I of England
Elizabeth I was queen regnant of England and Ireland from 17 November 1558 until her death. Sometimes called The Virgin Queen, Gloriana, or Good Queen Bess, Elizabeth was the fifth and last monarch of the Tudor dynasty...
visited Dorothy at Sudeley Castle.
She married her second husband, William Knollys MP
William Knollys, 1st Earl of Banbury
Sir William Knollys, 1st Earl of Banbury, KG, PC was an English nobleman at the court of Queen Elizabeth I and King James...
, who was 20 years younger than her. The date of their marriage was not recorded.
A portrait of a woman painted by John Bettes the Younger in about 1578, is allegedly that of Dorothy.
Death
Dorothy died in Minty, Gloucestershire, on 31 October 1605 at the age of 81. She was buried in Rotherfield GreysRotherfield Greys
Rotherfield Greys is a village and civil parish in the Chiltern Hills in South Oxfordshire. It is west of Henley-on-Thames and just over east of the village of Rotherfield Peppard....
Church, Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire is a county in the South East region of England, bordering on Warwickshire and Northamptonshire , Buckinghamshire , Berkshire , Wiltshire and Gloucestershire ....
, where her effigy can be seen. Her grandson Grey Brydges, 5th Baron Chandos inherited her estate.
Less than two months after Dorothy's death, William Knollys married his second wife, Lady Elizabeth Howard. It was uncertain as to whether Elizabeth's two sons were fathered by William, and as a result they were not permitted to take their seats as Earls of Banbury in the House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
.