Cecily Bulstrode facts for kids

Cecily Bulstrode (1584 – 4 August 1609) was a courtier and subject of poetry. She was the daughter of Edward Bulstrode (1550–1595) and Cecily Croke; she was a cousin of Lucy Russell, Countess of Bedford, in whose household she was a member in 1605. Two years later, she served as a Gentlewoman of the Bedchamber to Anne of Denmark.

Life

Early life

She was born to Edward Bulstrode (1550-1595) of Hedgerley in Buckinghamshire and Cecily or Cecill Croke (fl. 1575–1608), the daughter of Sir John Croke of Chilton, in Beaconsfield. Her parents Edward and Cecily produced nine other children, amongst them Edward (1588-1659), who served as a judge in the courts of chancery, king's bench, the Oxford assize circuits, and the Warwickshire quarter sessions throughout his lifetime. Cecily was the fourth of six daughters, the names of her nine siblings are recorded on her father's tomb at St Laurence's Church, Upton-cum-Chalvey.

Bulstrode was baptized at Beaconsfield on 12 February 1584. Spelling variations on her first and last name include "Cecilia", "Celia", and "Boulstred".

In June 1608 Bulstrode's mother Cecily married again, to Sir John Brown of Flamberds, at Cold Norton, Essex. Her grandfather Sir John Croke died at Chilton in February 1609.

Life at Court

Bulstrode followed in the footsteps of her ancestors as a courtier. In 1605, she became part of the entourage of her mother's first cousin Lucy Russell, Countess of Bedford. When King James I came to the throne, the countess of Bedford became First Lady of the Bedchamber to the queen. Bulstrode and her youngest sister Dorothy, later Lady Eyre, moved up with Lucy Russell, becoming Maidens of the Queen's Bedchamber. There, Bulstrode "became a noted wit in the court of James I." As a good friend of the countess of Bedford and servant of the Queen, Bulstrode was a lady of consequence at court.

During her time at the court of Anne of Denmark, Bulstrode became the subject of works by poets such as Ben Jonson. Other writers, including John Donne, used the event of her death as an opportunity to gain favor with her friend and patron of the literary arts, the countess of Bedford. The only known work of Bulstrode's is News of My Morning Work, probably written in 1609.

In 1609 over a few months, Bulstrode fell ill and died on 4 August 1609”, and she was buried at St Mary's, Twickenham two days later.

Works

News of My Morning Work is the only known work credited to Bulstrode, though scholar John Considine says "more ... by her may lie undiscovered". In this "witty piece", Bulstrode utilizes the satirical news form then common that "flourished" in Russell's circle from 1605 to 1610. As per the genre, News of My Morning Work consists of a list of moral and satirical aphorisms. Several of them are humorous criticisms of court and of people who claim to be religious:

THAT to be good, the way is to be most alone—or the best accompanied.

That the way to Heaven is mistaken for the most melancholy walk.

That the most fear of the world’s opinion more than God’s displeasure.

That a Court-friend seldom goes further than the first degree of charity.

That the Devil is the perfect courtier.

-News of My Morning Work lines 1-5

News of My Morning Work was likely written around 1609, but did not rise to prominence until it was published amongst other short pieces as a supplement to Sir Thomas Overbury’s A Wife in 1615, which became "an instant bestseller." The publication itself only identifies the author of News of my Morning Work as a "Mris B."

According to Price, Bulstrode wrote the piece in the style conforming to what Halli calls "a precise formula, which includes a declarative beginning, a series of noun clauses, conceited similes and metaphors, and an effective concluding praise."