Jane Savage, Marchioness of Winchester facts for kids
Jane Paulet (born Savage) was an important English noblewoman who lived from 1608 to 1631. Her death was a sad event that inspired many famous poets to write poems about her.
Contents
Who Was Jane Paulet?
Early Life and Family
Jane Savage was born in 1608. Her father was Thomas Savage, 1st Viscount Savage, a nobleman from a place called Rocksavage. Her mother was Elizabeth Darcy. Jane grew up in a wealthy and influential family.
Marriage and Children
In 1623, Jane married John Paulet, 5th Marquess of Winchester. He was a very important nobleman, and when she married him, she became the Marchioness of Winchester. This meant she held a high rank in English society.
In 1629, Jane gave birth to her son, Charles Paulet, 1st Duke of Bolton. He was her only child who survived.
A Friend of Writers
Jane Paulet was known to be a clever and educated woman. A writer named James Howell said he taught her Spanish. In 1626, he even translated a poem into Spanish for her. He made sure it had the same rhythm so she could sing it to the same tune. This shows she was interested in learning and the arts.
Her Final Days
Jane Paulet sadly died on April 15, 1631, at Basing House. She was giving birth at the time. She had a serious infection in her mouth and cheek that started from a toothache. This infection caused her to have a fever. Sadly, her baby was stillborn during efforts to treat her infection.
Her death happened around Easter, and many guests were staying at Basing House. These guests included her grandfather, Lord Rivers, and her three sisters. People wrote letters about her death, including the Duchess of Buckingham, the Countess of Westmorland, and John Pory.
John Pory wrote a short note about her death in a letter. He said that the infection on her cheek was treated, but the infection spread down her throat, and she died quickly. He also mentioned that her death was greatly missed because of her good qualities and because she was thinking about becoming a Protestant.
Remembering Jane Paulet
Many famous poets wrote special poems called epitaphs to remember Jane Paulet. These poets included John Milton, Ben Jonson, and Walter Colman. An epitaph is a short text honoring a deceased person, often inscribed on a tombstone. The fact that such well-known writers honored her shows how important and respected she was.
Two paintings of Jane Paulet still exist today. They were painted by Gilbert Jackson in 1627 and 1632. These portraits help us see what she looked like.
