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Discussion: Lady Bessie Blount as the King's Mistress
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BanditQueen1 |
Lady Bessie Blount as the King's Mistress
Feb 7 2012, 9:42 PM EST
Elizabeth and her sister, Lady Elizabeth Carew, wife of Nicholas Carew, were both ladies in waiting to Catherine of Aragon and both may have caught both the eye of King Henry and of Charles Brandon, who was a friend of both ladies as early as 1512. In a letter to King Henry, Brandon commends his affection to the two ladies. There is some suggestion that Brandon introduced Bessie to Henry and that in fact he had tried her out first and commended her skills to the king. Whether or not this is true, Henry had certainly begun a relationship with Bessie by 1514. It is not known how long it lasted but eight years seems too long, given that her son, Henry Fitzroy was born in 1519, but six years or even seven is possible as Henry does not seem to have cut off his relationship after the birth of his son.Henry visited Bessie and his son often and the relationship does not officially end until 1522 when Bessie got married. Henry was keen to ensure that she had a good husband and she was well provided for by all three husbands. Bessie was also well connected in other ways, being a neighbour of Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk through his Lincolnshire estates and a close association with his fourth wife was formed, both through marriage and through friendship and her place at court. He also maintained a friendship with Bessie most of his life. Bessie may have been a lady in waiting to Anne of Cleves, but it could only have been for a very short time as she died some time in 1540. Her son by Henry died of consumption in 1536 and was buried with the Howard family as he had married the daughter of the Duke of Norfolk, Mary. He was buried at the abbey in Telford but he was moved to the Framlington later on. The marriage was childless. Unlikely that she was replaced by Mary Boleyn: the relationship had long ended by 1522 as it just faded out. 2 out of 2 found this valuable. Do you?
Keyword tags:
anne boleyn
charles brandon
Elizabeth Blount
henry viii
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BanditQueen1 |
1. Errors In Bessie Blount and Son
Feb 7 2012, 9:55 PM EST
Mary Boleyn did not become the Kings mistress until some time in 1522/23 and the affair with Bessie was long over by then. It just faded out after her son was born and before she was married to her first husband.Henry asked Lady Blount how her husband was. She was not married at the time of her affair with Henry and not until three years after the birth of her son. She is Lady Blount by the fact that she is the daughter of a knight and not by marriage. Her husband was not made an Earl; her son was made a Duke. In the Tudors it was almost as if her pregnancy was kept a secret. Yes she was sent to the house at Jerricho where Henry visited her and her son often, but it is not likely that her condition was a secret and Queen Catherine may have known as she is believed to have become distressed and miscarried, although this is not proven as Catherine miscarried in early 1518. In the Tudors Henry Fitzroy died from the sweat in 1528, but this is not possible as he in fact died in 1536/7 of consumption. He was however made Duke of Richmond and given royal apartments and households and his father was very fond of him. He was also put forward as a candidate for the succession. 1 out of 1 found this valuable. Do you? |
royalfalcon |
2. RE: Errors In Bessie Blount and Son
Feb 8 2012, 8:45 AM EST
There is a very good book all about Henry Fitzroy called Bastard Prince by Beverley Murphy. .
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HeverRose |
3. RE: Errors In Bessie Blount and Son
Feb 8 2012, 1:56 PM EST
| Post edited: Feb 8 2012, 1:58 PM EST
What a nice summary of Henry's relatoinship to Bessie Blount. You are right, the show did not develop Firzroy very much. He was also very good mates with young Surrey, the son of the Duke of Norfolk and I believe his marriage to Mary, the Duke's daughter, was aimiable and that they got on well.A wonderful book that deals with events from Mary Howard's perspective is "Secrets of the Tudor Court" by D.L. Bogdan. Very riveting as it also explores Mary's relationship with her father. Carol I will look up the book you mention. I love to read about royal families. 1 out of 1 found this valuable. Do you? |
howardfan |
4. RE: Errors In Bessie Blount and Son
Feb 26 2012, 10:46 PM EST
joanna denny mentions Henry fitzory in her book and the mysterious circumstances surrounding his death in 1536. Some theories even suggest that henry himself had his own illegitimate son killed as there were many advisor's whispering in his ear that his son was out for the crown and plotting against him.Bessie also asked for compensation after her sons tragic death and was given nothing from henry. :-( 0 out of 5 found this valuable. Do you? |
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royalfalcon |
5. RE: Errors In Bessie Blount and Son
Feb 27 2012, 12:43 PM EST
"joanna denny mentions Henry fitzory in her book and the mysterious circumstances surrounding his death in 1536. Some theories even suggest that henry himself had his own illegitimate son killed as there were many advisor's whispering in his ear that his son was out for the crown and plotting against him.I think that the theory is pretty wide of the mark Henry loved his son and was reportedly very grief stricken when he died. I have just read a book by Beverley Murphy called Bastard Prince and she thinks he very likely died from a "suppurating pulmonary infection". Do you find this valuable? |
juliana-angela |
6. RE: Errors In Bessie Blount and Son
Feb 27 2012, 1:23 PM EST
"I think that the theory is pretty wide of the mark Henry loved his son and was reportedly very grief stricken when he died. I have just read a book by Beverley Murphy called Bastard Prince and she thinks he very likely died from a "suppurating pulmonary infection". "It is very unlike;y that King Henry, or anyone else, poisoned Henry Fitzroy. As Carol said, Henry was very fond of his son. He seems to have been ill for a while before he died and it is perhaps significent that his marriage to Mary Howard was never consummated. He was said to have died of 'consumption', which is usually taken to mean tuberculosis. The cause of death was clearly some kind of pulmonary disease, to which the Tudor men seem to have been prone - his half-brother Edward VI and grandfather Henry VII both died of lung ailments. Do you find this valuable? |
