Cecilia Bourchier

Lady, Cecilia Bourchier, daughter of John Bourchier, Earl of Bath. Painted by Johnathan Lockley (c. 1547)

## Biography

### Birth

January 5th, 1531; Longleat House, Horningsham, Somerset, England.

### Mother

Lady, Eleanor Bourchier (neé Manners), Countess of Bath.

### Siblings

• John Bourchier, Baron FitzWarin. (b. 1529)
• Lady, Mary Bourchier of Bath. (b. 1528)

• Lady, Elizabeth Bourchier of Bath. (b. 1521)

## Noble Titles

### Tenure

(b. 1531 - Present)

Argent, a cross engrailed gules between four water bougets sable. (Circa. 1342)

**Lady Cecilia Bourchier** (b. January 5th, 1531 - Present) was a English noblewoman and later, courtier under the reign of King Edward VI. Born into the aristocratic and well-connected Bourchier branch of the present Earldom of Bath, she grew up surrounded by the sprawling estate that made up Tawstock Court in upper Devon, a stately home that was originally built during the feudalistic age of British history. Although born to *John Bourchier,* Earl of Bath, and *Eleanor Manners*, she did not recieve much attention in her early adolescence. due to the long string of siblings that came before her. Thus, most of her childhood was executed with much isolation. Her primary companion; her governess, Agnes Wright.

In the mid-1540s, accompanied by her educational companion and brother, Lord, *John Bourchier of FitzWarin*, she traveled to Prague, in Bohemia. This was largely due to the complex and uneasy relations with France at the time, and her father, holding some diplomatic sway in his profession. In the quickly developing municipality, already becoming a center for the teachings of humanism by the time she arrived, Cecilia took up residence with Count *Vratislav of Pernštejn*, whom owned a grand mentropolitan home near the gothic castle complex that towered over the many spires and churches of the medieval city. Under the pleasure of her hosts, she learned an array of knowledge that she brought back with her to England, such as the various architectural marvels and religious landscape, even immersing herself in the second Bohemian renaissance that would take over Prague by storm.

In a period of three years, Cecilia would depart from Bohemia and find herself back in England. With an expanded attitude on a world entirely different from her, she used it to advance herself upon her introduction into courtly life, which would become evident by 1547.

## Early Life and Adolescence

### Birth

Cecilia Anne Wilhelmina Bourchier was born on January 5th, 1531 to John Bourchier, Earl of Bath, and Lady Elizabeth Manners in the family retreat of Tawstock Court, located in North Devon, Somerset, England. The home had originally belonged to a feudal Baron of Barnstaple; Henry de Tracy, before switching hands and becoming the childhood home of Cecila in the early-16th century, rebuilt to accommodate her large family by her father. Her parents, although seemingly devoted to her for the first few moments of her birth, would later come to have very little time to involve themselves in her life. After all, her many siblings before her were due for marriage, and important undertaking of the time period. With Cecilia being fairly healthy upon birth, minor the traditional inconveniences for newborns, she was baptized two days later at the parish church of St. Peter in North Devon by a family priest named Richard Blund, a relative of the exiled-Bishop of Exeter. Her godparents would be selected as John Russell, Earl of Bedford and Lady Anne Sapcote, both relatives of her grandmother, Elizabeth Russell, Dowager-Countess of Bath. This was mainly ceremonial though, as she would barely come to know them throughout her life.

Upon her birth, Cecilia was thrust into the care of a nursemaid, and would continue to be under the care of such individuals until later on in her life when she would start her education under a governess.

### Education

In terms of education, Cecilia would receive a basic education customary for a child of her station. At a very early stage in her youth, she would take up musical theory and studies, turning to the earlier form of the clavichord. She was also noted to adore literature, consuming books from the extensive library at the family's provincial estate and enriching herself with the linguistics that revolved around classic literary works and the English language. This also prompted to her to become fluent in Latin, German, and only partly comprehensible in French, which she used later to further her studies. In order to complete these subjects, she was taught under a multi-cultural woman; Lady Margaret Hoby, whose father, Sir Phillip Hoby, was serving out his term as Ambassador to the Holy Roman Empire and Flanders. Lady Hoby's extensive diaries on the culture of England and various parts of the previous listed regions provided foundational reading material that Cecilia would use as references for her later interest on the focus of humanism and scholarly topics.

### The Grand Trip to Bohemia

The biggest part of Cecilia's life, to date, would be her trip to Bohemia that she took with her governess and brother, Lord, *John Bourchier of FitzWarin* in the early 1540s. Originally recommended and later planned by her governess, she would mainly be fulfilling this journey to adhere to her education and interests, especially as Prague was slowly becoming a center for humanism and the arts. This was only really due to uneasy tensions at the time with the Kingdom of France, in which Cecilia's father's little diplomatic efforts did not hold sway over a larger conflict in the ability of Paris to be used as a destination. Nevertheless, she and her entourage still departed England although this time for the farther-reaching region of Bohemia instead.

Setting off in spring, when travel conditions over the channel were much more agreeable, Cecilia would travel from London to the small town of Great Yarmouth where she would find temporary lodgings until passage became available. After two days sailing along the northern-French coastline, she would arrive in the port of Ostend, located in the former-Burgundarian Netherlands. It wouldn't be until months later, that she would actually arrive in Prague after moving through much of the Holy Roman Empire, including regions such as Lorraine and Bavaria. In the growing city, Cecilia and her enterouge were greeted by Count Vratislav of Pernštejn and his wife, Johana of Pernštejn, who were responsible for her accommodation during her stay. The grand Pernštejnský Palais , located near the most historic center of the city, was what she was to call home for the few years that she was to be there.

> *Oh, how words could ever capture the splendour of the Pernstejn Palace? Imagine, if you will, a structure that appears to have sprung from out of the most fantastical stories. I felt as though I had entered a dream when I first saw its tall spires and exquisite façade. The palace was bathed in a warm glow from the golden sun, revealing the fine paintings and detailed sculptures that covered every surface. The gardens, my dear mother, are a vision of paradise itself. Fountains adorned with delicate sculptures danced in the sunlight, their waters sparkling like diamonds. Pathways lined with vibrant blossoms led me to hidden alcoves where I could contemplate and dream. I imagined the conversations that would take place beneath the shade of ancient trees, the laughter that would echo through the corridors, and the friendships that would be woven into the very fabric of this enchanting place. (*A letter written by Cecilia Bourchier to her moth, Elizabeth Manners regarding the state of her accommodation. Circa. 1544.)
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In the overall years that she would reside within Prague, Cecilia pursued much of her scholarly interests, especially since the city was a hub of intellectual activity at the time of her arrival. Names such as that of Tycho Brahe and Johannes Kepler come to mind. She would attend lectures by such people on the grounds of the infamous Charles University, or at the homes of their patrons. The informal schedule that her hosts had provided her, also meant that Cecilia could explore much of the architectural achievements that Prague had to offer, such as the charming streets of both the lesser town and old town, built on that precocious foundation, or even the medieval Charles Bridge, adorned with it's statues of saints and filled with the lively stalls of merchants and musicians. She had a particular interest in the extended gardens beneath Prague Castle, which stretched as if to have no boundaries. Perhaps the most interesting of all though, is when she would attend a particular few set of ceremonies upon the arrival of Ferdinand I and his wife, Anne of Bohemia and Hungary, upon their arrival into the city one year.

Cecilia only really had a passion for Prague itself, and was not as keen on exploring any of the countryside that the region had to offer. However, in the year concluding her trip, she and her entourage were offered by her host, Vratislav of Pernštejn, to travel with him and part of his family to *Litomyšl Castle,* a large renaissance abode isolated in the region of Moravia. It was recommended that the trip be taken on the account of the summer introducing unseen diseases that spread like wildfire. At the country residence, Cecilia took up many activities that she had done at her own Tawstock Court when she was younger. This was mainly in form of riding for the sole purpose of recreation or hunting, which was a new activity taught to her at the time. It is important to note, that she did not just take up residence at Litomyšl the summer before her return to England, but in fact hoped between different stately homes recommended to her by the count. This included both the Valtice and Lednice retreats owned by the Lichtensteins and Roudnice nad Labem Castle owned by the princely Lobkowicz family. Eventually, Cecilia would transition back to Prague by the fall, where she would start planning her initial journey back home.

> *"Prague itself emerged like a gem from the heart of the Bohemian countryside. Its spires reached towards the heavens, casting intricate shadows upon the winding streets below. The air was filled with the melodies of street musicians, and the scent of exotic spices danced on the breeze. I wandered through bustling markets, eager to absorb every sight, sound, and scent that this city had to offer. And then, my dear friend, there is the splendor of the architecture that graces this city. The grandeur of Prague Castle, perched atop its hill, left me breathless. Its soaring spires and intricate detailing spoke of a bygone era, and I felt a sense of reverence as I walked through its historic halls..."* (The last letter written by Cecilia Bourchier before her journey back to England; supposedly to her companion, Lady Ultrecht. Circa. 1546-1547)
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Starting her initial departure home, Cecilia would attempt to reverse her process of moving through the former-Burgundarian Netherlands, however, bad weather had actually caused an entire reroute down to Austria, where she moved through Vienna and then on to Munich. By the time she had arrived in Antwerp though, the weather had cleared up drastically, and after a few minor days, she was crossing back over the channel, where she would arrive in Bornemouth. The enterouge would then move upwards back to London. This concluded a great part of Cecilia's education, and as she produced many souvenirs from her journey, it was later discovered that she had written an extensive memoir about her trip that she would later publish under a section of her central biography.