![Kat Ashley](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8c/Kat_Ashley.jpg)
Katherine Astley (née Champernowne; circa 1502 – 18 July 1565), also known as Kat Astley, was the first close friend,
governess
A governess is a largely obsolete term for a woman employed as a private tutor, who teaches and trains a child or children in their home. A governess often lives in the same residence as the children she is teaching. In contrast to a nanny, th ...
, and
Lady of the Bedchamber
Lady of the Bedchamber is the title of a lady-in-waiting holding the official position of personal attendant on a British queen regnant or queen consort. The position is traditionally held by the wife of a peer. They are ranked between the Mis ...
to Queen
Elizabeth I of England
Elizabeth I (7 September 153324 March 1603) was List of English monarchs, Queen of England and List of Irish monarchs, Ireland from 17 November 1558 until her death in 1603. Elizabeth was the last of the five House of Tudor monarchs and is ...
.
She was the aunt of Katherine Champernowne, who was the mother of Sir
Humphrey Gilbert
Sir Humphrey Gilbert (c. 1539 – 9 September 1583) was an English adventurer, explorer, member of parliament and soldier who served during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I and was a pioneer of the English colonial empire in North America ...
from her first marriage and
Walter Raleigh
Sir Walter Raleigh (; – 29 October 1618) was an English statesman, soldier, writer and explorer. One of the most notable figures of the Elizabethan era, he played a leading part in English colonisation of North America, suppressed rebellion ...
by her second marriage.
Parentage
![Champernowne CoatOfArms](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/18/Champernowne_CoatOfArms.png)
Katherine Champernowne's parentage is not known for certain. There are two principal candidates for her father.
One is Sir Philip Champernowne, although there is a 1536 letter from Kat to
Thomas Cromwell, 1st Earl of Essex
Thomas Cromwell (; 1485 – 28 July 1540), briefly Earl of Essex, was an English lawyer and statesman who served as chief minister to King Henry VIII from 1534 to 1540, when he was beheaded on orders of the king, who later blamed false charge ...
which makes reference to her father as having ''"much to do with the little living he has"''. At the time of her birth, Sir Philip's wife, Catherine Carew, was sixteen years of age. However, no contemporary records refer to Kat Ashley and
Joan Denny - Sir Philip's daughter - as being sisters.
The other candidate is Sir John Champernowne, whose wife was approximately 43 at the time of Kat's birth, which some people believe to be too old, but Catherine Knollys had her last child at 38. Sir John died a year after her birth, but the fact that Kat wrote to Cromwell in 1536 mentioning her father in the present tense suggests he isn't her father, unless an unknown stepfather is meant. If Kat ''was'' the child of Sir John Champernowne, then her niece was beforementioned
Joan Champernowne
Joan Champernowne, Lady Denny (died 1553) was a lady-in-waiting at the court of King Henry VIII of England. She became a close friend to his sixth wife, Queen Catherine Parr.
She married Sir Anthony Denny, who at the end of King Henry's reig ...
, who married Sir
Anthony Denny
Sir Anthony Denny (16 January 1501 – 10 September 1549) was Groom of the Stool to King Henry VIII of England, thus his closest courtier and confidant. He was the most prominent member of the Privy chamber in King Henry's last years, having ...
,
Groom of the Stool
The Groom of the Stool (formally styled: "Groom of the King's Close stool, Close Stool") was the most intimate of an List of English monarchs, English monarch's courtiers, responsible for assisting the king in excretion and hygiene.
The physica ...
and most trusted servant to King
Henry VIII
Henry VIII (28 June 149128 January 1547) was King of England from 22 April 1509 until his death in 1547. Henry is best known for his six marriages, and for his efforts to have his first marriage (to Catherine of Aragon) annulled. His disa ...
.
On the other hand, Katherine may have been from another branch of the Champernowne family altogether.
Royal governess
After Prince
Edward
Edward is an English given name. It is derived from the Anglo-Saxon name ''Ēadweard'', composed of the elements '' ēad'' "wealth, fortune; prosperous" and '' weard'' "guardian, protector”.
History
The name Edward was very popular in Anglo-Sa ...
's birth, Elizabeth lost her governess, Lady
Margaret Bryan
Margaret Bryan, Baroness Bryan (c. 1468 – c. 1551/52) was lady governess to the children of King Henry VIII of England, the future monarchs Mary I, Elizabeth I, and Edward VI, as well as the illegitimate Henry FitzRoy.She was also Lady Govern ...
, who was transferred to her half-brother's service. She was placed in the care of
Lady Troy
Blanche Milborne, Lady Herbert of Troy was the Lady Mistress in charge of the upbringing of Queen Elizabeth I, Edward VI and also of Queen Mary when she lived with the younger Tudor children. She was twice married, and widowed; first to James ...
, who remained Elizabeth's governess until she retired in late 1545 or early 1546. Katherine Champernowne was appointed as
gentlewoman
A gentlewoman (from the Latin ''gentilis'', belonging to a ''gens'', and English 'woman') in the original and strict sense is a woman of good family, analogous to the Latin ''generosus'' and ''generosa''. The closely related English word "gentry" ...
in waiting to the then Lady Elizabeth in July 1536.
In 1537, Katherine became four-year-old Elizabeth's third governess. Sources state that she accustomed the little girl to the "elaborate code of politeness and respect to her elders". In addition, she taught her charge pursuits such as
needlework
Needlework is decorative sewing and textile arts handicrafts. Anything that uses a needle for construction can be called needlework. Needlework may include related textile crafts such as crochet, worked with a hook, or tatting, worked with a ...
,
embroidery
Embroidery is the craft of decorating fabric or other materials using a needle to apply thread or yarn. Embroidery may also incorporate other materials such as pearls, beads, quills, and sequins. In modern days, embroidery is usually seen on c ...
, dancing, and riding. By the age of six, Elizabeth was able to sew a beautiful
cambric
Cambric or batiste, is a fine dense cloth. It is a lightweight plain-weave fabric, originally from the commune of Cambrai (in present-day northern France), woven greige (neither bleached nor dyed), then bleached, piece-dyed, and often g ...
shirt as a gift for her younger half-brother. Evidently, Katherine had been well educated for she effectively taught the precocious princess
mathematics
Mathematics is an area of knowledge that includes the topics of numbers, formulas and related structures, shapes and the spaces in which they are contained, and quantities and their changes. These topics are represented in modern mathematics ...
,
geography
Geography (from Greek: , ''geographia''. Combination of Greek words ‘Geo’ (The Earth) and ‘Graphien’ (to describe), literally "earth description") is a field of science devoted to the study of the lands, features, inhabitants, and ...
,
astronomy
Astronomy () is a natural science that studies astronomical object, celestial objects and phenomena. It uses mathematics, physics, and chemistry in order to explain their origin and chronology of the Universe, evolution. Objects of interest ...
, history,
French,
Italian
Italian(s) may refer to:
* Anything of, from, or related to the people of Italy over the centuries
** Italians, an ethnic group or simply a citizen of the Italian Republic or Italian Kingdom
** Italian language, a Romance language
*** Regional Ita ...
,
Flemish
Flemish (''Vlaams'') is a Low Franconian dialect cluster of the Dutch language. It is sometimes referred to as Flemish Dutch (), Belgian Dutch ( ), or Southern Dutch (). Flemish is native to Flanders, a historical region in northern Belgium; ...
, and
Spanish
Spanish might refer to:
* Items from or related to Spain:
**Spaniards are a nation and ethnic group indigenous to Spain
**Spanish language, spoken in Spain and many Latin American countries
**Spanish cuisine
Other places
* Spanish, Ontario, Can ...
. Elizabeth herself praised Katherine's early devotion to her studies by stating that ''Kat'' (as the future Queen called her governess) took "great labour and pain in bringing of me up in learning and honesty".
Lady-in-waiting
In 1543, Henry VIII had married
Catherine Parr
Catherine Parr (sometimes alternatively spelled Katherine, Katheryn, Kateryn, or Katharine; 1512 – 5 September 1548) was Queen of England and Ireland as the last of the six wives of King Henry VIII from their marriage on 12 July 1543 until ...
, who gave Elizabeth a more stable family life, restored her right to succession, and brought her household to the royal court. In 1545, Katherine married
John Ashley, Elizabeth's senior gentleman attendant and cousin of
Anne Boleyn
Anne Boleyn (; 1501 or 1507 – 19 May 1536) was Queen of England from 1533 to 1536, as the second wife of King Henry VIII. The circumstances of her marriage and of her execution by beheading for treason and other charges made her a key ...
. She was over 40 years old at this date. However, King Henry died in 1547 and was succeeded by Edward VI, whose uncles
Edward
Edward is an English given name. It is derived from the Anglo-Saxon name ''Ēadweard'', composed of the elements '' ēad'' "wealth, fortune; prosperous" and '' weard'' "guardian, protector”.
History
The name Edward was very popular in Anglo-Sa ...
and
Thomas Seymour tried to get control of him.
Shortly after Henry VIII died, Thomas Seymour investigated whether he could be permitted to marry either the
Princess Mary or Princess Elizabeth, but he was refused. Seymour immediately began courting Parr as they had been romantically linked before she became Queen. In her early 30s and still childless, Parr agreed to marry Seymour only two months after her husband's death and was able to secure royal approval to take young Elizabeth to her new home in
Chelsea
Chelsea or Chelsey may refer to:
Places Australia
* Chelsea, Victoria
Canada
* Chelsea, Nova Scotia
* Chelsea, Quebec
United Kingdom
* Chelsea, London, an area of London, bounded to the south by the River Thames
** Chelsea (UK Parliament consti ...
with Kat as the princess' Chief Gentlewoman.
After Thomas Seymour began a flirtation with the 14-year-old Elizabeth, Kat first thought this amusing. However, this changed after he entered the girl's bedroom in the morning in his nightshirt and tried to tickle her while she was still in bed. Kat became concerned and advised Parr, who was later accused of taking part in holding down Elizabeth while Seymour slashed her gown "into a thousand pieces." There was a major incident in which Kat said that the Dowager Queen had caught Elizabeth in Seymour's arms, which caused both stepmother and governess to lecture the princess about the need to protect her reputation. Shortly afterwards, Elizabeth and her household moved to
Hatfield House
Hatfield House is a country house set in a large park, the Great Park, on the eastern side of the town of Hatfield, Hertfordshire, England. The present Jacobean house, a leading example of the prodigy house, was built in 1611 by Robert Ceci ...
, but gossip already spread. After Parr died after childbirth on 5 September 1548,
Ashley tried to convince her mistress to write to Thomas and "comfort him in his sorrow", but Elizabeth claimed that he wasn't so saddened by her stepmother's death as to need comfort. Indeed, Thomas renewed his attentions towards Elizabeth with intent on marrying her.
The rumours about Thomas Seymour's "flirtation" towards Elizabeth emerged in 1548 as his other political manoeuvres were revealed. On 21 January 1549, Katherine was arrested and taken to the
Tower
A tower is a tall Nonbuilding structure, structure, taller than it is wide, often by a significant factor. Towers are distinguished from guyed mast, masts by their lack of guy-wires and are therefore, along with tall buildings, self-supporting ...
for possible involvement in Seymour's activities. She told her story, was found to have done nothing treasonous, and was released thirteen days before Seymour's execution. Despite detailed questioning, Katherine didn't implicate Elizabeth in Seymour's schemes.
Blanche Parry
Blanche Parry (1507/8–12 February 1590) of Newcourt in the parish of Bacton, Herefordshire, in the Welsh Marches, was a personal attendant of Queen Elizabeth I, who held the offices of Chief Gentlewoman of the Queen's Most Honourable Privy C ...
, second in the household, was Elizabeth's Chief Gentlewoman while Katherine was in prison.
By August 1549, Katherine had returned to Hatfield and stayed with Elizabeth until her mistress was imprisoned in the Tower by
Queen Mary I
Mary I (18 February 1516 – 17 November 1558), also known as Mary Tudor, and as "Bloody Mary" by her Protestant opponents, was Queen of England and Ireland from July 1553 and Queen of Spain from January 1556 until her death in 1558. Sh ...
in 1554. Katherine was allowed to rejoin Elizabeth in October 1555, but was arrested in May 1556 following the discovery of seditious books. She spent three months in Fleet Prison and was forbidden to see Elizabeth again after her release.
Favourite of Queen Elizabeth
After Mary I died in 1558 and Elizabeth became Queen of England, Katherine was appointed
First Lady of the Bedchamber while her husband was appointed
Master of the Jewel Office
The Master of the Jewel Office was a position in the Royal Households of England, the Kingdom of Great Britain and the United Kingdom. The office holder was responsible for running the Jewel House
The Jewel House is a vault housing the British ...
. Katherine became very influential as a source of information for the Queen and as means of asking favours for the nobles. She helped to form a strict aristocracy, which helped to maintain the Queen's dominance over government for most of her reign.
In May 1561, Queen Elizabeth made Katherine a gift of an old French velvet gown lined with taffeta and wide sleeves cut up to make cushion covers. In 1562 she was given a pewter metal doll for the use of
Ippolyta the Tartarian, a young woman brought from Russia by
Anthony Jenkinson
Anthony Jenkinson (1529 – 1610/1611) was born at Market Harborough, Leicestershire. He was one of the first Englishmen to explore Muscovy and present-day Russia. Jenkinson was a traveller and explorer on behalf of the Muscovy Company an ...
. Katherine peacefully died in the summer of 1565 possibly at the age of 63, to Queen Elizabeth's great distress since her dear friend was not in attendance at court when she died. Parry succeeded her as Chief Gentlewoman of the Privy Chamber. When on her death bed, Elizabeth continually visited her and mourned her sincerely and unaffectedly.
[W.G. Gosling The Life of Sir Humphrey Gilbert]
Portrayal in popular culture
* ''
Elizabeth R
''Elizabeth R'' is a BBC television drama serial of six 85-minute plays starring Glenda Jackson as Queen Elizabeth I of England. It was first broadcast on BBC2 from February to March 1971, through the ABC in Australia and broadcast in America ...
'' (1971 mini-series) –
Rachel Kempson
Rachel, Lady Redgrave (28 May 1910 – 24 May 2003), known primarily by her birth name Rachel Kempson, was an English actress. She married Sir Michael Redgrave, and was the matriarch of the famous acting dynasty.
Career
Kempson trained at RADA ...
* ''
Blackadder II
''Blackadder II'' is the second series of the BBC sitcom ''Blackadder'', written by Richard Curtis and Ben Elton, which aired from 9 January 1986 to 20 February 1986. The series is set in England during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I (1558– ...
'' (1986 sitcom) –
Patsy Byrne
Patricia Anne Thirza Byrne (13 July 1933 – 17 June 2014) was an English actress, best known for her role as "Nursie" in ''Blackadder II'' as well as Malcolm's domineering Mother, Mrs Stoneway in all seven series of the ITV comedy '' Watching ...
as
Nursie
This article lists the characters in the four series and three special episodes of the British sitcom ''Blackadder''. '' Blackadder'' was notable for featuring actors playing many repeating characters across different eras of history, with Ro ...
* ''
Elizabeth
Elizabeth or Elisabeth may refer to:
People
* Elizabeth (given name), a female given name (including people with that name)
* Elizabeth (biblical figure), mother of John the Baptist
Ships
* HMS ''Elizabeth'', several ships
* ''Elisabeth'' (sch ...
'' (1998 feature film) –
Emily Mortimer
Emily Kathleen Anne Mortimer (born 6 October 1971) is a British-American actress. She began acting in stage productions and has since appeared in several film and television roles. In 2003, she won an Independent Spirit Award for her performanc ...
* ''Elizabeth'' (2000 TV documentary) – Jan Winters
* ''
The Virgin Queen'' (2005–2006 mini-series) –
Tara Fitzgerald
Tara Anne Cassandra Fitzgerald (born 18 September 1967) is an English actress who has appeared in feature films, television, radio and the stage. She won the New York Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play in 1995 as Opheli ...
* ''
The Tudors
''The Tudors'' is a historical fiction television series set primarily in 16th-century England, created and written by Michael Hirst and produced for the American premium cable television channel Showtime. The series was a collaboration among ...
'' (2007–2010 TV series) –
Maude Hirst
Maude Gabriella Hirst (born February 1988) is an English actress. She is known for her appearances on television in the series ''The Tudors'' (2007–2010) and ''Vikings'' (2013–2017).
Early life
Hirst was born in Hackney, East London. She i ...
* ''
Becoming Elizabeth
''Becoming Elizabeth'' is a historical drama series, created by Anya Reiss, that follows the younger years of Queen Elizabeth I. It premiered on Starz on June 12, 2022.
Plot
The series follows the younger years of Queen Elizabeth I, an orphaned ...
'' (2022 TV series) –
Alexandra Gilbreath
* ''The Virgin Trial'' (play) by Kate Henning
* ''The Queen's Governess'', a novel written by
Karen Harper
Karen Harper (April 6, 1945 – April 13, 2020) was a historical fiction and contemporary fiction author. She was a ''New York Times'' and ''USA Today'' bestselling author.
Personal life
Harper was born in Toledo, Ohio, Toledo, Ohio, and graduat ...
* ''The Lady Grace Mysteries'', a series of novels written by
Patricia Finney
Patricia Finney (born 1958) is an English author and journalist with Hungarian forebears. She is a graduate of Oxford University ( Wadham, 1977–80) with a degree in History. She has written under the pen names "P. F. Chisholm" and "Grace Cave ...
* ''The Queen's Handmaiden'', a novel written by Jennifer Ashley
* ''My Lady of Cleves '', a novel written by Margaret Campbell Barnes
References
External links
* The 1549 deposition of Kat Ashley in
Haynes, Samuel, ed
''A Collection of State Papers Relating to Affairs during the reigns of King Henry VIII, King Edward VI, Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth'', (1740)pp. 99–101
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ashley, Katherine Champernowne
People of the Elizabethan era
1490s births
1565 deaths
English governesses
Ladies of the Bedchamber
First Ladies of the Bedchamber
15th-century English women
16th-century English women
15th-century English people
governesses to the English Royal Household
Court of Elizabeth I