Mary Radcliffe (courtier) facts for kids
Mary Radcliffe (also spelled Ratcliffe) lived from about 1550 to 1617. She was an important helper and friend to Queen Elizabeth I at her royal court.
Mary was born around 1550 in a place called Elstow in Bedfordshire, England. She was one of six children, with four sisters and two brothers. Her father was Sir Humphrey Radcliffe, a landowner and a member of Parliament. Her mother was Isabella Harvey.
Life at the Queen's Court
Mary Radcliffe started working at the Queen's court in 1561. She became a "Maid of Honour," which meant she was a young lady who helped the Queen directly. It's said that her father "presented" her to Queen Elizabeth on New Year's Day in 1561, like a special gift.
Mary Radcliffe sometimes gets mixed up with her younger cousin, Margaret Ratcliffe, who was also a Maid of Honour. Both were known as "Mistress Radcliffe."
Mary earned a yearly wage of £40. This was a good amount of money back then! In November 1565, she and the other maids received fancy gowns. The Queen's tailor, Walter Fyshe, made them from yellow satin with green velvet edges and silver lace. These were for the wedding of Ambrose, Earl of Warwick, and Anne Russell. In 1572, Mary and ten other ladies received similar gowns. These were made of crimson velvet, blue taffeta, and blue silk lace.
On November 25, 1593, Mary spoke with Anthony Standen at Windsor Castle. She told him that the Queen would meet with him if he waited at the castle.
For New Year's Day in 1600, Mary gave the Queen a special gift. It was a "round kirtle" (a type of skirt) made of white China damask fabric. It was decorated with "passamayne lace," which was a kind of fancy woven braid.
Rowland Whyte, who wrote many letters in the 1590s, often called her "old Mrs Radcliffe." He once mentioned that in February 1598, a "Mrs Radcliffe" wore a very expensive white satin gown. It was embroidered and cost £180. However, this was actually her cousin, Margaret Radcliffe. Margaret was trying to win the attention of Lord Cobham at the time.
In 1599, there were rumors that Mary Radcliffe would retire. She had served the Queen for almost 40 years! People thought Elizabeth Southwell would replace her. But Mary stayed in her job until Queen Elizabeth died in 1603. Elizabeth Southwell joined the court later, replacing Mary's cousin Margaret, who passed away in November 1599.
In 1602, at a special event called the Harefield Entertainment at Sir Thomas Egerton's home, Mary Radcliffe won a pair of bracelets in a lottery. A poem was written for her, saying, "Lady your hands are fallen in a snare: For Cupid's manacles these bracelets are."
Mary Radcliffe and the Queen's Jewels
From 1587, Mary Radcliffe was in charge of the Queen's jewelry. She took over this important job from Blanche Parry. Mary was often called "Mistress Mary Radcliffe." One famous jewel, called "The Three Brethren," was placed in her care. This jewel was part of a huge collection of 628 jewels that Blanche Parry had listed.
Mary Radcliffe never married, just like Queen Elizabeth I. She and Blanche Parry were the only ladies serving Elizabeth who also chose not to marry.
Mary's name appears often in lists of New Year's Day gifts. She was responsible for receiving jewels given to the Queen. For example, on June 29, 1600, she received a jewel from Sir Thomas Egerton. His late wife had borrowed it. This jewel was made of gold and had five large diamonds and a pearl hanging from it.
In July 1600, a list was made of Queen Elizabeth's clothes and jewels. Mary Radcliffe was keeping many sets of gold buttons. These buttons were decorated with diamonds, rubies, or pearls. Some were shaped like "true loves" (a knot design) or "pea's cod" (pea pods), or even tortoises.
She also looked after several brooches and pendants. One pendant had hands holding a sword and a trowel (a small shovel), which was a symbol for peace. Mary Radcliffe also kept a pair of sleeves and a "stomacher" (a decorated piece worn over the chest) made of silver cloth with pearls. She was still responsible for these jewels on May 28, 1603.
After Queen Elizabeth died, on May 13, 1603, Mary Radcliffe and Lady Katherine Howard were asked to organize the old Queen's jewels. They had to sort the jewels that were used on Elizabeth's headwear. On May 20, Auditor Gofton and others checked the jewels Mary had. They chose which ones should become "crown jewels" (important jewels belonging to the country). Mary received a special paper on August 26, confirming she was no longer responsible for those jewels.
On January 12, 1604, two goldsmiths, John Spilman and William Herrick, were asked to list and value Queen Elizabeth's jewels. King James I, who became the new king, had already given some jewels as gifts. He gave them to Queen Anne, Princess Elizabeth, Arbella Stuart, and to ambassadors. The remaining jewels were then moved from Mary Radcliffe's care to the Countess of Suffolk.
Spilman and Herrick had also received instructions from Mary Radcliffe to repair some jewels from the late Queen's collection. These included:
- A tree branch with a half-moon, decorated with diamonds, "ballas" (a type of ruby), rubies, and pearls.
- A branch with an opal stone.
- An opal ring that needed to be colored black.
- Two gold hairpins called "bodkins."
- A gold feather jewel with rubies, emeralds, and pearls.
- Five gold buttons with pearls.
- A ring shaped like a crayfish with a large diamond. This ring needed to be made bigger for King James.
Later Life
Mary Radcliffe wrote her will in November 1617. Her will showed that she was living in the City of Westminster, in a parish called St Martin-in-the-Fields. She passed away sometime between November 1617 and July 1618, when her will was officially approved. She was buried in a churchyard that is now unknown.
There is a portrait at the Denver Art Museum that is sometimes thought to be Mary Radcliffe. However, it is likely a different "Mary Radclyffe." This other Mary was the daughter of Sir John Ratcliffe and was married to the son of Sir John Stanhope. She lived later than Queen Elizabeth's Maid of Honour.
