Margaret Manners

## Margaret Manners, Countess of Rutland

Edward Neville

Christopher Neville

George Neville

Ralph Neville

Cuthbert Neville

Dorothy Neville, Countess of Oxford

Mary Neville

Elizabeth Neville, Baroness Dacre

Eleanor Neville

Anne Neville

Margaret Manners, Countess of Rutland (née Neville; Born April 23rd 1527 - Present) is an English aristocrat and peeress known for her devotion and fervor to the Catholic faith. Lady Margaret Manners is the daughter of Ralph Neville, 4th Earl of Westmorland and his wife Catherine Stafford, Countess of Westmorland. A member of the famous Anglo-Saxon, Neville Family, Lady Margaret carries herself with great dignity and prestige owing to her great family line. In July of 1536, she married Henry Manners, who later would become the 2nd Earl of Westmorland.

A renowned member of the pro-Catholic faction, Lady Margaret Manners has distinguished herself as a charitable and capable Catholic who uses her influence and wealth to support impoverished nuns and monks, Catholic peasantry, and Catholic churches.

## **Early Life**

Lady Margaret was born at Raby Castle on the 23rd of April, 1527 to her parents Ralph Neville, 4th Earl of Westmorland and his wife Catherine Stafford.

The young Margaret was quickly transferred to the care of nurses and maids, who dotted on her, upon her mother's request. At the age of five, Lady Margaret Neville began a supplementary education as dictated by her father, who wished to imitate the education received by Italian noble daughters. Margaret was educated by Agnes Wynston, the well-educated daughter of a gentry-class gentleman. Ms. Wynston educated Margaret in reading and writing, needlepoint, literature, music, and etiquette.

In 1534, when Lady Margaret was seven years old, the church in England split into two; The remnants of the Catholic faith and the Church of England. Margaret's father, the Earl of Westmorland unlike the majority of nobles in England did not embrace the new religion. Instead remaining a steadfast Catholic. An even more rigorous Catholic education was implemented upon his children. Literature by John Fisher and Thomas More–riskily–was studied by the young Lady Margaret, only furthering her pro-Catholic and counter-reformation ideas. Agnes Wynston was fired as the governess of Margaret, because of her pro-reformation and Protestant views. Ms. Wynston was replaced with Joan Myllet, a former nun, who due to her monastery’s foreclosure turned to private education as a governess. Ms. Myllet was the daughter of a magistrate and was high educated by her father. Ms. Myllet tutored Lady Margaret in the subjects of Catholic Philosophy, Latin, hymn writing, arithmetic, history, and geography. Ms. Myllet also requested an instructor of Italian and French for Lady Margaret.

### **Marriage**

In the winter of 1536, a double marriage between the families of Manners and Neville was proposed and promptly agreed upon. Additionally, the de Vere family also joined the agreement, creating a triple marriage. It was settled that Margaret would marry the son & heir to the Earldom of Rutland, Henry Manners and that Margaret’s brother, Henry Neville would marry the sister of Henry Manners, Anne Manners. Additionally, Dorothy Neville, Margaret’s elder sister, was to marry the heir to the Earldom of Oxford, John de Vere.

On the 3rd of July, 1536, at Holywell in Shoreditch, London, the triple marriage occurred. In a Catholic ceremony, Margaret was married to Henry Manners, assuming the name Margaret Manners as well as the style of Lady of Rutland. Her first cousin, Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey escorted Lady Margaret from the church to the Manners’ mansion in Shoreditch. The wedding reception was notably attended by Henry VIII and his new Queen, Jane Seymour, just six weeks after the beheading of Anne Boleyn.

### **Adolescence**

Following her wedding, Lady Margaret remained under the care of her father, continuing her education, while still frequently visiting her husband. When she was thirteen she and her husband moved in together at Shoreditch, Holywell, the same place they had married a few years prior. The young couple slept in different rooms, on opposite sides of the manor. However, they took to breakfast together in the early morning and would spend time discussing various topics of interest. When she was sixteen, her father-in-law, Thomas Manners, 1st Earl of Rutland died, leaving her husband as the new Earl of Rutland. The new Earl and Countess of Rutland were left in grief at the passing of the previous Earl.

## **Issue**

With her husband, Henry Manners, Earl of Rutland, had issue;

* **Lord Edward Manners** (Born February 12th, 1547 - Present)
* **Lady Cecily Manners** (November 22nd 1548)