The Birth of Anne Clifford - 30 January 1590

On 30 January in 1590, Anne Clifford, writer, poet, prolific diarist and literary patron, was born at Skipton Castle, Yorkshire.

Detail from 'Anne, Countess of Pembroke (Lady Anne Clifford)' Robert White, 1603 ©National Portrait Gallery

Detail from 'The Great Picture' depicting Margaret Russell and George Clifford. Jan van Belcamp, 1646 © Lakeland Arts

Anne was the third child and only daughter of George Clifford, 3rd Earl of Cumberland, and his wife Margaret Russell, the youngest sister of Anne Russell, Countess of Warwick. The couple had known each other since childhood, George's wardship having been granted to Margaret's father, popular privy councillor Francis Russell, 2nd Earl of Bedford, following the death of his own father in 1570. The couple married in 1577, shortly before Margaret's 17th birthday, once George came of age, with there being clear evidence of a mutual affection between the pair, in the early years of their marriage; he referred to Margaret in correspondance repeatedly as "my dear one" and "Sweet Meg". The newly-weds soon relocated to the north, basing themselves predominantly at Skipton Castle, a medieval castle and principal seat of the Clifford family (Williamson, 1922; Holmes, 1975).

Detail from 'The Great Picture' depicting Robert and Francis Russell. Jan van Belcamp, 1646 ©Lakeland Arts

Two sons had already been born to the couple, Francis and Robert; however, shortly before Anne's birth, on 10/11 December 1589, their older son Francis died at Skipton Castle, aged 5, with his mother and brother both being present. The couple's surviving son Robert lived only another year, dying at Margaret's sister Anne's home at Northall, Hertfordshire, on 24 May 1591, also aged 5. The deaths of their two sons and heirs, in addition to George's postings abroad, would lead to a deterioration within the couple's marriage, and a subsequent estrangement with his wife and daughter (Holmes, 1975; Clifford, 2003).

© Holy Trinity Church, Skipton

Anne was baptised at Holy Trinity Church, Skipton on 22 February 1590, in the same church where her eldest brother Francis was buried, interred in a vault amongst their Clifford ancestors. Her nominated godparents were Philip Wharton, 3rd Baron Wharton (husband of her paternal aunt Frances Clifford), paternal aunt Margaret Clifford [Stanley], Countess of Derby, and maternal aunt Anne, Countess of Warwick. Her aunt Anne was not present for the ceremony, as her husband of 25 years, Ambrose Dudley, 3rd Earl of Warwick died the previous day (21 February) at Bedford House, The Strand, Westminster. Nor was her aunt Margaret, both of whom were presented by deputies Mary Percy, wife of Sir Francis Slingsby of Scriven (and aunt to Henry Percy, 9th Earl of Northumberland), and "Mrs Tempest of Bracewell'' (Holmes, 1975).

© Skipton Castle

Anne's father George was also not in Yorkshire at this time; he had returned to England in late December 1589, although court business and duties had prevented him from returning to Yorkshire. He was still in London at the time of Anne's baptism, it being known that he was also staying at Bedford House at the time of Ambrose Dudley's death. He finally saw his daughter at the end of March 1590, when she was 8 weeks old, when he arrived at Skipton. However, this visit was short-lived, as he soon took his two surviving children down to London (Holmes, 1975). His presence was also documented at Ambrose's funeral in Warwick on 09 April 1590 (Collins, 1746). Anne later wrote that she did not return to Skipton Castle until almost 60 years later, in July 1649, after a four-decade struggle for her rightful inheritance (Clifford, 2003).

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Bibliography: Clifford, D.J.H. (ed.) (2003). The Diaries of Lady Anne Clifford. Stroud: The History Press. Collins, A. (ed.) (1746). The Sydney Papers, Volume 1.  London: T.Osborne. Holmes, M. (1975). Proud Northern Lady. Stroud: The History Press. Williamson, G.C. (1922) Lady Anne Clifford. Countess of Dorset, Pembroke & Montgomery. 1590-1676. Her Life, Letters and Work. Kendal: Titus Wilson and Son.

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