Christian Cavendish, Countess of Devonshire
Encyclopedia
Christian Cavendish, Countess of Devonshire (died 1675) was an influential Anglo-Scottish landowner and royalist.
. In token of her father's services she received, on her marriage to William Cavendish
from King James I
a grant of £10,000. They has three children.
After the death of her husband in 1628 she had the wardship of the young William Cavendish
and the care of the estates, the value of which she increased by prudent management. At the outbreak she was one of the most enthusiastic royalists; her second son, Charles
was killed at the battle of Gainsborough
on 28 July 1643. She took charge of the king's effects after the battle of Worcester
, and during the Protectorate entertained royalists at her house at Roehampton
. She also kept up a correspondence with the principal royalists on the continent, and General Monck sent to her privately to make her aware of his intention to restore the king. She was in fact well connected also with Oliver Cromwell
, whose daughter Frances had married one of her Rich grandchildren, and she was seen at his court. After the Restoration
Charles II frequently came to Roehampton, and Henrietta Maria was on terms of intimacy with her. She died on 16 January 1675.
She entertained wits and men of letters, one of her favourite friends being Edmund Waller
, another royalist. Waller dedicated to her his Epistles, which conclude with an Epistle to the Duchess, and he also wrote an epitaph on her son. William Herbert, 3rd Earl of Pembroke
wrote a volume of poems in praise of her and Lady Rich, which was published with a dedication to her by John Donne
.
Life
She was the daughter of Edward Bruce, 1st Lord KinlossEdward Bruce, 1st Lord Kinloss
Edward Bruce, 1st Lord Kinloss PC was an Anglo-Scottish lawyer and judge.Kinloss was the second son of Edward Bruce of Blairhall and Alison Reid. He served as a Lord of Session from 1597 to 1603 and was created Lord Kinloss in 1602, with remainder to his heirs and assigns whatsoever...
. In token of her father's services she received, on her marriage to William Cavendish
William Cavendish, 2nd Earl of Devonshire
William Cavendish, 2nd Earl of Devonshire was an English courtier and politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1614 until 1626 when he succeeded to the peerage and sat in the House of Lords.-Life:...
from King James I
James I of England
James VI and I was King of Scots as James VI from 24 July 1567 and King of England and Ireland as James I from the union of the English and Scottish crowns on 24 March 1603...
a grant of £10,000. They has three children.
After the death of her husband in 1628 she had the wardship of the young William Cavendish
William Cavendish, 3rd Earl of Devonshire
William Cavendish, 3rd Earl of Devonshire was the son of William Cavendish, 2nd Earl of Devonshire....
and the care of the estates, the value of which she increased by prudent management. At the outbreak she was one of the most enthusiastic royalists; her second son, Charles
Charles Cavendish (general)
Charles Cavendish was an English royalist general, killed at the battle of Gainsborough.-Life:He was second son of William Cavendish, 2nd Earl of Devonshire and his wife Christiana, born on 30 May 1620, and named after Prince Charles, his godfather. In 1638 he was sent abroad to travel with a...
was killed at the battle of Gainsborough
Battle of Gainsborough
The Battle of Gainsborough was a battle in the English Civil War, fought on 28 July 1643.-Prelude:When the English Civil War was declared, Gainsborough in Lincolnshire lay in an area which supported Parliament, but the town itself had Royalist sympathies...
on 28 July 1643. She took charge of the king's effects after the battle of Worcester
Battle of Worcester
The Battle of Worcester took place on 3 September 1651 at Worcester, England and was the final battle of the English Civil War. Oliver Cromwell and the Parliamentarians defeated the Royalist, predominantly Scottish, forces of King Charles II...
, and during the Protectorate entertained royalists at her house at Roehampton
Roehampton
Roehampton is a district in south-west London, forming the western end of the London Borough of Wandsworth. It lies between the town of Barnes to the north, Putney to the east and Wimbledon Common to the south. The Richmond Park golf courses are west of the neighbourhood, and just south of these is...
. She also kept up a correspondence with the principal royalists on the continent, and General Monck sent to her privately to make her aware of his intention to restore the king. She was in fact well connected also with Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell was an English military and political leader who overthrew the English monarchy and temporarily turned England into a republican Commonwealth, and served as Lord Protector of England, Scotland, and Ireland....
, whose daughter Frances had married one of her Rich grandchildren, and she was seen at his court. After the Restoration
English Restoration
The Restoration of the English monarchy began in 1660 when the English, Scottish and Irish monarchies were all restored under Charles II after the Interregnum that followed the Wars of the Three Kingdoms...
Charles II frequently came to Roehampton, and Henrietta Maria was on terms of intimacy with her. She died on 16 January 1675.
She entertained wits and men of letters, one of her favourite friends being Edmund Waller
Edmund Waller
Edmund Waller, FRS was an English poet and politician who sat in the House of Commons at various times between 1624 and 1679.- Early life :...
, another royalist. Waller dedicated to her his Epistles, which conclude with an Epistle to the Duchess, and he also wrote an epitaph on her son. William Herbert, 3rd Earl of Pembroke
William Herbert, 3rd Earl of Pembroke
William Herbert, 3rd Earl of Pembroke, KG, PC was the son of Henry Herbert, 2nd Earl of Pembroke and his third wife Mary Sidney. Chancellor of the University of Oxford, he founded Pembroke College, Oxford with King James. He was warden of the Forest of Dean, and constable of St Briavels from 1608...
wrote a volume of poems in praise of her and Lady Rich, which was published with a dedication to her by John Donne
John Donne
John Donne 31 March 1631), English poet, satirist, lawyer, and priest, is now considered the preeminent representative of the metaphysical poets. His works are notable for their strong and sensual style and include sonnets, love poetry, religious poems, Latin translations, epigrams, elegies, songs,...
.