Blanche Milbourne, Lady Troy

See Peter Bartrum, http://cadair.aber.ac.uk/dspace/bitstream/handle/2160/5005/GODWIN%2... (February 2, 2018; Anne Brannen, curator)

Blanche Herbert, Lady Troy, (previously Blanche Milborne, then Blanche Whitney) was the Lady Mistress in charge of the upbringing of Queen Elizabeth I, Edward VI and also of Queen Mary when she lived with the younger Tudor children. She was twice married, and widowed; first to James Whitney then Sir William Herbert of Troy Parva, an illegitimate son of William Herbert, 1st Earl of Pembroke and one of his mistresses. She had five children. Lady Troy died c. 1557 before Queen Elizabeth I’s accession.

Early life

Blanche Milborne was one of the eleven co-heiresses (a son and daughter died young) of Simon Milborne and Jane (Baskerville) of Burghill, Herefordshire. Her eldest sister, Alice married Henry Myles and they were the parents of Blanche Parry.[1] The family had widespread gentry connections; Sir William Herbert, 1st Earl of Pembroke (1st creation) married Ann Devereux, the niece of Simon Milborne’s mother, Elizabeth Devereux.

First marriage

Blanche Milborne married James Whitney of Whitney and Pen-cwm; her dowry was the manor of Icomb in Gloucestershire which had belonged to her father and was inherited by their eldest son, Robert. James Whitney died on 30 July 1500, leaving Blanche with Robert aged thirteen years,[2] and James, Watkin and Elizabeth who were younger. Elizabeth's daughter, Ann Morgan of Arkstone, Herefordshire, married Henry Carey, later Lord Hunsdon by licence on 21 May 1545, and the son of Mary Boleyn.

Second marriage

Between July 1500 and August 1502 Blanche remarried, becoming the second wife of Sir William Herbert of Troy Parva, an illegitimate son of Sir William Herbert, 1st Earl of Pembroke and one of his mistresses, Frond verch Hoesgyn. It was a Welsh household; although Blanche was English she would have also been Welsh-speaking. Lewys Morgannwg states that she and her husband welcomed King Henry VII, his Earls and possibly his Queen to Troy House, Mitchel Troy near Monmouth in August 1502. Blanche and Sir William had two sons Charles and Thomas, both of whom were eventually knighted and served as sheriffs of Monmouthshire. (Sir William also had an illegitimate son, Richard.) Thomas married Anne Lucy of Charlecote.

In 1505, Sir William Herbert of Troy gave an undertaking to keep the peace with his half-brother, Sir Walter Herbert of Raglan, and with Henry Myles, his brother-in-law. He is recorded as being an annuitant of Edward Stafford, 3rd Duke of Buckingham at Thornbury Castle in 1508, Sheriff of Herefordshire in 1515 and was knighted between Easter and Michaelmas 1516; thereafter Blanche Herbert was usually called Lady Troy. He died in 1524; Blanche and their son Charles were executors of his Will, in which Blanche was well provided for.[3] A clause of the Will trusted that Henry Somerset (then Lord Herbert but succeeded as 2nd Earl of Worcester in 1526/7) would be "a good lord to my wife and children." Sir William also requested that "Blanche will keep herself sole."

Royal court

By the 1530s, Lady Troy was in the Royal Household as shown by a later report, author not named (on the subversive activities of the Earl of Essex and Roger Vaughan in 1601) which has the preamble "My mother was chosen and brought to the Court by my Lady Herbert of Troy, to have been her Majesty's (Queen Elizabeth I's) nurse and had been chosen before all other had her gracious mother (Queen Anne Boleyn) had her own will therein…"[4] Lady Troy is mentioned at the christening of Prince Edward in 1537; when the procession reformed at the conclusion of the ceremony it was noted that, "Lady Elizabeth went with her sister Lady Mary and Lady Herbert of Troy to bear the train."[5]

Lady mistress ca. 1537 to ca. 1546

Margaret Bryan was in charge of Princess Elizabeth when she was a baby but she transferred to Prince Edward when he was born. The evidence shows that Lady Bryan was succeeded by Lady Troy; Prince Edward was also placed in her charge when he grew older for Lewys Morgannwg states that she was "in charge of his (Prince Edward’s) fosterage." Lady Troy’s position is confirmed by lists of personnel for Lady Elizabeth in the Letters and Papers of Henry VIII. Internal evidence suggests a range of dates for these lists from before 1536 to 1546. Lady Troy’s name heads the earlier lists, followed by Kate Champernon who was appointed in 1536 as a governess. In 1545 Roger Ascham (whose page was John Whitney, possibly a relation of Lady Troy) wrote to Champernon asking that she commend him to "my good Lady Troy and all that company of gentlewomen."[6] However, the c.1546 household list for Lady Elizabeth does not mention Lady Troy indicating that she retired from her position in late 1545 or early 1546; Elizabeth was then twelve years old.

In 1549, Sir Robert Tyrwhitt wrote that "Ashley…was made her mistress (Lady Elizabeth’s) by the king her father… But four of her gentlewomen confess that Ashley first removed Lady Troy…and then her successor (Blanche) Parry…".[7] Lady Troy had evidently intended her niece Blanche to succeed her but the post of Lady Mistress was given to Champernon (Blanche Parry remained as second in the household, succeeding Champernon when the latter died in 1565.)

Retirement

Lady Troy retired to her own furnished apartments at Troy House[8] where she was cared for by her son Charles and his wife, Cicill. The Household Accounts of Princess Elizabeth (1551–1552, Hatfield) show that Elizabeth sent her a regular half-yearly pension "by warrant" which was about half the amount she would have received while in post; a servant of the Knights Marshall was paid to deliver it.[9]

Death

Lady Troy died an honoured lady, probably in 1557 and certainly before the accession of Queen Elizabeth in November 1558.[10] If she was buried as her second husband had intended in the tomb in Monmouth parish church, now lost, it would have been adorned by the three effigies of Lady Troy, Sir William and his first wife.

Her funeral elegy,[11] composed by the bard Lewys Morgannwg,[12] includes the lines:

• Arglwyddes breninesau,..................(She was a) Lady (in charge) of Queens,
• Gofrner oedd ban oedd yn iau...........A governess she was in her youth.
• Hi a wyddiad yn weddus..................She knew in a fitting manner
• Wybodau iarllesau'r llys,.................The accomplishments of the ladies of the court,
• Gorcheidwad cyn ymadaw...............(And she was the) guardian, before she passed away,
• Tŷ Harri Wyth a'i blant draw.............Of Henry VIII’s household and his children yonder.
• I Edwart Frenin ydoedd,...................To King Edward she was a true
• Uwch ei faeth, goruchaf oedd,..........(And) wise lady of dignity,
• Waetio yr oedd at ei Ras,.................In charge of his fosterage (she was pre-eminent),
• Gywirddoeth wraig o urddas.............(And) she waited upon his Grace.
• Arglwyddys plas a gladden',.............(She, whom) they buried, the Lady of the palace of Troy,
• Troe, a'i llew lletyai'r ieirll hen............And her lion (i.e. William), gave hospitality to the old Earls.
• Bu i frenin, bu fawr unwaith,..............A welcome was given to the King, Henry VII,
• Roeso, a'i ieirll, Harri Saith................And his Earls; he was great once.
• Gweddu y bu tra fu fyw......................She gave service all her life,
• Hon sydd frenhines heddiw................To the one who is Queen today (i.e. Mary I)….

References

• 1.^ Richardson 2007, p 26-27 & 39-46
• 2.^ Inquistion Post Mortem of James Whitney transcribed and translated by Michael A. Faraday
• 3.^ Will of Sir William Herbert of Troy, National Archives, Kew
• 4.^ MSS of the Most Hon. the Marquis of Salisbury part XI, Richardson 2007, p 37 & 171,
• 5.^ Letters & Papers King Henry VIII 1537 no 911, Richardson 2007, p 39 & 172
• 6.^ 'Letters of Roger Ascham', translated Maurice Hatch & Alvin Vos, Richardson 2007, p 44 & 172
• 7.^ Calendar State Papers Edward VI 1549, Richardson 2007, p 44 & 172
• 8.^ 1552 Will of Sir Charles Herbert, National Archives Kew
• 9.^ 'Household Accounts of the Princess Elizabeth 1551-1552' reprinted in The Camden Miscellany LV, Camden Old Series vol II 1853
• 10.^ Richardson 2007 for discussion of date based on the internal evidence and people named
• 11.^ Richardson 2007, 'Mistress Blanche, Queen Elizabeth I's Confidante' by Ruth Elizabeth Richardson, p 39-41 elegy given in full, in modern Welsh and English translation, also on www.blancheparry.com
• 12.^ 'Elegy to the Lady Blanche' by Lewys Morgannwg, Llansteffan MS 164, 118,in National Library of Wales, first published in A. Cynfael Lake, editor 'Gwaith Lewys Morgannwg' vol 1, Aberystwyth 2005; Richardon 2007 has a very slightly changed translation approved by Dr. Lake and Professor Gruffydd Aled Williams of the University of Wales, Aberystwyth
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blanche_Herbert,_Lady_Troy
• ____________________
• 'Blanche Milbourne1,2
• 'F, b. circa 1474
• Father Simon Milbourne, Esq., Sheriff of Herefordshire2 b. c 1435, d. 14 Aug 1522
• Mother Jane Baskerville2 b. c 1451
• ' Blanche Milbourne died at of Icomb, Gloucestershire, England. She was born circa 1474 at of Burghill, Herefordshire, England. She married James Whitney, son of Sir Robert Whitney, Sheriff of Herefordshire and Elsbeth Vaughan, circa 1491.3,2 Blanche Milbourne married Sir William Herbert, son of Sir William Herbert, 1st Earl Pembroke, 1st Lord Herbert, Sheriff of Glamorgan & Morgannock, Chief Justice of North & South Wales and Frond ferch Hoesgyn, after 1500.3,2
• 'Family 1 James Whitney b. c 1465, d. 1500
• Children
  • ◦Sir James Whitney4,3 b. 1492
  • ◦Robert Whitney+ b. c 1494
  • ◦Elizabeth Whitney+3 b. c 1495
  • ◦Ann Whitney4,3 b. c 1497
  • ◦Eustace Whitney4,3 b. c 1498
  • ◦Walter (Watkin) Whitney4 b. c 1500
• 'Family 2 Sir William Herbert b. c 1468, d. 1524
• Citations
• 1.[S9397] Unknown author, Some Early English Pedigrees, by Vernon M. Norr, p. 145.
• 2.[S5] Douglas Richardson, Plantagenet Ancestry, p. 500.
• 3.[S11588] Some Early English Pedigrees, by Vernon M. Norr, p. 145.
• 4.[S61] Unknown author, Family Group Sheets, SLC Archives.
• http://our-royal-titled-noble-and-commoner-ancestors.com/p1013.htm#...
• _______________
• 'Blanche MILBOURNE
• 'Born: ABT 1474
• 'Died: 1557
• 'Notes: born in England but living in a Welsh environment, Blanche was heiress of Milbourne. She was married first in 1494 to James Whitney of Whitney and Pen-cwm. Her dowry was the manor of Ilcomb in Gloucestershire. When she was widowed, remarried soon after, taking as her second husband William Herbert of Troy Parva. In Aug 1502 entertained King Henry VII and Elizabeth of York at Troy House near Monmouth. In 1516, William Herbert was knighted. Blanche received part of the estate of Edward Stafford, 3rd Duke of Buckingham, when Henry VIII confiscated it. In the late 1520s and early 1530s, she was probably part of the Countess of Worcester’s household and may have acted as governess to the Earl’s children. She may have been put in charge of Princess Mary’s household as early as 1531, when Mary was separated from her mother, Catalina of Aragon. Sometimes referred to as Lady Herbert and other times as Lady Troy, Blanche was the one charged with giving their earliest lessons to both Princess Elizabeth and Prince Edward. In each household in turn she became Lady Mistress when Lady Bryan relinquished that post. She carried Elizabeth’s train at the christening of Prince Edward in 1537. She was still in the Lady Elizabeth’s household as late as 1545 but had left by the time King Henry died in 1547. Lady Troy retired to Troy House, living there into her late seventies. Blanche Milborne’s niece and goddaughter, Blanche Parry, was Queen Elizabeth’s Confidante.
• Father: Simon MILBOURNE (Sir)
• Mother: Jane BASKERVILLE
• 'Married 1: James WHITNEY (Sir) (b. ABT 1472 - d. 30 Jun 1499/1500) (son of Robert Whitney and Constance Touchet) ABT 1490, Whitney, England
• Children:
  • 1. Robert WHITNEY (Sir Knight) (b. 1491 - d. AFT 1555) (m.1 Margaret Wye - m.2 Elizabeth Morgan)
  • 2. James WHITNEY (b. ABT 1493 - d. 1546)
  • 3. Watkin WHITNEY (m. Margaret Riece)
  • 4. Elizabeth WHITNEY (b. ABT 1496) (m. Thomas Morgan of Arkston)
  • 5. Anne WHITNEY (b. ABT 1497) (m. Henry Carey)
  • 6. Eustace WHITNEY (b. ABT 1498) (m. Anne Parry)
• 'Married 2: William HERBERT of Troye (Sir) ABT 1499
• Children:
  • 6. Charles HERBERT (Sir Knight)
  • 7. Thomas HERBERT
  • 8. Son HERBERT
• http://www.tudorplace.com.ar/MILBOURNE.htm#Blanche MILBOURNE1
• ________________

Sources

http://wiki.whitneygen.org/wrg/index.php/Family:Milbourne,_Simon_(c1435-1522)

Blanche MILBOURNE

Born: ABT 1474

Died: 1557

Notes: born in England but living in a Welsh environment, Blanche was heiress of Milbourne. She was married first in 1494 to James Whitney of Whitney and Pen-cwm. Her dowry was the manor of Ilcomb in Gloucestershire. When she was widowed, remarried soon after, taking as her second husband William Herbert of Troy Parva. In Aug 1502 entertained King Henry VII and Elizabeth of York at Troy House near Monmouth. In 1516, William Herbert was knighted. Blanche received part of the estate of Edward Stafford, 3rd Duke of Buckingham, when Henry VIII confiscated it. In the late 1520s and early 1530s, she was probably part of the Countess of Worcester’s household and may have acted as governess to the Earl’s children. She may have been put in charge of Princess Mary’s household as early as 1531, when Mary was separated from her mother, Catalina of Aragon. Sometimes referred to as Lady Herbert and other times as Lady Troy, Blanche was the one charged with giving their earliest lessons to both Princess Elizabeth and Prince Edward. In each household in turn she became Lady Mistress when Lady Bryan relinquished that post. She carried Elizabeth’s train at the christening of Prince Edward in 1537. She was still in the Lady Elizabeth’s household as late as 1545 but had left by the time King Henry died in 1547. Lady Troy retired to Troy House, living there into her late seventies. Blanche Milborne’s niece and goddaughter, Blanche Parry, was Queen Elizabeth’s Confidante.

Father: Simon MILBOURNE (Sir)

Mother: Jane BASKERVILLE
Married 1: James WHITNEY (Sir) (b. ABT 1472 - d. 30 Jun 1499/1500) (son of Robert Whitney and Constance Touchet) ABT 1490, Whitney, England

Children: 1. Robert WHITNEY (Sir Knight) (b. 1491 - d. AFT 1555) (m.1 Margaret Wye - m.2 Elizabeth Morgan)

2. James WHITNEY (b. ABT 1493 - d. 1546)

3. Watkin WHITNEY (m. Margaret Riece)

4. Elizabeth WHITNEY (b. ABT 1496) (m. Thomas Morgan of Arkston)

5. Anne WHITNEY (b. ABT 1497) (m. Henry Carey) 6. Eustace WHITNEY (b. ABT 1498) (m. Anne Parry)

Married 2: William HERBERT of Troye (Sir) ABT 1499

Children: 6. Charles HERBERT (Sir Knight)

7. Thomas HERBERT

8. Son HERBERT

Source: http://www.tudorplace.com.ar/MILBOURNE.htm#Blanche%20MILBOURNE1

• Blance MILBOURNEPrint Family Tree
• Born in 1469 - Whitney, Herefordshire, England
• Deceased in 1496 - Whitney, Herefordshire, England, aged 27 years old
• Parents
• Simon (Sir) MILBOURNE, born 1 August 1435 - Burghill, Herefordshire, England, Deceased 14 August 1522 - Burghill, Herefordshire, England aged 87 years old
• Married in 1460, Hereford, Herefordshire, England, to
• Jane (Lady) BASKERVILLE, born before December 1439 - Burghill, Herefordshire, England, Deceased in 1471 - Hereford, Herefordshire, England
• Spouses, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren
• Married in 1490, Hereford, Herefordshire, England, to
• Husband
• James (ESQ) WHITNEY, born in 1465 - Whitney, Herefordshire, England, Deceased in 1541 - Whitney, Herefordshire, England aged 76 years old (Parents : M Robert (SIR) WHITNEY 1436-1494 & F Countance TOUCHET 1443-1531) with
• Childern
• M Robert WHITNEY 1491-1541 married in 1520, Icomb, Gloucestershire, England, to Margaret WYE 1495-1541

Reference

https://gw.geneanet.org/belfast8?lang=en&p=blance&n=milbourne

http://wiki.whitneygen.org/wrg/index.php?title=Family:Whitney,_James_(s1466-1500)

James Whitney (Robert, Eustace, Robert, Robert, Robert, Eustace, Eustace, Robert, ...), son of Robert and Elizabeth/Alice (Vaughn) Whitney,[1] born say 1466, Whitney, Herefordshire;[2] died 31 July 1500,[3] probably Whitney, Herefordshire.

For more information, see The Ancestry of James Whitney of Whitney.

He married, say 1490, Blanche Milbourne,[4] daughter and coheiress of Simon and Jane (Baskerville) Milbourne.[5] She was born say 1468, Tillington, Herefordshire,[6] and died after 24 March 1547/48.[7] She married secondly, as his second wife, Sir William Herbert,[8] of Troy, Monmouthshire, Wales, illegitimate son of William Herbert, 1st Earl of Pembroke (1423-1469) (Eighth Creation) and mistress Frond verch Hoesgyn,[9] born about 1448-1452[10]; died 1524.[11] Lady Blanche Herbert of Troy was eulogized by the Welsh bard Lewys Morgannwg. Sir William Herbert had married firstly Jane Dunn.[12]

By marrying a coheiress, James Whitney gained the manor of Icomb, Gloucestershire, which was passed to his descendants.