Lasting Legacy and Love Amid Reputations Ruined: The Finale to 1591, the Infamous Year of Maidenly Scandal in Queen Elizabeth’s Court

Part IV of IV, The Very Merry Maids-of-Honor Class of 1591

“I know well enough that in the whole tribe of women

there is not one who will rest content with a single man.” 

- Orlando Furioso, English translation, Canto 28th

Many 16th century English plays and novellas were inspired by 14th and 15th century Italian Renaissance literature. Shakespeare harvested many inspirational story lines and characters from other Italian sources, in addition to what he copied from Orlando Furioso.

To close this four-part series, we return to the chaotic year of 1591 in Queen Elizabeth I’s court, where the influence of Orlando Furioso almost shattered the moral order. From unsanctioned marriages to secret pregnancies, the Queen’s Maids-of-Honor, often swept up in the fever of courtly love, found themselves entangled in a whirlwind of affairs, banishments and imprisonments.

But was love truly “banished” from court as Richard Brackenburg claimed? In this final post of the series, we examine the last two Maids of the Class of 1591 and uncover the bittersweet end to the tale.

Maid #6, Catherine Howard – The “Old Maid of Court”

While she may have been known, and even ridiculed, as the “Old Maid of Court”, Maid #6, Catherine Howard‘s revenge is that her unloved moniker is attached to a modern children’s card game. I bet you have played it once or twice yourself!

While many of her peers succumbed to scandal, Catherine Howard, a first cousin once removed to Queen Elizabeth, managed to escape disgrace - but did not find love.  Known as “the only old Maid of court”, Catherine served as Maid-of-Honor for 19 years without ever marrying or taking a lover.  Her service came to an end in 1591 when she was quietly retired with an annuity of 100 marks (about £66).

However, her legacy may live on in an unexpected form: a simple children’s card game, where  every card in the deck has its match but one, and one unlucky player is left holding that single unmatched card known as “the Old Maid”.

While Catherine’s life lacked the fiery romance of her peers, her sister, Douglass Howard, made up for it by being one of Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester’s many mistresses and mother of the younger Robert Dudley who played such a large role in the corruption of two maids in the Class of 1591 discussed in this earlier post. 

A Scandalous Tally

Before we unveil the final Maid, let’s quickly review the fates of the others:

1. Elizabeth Southwell    Banished for a bastard by Robert Devereaux,  Earl of Essex; Thomas Vavasour imprisoned instead.

2. Margaret Cavendish   Banished for marrying young Robert Dudley without permission; Dudley imprisoned.

3. Frances Vavasour    Banished for marrying Thomas Sherley without permission while betrothed to young Robert Dudley. At the same time, Sherley was courting Frances Brooke, twin sister to Robert Cecil’s wife. Also banished.           

4. Catherine Leigh   Banished for a bastard by and for marrying Francis Darcy without permission. All three were imprisoned.   

5. Elizabeth Vere    Scandalous 1595 extra-marital affair with Robert Devereaux, E. Essex  

6. Catherine Howard   The “only old Maid of court”, retired with a modest pension.

And let’s not forget:

Elizabeth Throckmorton, Lady of the Privy Chamber     Banished & imprisoned for pregnancy by Walter Raleigh and then marrying him without the Queen’s permission. 

Amidst this breathless backdrop of affairs, bastards, unsanctioned marriages, banishments and imprisonments, did any of the Queen’s 1591 Maids-of-Honor escape without banishment or imprisonment, unscathed by scandal and happily married?

The unshakably virtuous Elizabeth Trentham

This unsigned and undated mystery lady’s portrait has been labelled, without documentation, as “probably” Elizabeth Howard Southwell. But I think it is of Maid #7, Elizabeth Trentham de Vere, Countess of Oxford. I have lectured on my reasons and will write a future blog post as well. Be on the lookout! This Elizabeth is well worth getting to know!

Yes, Maid #7, Elizabeth Trentham, renown for her calm demeanor, fair face and unshakable virtue (to the frustration of the court’s serial seducers), closed out the year by marrying Edward de Vere, Earl of Oxford just after Christmas with the Queen’s prior approval.  To almost everyone who knew them, their love match was a cause for great joy, especially amid the tumult and disgrace of 1591.

Yet, there was one person who wasn’t entirely pleased with this union: Queen Elizabeth herself.  Although she had no grounds on which to oppose their marriage, the Queen’s approval came  grudgingly.  For 10 years’ of service as a Maid-of-Honor with a spotless record, on the day she became the Countess of Oxford, Mistress Trentham received a notably stingy wedding gift - an empty covered dish without the customary gold coins and two regifted necklaces that the Queen had received but apparently didn’t like.

A Jealous Queen?

Why was Queen Elizabeth so ungenerous with her wedding gifts to Elizabeth Trentham? While the answer may initially seem simple, it is shrouded in one of the Queen’s most closely guarded secrets. At almost 60 years old, the aging monarch experienced deep jealousy over this particular match.

You now hold in your hands a queen’s ransom of secrets about the Maids-of-Honor, Class of 1591. But before you go, here are two final questions to ponder:

• Who was the mystery poet who translated Orlando Furioso? Did he use the infamous Canto 28th  (and leash his translation of the remaining Cantos to Harington’s spaniel’s portrait) to woo all the Maids in the Class of 1591, or just one?  If just one, which Maid?

• And about what, exactly, was the Queen so jealous?

These are more secrets you won’t want to miss.  Be sure to subscribe below for updates on this and other revelations at the bottom of the backstairs of Elizabethan history!

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