Anne Basset (lady-in-waiting)

Anne Basset (1520 – before 1558) was an English lady-in-waiting of the Tudor period, reputed to have been the mistress of King Henry VIII.[1]

For the Canadian psychiatrist, see Anne S. Bassett. For the rancher associated with Butch Cassidy, see Ann Bassett.

Biography

Anne was born in 1520,[2] the fourth child of Sir John Basset and Honor Grenville (daughter of Sir Thomas Grenville of Stowe in Kilkhampton, Cornwall and his wife Isabella). As her father died when she was young, Anne was brought up by her mother and stepfather, Arthur Plantagenet, Lord Lisle, in the English enclave of Calais. Lord Lisle was the illegitimate son of Edward IV of England, and thus Henry VIII's uncle.

Court career

Anne's mother, had attempted to secure a place for her two daughters (Anne and her sister Katharine Basset) in the service of Queen Anne Boleyn several times, but to no avail. She persisted in her efforts to secure them positions and eventually, after sending a large consignment of quails to Anne's successor, Queen Jane Seymour, the latter relented.

She allowed Lady Lisle to send her daughters but warned her that only one position could be found. Anne was the sister accepted and was sworn into service the day after the pregnant queen took to her chamber for her lying-in.[1]

Anne is rumoured to have attracted Henry VIII in 1538 and 1539, and is rumoured to have been the king's mistress. The ambassadors thought that she might become his fourth wife in 1540, and again in 1542, just after Queen Catherine Howard was sentenced to death.[1]

In August 1540 Anne Bassett and others ladies of the court visited Portsmouth to see a newly built ship. They sent Henry VIII a joint letter which was signed by Mabel, Lady Southampton, Margaret Tallebois, Margaret Howard, Alice Browne, Anne Knyvett (daughter of Thomas Knyvett), Jane Denny, Jane Meutas, Anne Bassett, Elizabeth Tyrwhitt, and Elizabeth Harvey.[3]

Anne had served with Lady Anne Herbert as ladies to Queen Catherine Howard. Lady Herbert was sister to Henry’s sixth and final queen, Catherine Parr. Anne was a maid in waiting to Queen Catherine Parr.[4]

Anne was maid of honour to Queen Mary I. On 11 June 1554, Robert Swyfte reported her marriage to Sir Walter Hungerford in a letter to Francis Talbot, 5th Earl of Shrewsbury:

"on Thursday last was married at Richmond, Basset the Queen's maid to Mr Hungerfurthe, son and heir to Lord Hungerfurthe, at which day the Queen shewed herself very pleasant, commanding all mirth and pastime"[5]

There were two children of the marriage, who both died without issue.[6][7] Anne died before 1558, when Sir Walter — with the permission of Mary — married Anne Dormer.[8]

Anne Bassett is the basis of the character Nan Bassett in Kate Emerson's novel, "Secrets of the Tudor Court: Between Two Queens".,[9] as well as E. Knight's "My Lady Viper".

Notes
  1. Hart 2009, p. 197.
  2. Grummitt 2008.
  3. Henry Ellis, Original Letters, series 1 vol. 2 (London, 1824), pp. 126-127.
  4. Susan James. Catherine Parr: Henry VIII’s Last Love, 2010
  5. HMC 6th Report: Frank (London, 1877), p. 450.
  6. Ashton 2004.
  7. Harding 1982.
  8. Harrison 1891.
  9. Simon & Schuster staff (5 January 2010). Review: Secrets of the Tudor Court: Between Two Queens. Simon & Schuster. ISBN 9781416583271.

References
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