Cordell Annesley facts for kids

Cordell Annesley (died 1636) was an English courtier. This means she was a lady who lived and worked at the royal court, serving the Queen.

Who Was Cordell Annesley?

Cordell Annesley was an important lady at the court of Queen Elizabeth I. She was known as a "maid of honour," which was a special role for young women who served the Queen directly. They helped the Queen with her daily life and took part in court events.

Her Family and Childhood

Cordell was the daughter of Brian Annesley and Audrey Tirrell. Her father, Brian Annesley, had a few interesting jobs. He was a "gentleman pensioner" for Queen Elizabeth, which meant he was part of her personal guard. He also managed the Queen's hunting dogs and was in charge of the Fleet Prison. Her grandfather, Nicolas Annesley, was also part of the royal household, working in the Queen's cellar.

Cordell had two older sisters, Grace and Christian. Grace married Sir John Wildgose, and Christian married William Sandys, 3rd Baron Sandys.

Life at Queen Elizabeth's Court

As a maid of honour, Cordell Annesley was often at the center of court life. In 1600, people at court noticed her for her "bravery," which meant she dressed very finely and stood out.

She also took part in special events. For example, she was likely one of the dancers in a masque (a type of play with music and dancing) at a big wedding in June 1600. The dancers wore fancy clothes, like skirts of silver cloth and embroidered waistcoats. They even had their hair styled in a special way.

Cordell's brother-in-law, William Sandys, was involved in a rebellion led by the Earl of Essex in 1601. Her sister Grace wrote to the Queen and Sir Robert Cecil to ask for his pardon, and he was forgiven.

In August 1602, Cordell was mentioned in a fun event called the Harefield Entertainment. During a staged lottery, she won a pin cushion!

A Family Dispute

When her father, Brian Annesley, grew old, there was a disagreement among his daughters about his money and property. In 1603, Cordell's sister Grace tried to have their father declared too old and unwell to manage his own affairs.

However, Cordell was looking after her father and stopped this from happening. She believed her father was still capable. Sir Robert Cecil, a powerful figure at court, sent people to check on Brian Annesley and his belongings. They noted that the daughters were "quarrelling."

Cordell wrote to Sir Robert Cecil, thanking him but explaining that her sister still wanted their father declared unable to manage his affairs. Cordell felt her father deserved more respect after serving Queen Elizabeth for so long. This family dispute has sometimes been linked to the famous play King Lear, which also features a father and his daughters.

Brian Annesley passed away in 1604. He had left different parts of his land to his three daughters in his will. Cordell Annesley was in charge of carrying out his will, and her sister Grace tried to challenge it, but she was not successful.

Marriage and Later Life

Cordell Annesley married William Hervey on February 4, 1608. They had six children together: three sons and three daughters. One of their daughters, Elizabeth, later married John Hervey.

Cordell Annesley died on April 23, 1636, at her husband's home in London. A monument was built at St Margaret's Church in Lee to remember her parents and the three daughters. A part of this monument, a marble tablet, can still be seen today. It says that Cordell Annesley put up the monument for her parents to fight "the ungrateful nature of oblivious time," meaning she wanted their memory to last forever.