Anne Berkeley, Baroness Berkeley
Encyclopedia
Anne Berkeley Baroness Berkeley (born c.1496, died before 1546) was a lady-in-waiting
and companion of Queen Anne Boleyn, the second wife of Henry VIII of England
. She was one of the witnesses at the secret wedding ceremony of the King and Anne Boleyn which occurred on 25 January 1533.
sometime around 1496, although the exact date is not known. She was the only daughter of John Savage, Sheriff
of Worcester
, and his wife Anne Bostock. She had seven brothers, including Sir John Savage of Clifton.
Their principal residence outside of London
was Berkeley Castle
in Gloucestershire
.
Thomas and Anne together had two children:
. Anne was said to have borne the train of Anne Boleyn at the wedding.
Anne had been at court for several years and was a dependent of her brother John's widow, Elizabeth Savage, daughter of Charles Somerset, 1st Earl of Worcester and a second cousin of Henry VIII, and Elizabeth's second husband, William Brereton
. Brereton was then a groom of the Privy Chamber
and one of the other guests at the secret royal wedding, along with Thomas Heneage
and Henry Norris
. Both Norris and Brereton would later be executed for alleged adultery with Anne Boleyn.
With the fall of their allies, the Savages could have seen a decline in their fortunes, but it seems that they, and the newly-widowed Elizabeth Savage, kept the friendship of Thomas Cromwell and therefore many of Brereton's estates were returned to his wife.
Anne was described as being of middling stature, with a comely, brown complexion, and much tender-hearted with her children.
Thomas Berkeley, Anne's husband, was one of several Boleyn allies who was created a Knight of the Bath at Anne Boleyn's coronation. Anne's husband Thomas died on 19 September 1534, when Anne was almost seven months pregnant with their son and heir, Henry. Her royal mistress and companion, Anne Boleyn was executed less than two years later. Anne Savage died on an unknown date before 1546.
In a letter to Cromwell dated 1 May 1535, Anne, then Dowager Baroness Berkeley:
Complains of the delay of the master of the King's wards in sending out the writs concerning the office to be found after the decease of her husband. It is great loss to her, for she can get nothing from her jointure. Asks him to move the King in this behalf. Acknowledges that the fee of Silebe is unpaid, but very need causes her to be slack.
Lady-in-waiting
A lady-in-waiting is a female personal assistant at a royal court, attending on a queen, a princess, or a high-ranking noblewoman. Historically, in Europe a lady-in-waiting was often a noblewoman from a family highly thought of in good society, but was of lower rank than the woman on whom she...
and companion of Queen Anne Boleyn, the second wife of Henry VIII of England
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...
. She was one of the witnesses at the secret wedding ceremony of the King and Anne Boleyn which occurred on 25 January 1533.
Family
Anne was born in EnglandEngland
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
sometime around 1496, although the exact date is not known. She was the only daughter of John Savage, Sheriff
Sheriff
A sheriff is in principle a legal official with responsibility for a county. In practice, the specific combination of legal, political, and ceremonial duties of a sheriff varies greatly from country to country....
of Worcester
Worcester
The City of Worcester, commonly known as Worcester, , is a city and county town of Worcestershire in the West Midlands of England. Worcester is situated some southwest of Birmingham and north of Gloucester, and has an approximate population of 94,000 people. The River Severn runs through the...
, and his wife Anne Bostock. She had seven brothers, including Sir John Savage of Clifton.
Marriage and children
Anne married in April 1533, as his second wife, Thomas Berkeley, 6th Baron Berkeley (died 19 September 1534), son of Thomas Berkeley, 5th Baron Berkeley and Eleanor Constable. His first wife was Mary Hastings who died in early 1533 without having produced children.Their principal residence outside of London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
was Berkeley Castle
Berkeley Castle
Berkeley Castle is a castle in the town of Berkeley, Gloucestershire, UK . The castle's origins date back to the 11th century and it has been designated by English Heritage as a grade I listed building.The castle has remained within the Berkeley family since they reconstructed it in the...
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....
.
Thomas and Anne together had two children:
- Elizabeth Berkeley (January 1534- 1 September 1582), married in 1559 as his first wife, Thomas Butler, 10th Earl of Ormond, Lord Treasurer of Ireland and a cousin of Queen Elizabeth I of EnglandElizabeth I of EnglandElizabeth 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...
. The marriage was childless and they separated in 1564. - Henry Berkeley, 7th Baron BerkeleyHenry Berkeley, 7th Baron BerkeleyHenry Berkeley, 7th Baron Berkeley was an English peer and politician. He was the Lord Lieutenant of Gloucestershire and Vice-Admiral of Gloucestershire as well as Baron Berkeley....
(26 November 1534- 26 November 1613), married firstly in September 1554 at Kenninghall, NorfolkNorfolkNorfolk is a low-lying county in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast and to the north-west the county is bordered by The Wash. The county...
, Catherine Howard, youngest daughter of Henry Howard, Earl of SurreyHenry Howard, Earl of SurreyHenry Howard, KG, , known as The Earl of Surrey although he never was a peer, was an English aristocrat, and one of the founders of English Renaissance poetry.-Life:...
and Lady Frances de Vere. The marriage produced issue. He married secondly on 9 March 1597, Jane Stanhope.
As lady-in-waiting
Anne seems to have been a friend and close attendant of Anne Boleyn from before Anne's marriage to Henry VIII. Only four, or possibly five, witnesses attended the King's second wedding, and these included Anne. This was on 25 January 1533, and was conducted in secrecy as Anne Boleyn was pregnant and Henry had not yet annulled his marriage to Catherine of AragonCatherine of Aragon
Catherine of Aragon , also known as Katherine or Katharine, was Queen consort of England as the first wife of King Henry VIII of England and Princess of Wales as the wife to Arthur, Prince of Wales...
. Anne was said to have borne the train of Anne Boleyn at the wedding.
Anne had been at court for several years and was a dependent of her brother John's widow, Elizabeth Savage, daughter of Charles Somerset, 1st Earl of Worcester and a second cousin of Henry VIII, and Elizabeth's second husband, William Brereton
William Brereton (groom)
Sir William Brereton , who came from a Cheshire landowning family, was a Groom of the Privy Chamber of Henry VIII. He was caught up in the accusations against Anne Boleyn, tried for treason and executed with the Queen and four others...
. Brereton was then a groom of the Privy Chamber
Privy chamber
A Privy chamber was the private apartment of a royal residence in England. The gentlemen of the Privy chamber were servants to the Crown who would wait and attend on the King and Queen at court during their various activities, functions and entertainments....
and one of the other guests at the secret royal wedding, along with Thomas Heneage
Thomas Heneage
Sir Thomas Heneage PC was an English politician and a courtier at the court of Elizabeth I.-Early and personal life:...
and Henry Norris
Henry Norris
Sir Henry George Norris was an English businessman, politician and football club director, most famous for his chairmanship of both Fulham and Arsenal...
. Both Norris and Brereton would later be executed for alleged adultery with Anne Boleyn.
With the fall of their allies, the Savages could have seen a decline in their fortunes, but it seems that they, and the newly-widowed Elizabeth Savage, kept the friendship of Thomas Cromwell and therefore many of Brereton's estates were returned to his wife.
Anne was described as being of middling stature, with a comely, brown complexion, and much tender-hearted with her children.
Thomas Berkeley, Anne's husband, was one of several Boleyn allies who was created a Knight of the Bath at Anne Boleyn's coronation. Anne's husband Thomas died on 19 September 1534, when Anne was almost seven months pregnant with their son and heir, Henry. Her royal mistress and companion, Anne Boleyn was executed less than two years later. Anne Savage died on an unknown date before 1546.
In a letter to Cromwell dated 1 May 1535, Anne, then Dowager Baroness Berkeley:
Complains of the delay of the master of the King's wards in sending out the writs concerning the office to be found after the decease of her husband. It is great loss to her, for she can get nothing from her jointure. Asks him to move the King in this behalf. Acknowledges that the fee of Silebe is unpaid, but very need causes her to be slack.