Mary Woodhouse facts for kids
Mary Woodhouse, Lady Killigrew (who passed away in 1656), was a talented musician and wrote many letters to Constantijn Huygens, a famous Dutch poet and composer. She was the daughter of Henry Woodhouse (MP) and Anne Bacon. Anne Bacon was the daughter of Sir Nicholas Bacon, a very important person in the government. Some people think Mary might have been a "Maid of Honour" (a lady who helps the queen) to Anne of Denmark in 1603.
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Life as Lady Killigrew
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In 1604, Mary married Sir Robert Killigrew. He was a "courtier," meaning he spent time at the royal court and advised the king. He was also a "politician," involved in government. Mary's sister, Anne, married Sir Julius Caesar, a high-ranking judge, in 1615. A friend, Lucy Russell, Countess of Bedford, once invited Lady Killigrew to help solve a disagreement involving Sir Thomas Overbury.
Challenges and Friends
In 1613, Robert Killigrew was briefly sent to prison because he talked to Thomas Overbury, who was a prisoner in the Tower of London. Later, some people thought Robert was involved in Overbury's death because he had given some white powder to a powerful friend, the Earl of Somerset. However, Robert was found innocent and cleared of any wrongdoing. In 1619, Lady Killigrew walked in the funeral procession for Queen Anne of Denmark.
The Killigrews had many famous friends. These included the poet John Donne, the thinker Francis Bacon, the musician Nicholas Lanier, and Jacques Gaultier, who played the lute for the king. They also knew Cornelius Drebbel, an artist and inventor.
Musical Connections
Mary met Constantijn Huygens at her home in London in 1622. They started writing letters to each other and became good friends. Huygens was very impressed by her. He even wrote a poem about her "snow-white throat" and "divine voice."
The Killigrews also had a house near Hampton Court called Kempton Park. In 1623, the king himself visited their home. He admired their beautiful garden, a lovely small house, and the deer and birds on the property.
Life as Lady Stafford
Robert Killigrew passed away in 1633. Later, Mary married Sir Thomas Stafford. He worked for Queen Henrietta Maria, helping her with daily tasks. After this marriage, Mary became known as "Lady Stafford."
Connecting with Architects and Musicians
Lady Stafford was an important link between Constantijn Huygens and Inigo Jones, a famous court architect. When Huygens designed a new house in The Hague in 1639, he sent drawings of it to Lady Stafford. He asked her to give them to Inigo Jones. This was to show Jones that good architecture was still being created in Holland.
Lady Stafford was also known for her excellent knowledge of musical instruments. In 1639, Elizabeth Dudley, Countess of Löwenstein, a lady who served the Queen of Bohemia, met Lady Stafford in London. She wrote to Huygens, saying that Lady Stafford often spoke of him. Lady Stafford even planned to send him a musical instrument called a theorbo.
In 1649, Lady Stafford was asked to recommend a special old lute that a musician named Jacques Gaultier was trying to sell to Huygens. This lute was very rare and had once belonged to King Charles I of England. Lady Stafford chose not to recommend it, perhaps because she felt uncomfortable selling something that had belonged to the king after he had been removed from power.
Family and Later Years
Mary Boyle, Countess of Warwick lived at one of Lady Stafford's houses for a time. Mary Boyle's brother, Francis Boyle, married Lady Stafford's daughter, Elizabeth Killigrew, in 1639.
In 1646, Lady Stafford asked Charles Louis, the son of the Queen of Bohemia, to write a letter. She wanted him to ask his mother to take her daughter, Kate Killigrew, as a maid of honour. Kate then traveled to The Hague with this letter.
Thomas Stafford died in 1655. Lady Stafford thought about moving to Maastricht or The Hague. She might have wanted to live with her son, Thomas Killigrew, and his second wife. However, Constantijn Huygens didn't think she would find the interesting conversations, art, or music she liked in Maastricht.
Lady Killigrew passed away in 1656. She left a will and wished to be buried in the chapel of her own house in London.
Family
Mary Woodhouse married twice:
(1) Sir Robert Killigrew. Their children included:
- William Killigrew (1606–1695)
- Henry Killigrew (playwright), whose daughter was the poet Anne Killigrew.
- Thomas Killigrew (1612 - 1683), who married Cecilia Crofts in 1638. Cecilia was a maid of honour to Queen Henrietta Maria.
- Anne Killigrew (1607-1641). She worked for Queen Henrietta Maria. Anne sadly drowned near London Bridge. Several poems were written about her death.
- Elizabeth Killigrew, who married Francis Boyle, 1st Viscount Shannon.
- Kate Killigrew (died 1654), who was a maid of honour to Elizabeth, Queen of Bohemia, from 1646. She died from smallpox.
- Catherine Killigrew
- Mary Killigrew (1623-1677), who married Sir John Jeames.
(2) Sir Thomas Stafford (MP)
