Biography of Alethea Talbot Countess Arundel, Surrey and Norfolk 1585-1654
Paternal Family Tree: Talbot
Maternal Family Tree: Margaret Vaux 1465
On 31 Aug 1565 George Vernon "King of the Peak" (age 57) died. He was buried at All Saint's Church, Bakewell, Derbyshire [Map]. By his will of 18 Aug 1565 he bequeathed six Derbyshire manors and two in Staffordshire to his wife for life. His executors were to take the profits of his manor of Kibblestone, in Staffordshire, and two Cheshire manors for 16 years after his decease to pay his debts, funeral expenses and the fulfilment of his will, which included among numerous bequests the provision of one gold chain worth £20 to his godson, [her father] Gilbert Talbot (age 12), the future 6th Earl of Shrewsbury, 'as a remembrance of my good will towards him'. His wife, his son-in-law John Manners (age 38), his brother-in-law Nicholas Longford (age 33) and his 'loving neighbours and faithful friends Thomas Sutton and Richard Wennesley were each to receive £20 for their services as executors, while his 'right worshipful friends' (Sir) John Zouche II and Francis Leke (age 55) were each to have a horse.
Monument with both his wives Margaret Tailboys and Maud aka Magdelan Longford each wearing a French Hood. Man with Two Wives.
On the left the arms of his second wife Margaret Tailboys, middle the arms of George Vernon "King of the Peak" and right the arms of his first wife Maud aka Magdelan Longford.
On 06 Feb 1568 [her father] Gilbert Talbot 7th Earl of Shrewsbury (age 15) and [her mother] Mary Cavendish Countess Shrewsbury and Waterford (age 12) were married. She the daughter of [her grandfather] William Cavendish and [her grandmother] Bess of Hardwick Countess Shrewsbury and Waterford (age 41). He the son of [her grandfather] George Talbot 6th Earl of Shrewsbury (age 40) and [her grandmother] Gertrude Manners Countess Shrewsbury and Waterford.
Three days later on Gilbert and Mary would become step-siblings when their father and mother respectively George Talbot 6th Earl of Shrewsbury and Bess of Hardwick were married. She by marriage Countess of Shrewsbury Countess Waterford. It is likely the latter marriage a condition of the former. He the son of Francis Talbot 5th Earl of Shrewsbury and Mary Dacre. He a great x 5 grandson of King Edward III of England.
In 1585 Alethea Talbot Countess Arundel, Surrey and Norfolk was born to Gilbert Talbot 7th Earl of Shrewsbury (age 32) and Mary Cavendish Countess Shrewsbury and Waterford (age 28) at Sheffield [Map].
On 18 Nov 1590 [her grandfather] George Talbot 6th Earl of Shrewsbury (age 62) died. He was buried at Sheffield Cathedral [Map]. His son [her father] Gilbert Talbot 7th Earl of Shrewsbury (age 37) succeeded 7th Earl of Shrewsbury, 7th Earl Waterford, 12th Baron Furnivall, 16th Baron Strange Blackmere, 13th Baron Talbot. [her mother] Mary Cavendish Countess Shrewsbury and Waterford (age 34) by marriage Countess of Shrewsbury Countess Waterford.
In 1604 [her future husband] Thomas Howard 21st Earl of Arundel 4th Earl of Surrey 1st Earl Norfolk (age 18) was restored 21st Earl Arundel Sussex, 4th Earl Surrey, 11th Baron Maltravers, 11th Baron Arundel, 14th Baron Mowbray, 15th Baron Segrave.
Before 1607 Thomas Howard 21st Earl of Arundel 4th Earl of Surrey 1st Earl Norfolk (age 21) and Alethea Talbot Countess Arundel, Surrey and Norfolk (age 21) were married. She by marriage Countess Arundel Sussex, Countess Surrey. She the daughter of Gilbert Talbot 7th Earl of Shrewsbury (age 54) and Mary Cavendish Countess Shrewsbury and Waterford (age 50). He the son of Philip Howard 20th Earl of Arundel and Anne Dacre Countess Arundel (age 49). They were third cousins.
In 1607 [her son] James Howard was born to [her husband] Thomas Howard 21st Earl of Arundel 4th Earl of Surrey 1st Earl Norfolk (age 21) and Alethea Talbot Countess Arundel, Surrey and Norfolk (age 22).
On 10 Jan 1608 the Ben Johnson (age 36) Masque of Beauty was performed at the Banqueting House, Whitehall Palace [Map] to celebrate the completion of its refurburbishment. King James I of England and Ireland and VI of Scotland (age 41) attended.
The performers included:
Anne of Denmark Queen Consort Scotland England and Ireland (age 33).
Alethea Talbot Countess Arundel, Surrey and Norfolk (age 23).
Catherine Brydges Countess Bedford (age 28).
Elizabeth Vere Countess Derby (age 32).
Susan Vere Countess Montgomery (age 20).
Lettice Perrot Baroness Chichester (age 48).
Audrey Shelton Lady Walsingham (age 39).
Catherine Somerset Baroness Windsor (age 33).
Anne Clifford Countess Dorset and Pembroke (age 17).
Elizabeth Barkham Lady Garrard (age 15).
Elizabeth Somerset (age 18).
Elizabeth Cecil Lady Hatton (age 30).
Mary Neville 3rd Baroness Despencer (age 54).
Catherine Somerset Baroness Windsor.
Arabella Stewart (age 33).
On 15 Aug 1608 [her son] Henry Howard 22nd Earl of Arundel 5th Earl of Surrey 2nd Earl Norfolk was born to [her husband] Thomas Howard 21st Earl of Arundel 4th Earl of Surrey 1st Earl Norfolk (age 23) and Alethea Talbot Countess Arundel, Surrey and Norfolk (age 23).
On 05 Jun 1610 the Tethy's Festival Masque was performed at Whitehall Palace [Map] to celebrate the the investiture of Prince Frederick (age 16) as Prince of Wales. The script was written by Samuel Daniel at the request of the Queen (age 35), who appeared in person as Tethys a goddess of the sea. Inigo Jones (age 36) designed the staging and scenery.
Prince Charles (age 9) took the part of Zephyrus,.
Princess Elizabeth Stewart Queen Bohemia (age 13) appeared as the companion or daughter of Tethys, the "Nymph of Thames",.
Arabella Stewart (age 35) took the part of the "Nymph of Trent",.
Alethea Talbot Countess Arundel, Surrey and Norfolk (age 25) as "Nymph of Arun".
Elizabeth Vere Countess Derby (age 34) as "Nymph of Derwent",.
Frances Howard Countess Essex and Somerset (age 20) as "Nymph of Lee",.
Anne Clifford Countess Dorset and Pembroke (age 20) as "Nymph of Air",.
Susan Vere Countess Montgomery (age 23) as "Nymph of Severn",.
Elizabeth Radclyffe Viscountess Haddington as "Nymph of Rother",.
[her sister] Elizabeth Talbot Countess Kent (age 28) as "Nymph of Medway",.
Four sisters, daughters of Edward Somerset 4th Earl of Worcester (age 60) and Elizabeth Hastings Countess of Worcester (age 64), danced as the rivers of Monmouthshire:
Catherine Somerset Baroness Windsor (age 35) the "Nymph of Usk".
Katherine Somerset Baroness Petre (age 35) the "Nymph of Olwy".
Elizabeth Somerset (age 20) the "Nymph of Dulesse" (Dulas), and.
Mary Wintour the "Nymph of Wye".
On 30 Nov 1614 [her son] William Howard 1st Viscount Stafford was born to [her husband] Thomas Howard 21st Earl of Arundel 4th Earl of Surrey 1st Earl Norfolk (age 29) and Alethea Talbot Countess Arundel, Surrey and Norfolk (age 29).
Diary of Anne Clifford 1616. 06 Jan 1616. Upon the 6th being Twelfth day I supped with my Lady of Arundel (age 31)1 and sat with her in the Ladyship’s Box to see the Masque which was the second time it was presented before the King and Queen.
Note 1. Daughter of [her father] Gilbert Earl of Shrewsbury (age 63). Her portrait, in the same frame with her [her husband] Lord (age 30), in the Cartoon Gallery. (Now in Great Hall).
On 08 May 1616 [her father] Gilbert Talbot 7th Earl of Shrewsbury (age 63) died. His daughter Alethea Talbot Countess Arundel, Surrey and Norfolk (age 31) succeeded 13th Baroness Furnivall, 17th Baroness Strange Blackmere, 14th Baroness Talbot. His brother [her uncle] Edward Talbot 8th Earl of Shrewsbury (age 55) succeeded 8th Earl of Shrewsbury, 8th Earl Waterford.
On 13 May 1619 Anne of Denmark Queen Consort Scotland England and Ireland was buried in the north eastern area Henry VII Chapel in Westminster Abbey [Map].
The principal mourner was Alethea Talbot Countess Arundel, Surrey and Norfolk (age 34).
Anne Carey (age 27) and Mary Woodhouse walked in the procession.
As Keeper of the Wardrobe Lionel Cranfield 1st Earl Middlesex (age 44) supervised the spending of £20,000 on the funeral.
Richard Young 1st Baronet (age 39) carried the banner roll.
Her grave has the inscription: "ANNE OF DENMARK QUEEN OF KING JAMES 1st 1619". her coffin has the inscription: "Here lies buried the Most Serene Queen Anne, consort of James, King of Great Britain, France and Ireland, daughter of Frederick II, King of Denmark and Norway and of the Vandals and Goths, sister of Christian IV and mother of many Princes. She died at Hampton Court, in the year of salvation 1618, on the 4th March, aged 43 years, 4 months and 18 days."
On 07 Mar 1626 [her son] Henry Howard 22nd Earl of Arundel 5th Earl of Surrey 2nd Earl Norfolk (age 17) and [her daughter-in-law] Elizabeth Stewart Countess Arundel and Norfolk (age 16) were married. She the daughter of Esmé Stewart 3rd Duke Lennox and Katherine Clifton Duchess Lennox (age 34). He the son of [her husband] Thomas Howard 21st Earl of Arundel 4th Earl of Surrey 1st Earl Norfolk (age 40) and Alethea Talbot Countess Arundel, Surrey and Norfolk (age 41).
In Apr 1632 [her mother] Mary Cavendish Countess Shrewsbury and Waterford (age 76) died.
On 11 Oct 1637 [her son] William Howard 1st Viscount Stafford (age 22) and [her daughter-in-law] Mary Stafford Countess Stafford (age 17) were married. He the son of [her husband] Thomas Howard 21st Earl of Arundel 4th Earl of Surrey 1st Earl Norfolk (age 52) and Alethea Talbot Countess Arundel, Surrey and Norfolk (age 52).
On 13 Apr 1641 Thomas Wentworth 1st Earl Strafford (age 48) was attainted by 204 votes to 59 ostensibly for his authoritarian rule as Lord Deputy of Ireland. Despite his promise not to King Charles I of England, Scotland and Ireland (age 40) signed the death warrant on the 10 May 1641 in the light of increasing pressure from Parliament and the commons.
Wenceslaus Hollar (age 33). Engraving of the Trial of Thomas Wentworth 1st Earl Strafford with the following marked:
A. King Charles I of England, Scotland and Ireland.
C. Henrietta Maria Bourbon Queen Consort England (age 31).
D. King Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland (age 10).
E. [her husband] Thomas Howard 21st Earl of Arundel 4th Earl of Surrey 1st Earl Norfolk (age 55), Lord High Steward.
F. Henry Montagu 1st Earl Manchester (age 78), Lord Keeper of the Great Seal.
G. [her grandson-in-law] John Paulet 5th Marquess Winchester (age 43).
H. Robert Bertie 1st Earl Lindsey (age 58), Lord Chamberlain.
I. Philip Herbert 4th Earl Pembroke 1st Earl Montgomery (age 56), Lord Chamberlain of the Household.
V. Thomas Wentworth 1st Earl Strafford.
Z. Alethea Talbot Countess Arundel, Surrey and Norfolk (age 56).
Wenceslaus Hollar: On 23 Jul 1607 he was born. Pepy's Diary. 22 Nov 1666. Up, and to the office, where we sat all the morning, and my Lord Bruncker did show me Hollar's new print of the City, with a pretty representation of that part which is burnt, very fine indeed; and tells me that he was yesterday sworn the King's servant, and that the King hath commanded him to go on with his great map of the City, which he was upon before the City was burned, like Gombout of Paris, which I am glad of. On 25 Mar 1677 he died.
In 1644 [her husband] Thomas Howard 21st Earl of Arundel 4th Earl of Surrey 1st Earl Norfolk (age 58) was created 1st Earl Norfolk. Alethea Talbot Countess Arundel, Surrey and Norfolk (age 59) by marriage Countess Norfolk.
On 04 Oct 1646 [her husband] Thomas Howard 21st Earl of Arundel 4th Earl of Surrey 1st Earl Norfolk (age 61) died. His son [her son] Henry Howard 22nd Earl of Arundel 5th Earl of Surrey 2nd Earl Norfolk (age 38) succeeded 22nd Earl Arundel Sussex, 5th Earl Surrey, 2nd Earl Norfolk, 12th Baron Maltravers, 12th Baron Arundel, 15th Baron Mowbray, 16th Baron Segrave. [her daughter-in-law] Elizabeth Stewart Countess Arundel and Norfolk (age 36) by marriage Countess Arundel Sussex, Countess Norfolk, Countess Norfolk.
On 17 Apr 1652 [her son] Henry Howard 22nd Earl of Arundel 5th Earl of Surrey 2nd Earl Norfolk (age 43) died. His son [her grandson] Thomas Howard 5th Duke of Norfolk (age 25) succeeded 23rd Earl Arundel Sussex, 6th Earl Surrey, 3rd Earl Norfolk, 13th Baron Maltravers, 13th Baron Arundel, 16th Baron Mowbray, 17th Baron Segrave.
On 03 Jun 1654 Alethea Talbot Countess Arundel, Surrey and Norfolk (age 69) died. Her grandson [her grandson] Thomas Howard 5th Duke of Norfolk (age 27) succeeded 14th Baron Furnivall, 18th Baron Strange Blackmere, 15th Baron Talbot.
Kings Wessex: Great x 16 Grand Daughter of King Edmund "Ironside" I of England
Kings Gwynedd: Great x 12 Grand Daughter of Owain "Great" King Gwynedd
Kings Seisyllwg: Great x 18 Grand Daughter of Hywel "Dda aka Good" King Seisyllwg King Deheubarth
Kings Powys: Great x 13 Grand Daughter of Maredudd ap Bleddyn King Powys
Kings England: Great x 7 Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Kings Scotland: Great x 15 Grand Daughter of King Duncan I of Scotland
Kings Franks: Great x 13 Grand Daughter of Louis VII King Franks
Kings France: Great x 9 Grand Daughter of Philip IV King France
Great x 4 Grandfather: John Talbot 2nd Earl of Shrewsbury 4 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: John Talbot 3rd Earl of Shrewsbury 5 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Elizabeth Butler Countess Shrewsbury and Waterford 
4 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: George Talbot 4th Earl of Shrewsbury 3 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Humphrey Stafford 1st Duke of Buckingham Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Catherine Stafford Countess Shrewsbury and Waterford 2 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Anne Neville Duchess Buckingham Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 1 Grandfather: Francis Talbot 5th Earl of Shrewsbury 4 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Leonard Hastings
Great x 3 Grandfather: William Hastings 1st Baron Hastings 9 x Great Grand Son of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Alice Camoys 8 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 2 Grandmother: Anne Hastings Countess Shrewsbury and Waterford 3 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Richard Neville Earl Salisbury Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Katherine Neville Baroness Bonville and Hastings 2 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Alice Montagu 5th Countess of Salisbury 3 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
GrandFather: George Talbot 6th Earl of Shrewsbury 5 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Thomas Dacre 6th Baron Dacre Gilsland
Great x 3 Grandfather: Humphrey Dacre 1st Baron Dacre Gilsland 5 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Philippa Neville Baroness Dacre of Gilsland 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: Thomas Dacre 2nd Baron Dacre Gilsland 6 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Thomas Parr 
7 x Great Grand Son of King John "Lackland" of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Mabel Parr Baroness Dacre of Gilsland 8 x Great Grand Daughter of King John "Lackland" of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Alice Tunstall
Great x 1 Grandmother: Mary Dacre 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Ralph Greystoke 5th Baron Greystoke 
2 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Robert Greystoke 3 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Elizabeth Fitzhugh Baroness Greystoke 
7 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 2 Grandmother: Elizabeth Greystoke 6th Baroness Greystoke Baroness Dacre of Gilsland 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Edmund Grey 1st Earl Kent 
2 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Elizabeth Grey 3 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Katherine Percy 2 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Father: Gilbert Talbot 7th Earl of Shrewsbury 6 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Robert Manners 
Great x 3 Grandfather: Robert Manners 5 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Joan Ogle 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: George Manners 11th Baron Ros Helmsley 6 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Thomas Ros 9th Baron Ros Helmsley 
5 x Great Grand Son of King Henry III of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Eleanor Ros 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Philippa Tiptoft Baroness Ros of Helmsley 
4 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 1 Grandfather: Thomas Manners 1st Earl of Rutland 4 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: John St Leger 
5 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Thomas St Leger 6 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Margery Donet
Great x 2 Grandmother: Anne St Leger Baroness Ros of Helmsley 3 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Richard Plantagenet 3rd Duke of York 
Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Anne York Duchess Exeter 2 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Cecily "Rose of Raby" Neville Duchess York Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
GrandMother: Gertrude Manners Countess Shrewsbury and Waterford 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: John Paston 
Great x 3 Grandfather: John Paston
Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret Mautby
Great x 2 Grandfather: William Paston
Great x 4 Grandfather: Thomas Brewes
Great x 3 Grandmother: Margery Brewes
Great x 4 Grandmother: Elizabeth Debenham
Great x 1 Grandmother: Eleanor Paston Countess Rutland
Great x 3 Grandfather: Henry Heydon
Great x 2 Grandmother: Bridget Heydon
Great x 4 Grandfather: Geoffrey Boleyn 
Great x 3 Grandmother: Anne Boleyn
Great x 4 Grandmother: Ann Hoo
Alethea Talbot Countess Arundel, Surrey and Norfolk 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: John Cavendish
Great x 3 Grandfather: William Cavendish
Great x 4 Grandmother: Joan Clopton
Great x 2 Grandfather: Thomas Cavendish
Great x 3 Grandmother: Joan Staventon
Great x 1 Grandfather: Thomas Cavendish 6 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: John Scudamore
Great x 2 Grandmother: Catherine Scudamore 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Owain ap Gruffudd "Glyndŵr" Mathrafal Prince Powys 3 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Alys Mathrafal 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret Hamner
GrandFather: William Cavendish 7 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: John Carrington Smith
Great x 1 Grandmother: Alice Smith
Mother: Mary Cavendish Countess Shrewsbury and Waterford 8 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: John Harwick
Great x 1 Grandfather: John Hardwick 7 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Thomas Pinchbeck
Great x 2 Grandmother: Elizabeth Pinchbeck 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Thomas Green 
4 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Anne Greene 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Mary aka Marina Bellers
GrandMother: Bess of Hardwick Countess Shrewsbury and Waterford 8 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: John Leeke of Cotham
Great x 3 Grandfather: William Leeke of Lakeford
Great x 2 Grandfather: Thomas Leeke of Hasland
Great x 1 Grandmother: Elizabeth Leeke
Great x 4 Grandfather: William Vaux 
Great x 3 Grandfather: William Vaux of Harrowden
Great x 2 Grandmother: Margaret Vaux