Mary de Vere facts for kids

Mary de Vere (born around 1554 – died June 24, 1624) was an important English noblewoman in the 1500s. She was the daughter of John de Vere, who was the 16th Earl of Oxford, and his second wife, Margery Golding. Mary married Peregrine Bertie, the 13th Baron Willoughby de Eresby. They lived with their seven children at Grimsthorpe Castle in Lincolnshire. After Peregrine's death, Mary married Sir Eustace Hart. She passed away on June 24, 1624.

Mary de Vere's Early Life

We don't have exact records for when or where Mary de Vere was born. She was the second child of John de Vere and Margery Golding. She was likely born in late 1554 or a bit later. Her birthplace might have been Hedingham Castle, Veer House in London, or one of her father's many estates in Essex.

Mary's half-uncle was Arthur Golding, who translated classic books and works by John Calvin. The famous writer William Shakespeare often used Golding's translation of Ovid's Metamorphosis for his plays and long poems. Mary's brother, Edward de Vere, 17th Earl of Oxford, married Anne Cecil, who was the daughter of William Cecil, Lord Burghley.

In 1562, Mary's father died. Her brother, Edward de Vere, became the 17th Earl of Oxford when he was twelve years old. He then moved to live in William Cecil's home. Mary was probably seven years old or younger at this time, so she likely stayed with her mother, Margery Golding. Her mother soon married Sir Charles Tyrrel. Margery Golding died in 1569.

Mary de Vere's Marriages and Children

Mary was probably about 21 years old when she agreed to marry Peregrine Bertie, the 13th Baron Willoughby de Eresby. At first, two powerful women tried to stop the marriage: Queen Elizabeth I and Peregrine's mother, Katherine Brandon, Duchess of Suffolk. They were concerned because Mary's brother, Edward de Vere, had caused problems for his own wife, Anne Cecil.

Even though there were difficulties, Mary's marriage to Peregrine Bertie went ahead. They were married sometime between December 1577 and March 1578.

Letters show that Edward de Vere, Mary's brother, sometimes acted in ways that caused trouble for Peregrine. In one letter, Peregrine wrote to Mary about how her brother was treating him "uncurteously" and causing him "displeasure." Edward de Vere was known for his difficult behavior, which also affected others, like Sir Phillip Sidney. Queen Elizabeth even kept Edward under house arrest for a short time.

Mary de Vere and Peregrine Bertie had several children. Their two oldest sons became important men. Robert Bertie (1583-1642) became the 1st Earl of Lindsey. Their second son, Peregrine (who died in 1640), was made a Knight of the Bath by King James I in 1610. The couple's only daughter, Katherine Bertie, married Sir Lewis Watson, who became the first Lord Rockingham. Mary and Peregrine also had other sons named Henry, Vere, and Roger.

Peregrine Bertie passed away on June 25, 1601. He was buried in Spilsby, Lincolnshire. Katherine, Lady Watson, Mary's daughter, died in 1610 during the birth of her first child. Her memorial statue in St James's church is quite moving.

Before June 2, 1605, Mary, Lady Willoughby, married Sir Eustace Hart of London. She died in London around June 24, 1624.