Catherine Parr - Lady Latimer

Lady Latimer

It is thought that, in 1533, Catherine spent her time with the widow of her cousin Sir Walter Strickland, the Dowager Lady Strickland, Catherine Neville at the Strickland's family residence of Sizergh Castle in Westmorland (now Cumbria). Parr was not only related to Neville by blood, but also by marriage. Catherine's great-aunt, Agnes Parr, married Sir Thomas Strickland, son of Sir Walter and Douce Crofte. Another relation was through Elizabeth Ros, daughter of Sir John Ros of Kendal and Catherine Strickland who married Sir William Parr; the two were Catherine's paternal great-great grandparents. The Dowager Lady Strickland was kin to Parr's next husband, John Neville. In the summer of 1534 she married John Neville, 3rd Baron Latymer, of Snape, North Yorkshire. At age 40, Lord Latimer was twice Catherine's age. Latimer was her father's second cousin, a twice-widowed descendant of George Neville, 1st Baron Latimer, Warwick, the 'Kingmaker's', 'idiot uncle'. From his first marriage to Dorothy de Vere, sister of the John de Vere, Earl of Oxford, he had two children, John and Margaret. Neville was one of fifteen children born to Richard Neville, Lord Latimer and Anne Stafford, daughter of Sir Humphrey Stafford. Latimer's branch of the Neville family was in line for the title of Earl of Warwick and because of this, Lord Latimer dealt with quite a bit of sibling rivalry. Legal actions were taken by his younger brothers and Latimer, at the time of his marriage to Catherine, was having financial difficulties. But as Lady Latimer, Catherine now had a home of her own, a husband with a position and influence in the north, a ready-made family, and a title. Catherine would be the only female from the Parr family, apart from her great-aunt, Mabel, to marry into the peerage. From the beginning of the marriage, Catherine made an attempt to be a good wife. Her affection for her husband would grow deep enough to cherish a remembrance of him, his New Testament with his name inscribed inside, which she kept until her death. Catherine would also prove to be a good step-mother to her step-children; a trait which she would again show after her marriage to the King. Her teenage stepson, John, proved to be difficult. There is some indication that Margaret, his sister, was their father's favourite. Nevertheless, Catherine would continue a relationship with the two after her marriage to King Henry, bringing Margaret to court as her lady-in-waiting and securing a position for John's wife in her household.

Latimer was a supporter of the Catholic Church and had bitterly opposed the king's divorce, his subsequent marriage to Anne Boleyn and its religious ramifications. In 1536, within two weeks of the riot in Louth, a mob appeared before the Latimer's home threatening violence if Lord Latimer did not join their cause. Catherine watched as her husband was dragged away by the rebels. As prisoner of the insurgents, conflicting stories of which side Latimer was truly on began to reach Cromwell and the King in London. The rebellion in Yorkshire put him in a terrible dilemma. If he was found guilty of treason his estates would be forfeited, leaving Catherine and her step-children penniless. The King himself wrote to the Duke of Norfolk pressing him to make sure Latimer would 'condemn that villain Aske and submit to our clemency'. Latimer was more than happy to comply. Both Catherine's brother, William Parr and uncle, William Parr, 1st Baron Parr of Horton fought with the Duke of Norfolk and the Duke of Suffolk against the rebellion. It is most likely to Catherine's credit that Lord Latimer survived; both her brother and uncle probably intervened at one point and saved Lord Latimer's life.

Between October 1536 and April 1537 Lady Latimer lived alone in fear with her step-children, struggling to survive. It is probable that, in these uncertain times, Catherine's strong reaction against the rebellion strengthened her adherence to the reformed church. In January 1537, Catherine and her step-children were held hostage at Snape Castle during the uprising of the North. The rebels ransacked the house and sent word to Lord Latimer, who was returning from London, that if he did not return immediately they would kill his family. When Lord Latimer returned to the castle, he somehow talked the rebels into releasing his family and leaving, but the aftermath would prove to be taxing on the whole family.

The family would later move south after the executions of the rebels which pleased Cromwell and the King. Although no charges were found, Latimer's reputation, which reflected upon Catherine, was tarnished for the rest of his life. He spent the last seven years of his life blackmailed by Cromwell. Catherine would spend much of her time in the south during the years of 1537–42. Her husband was called away frequently to do the bidding of Cromwell and the King and be present during Parliament. With Cromwell's fall in 1540, the Latimers reclaimed some dignity and as Lord Latimer attended Parliament in 1542 he and Catherine spent time in London that winter. Her brother, William and sister, Anne had been present at court. Anne entered court service in 1531 as maid-in-waiting to Henry's queens. It was here that she became acquainted with her future fourth husband Sir Thomas Seymour. The atmosphere of the court was much different from the rural and parochial estates. It was here that Catherine could find the latest trends, not only in religious matters, but in less weighty secular matters such as fashion and jewellery.

By the winter of 1542, Lord Latimer's health had deteriorated. Catherine spent the winter of 1542–1543 nursing her husband. John Neville, Lord Latimer, died in 1543. In Lord Latimer's will, Catherine was named guardian of his daughter, Margaret, and was put in charge of Lord Latimer's affairs until his daughter's majority. Latimer left Catherine Stowe Manor and other properties. He also bequeathed money for supporting his daughter and in the case that his daughter did not marry within five years, Catherine was to take £30 per annum out of the income to support her step-daughter. Catherine was left a rich widow faced with the possibility of having to return north after Lord Latimer's death.

Using her late mother's relationship with Henry's first queen Catherine of Aragon, Catherine took the opportunity to renew her friendship with Lady Mary. By 16 February 1543, Catherine had established herself with Mary and was now part of her household. It was in the household of King Henry and Catherine of Aragon's daughter, Lady Mary, that Catherine Parr caught the attention of the King. After the death of Parr's second husband, Catherine began a relationship with Sir Thomas Seymour, the brother of the late queen Jane Seymour, but the King took a liking to her and she saw it as her duty to accept Henry's proposal over Seymour's. Thomas Seymour was given a posting in Brussels to remove him from court.