Katherine Somerset was one of the daughters of Edward Somerset, 4th earl of Worcester (1553-March 3, 1628) and Elizabeth Hastings (c.1546-August 24, 1621). She and her sister Elizabeth (c.1576-1625+) went to court in 1593 as maids of honor to the queen and were married in a double wedding on November 8, 1596 at Essex House, for which the poet Edmund Spenser wrote his Prothalamion. Katherine married William Petre, 2nd baron Petre (June 24, 1575-May 5, 1637). Their children were: John (d.1613), Robert (1599-October 23, 1638), Mary (1600-1640), William (1602-1677), Edward (1603-1664), Thomas (b.1606), Catherine (June 10, 1607-August 15, 1681), Anne (July 2, 1609-October 18, 1610), Henry (March 27, 1611-c.1648), George, and Elizabeth. Another of Katherine’s sisters was also named Catherine (c.1591-November 6, 1654). This second Catherine married Thomas, 6th baron Windsor (September 29, 1591-December 6, 1642). Portrait: 1599 by Marcus Gheerearts.