Frances Cecil

FRANCES BRYDGES (1580-1663)

Frances Brydges was the daughter of William Brydges, 4th baron Chandos (d.1602) and Mary Hopton (d. October 23,1624). She may have been a maid of honor. By 1603, she had married Sir Thomas Smith (c.1556-November 1609), a courtier who was named Master of Requests in 1608. They had two children, Robert (1605-1626) and Margaret, and houses in Westminster and Parsons Green, Fulham. In 1610, Frances married Thomas Cecil, earl of Exeter (1542-1623) by whom she had a daughter, Georgi-Anna (June 1616-1621). Frances entertained lavishly at Wimbledon but she was also involved in a scandal when Exeter’s grandson, Lord Ros (d.1618) was blackmailed by his wife, Anne Lake, and her parents (see MARY RYTHER). The hostilities extended to accusing Frances of an incestuous relationship with Ros and an attempt to poison Lady Ros. In February 1619 the charges and countercharges were finally heard in the Star Chamber with King James presiding. There were over 17,000 pages of evidence. Frances was vindicated. Lady Lake and her husband and Lady Ros were imprisoned in the Tower of London and fined. Following her second husband’s death, Frances returned to Fulham, where she lived until 1632, when she turned the property over to her daughter, Margaret, and Margaret’s husband, Thomas Carey (d.1634). She made her will on January 20, 1663. It was proved July 17. Biography: Oxford DNB entry under “Cecil [n%C3%A9e Brydges; other married name Smith], Frances.”