Frances Wray Countess Warwick -1634

Frances Wray Countess Warwick was born to Christopher Wray and Anne Girlington.

In 1581 Robert Rich 2nd Baron Rich of Leez [aged 44] died. In 1581 His son [her future husband] Robert [aged 21] succeeded 3rd Baron Rich of Leez.

On 10th January 1581 [her future husband] Robert Rich 1st Earl Warwick [aged 21] and Penelope Devereux Countess Devonshire [aged 18] were married. She by marriage Baroness Rich of Leez. She the daughter of Walter Devereux 1st Earl Essex and Lettice Knollys Countess Essex and Leicester [aged 37].

In 1583 George St Paul 1st Baronet [aged 21] and Frances Wray Countess Warwick were married.

On 7th May 1592 [her father] Christopher Wray [aged 68] died. He was buried in St Michael's Church, Glentworth [Map]. Monument to Sir Christopher and his wife [her mother] Anne Girlington. Elizabethan Period. Elephant and Castle Crest. Pink, white and blue-grey marble. Two recumbent effigies, Sir Christopher above and a little behind his wife, he in red robes, black cap and thick ruff; she in black robes, large ruff and hood. Four kneeling white marble daughters below. Ornate tomb recess above with flanking pink marble columns with white and gold Corinthian Capitals. Undersurface of Recess decorated with white and gold bay leaves. Plaque inscribed above with raised plaque above with Sir Christopher's son at prayer flanked by coats of arms and obelisks.

The general design, and in particular the scrollwork, suggest it may be the work of Nicholas Johnson.

The inscription: "The chief justice of England. Whoever thou art (or a stranger too) pay your respects to those who are buried. Christopher Wray, who lives here was the glory of our legal system. Pairing business, true by name who shone forth in duty, understanding and faith. Lo, he was here, lo he is not. Swift fate overturns everything. Alas, he is dead to us but he himself survives. Earth to earth, Ashes to Ashes, the heavenly to heavenly things. The spirit of the celestial world he occupies the stars of heaven. He died the seventh day of May 1592 in the 34th year of the reign of Queen Elizabeth."

Anne Girlington: she was born to Nicholas Girlington. Christopher Wray and she were married. After 7th May 1592 Anne Girlington was buried at St Michael's Church, Glentworth [Map]. Before 18th October 1602 John Darcy 2nd Baron Darcy Aston and Anne Babington were married. She by marriage Baroness Darcy of Aston. They were sixth cousins.

On 14th June 1595 Godfrey Foljambe [aged 36] died at Bedale. On 12th February 1623 [her sister] Isabel Wray Baroness Darcy died. Monument in St Mary and All Saints Church, Chesterfield [Map] to Godfrey Foljambe and Isabel Wray Baroness Darcy.

Godfrey Foljambe: Godfrey Foljambe and Isabel Wray Baroness Darcy were married. On 21st November 1558 he was born to Godfrey Foljambe and Troth Tyrwhitt at Walton, Derbyshire [Map].

Isabel Wray Baroness Darcy: she was born to Christopher Wray and Anne Girlington. After 14th June 1595 William Bowes and she were married. On 7th May 1617 John Darcy 3rd Baron Darcy Aston and she were married. She by marriage Baroness Darcy of Aston.

After 14th June 1595 [her brother-in-law] William Bowes [aged 44] and [her sister] Isabel Wray Baroness Darcy were married.

Around 1596 [her daughter] Mattathia St Paul was born to [her husband] George St Paul 1st Baronet [aged 34] and Frances Wray Countess Warwick. She died aged one in 1597.

In September 1597 [her daughter] Mattathia St Paul [aged 1] died at Coventry, Warwickshire [Map]. She was buried at St Lawrence's Church, Snarford [Map].

In 1605 [her future husband] Robert Rich 1st Earl Warwick [aged 45] and Penelope Devereux Countess Devonshire [aged 41] were divorced.

On 28th October 1613 [her husband] George St Paul 1st Baronet [aged 51] died. Baronet St Paul in Snarford in Lincolnshire extinct.

After 28th October 1613. Monument to [her former husband] George St Paul 1st Baronet [deceased] and Frances Wray Countess Warwick at St Lawrence's Church, Snarford [Map]. Elizabethan Period. A base supporting the reclining figures of the deceased with composite Pillars supporting an entablature and armorial termination. In the base is a central semi-circular niche containing a carving of the deceased's daughter, flanked by niches containing mourning putti. Above on the lower step is a figure of Frances in full mourning dress with formal Ruff and hat, reclining on a cushion holding a prayer book. On the upper step he reclines in plate armour with a sword. The figures are contained in a semi-circular headed Recess with roses in the archivolt and on the back wall is an inscribed rectangular panel with scrolls and memento mori. The Pillars to either side support a frieze and entablature from which rise flaming urns and at the angles, and at the centre is a raised achievement of arms flanked by scrolled shields and obelisks. Possibly sculpted by Cornelius Cure.

In 1616 Robert Rich 1st Earl Warwick [aged 56] and Frances Wray Countess Warwick were married. She by marriage Baroness Rich of Leez.

In 1616 [her step-son] Henry Rich 1st Earl Holland [aged 25] and Isabel Cope Countess Holland were married. He the son of [her husband] Robert Rich 1st Earl Warwick [aged 56] and Penelope Devereux Countess Devonshire.

Before 15th February 1616 George Carey [aged 75] and [her step-daughter] Lettice Rich [aged 27] were married. The difference in their ages was 48 years. She the daughter of [her husband] Robert Rich 1st Earl Warwick [aged 56] and Penelope Devereux Countess Devonshire.

On 7th May 1617 [her brother-in-law] John Darcy 3rd Baron Darcy Aston [aged 45] and [her sister] Isabel Wray Baroness Darcy were married. She by marriage Baroness Darcy of Aston.

In 1618 [her husband] Robert Rich 1st Earl Warwick [aged 58] was created 1st Earl Warwick. Frances Wray Countess Warwick by marriage Countess Warwick.

Before 1619 Arthur Lake [aged 20] and [her step-daughter] Lettice Rich [aged 29] were married. She the daughter of [her husband] Robert Rich 1st Earl Warwick [aged 59] and Penelope Devereux Countess Devonshire.

On 20th March 1619 [her husband] Robert Rich 1st Earl Warwick [aged 59] died. His son [her step-son] Robert [aged 31] succeeded 2nd Earl Warwick, 4th Baron Rich of Leez. Frances Hatton Countess Warwick [aged 29] by marriage Countess Warwick.

He was buried at St Lawrence's Church, Snarford [Map]. Unusual head and shoulder portrait sculpture of deceased full face, with a profile of his wife Frances Wray Countess Warwick behind, set in a circular medallion. To either side are pelleted Pilasters supporting an entablature with scrolled Cartouche of arms and flanked by heraldic supporters. The whole is painted and gilded and beneath is a panel containing an inscribed poem. Above his Arms implaled with hers. His are quartered 1&4 Rich Arms 2&3 Baldry Arms (his mother), hers quartered 1&4 Wray 2&3 Unknown. the monument is perhaps the work of Epiphanius Evesham. Sculpted by Epiphanius Evesham.

Diary of Anne Clifford. 20th March 1619. The 20th my [her husband] Lord of Warwick [aged 59] died at Arlington House leaving a great estate to [her step-son] Lord Rich [aged 31]¹ and my good friend his Lady [aged 29], and leaving his wife which was my Lady Lampwell a widow the second time. This day Wat. Coniston made an end of reading Mr Saragol's Book of the Supplication of the Saints which my Lord [aged 30] gave me.

Note 1. 2nd Earl of Warwick, the Parliament's Admiral.

Around 1634 Frances Wray Countess Warwick died. She was buried at St Lawrence's Church, Snarford [Map].