Magdalen Wood facts for kids
Magdalen Wood was an English courtier and a special messenger for diplomats. She was active between 1600 and 1614.
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Who Was Magdalen Wood?
Magdalen Wood was the daughter of Sir John Wood, who was a government official called the Clerk of the Signet. In 1601, she married Sir Thomas Edmondes, a well-known diplomat and politician.
One of her homes was Albyns Manor. It was located in Stapleford Abbotts. The Edmondes family spent Christmas there in 1610. A diplomat named William Trumbull once called Lady Edmondes "Debora." He was comparing her to the powerful biblical figure Deborah. This shows that people saw her as a strong woman.
Her Role in Diplomacy and Fashion
Magdalen often traveled with her husband on his diplomatic missions. She also had a keen interest in the latest fashions.
Diplomatic Missions and Style
In May 1606, Magdalen was in Brussels. Her husband's assistant, Jean Beaulieu, wrote to William Trumbull in London. He asked for fashionable clothes for Magdalen and for Marguerite de Lalaing. Magdalen wanted a new "tire," which was a type of headdress. She wanted it to be the newest style, with hair and pearls shaped like flowers and leaves. She also asked for glass pendants shaped like cherries and strawberries. She even requested specific lace and ribbons.
At that time, important people had special "tire-makers." Queen Anne of Denmark had a tire-maker named Dorothy Speckard. Princess Elizabeth's tire-maker was Blanche Swansted. Even William Shakespeare once lived with tire-makers named Christopher and Mary Mountjoy. In 1608, the Queen of France, Margaret of Valois, sent Queen Anne of Denmark a special gift. It was a set of flowers and jewels for head tires, kept in a scented cabinet.
As the wife of the ambassador in Brussels in 1608, Magdalen received gifts. People gave her apricots and ice. They hoped these gifts would help them get diplomatic favors. In 1610, Anne, Lady Tredway, asked Magdalen for advice on diplomatic life.
A Special Audience in Paris
In August 1610, Magdalen arrived in Paris with her sister, Anne Wood. They traveled very quickly. Magdalen put on special mourning clothes sent by Queen Anne of Denmark. Her hair was styled by Queen Anne's own hair dresser. This was all for an important meeting with Marie de' Medici. Marie de' Medici was the widow of the recently assassinated King Henry IV of France. Magdalen was dressed perfectly for the formal mourning event.
Magdalen carried important letters from Queen Anne of Denmark. The Queen had made Magdalen wait for days in London. She even made her dance. Finally, Queen Anne made Magdalen a lady of the privy chamber. This meant Magdalen was a close attendant to the Queen. Her sister, Anne Wood, was also given a special role in the Queen's household. Dudley Carleton wrote that Queen Anne's letters would help Magdalen receive a warm welcome.
The ambassador's household in Paris in 1610 included several servants. They all wore black cloaks and mourning clothes for the meetings at the French court.
In February 1614, Lady Edmondes became interested in buying many "aigrette" feathers. These were used for women's headdresses. She wanted broad black heron feathers. She also bought many mallow sticks for cleaning teeth. In 1611, she had trouble finding fabric to match her bed curtains. The new fabric was a slightly different color.
Magdalen became ill in October 1614 while hosting important guests in Paris. Her sister Anne took her place but also became unwell. Anne recovered and returned to England. However, Magdalen's condition worsened. After seven weeks, she had a serious illness with fever and internal problems.
She passed away in Paris on November 14, 1614. She was buried in Canterbury Cathedral on February 22, 1615.
Her Family Life
Magdalen Wood and Thomas Edmondes had several children:
- Henry, born in July 1602.
- Isabella, born in November 1607. She married Henry de la Warr.
- Mary, born in 1608. She married Robert Mildmay.
- Louisa, born in Paris in August 1611. She married one of her father's servants in March 1636.
- Lucy, born in April 1614.
