Person Page - 1768

     Elizabeth Paston was born on 1 July 1429.² She married Sir Robert Poynings Lord Poynings, son of Sir Robert de Poynings Knt., PC, 4th Lord Poynings and Eleanor Grey, in December 1459
; her 1st husband.^1,5,6,3 Elizabeth Paston married Sir George Browne Knt., of Betchworth Castle, Surrey, son of Sir Thomas Browne Knt., of Betchworth Castle, co. Surrey and Eleanor Fitzalan, before 1472
; her 2nd husband.^1,5,2,3
Elizabeth Paston died in 1488.¹
Elizabeth Paston died on 1 February 1488 at age 58; died testate.^2,3
      ; Leo van de Pas cites: 1. The Lineage and Ancestry of H.R.H. Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, Edinburgh, 1977, Paget, Gerald, Reference: Q 115574
2. Dictionary of National Biography , Reference: Edward Poynings entry.²

     William Paston Esq. was born in 1378 at Paston, co. Norfolk, England.² He married Agnes Berry, daughter of Sir Edmund Berry Knt., of Hertfordshire, between 24 March 1419 and 1420.^1,4,2,3

William Paston Esq. died on 14 August 1444 at Paston, co. Norfolk, England.^4,2
      ; van de Pas cites: 1. The Lineage and Ancestry of H.R.H. Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, Edinburgh, 1977, Paget, Gerald, Reference: Q 115574
2. Sir John Sayer -1667, Pedigree, 2007, Verheecke, José, Reference: 31246.²

; Judge of the Court of Common Pleas.¹

     Agnes Berry married William Paston Esq. between 24 March 1419 and 1420.^1,4,5,3

      ; Clement Paston died in 1419. William Paston (died in 1444), at the age of 42, married Agnes Berry in 1420 (died in 1479). She was daughter of Sir Edmund Berry, a Hertfordshire knight, whose only other child was a younger daughter. She brought 3 manors: Marlingford, in Norfolk, west of Norwich (inherited from her maternal grandmother) ; Stanstead, in Suffolk; and Horwellbury, her father's home in Hertfordshire, which she inherited after his death in 1433.

Ref:Frances and Joseph Gies - A Medieval Family. The Pastons of Fifteenth-Century England - Harper Collins Publishers - 1998, NewYork, NewYork, p. 30-31.⁴

; Agnes, dau and co-heir of Sir Edmund Berry, Kt.¹

     Sir Edmund Berry Knt., of Hertfordshire was also known as Sir Edmund Barry of Orwellbury.³

     Sir Robert Poynings Lord Poynings was born circa 1420.² He married Elizabeth Paston, daughter of William Paston Esq. and Agnes Berry, in December 1459
; her 1st husband.^1,5,2,6
Sir Robert Poynings Lord Poynings died on 17 February 1461 at 2nd Battle of St. Albans, St. Albans, England.^2,6
      ; per van de pas: [quote] Sir Robert Poynings was the second son of Robert, 4th Lord Poynings and Elizabeth Grey. Robert was involved in the Jack Cades rebellion. In December 1459 he married Elizabeth Paston and they had one son. Robert died on 17 November 1461. [end quote]²

; Leo van de Pas cites: The Lineage and Ancestry of H.R.H. Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, Edinburgh, 1977, Paget, Gerald, Reference: Q 115573.²

     Mary Malet married Robert Browne Esq., son of Sir Thomas Browne Knt., of Betchworth Castle, co. Surrey and Eleanor Fitzalan.^1,2

     Thomas Fogge Esq., of Ashford, Kent married Eleanor Browne, daughter of Robert Browne Esq. and Mary Malet,
; her 1st husband.^1,2,3
Thomas Fogge Esq., of Ashford, Kent died on 16 August 1512 at Ashford, co. Kent, England.³

     Katherine Browne married Humphrey Sackville Esq., of Buckhurst, co. Sussed, son of Edward Sackville of Emmiongton and Margaret Wakehurst.^1,4

     Humphrey Sackville Esq., of Buckhurst, co. Sussed married Katherine Browne, daughter of Sir Thomas Browne Knt., of Betchworth Castle, co. Surrey and Eleanor Fitzalan.^1,4
Humphrey Sackville Esq., of Buckhurst, co. Sussed was born circa 1445.⁴
Humphrey Sackville Esq., of Buckhurst, co. Sussed died between 24 January 1488 and 1489.⁴
Humphrey Sackville Esq., of Buckhurst, co. Sussed was buried after 24 January 1489 at Sackville Chapel, Withyham, co. Sussex, England.⁴
     Reference: Genealogics cites:
     1. Harleian Society Publications Visitation series . 105-6:162
     2. The Wallop Family and Their Ancestry 1928 , Watney, Vernon James. 675
     3. Glamorganshire Pedigrees, 1845 , Phillipps, Sir Thomas, Baronet. 1:102-8
     4. Ancestor list of Lucy and Emily O'Connor 2015 , O'Connor, Robert. 634,792.⁴

     Ellen de Morville married Sir Ralph de Gorges Lord of Litton and Wraxall, son of Ralph de Gorges of the Gorges of Tamerton Foliot, Devon and Joan (?).¹

Ellen de Morville died circa 1292.¹
     EDV-21 GKJ-21.

     EDV-22 GKJ-22.

     Thomas de Gorges was Precentor and Canon of Wells.¹

     John de Gorges married Maud de la Rokele, daughter of Philip de la Rokele.¹

     Sir Ralph de Gorges of Litton, Knighton married Maud Lovel, daughter of John Lovel and Maud de Sydenham.¹

      ; SIR RALPH DE GORGES, of Litton, Knighton, a prisoner of war in France, May, 1297; m Maud, sis of John, Ld Lovel of Titchmarsh, and had issue.¹

     Maud Lovel married Sir Ralph de Gorges of Litton, Knighton, son of Sir Ralph de Gorges Lord of Litton and Wraxall and Ellen de Morville.¹

      ; Maud, sis of John, Ld Lovel of Titchmarsh.¹

     Sir Hugh Smyth of Long Ashton, Somerset married Elizabeth Gorges, daughter of Sir Thomas Gorges of Langford Castle and Hellena Ulfsdotter Snakenborg Marchioness of Northampton,
; had issue, her 1st husband.^1,2,3,4,5
Sir Hugh Smyth of Long Ashton, Somerset died in 1627.^1,2,3
      ; Sir Hugh Smyth, of Long Ashton, Somerset (see BURKE'S Peerage, 1901 edn, SMYTH, Bt, of Ashton Court.)¹

Sir Hugh Smyth of Long Ashton, Somerset lived at Long Ashton, co. Somerset, England.¹

     Sir William Parr Knt., 1st Marquess of Northampton died; dvp.² He married Elizabeth Brooke, daughter of George Brooke KG, 9th Lord Cobham and Hon. Anne Braye,
; his 2nd wife.⁵ Sir William Parr Knt., 1st Marquess of Northampton married Anne Bourgchier, daughter of Henry Bourgchier PC, 2nd Earl of Essex and Mary Say,
; marriage was annulled by parliament in 1551/2 and the issue thereof bastardized. Sir William Parr Knt., 1st Marquess of Northampton married Hellena Ulfsdotter Snakenborg Marchioness of Northampton, daughter of Ulf/Wolfgangus Henriksson Snakenborg Lord of Fyllingarum and Agneta Knutsdotter Lillie Heiress of Norrnes, in May 1571 at Whitehall Palace, London, City of London, Greater London, England.^1,6,7,8

Sir William Parr Knt., 1st Marquess of Northampton died on 28 October 1571.^6,8
     He was Marquess of Northampton.² The marriage of Sir William Parr Knt., 1st Marquess of Northampton and Anne Bourgchier was annulled between 1551 and 1552.⁹

     Hellena Ulfsdotter Snakenborg Marchioness of Northampton was born between 1548 and 1549.^4,2 She married Sir William Parr Knt., 1st Marquess of Northampton, son of Sir Thomas Parr Knt., of Parr and Kendal and Maud Greene, in May 1571 at Whitehall Palace, London, City of London, Greater London, England.^1,3,4,2
Hellena Ulfsdotter Snakenborg Marchioness of Northampton married Sir Thomas Gorges of Langford Castle, son of Sir Edward Gorges Knt. and Mary Poyntz, circa 1576.^1,3,4,2

Hellena Ulfsdotter Snakenborg Marchioness of Northampton died on 1 April 1635.^1,4,2
      ; per van de Pas: [quote]She was born in Sweden, presumably in the province of Ostrogothia, as Elin Ulfsdotter av Fyllingarum, in either 1548 or 1549, as a younger daughter of Ulf Henrikson, lord of Fyllingarum, a High Councillor of Sweden, and his wife Agneta Knutsdotter, heiress of Norrnes. Her father was a supporter of Gustav I, king of Sweden. 'By all accounts, Helena was a beautiful woman, with large brown eyes, red hair, and a perfect pink and white complexion. Her character has been attributed with a strong will and an independent mind.'

Helena had two brothers and three sisters who survived childhood and had children in turn. She was baptised with the name of her paternal grandmother, Elin Ulfsdotter of the Norwegian house of Sudreim, and her paternal grandfather's grandmother, another Elin Snakenborg. The name Snakenborg was taken from Helena's paternal grandfather's paternal grandmother, the said Elin Henriksdotter Snakenborg, whose patrilineal ancestors were originally from Mecklenburg. Helena's mother seems to have also been a descendant of Agnes of Borgarsyssel, natural daughter of king Håkon V of Norway.

Contrary to claims in some genealogies, Helena's ancestry has not been proven to include medieval Viking earls of Orkney. And contrary to other claims she seems to have no descent from the sister of St. Bridget of Sweden.

Helena was one of six young Swedish noble ladies who were noble maidens in the retinue of Cecilia of Sweden, Margravine of Baden, second eldest daughter of King Gustaf I. Helena's mother (who seems to have been a widow at the time) had not been eager to let her young daughter travel abroad, but was persuaded by Cecilia, and by Helena herself. Cecilia and her retinue departed Sweden in Autumn 1564 on a voyage to England, at the invitation of Queen Elizabeth I. It was rumoured that Cecilia decided to visit England to revive the suit of her half-brother King Eric XIV of Sweden to marry Elizabeth I, whom Cecilia greatly admired. Because Denmark and Norway were hostile towards Sweden, they had to take a roundabout, landed route. They travelled through Finland, Livonia, Poland and Germany, which took a long time, until they arrived in Calais. The party is also reported to have been hampered by bad weather, and on the last leg by seasickness. All in all it took almost a year for them to reach their destination - they arrived on 8 September 1565 in Dover. Margravine Cecilia of Baden was at the time heavily pregnant. The welcoming party at Dover was led by William Parr, Marquess of Northampton (1513-1571), the only surviving son of Sir Thomas Parr of Kendal, and brother of the late Queen Katherine.

On their arrival many prominent members of English nobility received the party, and Elizabeth met them soon. Helena Snakenborg caught the interest of the elderly Marquess of Northampton, who soon started to woo her. Lord Northampton presented Helena with many extravagant gifts, such as clothes and jewels, and (according to reports) 'being an impressionable and romantic young girl, Helena was swept off her feet by the experienced older man'. Other assessments were that Helena seems to have understood the advantage of a rich, aged husband, and possibly wealthy widowhood in near future. Helena's letters to home talk about the wealth, high rank, court position and might of her suitor, but not about his age nor his personal character.

In London they settled at Bedford House. Soon Cecilia gave birth to her son Eduard Fortunatus of Baden, for whom queen Elizabeth stood as godmother. Margravine Cecilia, reportedly a wastrel, built up large debts because of her lavish lifestyle. Having found herself unable to pay her debts, she left England in April 1566 in order to escape her creditors. Meanwhile Queen Elizabeth seems to have befriended Helena, though there was a difference of about 15 years in their ages. Cecilia wanted to take Helena with her, but the young lady, reportedly enjoying life in England and having ensnared the wealthy marquess, was not interested in departing. Helena's keen wish to remain was granted through the influence of Queen Elizabeth, who reportedly was fond of the Parr family. Katherine Parr, the last queen of Henry VIII and sister of the marquess, had been Elizabeth's stepmother and guardian in the queen's youth. Marquess William was reportedly like an uncle to the queen.

Lord Northampton hoped to marry Helena, but he was prevented from doing so because his first wife Anne Bourchier, heiress of the Essex family, still lived. They had divorced in 1551, but according to the English church it was not permissible to contract new marriages of divorced persons until the divorced spouse was dead.

Queen Elizabeth was fond of young Helena and appointed her a Maid of Honour from about 1567, before promoting her to gentlewoman of the royal privy chamber. Particularly the latter position was highly respected and at the heart of the court. Helena became one of the queen's most intimate aides and controlled access to the queen. It has been reported that fairly often it was Helena's task to warm up the cold bed (as beds were in those days in castles) for the queen, which is why Helena is sometimes mentioned as 'bed partner' of the queen.

Helena was granted many privileges, such as her own lodgings at Hampton Court, servants and a horse. 'However, she was not a waged member of the privy chamber and it is not known how regularly she attended the royal court.'

Because Anne Bourchier died on 26 January 1571, Northampton and Helena were finally able to marry. The wedding took place with pomp and circumstance in May 1571 in Elizabeth's presence in the queen's closet at Whitehall Palace. The bride was twenty-two and the groom fifty-seven. It has been estimated that Helena thus became the second lady in rank in England, being a sort of step-aunt to the queen. 'They seemed happy together and divided their time between their houses in Guildford, Surrey, and at Stanstead Hall, Essex.' The marriage came to a sudden end within a few months when the marquess died on 28 October 1571. There were no children. The Dowager Marchioness Helena had received a substantial dower. According to English custom, as widow of a peer whose title went extinct, she enjoyed the title of Marchioness for the rest of her life, despite her remarriage. Helena seems to have been known also as the 'Good Lady Marquess'.

Fairly soon Marchioness Helena had another suitor, Thomas Gorges of Langford, a second cousin of the late Anne Boleyn, mother of the Queen, and of a noble family, descending from the first Howard duke of Norfolk. Thomas is described as honest and not corruptible, which had led him to various trusted tasks on behalf of his cousin the queen. 'The queen was originally in favour of Thomas' approaches to Helena but changed her mind and refused to consent to a marriage', perhaps as a result of 'her notorious sexual jealousy regarding gentlewomen of her privy chamber' or because she had strong views on unequal marriages: Helena was a marchioness and the queen's kin, Gorges yet only a gentleman.

Thomas Gorges and Marchioness Helena married in secret about 1576. When Elizabeth learned of their deed, Helena was exiled from the court, and Thomas was incarcerated in the Tower for a while. However Helena was later reinstated, possibly with the help of the lord chamberlain, her influential friend Thomas Radcliffe, 3rd Earl of Essex. The queen warmed to Helena again.

Helena and Thomas had eight (surviving) children. Their first child was born in June 1578 and named Elizabeth (1578-1659) after the queen, who was her godmother. Their first son Francis Gorges (died in or before 1599) was probably born in 1579; he was allegedly named after the good family friend, Sir Francis Drake. They had two more daughters, Frances Gorges (1580-1649) and Bridget Gorges (1584-c1634), and four more sons, all of whom became dubbed knights: Edward Gorges, 1st Baron of Dundalk (born 1582 or 1583, died in or before 1652), Theobald Gorges (1583-1647), Robert Gorges (1588-1648) and Thomas Gorges (1589, died after 1624).

The couple had their town house at Whitefriars. Helena had Thomas Gorges rebuild his property of Longford, south from Salisbury, in Wiltshire. The mansion had been damaged by fire when he acquired it and a replacement was completed at great expense by 1591, under the final supervision of John Thorpe. Longford Castle was the model for the 'Castle of Amphialeus' in Sir Philip Sidney's Arcadia.

In 1582 Thomas was sent as English envoy to Sweden, where he met Helena's family members. Helena maintained a continuous correspondence with her relatives in Sweden, and for example with Duke Charles of Sudermannia, later king Charles IX, her childhood friend.

In 1584 the queen granted an estate at Sheen to Helena and Thomas for their life. It was a former monastery north of the queen's chief residence, Richmond Palace, and near London. This meant that Thomas and Helena were able to live with their children while also serving at the royal court.

Thomas Gorges of Langford was knighted in 1586. It has been reported that Marchioness Helena did not participate in court intrigues, but focused on her family instead; and that there are no court rumours about her.

Queen Elizabeth granted Helena manors in Huntingdonshire and Wiltshire, which was totally uncharacteristic of the parsimonious queen. The marchioness was still valued highly by Queen Elizabeth and 'often acted as her deputy at the baptism of the children of distinguished noblemen'.

In old age the queen became yet more dependent on Helena, who was her important support during the last years, particularly as the queen's health deteriorated. Queen Elizabeth died in March 1603.

Marchioness Helena was the Chief Mourner in the royal funeral procession as senior peeress, because Arabella Stuart refused to undertake the role and King James was not yet in London. In the funeral procession she walked first, supported by the Chancellor of the Exchequer and Lord High Admiral of England. This is mentioned as the high point of her career.

Helena and Thomas took part in July 1603 in the coronation of the new monarch, James and his Danish wife Anne. However they soon moved to Langford from pest-ridden London. The accession of James meant that Helena was demoted from the new queen's privy chamber. However both occasionally served at the new court and in other royal tasks. Helena brokered the king's relations with Sweden, for example the Swedish attempt to have Elizabeth, King James' eldest daughter, as bride for the Swedish heir, Gustav Adolf, son of Charles IX (the project was rejected by Anne of Denmark, Elizabeth's mother).

Sir Thomas Gorges died on 30 March 1610 at the age of seventy-four, after which Marchioness Helena 'increasingly retreated from public life'. She reportedly remained a 'devoted member of the Church of England'. For some time she resided at her house of Sheen, near the court, but in the end she retreated to Redlynch, Somerset, the manor of her son Sir Robert Gorges. Letters show that Helena had close contact with her children and grandchildren, giving them advice and support, and they visited often each other often. Marchioness Helena's last preserved letter, dated 8 September 1634, to a maternal grandson, is signed with a clearly wavering hand.

Helena died at the age of 86 on 10 April 1635 at Redlynch Manor, and was buried on 14 May in Salisbury Cathedral. It has been claimed that Helena had ninety-two descendants at the time of her death. (M. Sjöström)[end quote].⁴

; William Parr, Marquess of Northampton (from 1546) (Cecil6) married Helen Snakenborg sometime between 1565 and 1571. After his death 28 Oct 1571 she married Sir Thomas Gorges (1536-1610). William Parr was the brother of that Catherine Parr who was Henry VIII's last wife.

Elizabeth Gorges, the daughter of Thomas and Helen was born Jun 1578 and married firstly Hugh Smith of Long Ashton by whom she had at least two children. After his death in 1627 she married Sir Ferdinando Gorges 28 Sep 1629 at Wraxall, Somerset. They had no issue.

Through her father, Elizabeth Gorges is a descendent through separate pathways of Edward I of England, Henry III of England, Alexander I of Scotland, Henry IV HR Emperor, Fulk King of Jerusalem, Philip King of France and Henry I of France.

All eight of the great-grandparents of her ancestor Margaret Mowbray, each, have royal ascents, some of them by multiple paths to different kingdoms.

Helen Snakenborg's father Wolfgang is obscure to me. Maybe somebody else has details on his life. He certainly must have been of some importance for his daughter to snag the king's ex-brother-in-law (the king being dead).

Will Johnson.³

; van de Pas cites: 1. A Genealogical History of the dormant, abeyant, forfeited and extinct peerages of the British Empire, London, 1866, Burke, Sir Bernard, Reference: 418
2. Den Introducerade Svenska Adelns Attartavlar Med Tillagg och Rattelser Stockholm, Elgenstierna, Gustaf, Reference: I 698.⁴

; per Sjostrom: [quote] marchioness Helena Snakenborg, baptismal name also
rendered Elin in Swedish, (c 1549 - 10 April 1635) was
a Swedish-born noblewoman and one of important,
closest aides and courtiers of queen Elizabeth I of
England. She was titularly Marchioness of Northampton.

She was born in Sweden, as Elin Ulfsdotter av
Fyllingarum, presumably in the province of
Ostrogothia, in either 1548 or 1549, as a younger
daughter of Ulf Henriksson, lord of Fyllingarum (dc
1565), a High Councillor of Sweden, and his wife
Agneta Knutsdotter, heiress of Norrnes. Her father was
a supporter of Gustav I, king of Sweden. "By all
accounts, Helena was a beautiful woman, with large
brown eyes, red hair, and a perfect pink and white
complexion." Her character has been attributed with
strong will and independent mind.

Helena (Elin) had two brothers and three sisters who
survived childhood and had own children. She was
baptized namesake of her paternal grandmother, Elin
Ulfsdotter of the Norwegian house of Sudreim, and her
paternal grandfather's grandmother, another Elin
Snakenborg. The name Snakenborg was taken from from
Helena's paternal grandfather's paternal grandmother,
the said Elin Henriksdotter Snakenborg, whose
patrilineal ancestors were originally from
Mecklenburg. Also Helena's mother seems to have been a
descendant of Agnes of Borgarsyssel, natural daughter
of king Haakon V of Norway.

Contrary to in some genealogies presented claims,
marchioness Helena's ancestry has not been able to be
proven to include medieval Viking earls of Orkney. And
contrary to claims in some genealogies, she seems to
have not descended from the sister of St.Bridget of
Sweden.

Helena was one of six young Swedish noble ladies who
were noble maidens in the retinue of Cecilia of
Sweden, Margravine of Baden, second-eldest daughter of
king Gustav I. Helena's mother had not been eager to
let her young daughter to travel abroad, but was
persuaded by Cacilia, and Helena herself. Cecilia and
her retinue departed Sweden in Autumn 1564 on a voyage
to England, at invitation of queen Elizabeth I. It was
rumoured that Cecilia decided to visit England to
revive the suit of her half-brother king Eric XIV of
Sweden to marry Elizabeth I who also was a heroine to
Cecilia. Because Denmark-Norway was hostile towards
Swedes, they had to take a roundabout, land route.
They travelled through Finland, Livonia, Poland and
Germany, which took lots of time, until Calais. The
party is also reported to have been hampered by bad
weather, and the last leg by seasickness. All in all,
it took almost a year of them to reach their
destination - they arrived only on 8 September 1565 to
Dover. Margravine Cecilia of Baden was at the time
heavily pregnant. The welcoming party at Dover was led
by sir William Parr, 1st Marquess of Northampton, Earl
of Essex, etc (1513-1571), the only surviving son of
sir Thomas Parr of Kendal, and brother of the late
Queen Katherine.

"On their arrival many prominent members of English
nobility received the party", including soon the queen
regnant. Helena Snakenborg caught the interest of the
elderly Marquess of Northampton, who soon started to
woo her. Lord Northampton presented Helena with many
extravagant gifts such as clothes and jewels, and
(according to reports) "being an impressionable and
romantic young girl, Helena was swept off her feet by
the experienced older man". Other assessments have
pointed that Helena seems to have understood the
advantages of a rich, aged husband, and possible
wealthy widowhood in near future. Helena's letters to
home talk about the wealth, high rank, court position
and might of her suitor, but not about his agedness
nor personal character.

In London they settled at Bedford House. Soon Cecilia
gave birth to her son Eduard Fortunatus of Baden, who
got queen Elizabeth as his godmother.

Margravine Cecilia, reportedly a wastrel, gathered
large debit because of her lavish lifestyle. Having
found herself unable to pay her debts, she left
England in April 1566 in order to escape her
creditors. Meanwhile, queen Elizabeth seems to have
become friends with Helena, though there was a
difference of about 15 years in the two women's ages.
Cecilia wanted to take Helena with her, but the young
lady, reportedly enjoying life in England and having
ensnared the wealthy Marquess, was not interested in
departing. Helena's keen wish to remain was granted
through influence of queen Elizabeth, who reportedly
was attached to the Parr family, the Marquess' sister
Katherine Parr, last queen of Henry VIII, having been
Elizabeth's stepmother and fosterer in queen's youth.
Marquess William was reportedly like an uncle to the
queen.

Lord Northampton hoped to marry Helena but was
prevented from so doing because his first, though
divorced, wife Anne Bourchier, heiress of the Essex
family, yet lived. They had divorced in 1551, but
English church was not permissible of new marriages of
divorced persons until the divorced spouse was dead.

Queen Elizabeth was fond of young Helena and appointed
her a Maid of Honour from about 1567, before promoting
her to gentlewoman of the royal privy chamber.
Particularly the latter position was highly respected
and at the heart of the court. Helena became one the
queen's most intimate aides and controlled access to
the queen. It has been reported that fairly often, it
was Helena's task to warm up the cold bed (as beds
were in those days in castles) for the queen, which is
why Helena is sometimes mentioned as "bed partner" of
the queen.

Helena was granted many privileges, such as her own
lodgings at the Hampton Palace, servants, and a horse.
"However, she was not a waged member of the privy
chamber and it is not known how regularly she attended
the royal court."

Because Anne Bourchier died on 26 January 1571,
Northampton and Helena were finally able to marry. The
wedding took place in May 1571 in Elizabeth's presence
in the queen's closet at Whitehall Palace with pomp
and circumstance. The bride was twenty-two and the
groom fifty-seven. It has been estimated that Helena
thus became the second lady in rank in England, being
sort of step-aunt to the Queen Regnant. "They seemed
happy together and divided their time between their
houses in Guildford, Surrey, and at Stanstead Hall,
Essex." The marriage came to a sudden end within a few
months when the marquess died on 28 October 1571.
There were no children. The Dowager Marchioness Helena
had received a substantial dower. According to English
custom, as widow of a peer whose title went extinct,
she enjoyed the title of Marchioness for the rest of
her life, despite her new marriage. Helena seems to
have been also known as the "Good Lady Marquess".

Fairly soon marchioness Helena had another suitor,
Thomas Gorges, of Langford, a second cousin of the
late Anne Boleyn, mother of the Queen, and of a noble
family, having cognatic descent from the first Howard
duke of Norfolk. Thomas is attributed as honest and
not corruptible, which had led him to various trusted
tasks on behalf of his cousin the queen. "The queen
was originally in favour of Thomas' approaches to
Helena but changed her mind and refused to consent to
a marriage", perhaps as a result of "her notorious
sexual jealousy regarding gentlewomen of her privy
chamber" or because she had strong views on unequal
marriages: Helena was a marchioness and the queen's
kinsman Gorges yet only a gentleman.

Thomas Gorges and marchioness Helena married in secret
about 1576. When Elizabeth learned of their deed,
Helena was exiled from the court, and Thomas was
incarcerated to Tower for a while. However Helena was
later reinstated, possibly with the help of the lord
chamberlain, her influential friend Thomas Radcliffe,
3rd Earl of Sussex. The queen warmed to Helena again.

Helena and Thomas had eight (surviving) children.
Their first child was born in June 1578 and named
Elizabeth (1578-1659) after the queen, who was her
godmother. Their first son, Francis Gorges (died in or
before 1599), was probably born in 1579; and allegedly
named after the good family friend, sir Francis Drake.
They had two more daughters, Frances Gorges
(1580-1649) and Bridget Gorges (1584-c1634), and four
more sons, all of whom became dubbed knights: Edward
Gorges, 1st Baron of Dundalk (born 1582 or 1583, died
in or before 1652), Theobald Gorges (1583-1647),
Robert Gorges (1588-1648), and Thomas Gorges (b 1589,
died after 1624).

The couple had their town house at Whitefriars. Helena
had Thomas Gorges to rebuild his property of today
Longford, Wiltshire, south from Salisbury. The mansion
had been damaged by fire when he acquired it and a
replacement was completed at great expense by 1591,
under the final supervision of John Thorpe. Longford
Castle was the model for the 'Castle of Amphialeus' in
sir Philip Sidney's Arcadia.

In 1582 Thomas was sent as English envoy to Sweden.
And met there Helena's family members. Helena also had
continuous correspondence with relatives in Sweden,
and for example with Duke Charles of Sudermannia,
later king Charles IX, her childhood friend.

In 1584 the queen granted an estate at Sheen to Helena
and Thomas for their life. It was a former monastery
straight north from the queen's chief residence, the
Richmond Palace, and near London City. This meant that
Thomas and Helena were able to live with their
children while also serving at the royal court.

Thomas Gorges of Langford was knighted in 1586. It has
been reported that marchioness Helena did not
participate in court intrigues, instead she was
focused to her family; and that there exists no court
rumors about her.

Queen Elizabeth granted Helena manors in
Huntingdonshire and Wiltshire, which was totally
uncharacteristic to the parsimonious queen. The
marchioness was still valued highly by queen Elizabeth
and "often acted as her deputy at the baptism of the
children of distinguished noblemen".

The elderly queen became yet more dependent on Helena,
who was her important support during the last years,
particularly as the queen's health had deteriorated.
Queen Elizabeth died in March 1603.

Marchioness Helena was the Chief Mourner in the royal
funeral procession as senior peeress because Arbella
Stuart refused to undertake the role and king James
was not yet in London. In the funeral procession, she
walked first, supported by Chancellor of the Exchequer
and Lord High Admiral of England. This is mentioned as
apogee of her career.

Helena and Thomas took part in July 1603 the
coronation of the new monarch, James, and his Danish
wife Anne. However soon they moved to Langford from
the pest-ridden London. The accession of James meant
that Helena was demoted from the new queen's privy
chamber. However both occasionally served at the new
court and in other royal tasks. Helena brokered the
king's relations with Sweden, for example the Swedish
attempt to have Elizabeth, king James' eldest
daughter, as bride for the Swedish heir, Gustav Adolf,
son of Charles IX (which project was rejected by Anne
of Denmark, her mother).

sir Thomas Gorges died on 30 March 1610 at the age of
seventy-four, after which marchioness Helena
"increasingly retreated from public life". She
reportedly remained a "devoted member of the Church of
England". Some time, she resided at her house of
Sheen, near the court, but in the end retreated to
Redlynch, Somerset, the manor of her son sir Robert
Gorges. Letters show that Helena had close contact
with her children and grandchildren, gave advice and
support to them, and they visited often each others.
Marchioness Helena's last preserved letter, dated 8
September 1634, to a maternal grandson, is signed with
a clearly wavering hand.

Helena died at the age of 86 on 10 April 1635 at
Redlynch manor, and was buried on 14 May in Salisbury
Cathedral. It has been claimed that Helena had
ninety-two direct descendants at the time of her
death.

In fiction, marchioness Helena has been described as
female lover and long-time partner of the lesbian
Queen Elizabeth I.⁶

; per Sjostrom: [quote]Knowing that there are some more or less questionable genealogies floating around about ancestry of Helena Snakenborg, particularly in the internet, here is a Kekule listing of her ancestry up to great-great-grandparents as it can be sourced basically from Elgenstierna, Introducerade Svenska Adelns Ättartavlor, but heavily modified and corrected by information later published in the series Äldre Svenska Frälsesläkter (1957-... currently 2001), and some other research literature.
(Retrospectively invented surnames are withheld, instead the seat manor -lordship, in practical terms- of the noble is mentioned where possible) That one was from Sweden, is not specifically pointed out, instead other coutries (Norway) are as far as possible.

1 marchioness of Northampton, born Elin Ulfsdotter Snakenborg

2 Ulf Henriksson of Fyllingarum
3 Agneta Knutsdotter of Norrnes. Her surname 'Lillie' may have been in use already in her lifetime.

4 Henrik Erlandsson of Fyllingarum
5 Elin Ulfsdotter of Ervalla
6 Knut Andersson of Okna
7 Marta Goransdotter of Norrnes

8 Erland Pedersson of Flishult
9 Gertrud Birgersdotter of Fyllingarum
10 Ulf Pedersson of Ervalla
11 Birgitta Joensdotter of Svenneby
12 Anders Larsson of Okna
13 Agneta Joensdotter of Ornes
14 Göran Hansson of Norrnes
15 Gertrud Nilsdotter Posse *

16 Peder Jonsson of Flishult
17 Elin Henriksdotter Snakenborg **
18 Birger Nilsson of Fyllingarum
19 Birgitta Isaksdotter of Ryklinge
20 Peter Ulvson av Huseby & Ervalla (from Norway)
21 Gjertrud Ogmundsdottir av Tomb (from Norway)
22 Joens Bengtsson of Svenneby
23 Karin Magnusdotter of Tjuk (or Kjuk, depends on which orthography is used)
24 Lars Öndersson of Okna
25 Kerstin Andersdotter
26 Joens Ingemarsson of Ornes
27 Kerstin Olofsdotter
28 Hans Pedersson of Norrnes
29 Cathrine Clausdatter Slaveka
30 Nils Jensen Posse, lord of Tun
31 Gjertrud Mattisdotter av Austraat (from Norway), possibly herself surnamed 'Reymar'


I am also thinking about whether I find time to go through the Raneke three volumes and collect referenced list of at least some of the above as to the escutcheon they bore.

This far no one had found time to furnish an electronic text of the ODNB biography I asked. It would be nice, had someone it in electric form.

* Reasoning for identification of the mother of Marta Goransdotter of Norrnes is presented in my article in the Journal of the Foundation for Medieval Genealogy, vol 2 nr 4

** According to Äldre Svenska Frälsesläkter, her paternal grandmother was not Kristina Bengtsdotter of Kraakerum, a great-niece of St.Bridget of Sweden. This piece of knowledge is contrary to what some have wanted to have in their pedigrees, or fabricated. Of course, a bunch of unreliable genealogies, particularly floating in the internet, present this otherwise, and some people tend to repeat such genealogies in full gullibility.[end quote]⁷

; Hellena (d Oct 1635), widow of William Parr, 1st Marquess of Northampton (bro of QUEEN KATHERINE PARR, see BURKE'S Extinct Peerage), dau of Wolfangus Snakenborg, and grand-dau of Henrik Erlandsson Báát (afterwards Snakenborg) of Sweden (she attended the funeral of ELIZABETH I as Ch Mourner, the Dukedom of Norfolk being under attainder).¹

; per Sjostrom: [quote] A couple months ago I observed that GORGES, Helena
(nee Snakenborg) has her own entry in the newest issue
of the vol 22 of Oxford Dictionary of National
Biography.
It would be nice if someone could scan and post that
little biography in electric form. I have a
recollection that there was some things basically
wrong with the article's claims about her medieval
ancestries, but I cannot recall exactly what it read.
However, were I to see it again, I would check it
against my materials about Scandinavian medieval
genealogies, and, no doubt, give a piece of mind.



Helena Ulfsdotter Snakenborg, Marchioness of
Northampton (1549-d 10 April 1635) [ODNB XXII pp 994..995], married firstly William Parr, 1st Marquess
of Northampton, d 1571, married secondly privy
councillor and knight Thomas Gorges, of Langford
(founder of Longford Castle in Wiltshire) (1536-d 30
March 1610). Children of the second marriage:

1 Elizabeth Gorges (1578-1659) [ODNB XXII p 994],
married firstly sir Hugh Smyth, of Ashton, d 1627,
married secondly sir Ferdinando Gorges, of Maine
(c1565-1647)

2 Francis Gorges (bc 1579, predeceased father, c
1599) [ODNB XXII p 994]

3 Frances Gorges (1580-1649) [ODNB XXII p 994],
married sir Thomas Tyringham, of Tyringham (c
1580-c1637)

4 sir Edward Gorges, baronet of Langford, 1st baron
of Dundalk (c1582-c1652) [ODNB XXII p 994]

5 sir Theobald Gorges, of Ashley (1583-1648) [ODNB XXII p 994]

6 Bridget Gorges (1584-c1634) [ODNB XXII p 994],
married sir Robert Phelipes, of Montacute (1586-1638)

7 sir Robert Gorges, of Redlynch (1588-1648) [ODNB XXII p 994]

8 sir Thomas Gorges (1589- d after 1624) [ODNB XXII p 994]

According to ODNB, IIRC at the time of Helena, she had
nearly a hundred her own descendants alive.
(It would be a funny statistical exercise to estimate
how big a portion of the current population of the
British Isles descend from her, there having been
almost four centuries between her death and the
present day.)

Helena's second husband, sir Thomas Gorges, of
Langford (1536-d 30 March 1610), a privy councillor of
Elizabeth I, appears to have been one of younger sons
of sir Edward Gorges (of ? Wraxall, Somerset), c1482 -
c1565, who himself was maternal grandson of sir John
Howard, 1st duke of Norfolk.
I have no reason to doubt the historicity of this
lineage, but I have not checked its veracity, only
read some very general British genealogy about the
matter.

This made sir Thomas Gorges a fairly close kinsman of
his liege lady, queen Elizabeth I; namely the queen
was sir Thomas' second cousin once removed (Anne
Boleyn was his exact second cousin). [end quote]²

     Ulf/Wolfgangus Henriksson Snakenborg Lord of Fyllingarum married Agneta Knutsdotter Lillie Heiress of Norrnes in 1544 at Stockholm, Sweden.³

Ulf/Wolfgangus Henriksson Snakenborg Lord of Fyllingarum died in 1583.²
      ; van de Pas cites: Den Introducerade Svenska Adelns Attartavlar Med Tillagg och Rattelser Stockholm, Elgenstierna, Gustaf, Reference: I 698.²

      ; van de Pas cites: 1. Den Introducerade Svenska Adelns Attartavlar Med Tillagg och Rattelser Stockholm, Elgenstierna, Gustaf, Reference: I 698
2. Scandinavian Medieval Descendants of Charlemagne, Foundations Magazine, 2007., Sjöstrom, M.² Henrik Erlandsson Snakenborg Lord of Fyllingarum was Justiciar of Ostrogothia.² Henrik Erlandsson Snakenborg Lord of Fyllingarum was also known as Henrik Erlandsson Baat.¹

Henrik Erlandsson Snakenborg Lord of Fyllingarum lived at Sweden.¹ He was living in 1528.²

     Francis Gorges died; dvp aged 20.¹ He was born circa 1579.² He married Ambrosia Gorges, daughter of Sir Arthur Gorges MP, of Great House, and Gorges House, Chelsea and Hon. Douglass Howard, circa December 1596
; contract Dec 1596.¹
Francis Gorges died circa 1599; predeceased his father.²
      ; Francis; m (contract Dec 1596) Ambrosia (dsp 1600), est dau of Sir Arthur Gorges, MP, of Great House, and Gorges House, Chelsea (see above), and dvp aged 20.¹

     Ambrosia Gorges was born on 25 December 1588.² She married Francis Gorges, son of Sir Thomas Gorges of Langford Castle and Hellena Ulfsdotter Snakenborg Marchioness of Northampton, circa December 1596
; contract Dec 1596.¹
Ambrosia Gorges died in 1600; dsp.¹
      ; Ambrosia, "the great heiress of the Howards"; b 25 Dec 1588; m (contract Dec 1596), Francis Gorges, est s of her great-uncle, Sir Thomas Gorges, of Langford Castle (see below), and dsp 1600. He dvp aged 20.²

; est dau of Sir Arthur Gorges, MP, of Great House, and Gorges House, Chelsea.¹

     Sir Arthur Gorges MP, of Great House, and Gorges House, Chelsea was born in 1557.² He married Hon. Douglass Howard, daughter of Henry Howard 2nd Viscount Howard of Bindon and Frances Meautys, in 1584.¹
Sir Arthur Gorges MP, of Great House, and Gorges House, Chelsea married Lady Elizabeth Clinton, daughter of Henry Clinton (alias Fiennes) KB, 2nd Earl of Lincoln, 10th Lord Clinton, circa 1597.¹

Sir Arthur Gorges MP, of Great House, and Gorges House, Chelsea died in 1625.²
Sir Arthur Gorges MP, of Great House, and Gorges House, Chelsea was buried on 10 October 1628 at More's Chapel, Chelsea Old Church.²
      ; Arthur (Sir), of Great House, and Gorges House, Chelsea, Butshead, and Dunchidiock, Aleyon, of Edmund Spencer's "Daphnaida," and himself a poet, a Gentleman Pensioner, he once was imprisoned in the Marshalsea with his cousin Walter Ralegh, and later when Ralegh was sent to the Tower on the discovery of an intrigue with the Queen's Maid of Honour, he endeavoured to obtain Ralegh's release, after a period in the Fleet prison, he captained Ralegh's (then R-Adml Sir Walter) ship Warspite, on the Islands Voyage of 1597. Fayal was occupied and a Knighthood bestowed, on the succession of JAMES I he was again imprisoned for alleged complicity in the Bye Plot, but returned to Roy favour as Gentleman of the Privy Chamber, on the death of HENRY, PRINCE OF WALES 1612, he wrote The Olympian Catastrophe (printed for the first time in 1925); b 1557; educ Oxford (BA 1574); m 1st, 1584, Hon Douglass Howard (d 1590), only child, and heiress of 2nd Viscount Howard of Bindon (see BURKE'S Extinct Peerage), and had issue (a dau Ambrosia). He m 2nd, c 1597, Lady Elizabeth Clinton (d 1643) dau of 2nd Earl of Lincoln (see BURKE'S Peerage, CLINTON, B and NEWCASTLE, D), and was bur 10 Oct 1625 in More's Chapel, Chelsea Old Church, having by her had issue, eleven children.²

     Sir Edward Gorges 1st Baron Gorges of Dundalk was born circa 1582.²
Sir Edward Gorges 1st Baron Gorges of Dundalk died circa 1650; Sjostrom says d. ca 1652.^1,2
      ; Edward, 1st Baron Gorges, of Dundalk, in the Peerage of Ireland (cr 13 July, 1620), the seventh of those Knighted by JAMES I (9 April, 1603), and one of the first Baronets (cr 25 Nov 1612), of Langford Castle, Captain of Hurst Castle, joined with other noblemen in a project to drain the fens of Lincs, which proved a failure, sold Langford Castle 1641 to 1st Ld Coleraine (see BURKE'S Extinct Peerage; the 2nd Ld Coleraine sold Langford Castle 1717 to Sir Edward des Bouveries, ancestor of the Earls of Radnor-it is now known as Longford Castle). He m 1st, Katherine, widow of Edward Haslewood, of Maidwell, and dau and heiress of Sir Robert Osborne, of Kelmarsh, Northants, and had issue:
1c Thomas; educ St John's Coll Oxford; dvp
2c Francis; educ Clare Coll Cambridge (MA).

He m 2nd, Jane Throxton, widow of Sir John Levingstone, and d ca. 1650, having by her had issue:
2c Richard, 2nd Baron Gorges, of Dundalk, of Stetchworth, Cambs, Monk's Hall, Lincs (which he conveyed to Ferdinando Gorges, of Ashley, see below), MP for Dounton, Wilts, 1640 (Long Parliament), for Newton, Lancs. 1661; b. ca. 1619; educ Clare Coll Cambridge; m Bridget, dau of Richard Kingsmill, of Sidmanton, Hants, and dsps 1712, having had issue:
1a. Edward; dvp young.
2a. Henry; b. ca. 1655; dvp 1674.
1c Margaret; m 1st, Sir Thomas Fleming (cousin of OLIVER CROMWELL); 2nd, Sir Francis Prideaux (or Pridjean), MD; and 3rd, Sir John Maynard, a Commr of the Great Seal.
2c Katherine; m Sir Robert Dillington, 1st Bt, of Knighton George, Isle of Wight (see BURKE'S Extinct Baronetcies). He d 1664.
3c Helena; m John Gibbon, of Yorks, Lincs, and Notts.
4c Bridget; m (as his 3rd wife), Rev Ezechiel Johnson.
5c Mary, of Stoke-under-Hamden, Cornwall, a courtier of Mary, Princess Roy, wife of William of Orange c 1649; d at The Hague, 1660.¹
He was 1st Baron Gorges, of Dundalk, in the Peerage of Ireland (cr 13 July, 1620) on 13 July 1620.¹

     Sir Theobald (Tibbot) Gorges of Ashley, Wilts was born in 1583.²
Sir Theobald (Tibbot) Gorges of Ashley, Wilts died in 1648; dspms.^1,2
      ; Theobald (Tibbot) (Sir), of Ashley, Wilts, MP for Cirencester, Glos 1640-43, when as a Royalist he was "disabled to sit," his estates sequestrated, and he was imprisoned for a short time; m 1st,-, and had issue:
1c Theobald (Tibbot), Capt, joined Prince Rupert at Hampton Road, July, 1643, and was probably k there.
2c a s; d before Feb 1646.
3c a s; d before Feb 1646.
1c Helena; m John Scrope, of Castle Combe, Chippenham, Wilts, and had issue (see that family, 1863 edn).
2c Anne; m
3c Elizabeth; m
He m 2nd, Anne, and dspms 1648.¹

     Sir Robert Gorges Knt., of Redlynch, Somerset was born circa 1588.^1,2
Sir Robert Gorges Knt., of Redlynch, Somerset died in 1648.^1,2
      ; Robert (Sir), Knighted 1617, of Redlynch, nr Bruton, Somerset, MP for Ilchester 1625, Taunton 1626, and Ilchester 1628-29; b. ca. 1588; educ Magdalen Coll Oxford (matric. 1605); d 1648, leaving issue:
1c Thomas, s his f and had issue: Poynts, s his f.
2c a s.
3c a s.
4c Charles, who had issue: Mary, an infant in 1659, when she claimed Redlynch, and other property.¹

     Bridget Gorges married Sir Robert Phelips Knt., KB, MP, of Montacute House, Somerset.^1,2
Bridget Gorges was born in 1584.²
Bridget Gorges died circa 1634.²
      ; Bridget; m Sir Robert Phelips (Phellipps), K.B, MP, of Montacute House, Somerset, and had issue (see that family, 1952 edn). He d 1638.¹