Frances Manners, Baroness Bergavenny facts for kids

Frances Neville, Baroness Bergavenny (born around 1530, died about September 1576) was an English noblewoman and writer. She was also known as Lady Bergavenny. Not much is known about her life or her husband, Lord Bergavenny.

Frances Neville wrote many prayers. These prayers were published in a book called The Monument of Matrones in 1582. Her writings included 67 prayers in prose, one prayer in verse, and two special acrostic prayers. One acrostic prayer was based on her daughter's name, and the other used her own name.

Frances Neville's Family Background

Lady Frances Manners was the third daughter of Thomas Manners, 1st Earl of Rutland. Her mother was Eleanor Paston, Countess of Rutland. Her father was a soldier.

Frances's great-grandmother was Anne of York, Duchess of Exeter. Anne of York was the older sister of two English kings, Edward IV and Richard III.

Marriage to Henry Nevill

Before 1554, Lady Frances married Henry Nevill, 6th Baron Bergavenny. Henry Nevill was born between 1527 and 1535. His parents were George Nevill, 5th Baron Bergavenny and Lady Mary Stafford.

Henry Nevill became Baron Bergavenny after his father died in 1535. He held an important role at the crowning of Queen Mary in 1553.

Lady Bergavenny died around September 1576. She was buried in Birling, Kent, England. After her death, Lord Bergavenny married again. He died in 1586 or 1587.

Frances Neville's Daughter

Lord and Lady Bergavenny had one daughter named Mary Neville. Mary was born on March 25, 1554, and died on June 28, 1626.

Mary became the 3rd Baroness le Despenser in her own right. She tried to claim the title of Baroness Bergavenny, but it went to her cousin, Edward Nevill.

Mary married Sir Thomas Fane on December 12, 1574. They had a son named Francis Fane, 1st Earl of Westmorland. Mary, Lady Despenser, lived to be 72 years old.

Frances Neville's Writings

Frances Neville's prayers were published in 1582. They appeared in a collection called The Monument of Matrones. This book was an anthology of prayers by Protestant women writers.

Frances dedicated her work to her daughter. She called her prayers "a jewell of health for the soule, and a perfect path to paradise." Her collection included 67 pages of prayers written in prose. These prayers were for private use and public worship. They were also for different times of the day and special occasions.

She also wrote a five-page acrostic prayer based on her daughter Mary Fane’s name. An acrostic prayer uses the letters of a name to start each line of the prayer. Her collection ended with another acrostic prayer that used her own name.