The Death and Funeral of Francis Russell, 2nd Earl of Bedford, 1585

'Francis Russell, 2nd Earl of Bedford' Unknown Artist, c.1564 © Woburn Abbey

Francis Russell, 2nd Earl of Bedford, had been a popular and active courtier during the reign of Elizabeth I, following in the footsteps of his father, John Russell, 1st Earl of Bedford, a high-ranking councillor during the reigns of the three previous monarchs: Henry VIII, Edward VI and Mary I. As the only son and heir of the first Earl, it was said that he owed his initial position at court and parliament to his father's success and legacy; however, Bedford was able to prove himself and step out of his father's shadow, creating his own successful career. His 'polished manners', 'easiness of temper' and intelligence, in addition to his progressive Reformist views, led to the queen holding him in high esteem. He was subsequently rewarded by the bestowing of multiple appointments and commissions throughout his career, including that of Privy Councillor and Ambassador to France, as well as being appointed to the coveted Order of the Garter, the oldest and most senior order of knighthood. Being educated at Cambridge, he was known to have spoken many different languages, including French, Italian and Latin; on his death, manuscripts written in Italian and Latin were bequeathed to his heirs (Wiffin, 1833; History of Parliament, 2025). During his later years, Bedford's health began to decline, leading to limitations in his court and parliamentary duties. By July 1585, after suffering from a variety of 'maladies', he had developed gangrene: a serious condition where reduction or loss of blood supply leads to body tissue dying, particularly in the extremities, including toes, feet, fingers and hands. Bedford was forced to undergo "the torture of the lancet", likely with the intent of relieving the pain which can be caused by swelling, sores and blisters of the infected area (Wiffin, 1833, p.551; NHS, 2025).

'A surgeon letting blood from a man's arm'. French School, late 17thc. © wellcome collection

This intervention provided Bedford with some alleviation of his symptoms, although it was said that he faced his health issues with 'fortitude' and 'patience'.His health stabilised for a short-time, enabling him to receive a visit from the queen. However this relief was only temporary, as the infection continued tp spread, and Bedfordl's health continued to deteriorate. With nothing more to be done, the Earl died at his Westminster home, Bedford House (previously known as 'Russell House'), located on The Strand, within the parish of St Clement Danes , in his 58th year (Wiffin, 1833; History of Parliament, 2025).

'Francis Russell, 2nd Earl of Bedford' engraver: Jacobus Houbraken, 1740 © National Portrait Gallery

Following Bedford's death, preparations were made for his funeral, in accordance to his will, which had been written the previous year, on 07 April 1584, likely when his health was starting to fail. His first request was for "my bodie...to be buried in the parish church of Cheynes", the manor estate in Buckinghamshire that he had inherited on his mother's death in 1559, which had become the family seat for the Russell family, and later the Earls of Bedford, on his parents's marriage in 1526. Requests were made for twenty sermons to be preached for him, within five months of his death, "by godly, learned and discreet ministers", including at Cheynes. Bedford also made provisions for "the poor folke" of his estates, including Cheynes and Woburn Abbey, in addition to plans for a scholarship for "two poor students of divinity" attending University College, Oxford and founding a school at Woburn, his patronage and encouragement of learning continuing after his death (Wiffin, 1833; History of Parliament Online, 2025; The National Archives, 2025).

Detail from 'The Great Picture' Jan van Belcamp, c.1646 ©Lakeland Arts

On 12 September 1585, John Stanhope a gentleman of the Privy Chamber, was sent by Elizabeth I to visit the "mourning ladies, and to comfort them from her": Anne, Countess of Warwick, and her younger sister Margaret, Countess of Cumberland (Folgerpedia, 2025). The sisters had retreated to 'North Hall', the manor of Northaw, Hertfordshire, that had been granted to Anne's husband Ambrose Dudley, 3rd Earl of Warwick the previous decade, and at which the couple had made their primary residence away from court. Margaret was heavily pregnant at this time; she delivered her second child, son Robert, nine days later on 21 September, whilst still staying at Northaw. Robert's birth is memorialised in the impressive composite painting, 'The Great Picture', commissioned by his younger sister Anne Clifford, six decades later. Anne appears to have returned to court, being a long-time member of the queen's household, accompanied by her brother-in-law George Clifford, 3rd Earl of Cumberland, after her father's funeral; however, she only remained one night, before returning to Northaw, likely due to news surrounding her sister's labour. There appears to be lots of activity at Northaw during September 1585, with Warwick being in residence, and his younger brother, Robert Dudley, 1st Earl of Leicester, visiting him repeatedly, whilst arrangements were being made for his deployment to the Netherlands (Google Arts & Culture, 2024; Folgerpedia, 2025).

St Michael's Church, Chenies ©Chenies Manor House and Gardens

On 14 September 1585, Bedford's funeral was held with great pomp and ceremony at Cheynes, six weeks after his death, His body having been transported from Westminster to Buckinghamshire. A great funeral procession accompanied the coffin, carried by six yeoman, from the manor house, to the Church of St Michael, located within the grounds of the estate. Heralds were adorned with the Russell crests, whilst gentleman carried banners, an expected sight at an aristocratic funeral. Bedford's son-in-law and former ward George Clifford, 3rd Earl of Cumberland, acted as his chief mourner, whilst other male relatives attended, including his only surviving son Sir William Russell, nephews 'the Lord [John] St John' and 'Mr Oliver St John', and stepson-in-law Arthur Grey, 14th Baron Grey de Wilton. It is also known that his old friend and ally Leicester, with whom he had fought alongside at the Siege of Saint-Quentin in 1557, left the royal court at Nonsuch Palace, to attend Bedford's funeral (Wiffin, 1883; Folgerpedia, 2025). The funeral sermon was delivered by Dr Thomas Sparke, Puritan Doctor of Divinity, a copy of which being later published, Sparke having "beene earnestly vrged, & entreated...to commit the same to writing, and so to the print". In his sermon, Sparke notes the unfortunate death of Bedford and his three eldest sons, highlighting how some may question whether this was God displaying "anger and displeasure towardes him and his house", although continues to highlight the positive attributes of an admired and pious man (University of Michigan, 2025),

Tomb effigies of Francis Russell 2nd Earl of Bedford and Margaret St John, Bedford Chapel, St Michael's Church, Chenies © IanAWood [Flickr]

Bedford was later interred in the Bedford Chapel within the church; this was the chapel that had been commissioned by his mother Anne Sapcote, Countess of Bedford, in accordance with his father, John Russell's will. Completed and consecrated in 1556, the chapel subsequently became the mausoleum of the Russell family, even after the abandonment of Cheynes for Woburn Abbey as their principle seat in the 17th century. Bedford was interred with his first wife, Margaret St John, who had died from smallpox in August 1562, their marble and alabaster tomb topped with matching tomb effigies of the couple, their eyes gazing upwards, their hands joined in prayer. A large heraldic shield, of Russell impaled with St John, sits at the head of the monument, along with other symbols associated with their ancestry, including the goat and yale (Wiffin, 1833; Middlesex Heraldry Society, 2025).

'Edward, 3rd Earl of Bedford', George Perfect Harding, after Marcus Gheeraerts II, early 19thc. ©The Trustees of the British Museum

Bedford's second wife Bridget Hussey, Countess of Bedford, died more than fifteen years later, in January 1601. Bridget was initially interred in Watford, but her remains and monument were moved to the Bedford Chapel, following its extension in the early 20th century. Four of the seven children he had with his first wife Margaret St John survived their their parents, including eldest daughter Anne and youngest daughter Margaret. The day prior to his own death, on 27 July 1585, Bedford's eldest suriving son and heir, Francis Russell, Baron Russell, died from gunshot wounds he had sustained during a skirmish on the Scottish Borders. The Earldom of Bedford therefore passed to his twelve-year-old grandson Edward, son of Francis; Edward's wardship was later granted to his aunt and uncle, the Earl and Countess of Warwick, who took on responsibility for his upbringing and education, as well as the commission and supervision of a new residence, 'New' Bedford House (British History Online, 2024; Middlesex Heraldry Society, 2025). THE DUDLEY WOMEN BLOG: Anne Russell and 'The Great Picture'.

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Bibliography: 'The Bedford Estate: The Bedford Estate from 1527 to 1627'. British History Online. [website]. Available at: https://www.british-history.ac.uk/survey-london/vol36/pp22-25 (Accessed on: 26 Dec 2024). 'The Elizabethan Court Day by Day - 1585'. Folgerpedia. [website]. Available at: https://folgerpedia.folger.edu/mediawiki/media/images_pedia_folgerpedia_mw/archive/6/6d/20170609170032!ECDbD_1585.pdf (Accessed 13 Aug 2025). 'The Great Picture'. Google Arts & Culture. [website]. Available at: https://artsandculture.google.com/asset/the-great-picture-attributed-to-jan-van-belcamp/ugHL4_ozVj1f3g?hl=en (Accessed 28 Mar 2024). 'RUSSELL, Francis (1527-85), of Amersham and Chenies, Bucks. and Russell (Bedford) House, the Strand, Mdx.' History of Parliament Online. [website]. Available at: https://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1509-1558/member/russell-francis-1527-85 (Accessed 13 Aug 2025). 'Heraldry of the Bedford Chapel, Chenies Buckinghamshire'. Middlesex Heraldry Society. [website]. Available at: http://www.middlesex-heraldry.org.uk/publications/monographs/chenies/cheniesBKM-foreword.htm  (Accessed 06 Mar 2025). 'Will of Sir Frauncis Russell Earl of Bedford Lord Russell or Frauncis Earl of Bedford of Chenies, Buckinghamshire'. The National Archives. [website]. Available at: https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D922564 (Accessed 13 Aug 2025). 'Gangrene'. NHS. [website]. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/gangrene/ (Accessed 12 Sep 2025). 'A sermon preached at Cheanies the 14. of September, 1585, at the buriall of the right honorable the earle of Bedforde, By Thomas Sparke Doctor of Divinitie.' University of Michigan Library. [website]. Available at: https://quod.lib.umich.edu/e/eebo2/A12705.0001.001?rgn=main;view=fulltext (Accessed 14 Aug 2025). Wiffin, J.H. (1833). Historical Memoirs of the House of Russell from the Time of the Norman Conquest. Vol 1. London: J. Moyes.

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