Dorothy Hastings facts for kids
Dorothy Hastings (born in 1579 – after 1613) was an important lady at the courts of Elizabeth I of England and Anne of Denmark. She was the daughter of George Hastings, 4th Earl of Huntingdon and Dorothy Port.
Life at Court
Dorothy Hastings served as a Maid of Honour to Queen Elizabeth. A Maid of Honour was a young, unmarried lady who attended the Queen. She likely took part in a special dance performance, called a masque, at a wedding in June 1600. Other dancers included Mary Fitton and Blanche Somerset. They wore fancy clothes made of silver fabric, embroidered vests, and pink taffeta cloaks. Their hair was styled loosely around their shoulders.
At a special event called the Harefield Entertainment in 1602, Dorothy received a jeweled hair-pin. It came with a poem that praised her beauty and good qualities. Around this time, Sir John Holles tried to arrange a marriage for her with Robert Bertie, Lord Willoughby. However, Lord Willoughby was not interested, saying he only knew her from court where people spent time with ladies.
In 1603, Dorothy, or possibly her sister-in-law, traveled to Scotland. They hoped to meet and gain favor with Queen Anne of Denmark, who was coming to England. Her group met the Queen before the official welcoming party.
Dorothy also traveled with the court to avoid the plague in September 1603. She might have danced in another masque called Prince Henry's Welcome at Winchester. Before the court returned to London, she attended a dinner hosted by the Spanish ambassador.
Masques and Performances
Dorothy was a performer in several masques, which were elaborate court entertainments with music, dance, and costumes.
- In The Vision of the Twelve Goddesses by Samuel Daniel, performed in January 1604, she played the role of Ceres, the Roman goddess of agriculture.
- She also danced in Hymenaei, a masque by Ben Jonson. This performance took place in January 1606 for the wedding of Robert Devereux, 3rd Earl of Essex, and Lady Frances Howard.
In March 1605, Dorothy's clothes were stolen from her room at Whitehall Palace. Dorothy Hastings considered herself a servant of Queen Anne of Denmark. It is believed she received an annual payment of £50 in 1606.
Marriage and Tragedy
Dorothy Hastings married James Stewart, a Scottish gentleman who worked for the King. He was the son of Walter Stewart, 1st Lord Blantyre. Sadly, James Stewart died in a tragic fight in Islington on November 8, 1609. The other person involved, Sir George Wharton, also died. A sad song was even written about the event. King James paid for their burials.
The disagreement began over a card game at Whitehall Palace. James Stewart was known to be close to the King. The Venetian ambassador noted that King James left London after the event. This was to avoid any tension against his Scottish courtiers.
Seeking Royal Help
After James Stewart's death, Dorothy faced financial difficulties. Sir John Holles, who worked for Prince Henry, helped her. He assisted her in writing letters to the King, Queen, and Prince.
In her letters, Dorothy asked for royal support and money. She mentioned her husband's debts, which she hoped the King would help clear. She also asked for an annual payment to help her. In one letter to the Queen, she wrote that she was "most loth to be tedious," meaning she didn't want to bother the Queen too much. She also asked Prince Henry to find a job for her late husband's servant, John Semery.
In July 1613, Dorothy Hastings, also known as Dorothy Stewart, married Robert Dillon. He later became the 2nd Earl of Roscommon. They had a son named Henry Dillon.
