Biography of Mildred Cooke Baroness Burghley 1526-1589

Paternal Family Tree: Cooke

Maternal Family Tree: Anne Fitzwilliam 1504-1588

1547 Coronation of Edward VI

1564 Elizabeth I's visit to Cambridge University

1566 Elizabeth I's visit to Oxford University

1571 Triple Wedding

Before 1523 [her father] Anthony Cooke (age 19) and [her mother] Anne Fitzwilliam (age 18) were married.

In 1526 Mildred Cooke Baroness Burghley was born to Anthony Cooke (age 22) and Anne Fitzwilliam (age 22).

In 1541 [her future husband] William Cecil 1st Baron Burghley (age 20) and Mary Cheke were married.

On 21 Dec 1546 William Cecil 1st Baron Burghley (age 26) and Mildred Cooke Baroness Burghley (age 20) were married.

Coronation of Edward VI

On 22 Feb 1547 Thomas Fitzherbert (age 33) was knighted. [her father] Anthony Cooke (age 43) was created Knight of the Bath.

On 04 Jun 1550 Robert Dudley 1st Earl of Leicester (age 17) and Amy Robsart (age 17) were married at Sheen Palace [Map]. King Edward VI of England and Ireland (age 12) and [her husband] William Cecil 1st Baron Burghley (age 29) attended. He the son of John Dudley 1st Duke Northumberland (age 46) and Jane Guildford Duchess Northumberland (age 41).

Around 1556 [her daughter] Frances Cecil was born to [her husband] William Cecil 1st Baron Burghley (age 35) and Mildred Cooke Baroness Burghley (age 30).

On 05 Dec 1556 [her daughter] Anne Cecil Countess of Oxford was born to [her husband] William Cecil 1st Baron Burghley (age 36) and Mildred Cooke Baroness Burghley (age 30).

In 1559 [her son] William Cecil was born to [her husband] William Cecil 1st Baron Burghley (age 38) and Mildred Cooke Baroness Burghley (age 33).

In 1561 [her son] William Cecil was born to [her husband] William Cecil 1st Baron Burghley (age 40) and Mildred Cooke Baroness Burghley (age 35).

Henry Machyn's Diary. Jul 1562. The .. day of July was christened the dowther of Wylliam Harve (age 52) aleas Clarenceux king of armes, in the parryche of sant Brydes, the godfather Cordall master of the rolles knyght, and the godmothers my [her sister] lade Bacon (age 35) my lord keper('s) (age 51) wyff, and my lade Sysselle (age 36) [Note. Sister of Anne Cooke] wife of ser [her husband] Wylliam Sysselle (age 41); and after unto master Clarenshux('s), and ther was a grett bankett as I have sene, and wassail, of epocras, Frenche wyne, Gaskyn wyne, and Reynys [wine,] with grett plente, and all ther servandes had a banekett in the hall with dyvers dyssys [dishes].

On 01 Jun 1563 [her son] Robert Cecil 1st Earl Salisbury was born to [her husband] William Cecil 1st Baron Burghley (age 42) and Mildred Cooke Baroness Burghley (age 37).

On 17 Sep 1563 Henry Manners 2nd Earl of Rutland (age 36) died. He was buried at St Mary the Virgin Church, Bottesford, Leicestershire [Map]. His son Edward Manners 3rd Earl of Rutland (age 14) succeeded 3rd Earl of Rutland, 14th Baron Ros Helmsley. Edward Manners 3rd Earl of Rutland became a ward of Queen Elizabeth I of England and Ireland (age 30) and was specially under the charge of [her husband] William Cecil 1st Baron Burghley (age 43).

On 01 Jul 1564 [her daughter] Elizabeth Cecil was born to [her husband] William Cecil 1st Baron Burghley (age 43) and Mildred Cooke Baroness Burghley (age 38).

Elizabeth I's visit to Cambridge University

In or before 1566 [her step-son] Thomas Cecil 1st Earl Exeter (age 23) and Dorothy Neville Countess Exeter (age 17) were married.

Elizabeth I's visit to Oxford University

On 25 Feb 1571 [her husband] William Cecil 1st Baron Burghley (age 50) was created 1st Baron Burghley. Mildred Cooke Baroness Burghley (age 45) by marriage Baroness Burghley.

1571 Triple Wedding

On 16 Dec 1571 a triple wedding was celebrated at Whitehall Palace [Map] ... with Queen Elizabeth I of England and Ireland (age 38) present ...

Edward Dudley 4th Baron Dudley (age 46) and Mary Howard Baroness Dudley (age 23) were married. She by marriage Baroness Dudley. The difference in their ages was 23 years. He a great x 5 grandson of King Edward III of England.

[her son-in-law] Edward de Vere 17th Earl of Oxford (age 21) and [her daughter] Anne Cecil Countess of Oxford (age 15) were married. She by marriage Countess of Oxford. He the son of John de Vere 16th Earl of Oxford and Margery Golding Countess of Oxford.

Edward Somerset 4th Earl of Worcester (age 21) and Elizabeth Hastings Countess of Worcester (age 25) were married. She by marriage Countess Worcester. She the daughter of Francis Hastings 2nd Earl Huntingdon and Catherine Pole Countess Huntingdon (age 60). He the son of William Somerset 3rd Earl of Worcester (age 45) and Christina North Countess of Worcester. They were third cousin once removed.

On 11 Jun 1576 [her father] Anthony Cooke (age 72) died.

On 04 Oct 1581 Henry Wriothesley 2nd Earl of Southampton (age 36) died. His son Henry Wriothesley 3rd Earl of Southampton (age 7) succeeded 3rd Earl of Southampton. His wardship was sold by the Queen to her kinsman, Charles, Lord Howard of Effingham (age 45), for £1000. Howard then transferred his wardship to [her husband] William Cecil 1st Baron Burghley (age 61).

On 26 Feb 1582 [her son-in-law] William Wentworth (age 27) and [her daughter] Elizabeth Cecil (age 17) were married.

On 05 Jun 1588 [her daughter] Anne Cecil Countess of Oxford (age 31) died. She was buried at the Chapel of St Nicholas, Westminster Abbey [Map]. She shares a monument with her mother Mildred Cooke Baroness Burghley (age 62). The monument rises to twenty-four feet, and is constructed of various coloured marbles, after a design of the Corinthian order. The Latin inscriptions, which are very long, were written by [her husband] Lord Burleigh (age 67) himself, and set forth the varied accomplishments and the virtues of the two ladies who are represented in effigy in the lower part of the monument. The figure of Lord Burleigh, in his robes, and in a kneeling attitude, appears in the upper part of the monument.

On 05 Jun 1588 [her mother] Anne Fitzwilliam (age 84) died.

In 1589 [her son] Robert Cecil 1st Earl Salisbury (age 25) and [her daughter-in-law] Elizabeth Brooke (age 25) were married.

On 04 Apr 1589 or 05 Apr 1589 Mildred Cooke Baroness Burghley (age 63) died. She was buried at the Chapel of St Nicholas, Westminster Abbey [Map].

On 04 Aug 1598 [her former husband] William Cecil 1st Baron Burghley (age 77) died. His son [her former step-son] Thomas Cecil 1st Earl Exeter (age 56) succeeded 2nd Baron Burghley. He was buried at St Martin's Church, Stamford [Map] with a large free-standing Elizabethan Period monument under the north chapel arch, in coloured marbles with a figure on tomb chest under an arched canopy supported on paired columns. Attributed to Cornelius Cure. The emblem of the Knights of the Garter on William's left shoulder. Leg Garter. In his right-hand he is holding the Lord Treasurer Staff of Office; originally white.

The inscription one the monument is on contained within three panels: two on the south (Chancel) side, and one on the north (Chapel) side.

Sacred to God most good and great, and to memory. The most honourable and far renowned Lord William Cecil, Baron of Burghley, Lord High Treasurer of England, President of the Court of Wards, knight of the most noble order of the Garter, Privy Counsellor to the most serene Elizabeth, Queen of England, &c., and Chancellor of the University of Cambridge, under this tomb awaits the second coming of Christ: Who for the excellent endowments of the mind, was first made Privy Counsellor to Edward the sixth, King of England; afterwards to Queen Elizabeth: under whom being intrusted with the greatest and most weighty affairs of this kingdom, and above all others approved, in promoting the true religion, and providing for the safety and honour of the commonwealth; by his prudence, honesty, integrity, and great services to the nation, he obtained the highest honours: and when he had long enough to nature, long enough for glory, but not long enough to his country, quietly fell asleep in Christ. He had two wives: Mary, sister of Sir John Cheeke, knight, of whom ie begat one son, Thomas, now Baron of Burghley; and Mildred, daughter of Sir [her father] Anthony Cooke, knight, who bore to him Sir [her son] Robert Cecil (age 35), knight, Privy Counsellor to Queen Elizabeth and President of the Court of Wards; [her daughter] Anne, married to [her former son-in-law] Edward, Earl of Oxford (age 48); and [her daughter] Elizabeth (age 34) to [her former son-in-law] William Wentworth, eldest son of Baron Wentworth.

Mary Cheke: she was born to Peter Cheke. In 1541 William Cecil 1st Baron Burghley and she were married. In Feb 1543 Mary Cheke died.

Elizabeth Cecil: On 01 Jul 1564 she was born to William Cecil 1st Baron Burghley and Mildred Cooke Baroness Burghley. On 26 Feb 1582 William Wentworth and she were married.

Royal Ancestors of Mildred Cooke Baroness Burghley 1526-1589

Kings Wessex: Great x 17 Grand Daughter of King Edmund "Ironside" I of England

Kings Gwynedd: Great x 18 Grand Daughter of Maredudd ab Owain King Deheubarth King Powys King Gwynedd

Kings Seisyllwg: Great x 20 Grand Daughter of Hywel "Dda aka Good" King Seisyllwg King Deheubarth

Kings Powys: Great x 18 Grand Daughter of Maredudd ab Owain King Deheubarth King Powys King Gwynedd

Kings England: Great x 11 Grand Daughter of King John "Lackland" of England

Kings Scotland: Great x 16 Grand Daughter of King Duncan I of Scotland

Kings Franks: Great x 23 Grand Daughter of Louis "Pious" King Aquitaine I King Franks

Kings France: Great x 16 Grand Daughter of Robert "Pious" II King France

Royal Descendants of Mildred Cooke Baroness Burghley 1526-1589

Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom

Diana Spencer Princess Wales

Ancestors of Mildred Cooke Baroness Burghley 1526-1589

Great x 3 Grandfather: Robert Cooke of Lavenham in Suffolk

Great x 2 Grandfather: Thomas Cooke

Great x 1 Grandfather: Philip Cooke

GrandFather: John Cooke of Gidea Hall

Great x 1 Grandmother: Elizabeth Belnap

Father: Anthony Cooke

Great x 1 Grandfather: William Saunders of Banbury in Oxfordshire

GrandMother: Alice Saunders

Great x 2 Grandfather: John Spencer of Hodnell in Warwickshire

Great x 1 Grandmother: Jane Spencer

Mildred Cooke Baroness Burghley 11 x Great Grand Daughter of King John "Lackland" of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: John Fitzwilliam 8 x Great Grand Son of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England

Great x 3 Grandfather: William Fitzwilliam 9 x Great Grand Son of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England

Great x 2 Grandfather: John Fitzwilliam 7 x Great Grand Son of King John "Lackland" of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Ralph Cromwell 2nd Baron Cromwell 5 x Great Grand Son of King John "Lackland" of England

Great x 3 Grandmother: Maud Cromwell 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King John "Lackland" of England

Great x 1 Grandfather: John Fitzwilliam 8 x Great Grand Son of King John "Lackland" of England

GrandFather: William Fitzwilliam 9 x Great Grand Son of King John "Lackland" of England

Mother: Anne Fitzwilliam 10 x Great Grand Daughter of King John "Lackland" of England