Alice Spencer, Countess of Derby

Alice Spencer, Countess of Derby, Baroness Ellesmere and Viscountess Brackley

Alice Spencer, Countess of Derby (4 May 1559 – 23 January 1637) was an English noblewoman and noted patron of the arts. Poet Edmund Spenser represented her as "Amaryllis" in his eclogue Colin Clouts Come Home Againe (1595) and dedicated his poem The Teares of the Muses (1591) to her.

Her first husband was Ferdinando Stanley, 5th Earl of Derby, a claimant to the English throne. Alice's eldest daughter, Anne Stanley, Countess of Castlehaven, was heiress presumptive to Queen Elizabeth I. She married secondly in 1600 Thomas Egerton, 1st Viscount Brackley.

Alice was born in Althorp, Northamptonshire, England on 4 May 1559, the youngest daughter of Sir John Spencer,[1] Member of Parliament and High Sheriff of Northamptonshire, and Katherine Kytson. She had three brothers and three older sisters.[citation needed]

In about 1579 Alice married her first husband, Ferdinando Stanley, heir to the Earldom of Derby, and a claimant to the English throne. His mother, Lady Margaret Clifford, was heir presumptive to Queen Elizabeth I from 1578 until her death in 1596. On 25 September 1593, he succeeded as Earl of Derby and Lord of Mann; from that date onwards, Alice was styled as the Countess of Derby.[2]

Together Ferdinando and Alice had three daughters:

• Lady Anne Stanley (May 1580 – c. October 1647), married firstly Grey Brydges, 5th Baron Chandos of Sudeley, by whom she had issue; secondly Mervyn Tuchet, 2nd Earl of Castlehaven, by whom she had issue.
• Lady Frances Stanley (1 May 1583 – 11 March 1636), married John Egerton, 1st Earl of Bridgewater, by whom she had issue.
• Lady Elizabeth Stanley (6 January 1588 – 20 January 1633), married Henry Hastings, 5th Earl of Huntingdon, by whom she had issue.

Her husband died on 16 April 1594, and when his mother died two years later, Alice's eldest daughter, Anne became heiress presumptive to Queen Elizabeth I. Upon the Queen's death in 1603, however, the crown passed to King James VI of Scotland who was descended from Margaret Tudor, the elder sister of King Henry VIII, whereas the Stanleys were descended from his younger sister, Mary Tudor, Queen of France.

For a month after his death, his company of players performed at their home of Lathom House, Lancashire as The Countess of Derby's Men. They had been at Lathom House shortly before the Earl's death and had been known then as the Earl of Derby's Men.[3]

On 20 October 1600 she married her second husband Thomas Egerton, 1st Viscount Brackley, who on 21 July 1603 became Baron Ellesmere, and on 7 November 1616 Viscount Brackley. Less than two years after his own marriage to Alice, Thomas's son John (by his first wife, Elizabeth Ravenscroft) married Alice's second eldest daughter Lady Frances.

Together Alice and her new husband founded the Bridgewater Library.[3]

In 1601, Thomas Egerton bought Harefield Place in Middlesex, and in July 1602, the Queen was entertained at Harefield by the Egertons.[3]

Lady Alice had Haydon Hall in Eastcote built in 1630 after she became concerned that Lord Castlehaven would attempt to claim her estate in the event of her death. After she died in 1636, her eldest daughter reverted to her first married name, Lady Chandos, and became owner of the house. Alice was known as the Dowager Countess of Derby until her death.[4]

Alice was a noted patron of the arts, along with her sisters, Anne, Baroness Mounteagle and Elizabeth Spencer, Baroness Hunsdon. Poet Edmund Spenser was a distant relative of hers; in his pastoral poem, Colin Clouts Come Home Againe, he represented her as "Amaryllis", whereas her sisters, Anne and Elizabeth were "Charillis" and "Phyllis", and Alice's husband was "Amyntas". "Amaryllis" was described as "the highest in degree".[5] Spenser also dedicated his The Teares of the Muses to her.[6]

Poet and author John Milton lived close to her Harefield Place residence.

Alice died on 23 January 1637 and was buried on 28 January in St Mary the Virgin Church, Harefield. A handsome monument dedicated to the memory of Alice and her three daughters was built at St Mary the Virgin, to her own specifications, before her death.

Dr. Roy Strong identified Alice as the subject of an engraving displayed at the National Portrait Gallery in London.[3] He has also tentatively identified a portrait by a painter in the circle of Marcus Gheeraerts the Younger to be that of Alice when she was a young woman.

From: [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alice_Spencer]

• __________________________
• Alice Spencer1
• F, #105352, b. circa 1556, d. 23 January 1637
• Last Edited=11 Feb 2011
• Alice Spencer was born circa 1556.1 She was the daughter of Sir John Spencer and Katherine Kitson.1 She married, firstly, Ferdinando Stanley, 5th Earl of Derby, son of Henry Stanley, 4th Earl of Derby and Lady Margaret Clifford, circa 1580.3 She married, secondly, Thomas Egerton, 1st Viscount Brackley, son of Sir Richard Egerton and Alice Sparke, on 20 October 1600.1 She died on 23 January 1637.1 She was buried on 28 January 1636/37 at Harefield, London, England.1
• From circa 1580, her married name became Stanley.3 As a result of her marriage, Alice Spencer was styled as Countess of Derby on 25 September 1593. From 20 October 1600, her married name became Egerton. As a result of her marriage, Alice Spencer was styled as Baroness of Ellesmere on 21 July 1603. As a result of her marriage, Alice Spencer was styled as Viscountess Brackley on 7 November 1616.
• Children of Alice Spencer and Ferdinando Stanley, 5th Earl of Derby
  • 1.Lady Anne Stanley+4 b. May 1580, d. c Oct 1647
  • 2.Lady Frances Stanley+5 b. May 1583, d. 11 Mar 1635/36
  • 3.Lady Elizabeth Stanley+6 b. 6 Jan 1587/88, d. 20 Jan 1633
• Citations
• 1.[S6] G.E. Cokayne; with Vicary Gibbs, H.A. Doubleday, Geoffrey H. White, Duncan Warrand and Lord Howard de Walden, editors, The Complete Peerage of England, Scotland, Ireland, Great Britain and the United Kingdom, Extant, Extinct or Dormant, new ed., 13 volumes in 14 (1910-1959; reprint in 6 volumes, Gloucester, U.K.: Alan Sutton Publishing, 2000), volume II, page 272. Hereinafter cited as The Complete Peerage.
• 2.[S3409] Caroline Maubois, "re: Penancoet Family," e-mail message to Darryl Roger Lundy, 2 December 2008. Hereinafter cited as "re: Penancoet Family."
• 3.[S37] BP2003 volume 1, page 1101. See link for full details for this source. Hereinafter cited as. [S37]
• 4.[S6] Cokayne, and others, The Complete Peerage, volume III, page 127.
• 5.[S6] Cokayne, and others, The Complete Peerage, volume II, page 312.
• 6.[S37] BP2003. [S37]
• From: http://www.thepeerage.com/p10536.htm#i105352
• _________________
• Spencer (pre 1603)
• Spencer, of Althorp, co. Northampton (pre 1603)
• Sir John Spencer MP, of Wormleighton, co. Warwick, and Althorp, co. Northampton
• born 1524
• mar. bef. Oct 1545 Katherine Kitson (bur. at Great Brington, co. Northampton), first cousin of Margaret Kitson, wife of John Washington, of Warton, co. Lancaster, the direct ancestor of Gen George Washington, 1st President of the United States of America, and 1st dau. of Sir Thomas Kitson, of Hengrave, co. Suffolk, Sheriff of London 1533, by his wife Margaret Donnington, later Countess of Bath, only child and hrss. of John Donnington, of Stoke Newington, co. Middlesex, and Donnington, co. York
• children
  • 1. Sir John Spencer MP, of Wormleighton, co. Warwick, and Althorp, co. Northampton
  • 2. Thomas Spencer, of Claverdon, co. Warwick, party to a deed with his father 1576 to which he affixed his seal bearing the arms granted in 1504, mar. Mary Cheeke, 1st dau. of Sir Henry Cheeke by his wife Frances Ratcliffe, sister of Robert [Ratcliffe], 1st Earl of Sussex, and had issue: .... etc.
  • 3. Sir William Spencer MP, of Yarnton, co. Oxford, Auditor of the Exchequer 1577-1609, Member of Parliament for Ripon 1584 and 1586, Sheriff of Oxfordshire 1591-92, knighted 1592 (c. 1552; d. 18 Dec 1609; bur. with his wife in St Bartholomew's Church, Yarnton, co. Oxford), mar. bef. 1579 Margaret Bowyer (d. 1608; bur. in St Bartholomew's Church, Yarnton, co. Oxford), 2nd dau. of Francis Bowyer, Sheriff of London, by his wife Elizabeth Tilesworth, dau. of William Tilesworth, of London, and had issue: .... etc.
  • 4. Sir Richard Spencer MP, of Offley, co. Hertford, Member of Parliament for East Looe 1584, Bere Alston 1589 and Brackley 1604, Sheriff of Hertfordshire 1597-98, knighted 1603, Gentleman of the Privy Chamber to King James I (b. 1553; d. 7 Mar 1624), mar. 1588 Helen Brocket, 4th dau. and cohrss. of Sir John Brocket MP, of Brocket Hall, co. Hertford, by his first wife Helen Lytton, 2nd dau. and cohrss. of Sir Robert Lytton, of Knebworth, co. Hertford, and had issue: .... etc.
  • 5. Edward Spencer (dvp and sp.)
  • 1. Margaret Spencer, mar. (1) Giles Alington, of Horseheath, co. Cambridge (d. 1573), 1st son of Robert Alington (by his wife Margaret Coningsby, dau. of William Coningsby), 1st son and heir ap. of Sir Giles Alington, of Horseheath, co. Cambridge, by his wife Ursula Drury, 4th dau. of Sir Robert Drury MP, Speaker of the House of Commons, and (2) Edward Eldrington, and had issue by her first husband
  • 2. Elizabeth Spencer (bur. 2 Mar 1617/8), mar. (1) 29 Dec 1574 George [Carey], 2nd Baron Hunsdon, and (2) aft. Mar 1612 as his second wife Ralph [Eure], 3rd Baron Eure, and had issue by her first husband
  • 3. Katharine Spencer (d. Jan 1639; bur. at Stoneleigh, co. Warwick), mar. about 1570 Sir Thomas Leigh, 1st Bt., of Stoneleigh, co. Warwick, and had issue
  • 4. Mary Spencer (dvp. and sps.), mar. as his first wife Sir Edward Aston, of Tixall, co. Stafford, Sheriff of Staffordshire (d. 1 Feb 1597), and had issue
  • 5. Anne Spencer (d. 22 Sep 1618) mar. (1) shortly bef. 15 Sep 1575 as his second wife William [Stanley], 3rd Baron Monteagle, (2) as his second wife Henry [Compton], 1st Baron Compton, and (3) 4 Dec 1592 as his second wife Robert [Sackville], 2nd Earl of Dorset, and had issue by her second husband
  • 6. Alice Spencer (d. 26 Mar 1637; bur. at Harefield, co. Middlesex), mar. (1) bef. 1580 Ferdinando [Stanley], 5th Earl of Derby, and (2) 20 Oct 1600 as his third wife Thomas [Egerton], 1st Viscount Brackley, and had issue by her first husband
• died 8 Nov 1586 (bur. at Great Brington, co. Northampton)
• note
• Sheriff of Northamptonshire 1551-52, 1558-59, 1571-72 and 1583-84; knighted at Queen Mary's Coronation 1554; Justice of the Peace for Northamptonshire 1554; Member of Parliament for Northamptonshire 1554 and 1558; Deputy Lieutenant for Northamptonshire 1560 and 1586; party to a deed with his son Thomas 1576 to which he affixed his seal bearing the arms granted in 1504
• From: http://www.cracroftspeerage.co.uk/online/ - Search site for Spencer
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• The Visitation of the county of Warwick in the year 1619. Taken by William Camden, Clarenceaux king of arms (1877) Vol. 12
• http://archive.org/details/visitationcount01britgoog
  • Spencer - CHART Pg.282-285
• http://archive.org/stream/visitationcount01britgoog#page/n310/mode/1up
• Pg. 284
• Joh'es le Despensor tem. E. 1. = ch: Adam, Willm's le Despensor.
• Willm's Despensor 2 fil. ob. 2 E. 3. = ch: Joh'es (m. _ Deuerell) Despensor.
• Joh'es Despensor fil. et haeres = . . . . fil. & haer. Deuerell.; ch: Nich'us (m. _ Pollard) Spencer.
• Nich'us Spencer filius Johannis = . . . . filia Pollard.; ch: Willm's (m. _ Cleere), Thomas Spencer.
• Thomas Spencer. = ch: Henricus (m. Isabella Lincolne) Spencer.
• Henricus Spencer. = Isabella fil. et haer. Lincolne ob 18 E. 4.; ch: Joh'es (m. _ Warsted), Thomas, Willm's, Edwardus Spencer.
• Joh'es Spencer de Wormeleighton et Hadnell. = . . . . filia . . .. Warsted.; ch: Wilm's (m. _ Empson), Johe's Spencer
• Wilm's Spencer de Wormleighton. = . . . . filia Empson soror Rich. Empson militis.; ch: Joh'es (m. Isabella Gaunt), Thomas Spencer.
• Joh'es Spencer de Wormleighton 20 H. 7. = Isabella fil. et haer. Walteri Gaunt de Smith in Com. War.; (Pg.285 ch: Elizab. (m. Joh'is Greuill), Thomas, Willm's (m. Susanna Knightley), Isabella (m. Nichi Strelley), Jana (m. Ric'i Knightley) Spencer.
• http://archive.org/stream/visitationcount01britgoog#page/n311/mode/1up
• Pg.285
• Willm's Spencer de Wormleighto' ob 1532. = Susanna fil. Ric'i Knightley de Fanesley militis.; ch: Anna (m. _ Goodwin), Dorothea (m. Tho. Spencer), Joh'es (m. Katherina Kitson), Jane (m. Ric'i Bridges), Isabella (m. Johes Cotton), Maria (m. Tho. Bowes) Spencer.
• Joh's Spencer de Elthorp in Comitat. Northamp. miles. = Katherina fil. Tho. Kitson de Comitat. Suff. militis.; ch: Alicia (m. Ferdinan. Comitis Darbiae & Tho. Egerton), Mary (m. Edw. Aston), Joh'es (m. Margareta Catlin), Katherina (m. Tho. Leigh), Elizab. (m. Georgij Carye), Margareta (m. Egidij Alington & Edw. Elrington), Anna (m. Will'i Monteagle & Henrici Compton & Rob'ti Dorset). Willi'm (m. Margareta Bowier), Ricus (m. Elinora Brokett), Thomas (m. Maria' Cheeke) Spencer.
• Alicia uxor Ferdinan. Comitis Darbiae 2 ux. Tho. Egerton Dn's Ellesmer et Cancellarius Angliae.
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• Collins's peerage of England; genealogical, biographical, and historical (1812)
• http://archive.org/details/collinsspeerage_01coll
• http://archive.org/stream/collinsspeerage_01coll#page/n405/mode/1up
• Sir John Le De Spenser, whose guardianship was commited to Emma his mother. He was of Full age, 40 Henry III. at which time being stiled son of Geffrey, .... etc.
• ,,,, He died
• http://archive.org/stream/collinsspeerage_01coll#page/n406/mode/1up
• Pg. 381
• in 1274, and by inquisition taken next year, at Gertre, in com. Leicester, he is found to die possessed of the manor of Beransby, and the moiety of Wigan de la Mre, with several other lands .... He had also restitution of his manors of Castle Carlton, and Cavenby; for by two several inquisitions the same year, he is said to died possessed of them, in right of his wife Joan; but having no issue of her body alive, he held them only by the courtesy of England; and John de Merith entered on the same as his right, by the death of Joan, daughter of Robert de Lou, late wife of the said John De Spencer, cousin of the aforesaid John de Merieth, whose heir he is, and at that time thirty years old.
• This Sir John De Spenser, by Anne, his second wife, had two sons, viz. Adam, who died young, and William Le De Spenser, his heir, styled of Belton, and one of the jury at an inquisition taken at Bredon, on june 8th, 1306, concerning the wright of electing a prioress of Langley, in com. Leicester. He resided at Defford, in com. Wigorn, and died possessed thereof about 1328, as appears by an inquisition taken at Pershore, which likewise shews that John was his son and heir, and of full age.
• Which John was in the retinue of John of Gaunt, .... He had issue by Alice his wife (daughter and heir of Giles Deverell.)
• http://archive.org/stream/collinsspeerage_01coll#page/n407/mode/1up
• Pg. 382
• Nicholas his son and heir, who by Joan his wife, daughter of Richard Polard, of Kent, had issue two sons, Thomas; and William, who by his wife . . . ., daughter of Gilbert de Clare, had one son John, who married Alice daughter and heir of William Livesay, and died without issue, in the year 1456.
• Thomas, the eldest son and heir of Nicholas, was father of Henry Spencer, of Badby in com. Northampton, Esq. as appears by a receipt, dated 13 Henry VI. for subsidies then paid to that King.
• Which Henry took to wife Isabel, daughter and coheir of Henry Lincoln, from whom proceeded four sons, John, Thomas, William, and Nicholas; and died about 16 Edward IV. his last will and testament bearing date 1476, wherein he appoints his sons, John and Thomas, executors, and Isabel his wife overseer. The seal affixt had the arms the family now bear, viz. quartely in the first and third a fret, over all, on a bend, three escallops. He was succeeded by his eldest son,
• John Spencer, of Hodnell, Esq. who is .... his wife's who was daughter and heir of . . . . Warsted; by whom he had .... etc.
• http://archive.org/stream/collinsspeerage_01coll#page/n408/mode/1up
• Pg.383
• two sons; first William hereafter mentioned; second, John Spencer, of Hodnell, in com. Warwick, Esq. who died anno 1498, and was buried at Hodnell; he held lands in eighteen several lordships; as appears by his last will and testament, dated on September 15th, 1486; by which he appoints his body to be buried in the chancel of the parish church of Hodenhull, and constitutes his nephew, John Spencer, of Snitterfeild, Esq. son of his brother William, one of his executors; entailing his lands on him in default of issue male of his own son Thomas (from whom Spencers of Hodnell) and in default of issue of him, the said John, to the heirs male of Thomas, the said John's late brother, of whom hereafter.
• William Spencer, Esq. (eldest son and heir of John) was, in 1 Henry VII. seated at Rodburne in Warwickshire, and having married Elizabeth, sister to Sir Richard Empson, Knight, had issue a daughter, Jane, wife of Stephen Cope of Hanwell in Oxfordshire, Esq. and two sons, Sir John (of whom hereafter, as heir) and Thomas.
• The said Thomas had issue, William, who had the estate at Badby in Northamptonshire, whose son, Thomas Spencer, was of Everdon in the same county, and dying on August 17th, 1576, had sepulture there. He married his cousin Dorothy, third daughter of Sir William Spencer of Althorpe (the Duke of Marlborough's predecessor) and by her was father of .... etc.
• http://archive.org/stream/collinsspeerage_01coll#page/n409/mode/1up
• Pg.384
• Sir John Spencer, eldest son, was demoninated of Snitterfeild, in com. Warwick; having acquired that estate in right of his wife Isabel, one of the daughters and coheirs of Walter Graunt, Esq.; .... etc.
• http://archive.org/stream/collinsspeerage_01coll#page/n410/mode/1up
• Pg.385
• .... At his feet, against the wall, is the inscription in capitals, setting forth his marriage and issue: by which it appears, that he died April 14th, 1522, having married Isabel, daughter and coheir of Walter Graunt of Snitterfeild, in Warwichshire, Esq. by the daughter and heir of Humphry Rudinge, of the Wich in Warcestershire, Esq.; by whom he had, first, Sir William Spencer; second, Anthony, who died without issue; third, Jane, wife of Richard Knightley, Esq. son and heir of Sir Richard Knightley, of Fawsley in Northamptonshire, Knight; fourth, Isabel, married to Sir Nicholas Strelly, of Strelly in Nottinghamshire, Knight; fifth, Dorothy, married to Sir Richard Catesby, of Legers Ashby in Northamptonshire, Bart.
• Sir William Spencer received the honour of knighthood, A. D. 1529; and in 23 and 24 Henry VII. was sheriff of Northamptonshire. His last will bears date June 17th, 1532, whereby he bequeaths his body to be buried at Brington, in such manner as his executors shall think fit; orders his father's will to be complied with in every article, not then performed: appoints Dame Susan, his wife, Sir Nicholas Strelley, Knight; Anthony Cope, Esq.; Walter Smith, Esq.; and two others, his executors; and that they take care of john, his only son, then very young; .... etc.
• Over the said tomb, on a tablet under an arch, is likewise an inscription, whence it appears that he died 1532, having married Susan, daughter of Sir Richard Knightley, of Fawsley in Northamptonshire, Knight, and had issue, first, Sir John, only son; second, Isabel, marrried to Sir John Cotton, of Lanwade in Cam-
• http://archive.org/stream/collinsspeerage_01coll#page/n411/mode/1up
• Pg.386
• bridgeshire, Knight; third, Jane, wife of Sir Richard Brugis, of Shefford in Berkshire, Knight; fourth, Dorothy, marrried to Thomas Spencer, of Everdon in Northamptonshire, Esq.; fifth, Anne, wife of Sir John Goodwin, of Winchendon in Northamptonshire, Knight, which Anne died without issue; sixth Mary, wife of Thomas Boles, of Walington in Hertfordshire, Esq.
• Sir John Spencer, the only son, .... etc.
• http://archive.org/stream/collinsspeerage_01coll#page/n412/mode/1up
• Pg. 387
• He died November 8th, 1586, having married Katherine daughter of Sir Thomas Kitson, of Hengrave in Suffolk, Knight, by whom he had issue; first Sir John Spencer, Knight; second, Thomas Spencer, of Claredon in Warwickshire, Esq.; third, Sir William Spencer, of Yarnton, com. oxford, Knight, fourth, Richard Spencer, of Offley in Hertfordshire, Esq.; fifth, Edward Spencer, who died without issue; sixth, Margaret married to Giles Allington of Horseheath in Cambridgeshire, Esq. and afterwards to Edward Eldrington, Esq.; seventh, Elizabeth married to George Lord Hunsdon; eighth, Katherine, wife of Sir Thomas Leigh, of Stoneley in Warwickshire, Knight; ninth, Mary married to Sir Edward Aston of Tixhall in Staffordshire, Knight; tenth, Anne, wife of William Lord Monteagle who had no issue by her; and afterwards married to Henry Lord Compton; and lastly to Robert Sackville, son and heir of Thomas Lord Buckhurst, lord treasurer; eleventh, Alice, married to Ferdinando, Earl of Derby, and then to Sir Thomas Egerton, Knight, lord keeper of the great seal.
• ___________________
• EGERTON, Thomas I (1540-1617), of Lincoln's Inn, Islington, York House and Harefield, Mdx. and of Chester.
• b. 23 Jan. 1540, illegit. s. of Sir Richard Egerton of Ridley, Cheshire by Alice Sparke. educ. Brasenose, Oxf. 1556; L. Inn 1560, called 1572. m. (1) bef. 1576, Elizabeth (d.1588), da. of Thomas Ravenscroft of Bretton, Flints., 2s. John and Thomas II 1da.; (2) privately 1597, Elizabeth (d.1600), da. of William More I, sis. of Sir George More of Loseley, wid. of Richard Polsted and John Wolley, s.p.; (3) 1600, Alice, da. of Sir John Spencer†, of Althorp, Northants., wid. of Ferdinando, 5th Earl of Derby, s.p. Kntd. 1594; cr. Baron Ellesmere 1603, Visct. Brackley 1616.2
• From: http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1558-1603/member/eg...
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• Ferninando STANLEY (5° E. Derby)
• Born: ABT 1559, London, England
• Died: 16 Apr 1594, Ormskirk, Lancashire, England
• Buried: Ormskirk
• Notes: See his Biography.
• Father: Henry STANLEY (4° E. Derby)
• Mother: Margaret CLIFFORD (C. Derby)
• Married: Alice SPENCER (C. Derby) BEF 1580
• Children:
  • 1. Elizabeth STANLEY (C. Huntingdon)
  • 2. Anne STANLEY (B. Chandos of Sudeley / C. Castleheaven)
  • 3. Frances STANLEY
• From: http://www.tudorplace.com.ar/STANLEY1.htm#Ferninando STANLEY (5° E. Derby)
• Eldest surviving of four sons, to Sir Henry Stanley, 4º E. Derby, and Margaret Clifford. Born of ancient royal blood on both sides of his family, Lord Ferdinando was considered the Queen’s Heir Apparent.
• Having matriculated at the age of thirteen into the University of Oxford, he was called to Court a year later by the Queen herself "to be shaped in good manners". Later, he was summoned to Parliament v.p. (28 Jan 1588/9) in his father's Barony of Strange (of Knokyn) as Lord Strange. 19 Feb 1592/3, by writs directed "Ferdinando D'no Straunge". A supporter of the arts, Lord Strange enjoyed, music, dance, poetry, and singing; but above all he loved the theatre. He was the patron of several poets, authors, and playwrights, including, among others: Christopher Marlowe, Robert Greene, Edmund Spenser, and William Shakespeare. Shakespeare may have been employed by Strange in his early years. Strange's began as a troupe of acrobats and tumblers in London in the early 1580s, but in 1588 the company was reorganized, emphasizing acting. By 1590, Strange's was allied with Admiral's Men, performing at The Theatre (owned by James Burbage, father of Richard; he became the troupe's leading tragedian). In 1593, Lord Strange became Earl Derby, changing the company's name to Derby's Men. Scholars believe that Shakespeare was involved with Strange's as both actor and playwright. The troupe produced "Titus Andronicus" and "Henry VI". In 1603, Shakespeare's troupe received a patent from James I allowing them to style themselves the King's Men.
• He had married Alice Spencer in 1579; in his last days, dreaming that his lady was "most dangerously sick to death", he started weeping from his bed, raised an alarm, called out for help, and could not be comforted until he found her well.
• Alice Spencer was the baby of the six daughters and one son of Sir John Spencer of Althorp and Catherine Kytson.
• Ferdinando was "of an exalted genius as well as birth", and during the absence of his father on State business, discharged the duties, of the Lieutenancies of Lancashire and Cheshire with great credit and ability,. He was himself a poet and author, and enjoyed the society of the eminent men of letters who have made the reign of Elizabeth famous. Spencer, the poet, personified Ferdindando as "Amyntas", and his Countess as "Amaryllis". In 1610, a collection of English poems, entitled "Belvedere; or the Garden of the Muses" was published, and Ferdinando's were included in that work, but none of the poems bear the signature of the noble lord, and the identity is to a great extent a matter of conjecture.
• The death of this Earl was a most mysterious one. A number of rebels, who hid fled to foreign countries, sent over a man named Richard Hesketh to urge Earl Ferdinando to set up a claim to the crown of England by right of his descent from Mary, Queen Dowager of France, the second daughter of Henry VII, and younger sister to Henry VIII. The Heskeths were ancient retainers of the Stanley family and were family friends, which is why Richard was chosen to approach him about the matter that has come to be known as "The Hesketh Affair". Threatening that unless he undertook the project, and conceal the messengers and instigators of it, he should shortly die in a most wretched manner; but if he complied, he might be assured of powerful assistance. Ferdinando rejected the proposition with scorn and indignation.
• The unexpected death of Ferdinando Stanley, 5th Earl of Derby, on 16 Apr 1594 was an event of major political importance in the later years of Queen Elizabeth I of England. Supposed to have been poisoned by the Jesuits, his gentleman of horse was greatly suspected of administering the poison, for on the same day that the Earl was attacked, he fled on one of the best horses, and was never heard of again. His death was so significant that the historian John Stow recorded his illness in great detail. Ferdinando left three daughters, but no sons. The Earldom of Derby devolved on his brother and heir male, William. But the Baronies of Strange (of Knokyn) [1299], Mohun (of Dunster) [1299], and Stanley [1456], fell into abeyance between his daughters and coheirs. The Barony of Strange (of Knokyn) was, however, improperly assumed by the succeeding Earls of Derby, and being, erroneously, supposed, in 1628, to belong to them, gave occasion to a writ of that date whereby a new Barony of the name of "Strange" was created.
• From: http://www.tudorplace.com.ar/Bios/FerdinandoStanley(5EDerby).htm
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• Links
• http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1509-1558/member/sp...
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferdinando_Stanley,_5th_Earl_of_Derby
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anne_Stanley,_Countess_of_Castlehaven
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grey_Brydges,_5th_Baron_Chandos
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mervyn_Tuchet,_2nd_Earl_of_Castlehaven
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Egerton,_1st_Viscount_Brackley
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Egerton,_1st_Earl_of_Bridgewater
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lady_Elizabeth_Stanley
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Hastings,_5th_Earl_of_Huntingdon
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