Anne Howard, Countess of Arundel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Anne Howard
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| Countess of Arundel | |
Engraving of Anne Howard (labeled Anna Dacres) by Wenceslas Hollar
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| Born | Anne Dacre 21 March 1557 Carlisle, Cumberland, England |
| Died | 19 April 1630 (aged 73) Shifnal Manor, Shropshire |
| Buried | Fitzalan Chapel, Arundel Castle, Arundel, Sussex |
| Spouse(s) | Philip Howard, 1st Earl of Arundel |
| Issue | Thomas Howard, 2nd Earl of Arundel |
| Father | Thomas Dacre, 4th Baron Dacre |
| Mother | Elizabeth Leyburne |
Anne Howard, Countess of Arundel (born Anne Dacre; 21 March 1557 – 19 April 1630), was an English noblewoman and poet. She was known for her strong religious faith. Anne converted to Catholicism in 1582, even though it was not allowed by Queen Elizabeth I at the time. She was a very determined person. Her strong beliefs also influenced her husband, Philip Howard. She was also known for writing Christian poetry.
Contents
Early Life and Family
Anne was born in Carlisle, England, on 21 March 1557. She was the oldest daughter of Thomas Dacre, 4th Baron Dacre and Elizabeth Leyburne. Anne had a younger brother named George and two younger sisters, Elizabeth and Mary.
When Anne was about 10 years old, both her parents passed away. Her mother died during childbirth. After this, Anne and her siblings were mostly raised by their grandmother, Lady Mounteagle. Both Anne's mother and grandmother were strong Catholics. This had a big impact on Anne's own religious beliefs. Growing up, Anne and her siblings were taught religion by a Catholic priest. This was difficult because Queen Elizabeth I was a Protestant ruler. She had strict laws against Catholicism in England.
Marriage to Philip Howard
Anne's stepfather, Thomas Howard, 4th Duke of Norfolk, became the guardian of the Dacre children. He arranged for Anne to marry his oldest son, Philip Howard. Philip was Anne's stepbrother. They were both only 12 years old when they first married in 1569. The ceremony was repeated two years later when they were older. Philip later became the 1st Earl of Arundel.
Anne and Philip did not live together much at first. Philip was studying at Cambridge University. Anne lived under the care of Philip's grandfather, Henry FitzAlan, 12th Earl of Arundel. After his grandfather died in 1580, Anne became the Countess of Arundel. She then moved to London to live with Philip. They had two children, Elizabeth and Thomas.
For many years, Anne and Philip moved around a lot. They lived in different houses like Audley End and Arundel House. Eventually, in the early 1580s, they settled at Arundel Castle in Sussex. It was there that Anne and Philip decided to become Catholics.
Faith and Challenges
From a young age, Anne learned about the Catholic faith from her grandmother. She also learned to be kind to people who were sick or in trouble. During the 1500s and 1600s, laws against Catholicism in England became very strict. Queen Elizabeth I, who was Protestant, punished people who practiced Catholicism.
Despite these laws, Anne converted to Catholicism in 1582. She was converted by a Catholic priest at Arundel Castle. When Queen Elizabeth I found out, she was very upset. Anne was placed under house arrest at the home of Sir Thomas Shirley for a year. While under house arrest, Anne gave birth to her first child, Elizabeth, in 1583.
After Anne was released, she reunited with Philip. In 1584, Philip also decided to become Catholic. When Queen Elizabeth I heard this, she ordered Philip to be placed under house arrest too. Philip tried to escape to France in 1585, but he was caught at sea. He was then imprisoned in the Tower of London. He was ordered to stay in prison and pay a large fine.
After this, the Queen did not allow Anne to live in London anymore. So, Anne moved to a rented house in Romford, Essex. There, she gave birth to her second child, Thomas Howard. Thomas later became the 14th Earl of Arundel. Sadly, Philip never met his son. He died in the Tower of London on 19 October 1595.
Life as a Widow
When Philip died in 1595, Anne became a widow. She did not immediately receive all of Philip's belongings. She had to sell some of her land to pay off debts and get money for her family. For a while, Anne and her two children lived in poverty.
Years later, Anne was able to get back the property that was hers by her husband's inheritance. With these possessions, she could give Elizabeth and Thomas a better life. She eventually moved back to Carlisle, where she was born. After Philip died, Anne promised to never remarry. She spent her days going to church and helping people in need, especially those who were sick.
In 1603, there was a hope that Anne and other Catholic women might be able to convince Anne of Denmark, the Queen, to become Catholic.
Anne died peacefully on 19 April 1630 at Shifnal Manor, Shropshire. She was 73 years old. She was buried next to her husband inside the Fitzalan Chapel at Arundel Castle in Sussex. In 1995, Cardinal Basil Hume said that Anne had achieved a very high level of holiness.
Literary Works
Anne Howard wrote many different things during her life. These included letters, poems, and journal entries. She wrote about her own life and the life of her husband, the Earl. Her writings were like a collection of memories. Some parts recalled her early life, while others described her daily life at home. She wrote about her strong faith and how she practiced it. She also wrote about her feelings, like when she described "the Queen's hatred towards her."
There are also poems written by Anne about her husband after he was imprisoned and died. These poems show her sadness and how she accepted his fate. She sometimes referred to him as "my sonne" in her writings. She also wrote about her grandmother who raised her. All of her poetry was published under her own name.
Images for kids
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Engraving of Anne Howard (labeled Anna Dacres) by Wenceslas Hollar
