Anne Bourchier, Baroness Dacre facts for kids

Anne Bourchier, Baroness Dacre (born 1470 – died 29 September 1530) was an English noblewoman. She was the wife of Sir Thomas Fiennes, 8th Baron Dacre.

Anne was connected to the royal family. Her stepfather was Thomas Howard. This made Queen Anne Boleyn, who was King Henry VIII of England's second wife, her niece. Anne Bourchier's son-in-law was Henry Norris. He was a courtier who was connected to Queen Anne Boleyn.

The famous poet John Skelton wrote about Anne Dacre in his poem Garlande of Laurrell. This happened when he was a guest at Sheriff Hutton Castle. Anne was also known as Lady Dacre of the South. She served Queen Catherine of Aragon as a Lady of the Bedchamber. This was an important role in the Queen's household.

Anne's Family Background

Anne Bourchier was born in 1470. She was the youngest daughter of Sir Humphrey Bourchier and Elizabeth Tilney. Her grandparents on her father's side were Sir John Bourchier and Lady Margery Berners. Sir John was the 1st Baron Berners. This title later passed to Anne's brother, John Bourchier.

Anne's mother's parents were Sir Frederick Tilney and Elizabeth Cheney, Lady Say. Elizabeth Cheney was a great-grandmother to several queens. These included Anne Boleyn, Jane Seymour, and Catherine Howard.

Anne had a brother, John Bourchier, 2nd Baron Berners, and a sister, Margaret Bourchier. When Anne was a baby, her father died in a battle. He was fighting for the Yorkists at the Battle of Barnet in 1471.

The next year, her mother married Thomas Howard. He later became the Earl of Surrey. Anne gained nine half-siblings from this marriage. One of her half-sisters was Elizabeth Howard. This made Anne a half-aunt to Queen Anne Boleyn. She was also a half-aunt to Queen Catherine Howard through her half-brother, Lord Edmund Howard.

Anne's older sister, Margaret, later worked for King Henry VIII of England. She was a Lady Governess to his children. In 1485, Anne's stepfather was hurt in the Battle of Bosworth. King Richard III, a friend of the family, died in this battle. After being held prisoner, the Howards became loyal to the new king, Henry Tudor.

Thomas Fiennes, 9th Baron Dacre, Anne Bourchier's grandson

Marriage and Children

Around 1492, Anne married Sir Thomas Fiennes, 8th Baron Dacre. He was born in 1472 and died in 1534. His parents were Sir John Fiennes and Alice FitzHugh. When she married, Anne became known as Baroness Dacre. She was also called Lady Dacre of the South.

Anne and Sir Thomas lived at Herstmonceux Castle in Sussex. They had three children together:

• Sir Thomas Fiennes (died 1528). He married Jane Sutton in 1514. They had a son named Thomas Fiennes, 9th Baron Dacre.
• Mary Fiennes (born 1495 – died 1531). She was a Maid of Honour to Queen Mary Tudor, Queen of France and Queen Claude of France. Mary married Henry Norris. He was a courtier connected to Queen Anne Boleyn. Mary and Henry had children.
• John Fiennes (born 1497).

Anne was an important member of Queen Catherine of Aragon's household. She served as one of her Ladies of the Bedchamber.

John Skelton's Poem

After her marriage, the English Poet Laureate, John Skelton, wrote about Anne. He also mentioned her mother and two half-sisters, Elizabeth and Muriel. This happened in his poem Garlande of Laurrell. Skelton was a guest at the Howard family's home, Sheriff Hutton Castle.

Anne's mother, along with her daughters and other ladies, honored the poet. They placed a special garland of laurel on Skelton's head. This garland was made of silks, gold, and pearls. It was a sign of respect for the poet. The poem mentions Anne directly, saying: "To my Lady Anne Dakers of the sowth". Her name also appears in some of Skelton's other poems.

Anne died on 29 September 1530. She was 60 years old.