Frances Newton, Lady Cobham
Encyclopedia
Frances Newton, Lady Cobham (1539 – 17 October 1592) was an English aristocratic woman who served Queen Elizabeth I of England
as a Lady of the Bedchamber
, and was one of her closest female friends.
She was the second wife of Sir William Brooke, 10th Baron Cobham
.
, of Barr's Court, Gloucestershire
and East Harptree
, Somerset
, who lived in Gloucestershire and died before November 1568 with will
probate
d on 17 November. Her mother was Margaret Poyntz, a daughter of Sir Anthony Poyntz and Elizabeth Huddersfield. Sir John Newton's surname was originally Cradock and he was of Welsh
origin.
Frances entered the service of Elizabeth Tudor before 1558, and following the latter's accession to the English throne as Queen Elizabeth I, she continued in her service, becoming one of her Ladies of the Bedchamber. Later in Elizabeth's reign, Frances's sister, Katherine also entered the Queen's service.
, London
, Frances married Sir William Brooke, 10th Baron Cobham, whose first wife, Dorothy Neville had died, leaving him one daughter.
Upon her marriage, Frances was styled Lady Cobham as her husband had succeeded to the title of Baron Cobham two years previously.
They made their home at the Brooke family seat Cobham Hall
in Kent
where Queen Elizabeth paid them a visit on 17 July 1560 during her summer progress, and many years later on 4 September 1573. Frances was one of the Queen's closest female friends, and Frances preferred to remain at court; however, she returned to Cobham Hall to give birth to her children.
Together William Brooke and Frances had seven children:
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...
as a 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...
, and was one of her closest female friends.
She was the second wife of Sir William Brooke, 10th Baron Cobham
William Brooke, 10th Baron Cobham
William Brooke, 10th Baron Cobham was Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports, and a Member of Parliament for Hythe. Although he was viewed by some as a religious radical during the Somerset protectorate, he entertained Elizabeth at Cobham Hall in 1559, signalling his acceptance of the moderate regime.His...
.
Family and early years
Frances was born in 1539, one of the 19 children of Sir John Newton, KnightKnight
A knight was a member of a class of lower nobility in the High Middle Ages.By the Late Middle Ages, the rank had become associated with the ideals of chivalry, a code of conduct for the perfect courtly Christian warrior....
, of Barr's Court, 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....
and East Harptree
East Harptree
East Harptree is a village and civil parish in Somerset, England. It is situated north of Wells and south of Bristol, on the northern slope of the Mendip Hills overlooking the Chew Valley. The parish has a population of 680...
, Somerset
Somerset
The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the...
, who lived in Gloucestershire and died before November 1568 with will
Will (law)
A will or testament is a legal declaration by which a person, the testator, names one or more persons to manage his/her estate and provides for the transfer of his/her property at death...
probate
Probate
Probate is the legal process of administering the estate of a deceased person by resolving all claims and distributing the deceased person's property under the valid will. A probate court decides the validity of a testator's will...
d on 17 November. Her mother was Margaret Poyntz, a daughter of Sir Anthony Poyntz and Elizabeth Huddersfield. Sir John Newton's surname was originally Cradock and he was of Welsh
Welsh people
The Welsh people are an ethnic group and nation associated with Wales and the Welsh language.John Davies argues that the origin of the "Welsh nation" can be traced to the late 4th and early 5th centuries, following the Roman departure from Britain, although Brythonic Celtic languages seem to have...
origin.
Frances entered the service of Elizabeth Tudor before 1558, and following the latter's accession to the English throne as Queen Elizabeth I, she continued in her service, becoming one of her Ladies of the Bedchamber. Later in Elizabeth's reign, Frances's sister, Katherine also entered the Queen's service.
Marriage and issue
On 25 February 1560 at Westminster Palace, WestminsterWestminster
Westminster is an area of central London, within the City of Westminster, England. It lies on the north bank of the River Thames, southwest of the City of London and southwest of Charing Cross...
, 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...
, Frances married Sir William Brooke, 10th Baron Cobham, whose first wife, Dorothy Neville had died, leaving him one daughter.
Upon her marriage, Frances was styled Lady Cobham as her husband had succeeded to the title of Baron Cobham two years previously.
They made their home at the Brooke family seat Cobham Hall
Cobham Hall
Cobham Hall is a country house in Cobham, Kent, England. There has been a manor house on the site since the 12th century. The current building consists of a pair of Tudor wings built for William Brooke, 10th Baron Cobham in the 16th century and a later classical central block, and a kitchen court...
in Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
where Queen Elizabeth paid them a visit on 17 July 1560 during her summer progress, and many years later on 4 September 1573. Frances was one of the Queen's closest female friends, and Frances preferred to remain at court; however, she returned to Cobham Hall to give birth to her children.
Together William Brooke and Frances had seven children:
- Elizabeth Brooke (1 January 1562/1563 - 24 January 1596/1597), married on 31 August 1589 Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of SalisburyRobert Cecil, 1st Earl of SalisburyRobert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury, KG, PC was an English administrator and politician.-Life:He was the son of William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley and Mildred Cooke...
, by whom she had issue. - Henry Brooke, 11th Baron CobhamHenry Brooke, 11th Baron CobhamHenry Brooke, 11th Baron Cobham was an English peer who was implicated in the Main Plot against the rule of James I of England.- Life :...
(22 November 1564- 24 January 1619), married Lady Frances Howard. He was implicated in the Main PlotMain PlotThe Main Plot was an alleged conspiracy of July 1603 by English courtiers, to remove King James I from the English throne, replacing him with his cousin Arabella Stuart. The plot was supposedly led by Henry Brooke, Lord Cobham, and funded by Spain...
against King James I of EnglandJames I of EnglandJames 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...
. He had no legitimate issue. - Sir George BrookeGeorge Brooke (conspirator)The Rev. Sir George Brooke was an English aristocrat, executed for his part in two plots against the government of King James I.-Origins and education:...
(17 April 1568- 5 December 1603), married Elizabeth Burgh, by whom he had issue. He was executed for High TreasonHigh treasonHigh 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...
against King James I. - Frances Brooke, married circa 1580 John Stourton, 9th Baron StourtonJohn Stourton, 9th Baron StourtonJohn Stourton, 9th Baron Stourton was the elder son of Charles Stourton.The ninth Baron was one of the peers who tried Mary, Queen of Scots.He was succeeded by his brother Edward in 1588.-References:...
- Margaret Brooke, married Sir Thomas Sondes of ThrowleyThrowleyThrowley is a village in the Borough of Swale in Kent, England.Throwley lies on top of the kent North Downs in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty...
, Kent (died circa 1592), by whom she had one daughter, Frances Sondes, wife of Sir John Leveson, KnightKnightA knight was a member of a class of lower nobility in the High Middle Ages.By the Late Middle Ages, the rank had become associated with the ideals of chivalry, a code of conduct for the perfect courtly Christian warrior....
. - Sir William Brooke
- Thomas Brooke