Henrietta Gordon
Encyclopedia
Lady Henrietta Gordon was a Scottish courtier, maid of honour to the Princess Henrietta, youngest daughter of Charles I
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and Lord Aboyne in 1627, by Lady Sophia Hay, fifth daughter of Francis Hay, 9th Earl of Erroll
. Her father was the second son of George Gordon, 1st Marquis of Huntly by Henrietta, eldest daughter of the 1st Duke of Lennox. He was burned to death in his house at Frendraught in October 1630; and, his widow dying on 22 March 1642, Henrietta was left an orphan.
, and obtained from her a letter, under the joint sign-manual of herself and the king, praying the Marquis of Huntly, who had assumed the guardianship of Henrietta, with the intention of having her educated in the Protestant faith, to permit Blackhall to escort her to France.
Blackhall returned to Scotland, and having obtained the charge of Henrietta, took ship with her from Aberdeen on 26 July 1643. At Paris Henrietta was presented to the queen by her second cousin, Ludovick, fifth son of Esme, 3rd Duke of Lennox (better known as Monsieur d'Aubigny), and was sent to the convent of the Filles de Ste. Marie, Rue St. Antoine, to learn French. After remaining there a year she was placed under the charge of Madame de Brienne, who found it more convenient to send her to the convent of Charonne, where she objected to the rule and ways of the mother superior, and meagre diet of the convent. Blackhall accordingly induced the queen to have her removed to the convent of St. Nicolas de Lorraine, where she remained from 8 January to 10 August 1647, when she was transferred to that of Fervacques in the Faubourg St. Germain. Here she resided till 20 January 1649, when, the Fronde having raised an insurrection in the streets of Paris, she was by the queen's orders brought under the escort of D'Aubigny, to St. Germain-en-Laye.
, who devoted a great part of his time and thought to her dress.
She is said to have had liaisons with Clérambault and Bouvron. On the marriage of 'Monsieur' with the Princess Henrietta of England she was appointed lady of the bedchamber
to 'Madame,' and after the death of 'Madame' she served Philippe's second wife, Elizabeth Charlotte of the Palatinate
, daughter of Charles Louis, elector of Bavaria, sometimes called 'la seconde Madame,' in the same capacity. From a letter of Mademoiselle de la Fayette, written in December 1672, it appears that Henrietta was on bad terms with her new mistress. After this date we hear no more of her. She seems to have been generally unpopular, and Blackhall gives her a character for ingratitude.
Charles I of England
Charles I was King of England, King of Scotland, and King of Ireland from 27 March 1625 until his execution in 1649. Charles engaged in a struggle for power with the Parliament of England, attempting to obtain royal revenue whilst Parliament sought to curb his Royal prerogative which Charles...
.
Background
She was the only daughter of John Gordon, created Viscount of MelgumViscount of Melgum
Viscount of Melgum was a title in the Peerage of Scotland. It was created in 1627 for Lord John Gordon, second son of George Gordon, 1st Marquess of Huntly . He was made Lord Aboyne at the same time, also in the Peerage of Scotland. Lord Melgum had no male issue and the titles became extinct on his...
and Lord Aboyne in 1627, by Lady Sophia Hay, fifth daughter of Francis Hay, 9th Earl of Erroll
Francis Hay, 9th Earl of Erroll
Francis Hay, 9th Earl of Erroll , Scottish nobleman, was the son of Andrew, 8th earl, and of Lady Jean Hay, daughter of William, 6th earl...
. Her father was the second son of George Gordon, 1st Marquis of Huntly by Henrietta, eldest daughter of the 1st Duke of Lennox. He was burned to death in his house at Frendraught in October 1630; and, his widow dying on 22 March 1642, Henrietta was left an orphan.
Tutelage
She had been brought up in the Roman Catholic faith, and, her uncle and natural guardian, the 2nd Marquis of Huntly, being a protestant, her mother on her deathbed commended her to the care of her father confessor, Gilbert Blackhall or Blakhal. He went to Paris and Henrietta's grandmother, the Dowager Marchioness of Huntly, instructions how to act in the matter; the marchioness, however, pleading poverty as an excuse for taking no step to have the child brought to Paris, as Blackhall wished, he applied to Anne of AustriaAnne of Austria
Anne of Austria was Queen consort of France and Navarre, regent for her son, Louis XIV of France, and a Spanish Infanta by birth...
, and obtained from her a letter, under the joint sign-manual of herself and the king, praying the Marquis of Huntly, who had assumed the guardianship of Henrietta, with the intention of having her educated in the Protestant faith, to permit Blackhall to escort her to France.
Blackhall returned to Scotland, and having obtained the charge of Henrietta, took ship with her from Aberdeen on 26 July 1643. At Paris Henrietta was presented to the queen by her second cousin, Ludovick, fifth son of Esme, 3rd Duke of Lennox (better known as Monsieur d'Aubigny), and was sent to the convent of the Filles de Ste. Marie, Rue St. Antoine, to learn French. After remaining there a year she was placed under the charge of Madame de Brienne, who found it more convenient to send her to the convent of Charonne, where she objected to the rule and ways of the mother superior, and meagre diet of the convent. Blackhall accordingly induced the queen to have her removed to the convent of St. Nicolas de Lorraine, where she remained from 8 January to 10 August 1647, when she was transferred to that of Fervacques in the Faubourg St. Germain. Here she resided till 20 January 1649, when, the Fronde having raised an insurrection in the streets of Paris, she was by the queen's orders brought under the escort of D'Aubigny, to St. Germain-en-Laye.
Maid of honour
Too proud to enter the service of the Princesse de Condé, which the queen proposed to her, and neglected by Madame de Brienne, she subsisted for some time on the charity of Mesdames de Ferran and de la Flotte. At length, however, she was admitted to the queen's household in the capacity of supernumerary maid of honour, and after two years' probation was accepted as maid of honour. She figures in the pages of Mademoiselle de Montpensier, who represents her as in 1658 in the favour of 'Monsieur,' Philippe I, Duke of OrléansPhilippe I, Duke of Orléans
Philippe of France was the youngest son of Louis XIII of France and his queen consort Anne of Austria. His older brother was the famous Louis XIV, le roi soleil. Styled Duke of Anjou from birth, Philippe became Duke of Orléans upon the death of his uncle Gaston, Duke of Orléans...
, who devoted a great part of his time and thought to her dress.
She is said to have had liaisons with Clérambault and Bouvron. On the marriage of 'Monsieur' with the Princess Henrietta of England she was appointed lady of the bedchamber
Lady of the Bedchamber
This is an incomplete list of those who have served as Lady of the Bedchamber in the British Royal Household...
to 'Madame,' and after the death of 'Madame' she served Philippe's second wife, Elizabeth Charlotte of the Palatinate
Elizabeth Charlotte of the Palatinate
Elizabeth Charlotte, Princess Palatine was a German princess and the wife of Philippe I, Duke of Orléans, younger brother of Louis XIV of France. Her vast correspondence provides a detailed account of the personalities and activities at the court of her brother-in-law, Louis XIV...
, daughter of Charles Louis, elector of Bavaria, sometimes called 'la seconde Madame,' in the same capacity. From a letter of Mademoiselle de la Fayette, written in December 1672, it appears that Henrietta was on bad terms with her new mistress. After this date we hear no more of her. She seems to have been generally unpopular, and Blackhall gives her a character for ingratitude.