In turn, Essex claimed that he was capable with other women, but was unable to consummate his marriage. Whom the midwives did handle whilest the knight held the candle This Dame was inspected but Fraud interjected The matter was a subject of mockery and ribald commentary throughout the court, including: It was widely rumoured at the time that Sir Thomas Monson's daughter was a substitute, which is possible because she had requested to be veiled during the examination "for modesty's sake". She was examined by ten matrons and two midwives who found her hymen intact. She claimed that she had made every attempt to be sexually compliant for her husband, and that, through no fault of her own, she was still a virgin. The situation quickly attracted public attention, and was widely observed by those with "prurient minds". When she finally took the step of annulment, unable to legally represent herself, her father and her uncle, Henry Howard, Earl of Northampton, represented her and drew up the libel. She had also fallen in love with Robert Carr, 1st Earl of Somerset. She was at court and on 5 June 1610 danced as the "Nymph of Lee" representing the Essex River Lea in the masque Tethys' Festival. He was at the time seriously ill with smallpox. When he returned she made every effort to avoid him. Her husband was then sent on Grand Tour from 1607 to 1609, apparently without having consummated the marriage. The marriage was primarily a political union and due to both their young ages, they did not live together. Lady Frances Howard was married at the age of 14 to the 13-year-old Robert Devereux, 3rd Earl of Essex, the grandson of Francis Walsingham. Frances' maternal grandparents were Sir Henry Knyvet, of Charlton, Wiltshire, and Elizabeth Stumpe. Frances' father was the second son of Thomas Howard, 4th Duke of Norfolk, a wealthy and powerful nobleman during the late 16th and early 17th centuries, and Margaret Audley, Duchess of Norfolk. She was born Frances Howard, the daughter of Lord Thomas Howard (later 1st Earl of Suffolk), and his wife, the former Catherine Knyvet. JSTOR ( August 2022) ( Learn how and when to remove this template message).Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.įind sources: "Frances Carr, Countess of Somerset" – news Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources.
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