Dorothy Stafford facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Dorothy Stafford
Born	1 October 1526 England
Died	22 September 1604 (aged 77)
Buried	St. Margaret's Church, Westminster, London
Noble family	Stafford
Spouse(s)	Sir William Stafford
Issue	Sir Edward Stafford William Stafford Sir John Stafford Elizabeth Stafford Ursula Stafford Dorothy Stafford
Father	Henry Stafford, 1st Baron Stafford
Mother	Ursula Pole
Occupation	Mistress of the Robes to Mary I

Dorothy Stafford, Lady Stafford (born 1 October 1526 – died 22 September 1604), was an important English noblewoman. She was a very influential person at the court of Queen Elizabeth I. Dorothy served the Queen as her Mistress of the Robes, which was a high-ranking position.

Dorothy Stafford was the second wife of Sir William Stafford. His first wife was Mary Boleyn. Dorothy and her family were Protestants. To avoid being persecuted for their faith, they went to live in Geneva during the rule of Queen Mary I. The famous Protestant leader John Calvin even became the godfather to her youngest son.

Dorothy Stafford's Family Background

Dorothy Stafford was born on 1 October 1526. She was the oldest daughter of Henry Stafford, 1st Baron Stafford and Lady Ursula Pole. Her grandmother was Margaret Pole, 8th Countess of Salisbury. Margaret Pole was the last living member of the Plantagenet royal family. She was executed in 1541 by order of King Henry VIII.

Dorothy had many brothers and sisters, thirteen in total. She and her sister Susan grew up in the home of their aunt, Elizabeth Stafford, Duchess of Norfolk. Dorothy was her aunt's favorite niece. Her aunt was very kind to her, often giving her clothes and money.

Marriage and Children

Around 1545, Dorothy Stafford married her distant cousin, Sir William Stafford. Sir William's first wife, Mary Boleyn, had passed away in 1543. Mary Boleyn was the older sister of Anne Boleyn, who was King Henry VIII's second wife.

Dorothy and Sir William Stafford had six children together:

• Sir Edward Stafford (1552–1604)
• William Stafford (1554–1612)
• Sir John Stafford (1556–1624)
• Elizabeth Stafford (died 1599)
• Ursula Stafford (born 1553)
• Dorothy Stafford (likely died as a baby)

In 1545, Sir William Stafford was made a knight in Scotland. This happened during a conflict known as the War of the Rough Wooing.

Life in Exile

Dorothy Stafford and her family were strong Protestants. When Queen Mary I came to power, she was Catholic. To escape religious persecution, Dorothy and her family moved to Geneva. There, they became friends with John Calvin, a very important Protestant reformer. Calvin even became the godfather to their youngest son, John, in 1556.

Sadly, Sir William Stafford died on 5 May 1556. After his death, Dorothy moved with her young children to Basel, another city in Switzerland.

Serving Queen Elizabeth I

In January 1559, Queen Elizabeth I became queen. Dorothy and her children then returned to England. Queen Elizabeth welcomed Dorothy at her royal court. John Calvin had wanted Dorothy's son, his godson, to stay in Switzerland.

In 1563, Dorothy was given the important job of Mistress of the Robes to Queen Elizabeth. This meant she was in charge of the Queen's clothes and personal belongings. She became very influential at court. Dorothy used her position to help her friends and even people she barely knew. For example, in 1569, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Matthew Parker, asked her to speak to the Queen to help a colleague get a job.

In 1576, Dorothy broke her leg in a riding accident, but she recovered quickly. Two years later, she used her influence again. She helped her oldest son, Sir Edward Stafford, get the important job of English Ambassador to France.

Dorothy served Queen Elizabeth for 40 years, staying in her role until the Queen's death in 1603. Her oldest daughter, Elizabeth Stafford, was also a Lady of the Bedchamber, a close attendant to the Queen. Her son-in-law, Richard Drake, was the Queen's Equerry, meaning he looked after her horses.

Death and Legacy

Dorothy Stafford passed away on 22 September 1604. She was buried in St. Margaret's Church, Westminster in London. Her tomb and a statue of her can be found in the church. The monument mentions her six children.

The inscription on her monument tells us more about her life: Here lies Lady Dorothy Stafford, wife and widow of Sir William Stafford, Knight. She was the daughter of Henry, Lord Stafford, and her mother was Ursula, daughter of the Countess of Salisbury. She remained a true widow from the age of 27 until her death. She served Queen Elizabeth for 40 years, staying in her bedchamber. She was highly respected by the Queen and loved by everyone. She always tried to do good for others and never hurt anyone. She constantly reminded the Queen about the needs of the poor. She lived a religious life, known for her honor and virtue. She died at 78 years old on 22 September 1604, praying to God. After her death, she gave generously to the poor. Her son, Sir Edward Stafford, created this memorial for her, just as she had asked him to.