Joan Vaux (lady-in-waiting) facts for kids

Joan Vaux, Lady Guildford (born around 1463 – died 4 September 1538) was an important English courtier. She was also known as Mother Guildford. Joan served as the Lady Governess for Princesses Margaret Tudor and Mary Tudor. This meant she was in charge of their upbringing and education. She even went with Princess Mary to France in 1514 when Mary married King Louis XII.

Joan Vaux was first a trusted helper and friend to Margaret Beaufort, who was the mother of King Henry VII of England. Later, Joan worked for Elizabeth of York, who was Queen and wife of King Henry VII. While at court, she met the famous scholar Erasmus. He was very impressed by Joan's intelligence and character.

Joan married twice. Her first husband was Sir Richard Guildford. They had one son, Sir Henry Guildford. Her second husband was Sir Anthony Poyntz. Joan Vaux played a small but important part in King Henry VIII's attempt to end his marriage to Catherine of Aragon. She gave a statement about Catherine's first marriage.

Joan Vaux's Early Life and Marriages

Joan Vaux was born around the year 1463. Her parents were Sir William Vaux and Katherine Penyston. She also had a brother named Sir Nicholas Vaux. Sadly, her father passed away in 1471.

At some point, Joan became a lady-in-waiting. This meant she served a noblewoman. She worked for Margaret Beaufort, who was a very powerful lady. Later, Joan joined the household of Queen Elizabeth of York. Queen Elizabeth was the wife of King Henry Tudor.

In 1489, Joan married her first husband, Sir Richard Guildford. He was born in 1455 and died in 1506. King Henry VII and Queen Elizabeth both attended their wedding.

Joan and Sir Richard had one son together:

• Sir Henry Guildford (who died in 1532). Henry was a courtier, which means he worked at the royal court. He held important jobs like Master of the Horse. Henry married twice but did not have any children.

After Sir Richard Guildford passed away, Joan married her second husband, Sir Anthony Poyntz. The exact date of this marriage is not known.

Serving the Royal Princesses

By 1499, Joan Vaux had a very important role. She became the Lady Governess to the young Princesses Margaret and Mary. Princess Mary especially relied on Joan when she was a child.

Joan met the famous Dutch thinker and writer Erasmus when he visited the royal children. In 1519, Erasmus wrote a letter to Joan's son, Henry. In it, he called Joan "the noble lady your mother" and wished her well.

In 1501, Joan was asked to help Queen Elizabeth. This was for the arrival of Catherine of Aragon. Catherine was coming to England to marry Prince Arthur. Just before Catherine's wedding, Joan Vaux danced with Prince Arthur. This happened at Dogmersfield Park on November 6. She danced a Spanish dance with him.

After her first husband, Sir Richard, died in 1506, Joan returned to serve Margaret Beaufort. Sir Richard had died in Jerusalem while on a religious journey. Joan stayed with Margaret Beaufort until Margaret's death in 1509.

By 1510, Joan had left the royal court. She lived in a house in Blackfriars, London, with a small pension. A pension is like a regular payment given to someone after they retire.

Journey to France with Princess Mary

In 1514, Joan Vaux went with her former student, Princess Mary, to France. Mary was going there to marry King Louis XII. After the wedding, King Louis sent most of Mary's English helpers back home. He also sent Joan home. Princess Mary was very upset about this. She did not want her "Mother Guildford" to leave.

On October 12, Mary wrote a letter to Cardinal Thomas Wolsey. She said she had not seen anyone in France as important to her as Joan. Cardinal Wolsey then wrote a polite letter to King Louis. He asked the King to let Joan come back to Mary's service. Wolsey said he was sure King Louis would find Joan "a wise, honourable, and discreet lady."

However, King Louis did not change his mind. He did not like Joan Vaux. He felt that Joan was trying to control Mary too much. He also thought she was stopping him from spending time alone with his new wife. So, Joan was sent back to England with the other ladies. She went back to her retirement. In 1515, King Henry VIII gave her two pensions. These payments added up to £60 each year. In 1519, she was also given a yearly gift of duty-free Gascon wine.

It is possible that Joan later returned to court. She may have served as a lady-in-waiting to Queen Catherine of Aragon.

Joan Vaux and the King's Divorce

King Henry VIII wanted to end his marriage to Catherine of Aragon. He wanted to marry Anne Boleyn. Henry claimed his marriage to Catherine was not valid. This was because Catherine had first been married to his brother, Arthur. Henry said this went against a rule in the Bible. To prove his case, Henry needed people to say that Catherine and Prince Arthur had been truly married. This meant they had lived together as husband and wife.

Because Joan Vaux had worked in Queen Elizabeth of York's household, she was asked to give a statement. She had to say what she knew about Prince Arthur and Catherine of Aragon's wedding night. Joan said that they had spent their wedding night "in together in the same bed." She said she knew this personally. She also said that Queen Elizabeth herself had told her that Arthur and Catherine had slept together "as man and wife all alone five or six nights after the said marriage."

Later Life and Passing

Joan Vaux received several gifts from King Henry VIII. For example, in 1532, she received a garter with a gold buckle.

After her second husband, Sir Anthony Poyntz, died in 1533, Joan retired. She went to live at the Hospital of St. Mark in Bristol. This was a prayer house. When this place closed in 1536, she moved back to Blackfriars.

Joan Vaux passed away on September 4, 1538. She was about 75 years old. Her burial took place on September 9. She was one of the last people to be buried in the convent of Blackfriars. Her only son, Henry, had died in 1532. He had no children. In her last will, Joan left gifts to her cousin, Sir William Penyston, and her niece, Bridget Walsh. She also left something for her nephew, Lord Vaux, and her lady jester, Maud.

Images for kids

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  Erasmus visiting the children of Henry VII, with Joan Vaux