Today in 1565 Kat Ashley died. Kat Ashley is remembered in popular culture as Elizabeth I’s governess, as well as her dear friend, almost like a mother figure to her after her own mother had died.
After Edward VI was born, Elizabeth lost her nurse, Lady Bryan, who was transferred to his household. Kat was appointed as a waiting gentlewoman to the then Lady Elizabeth in July 1536. In 1537, when Elizabeth was four, Katherine became her governess.
Kat was clearly well educated. She taught Elizabeth astronomy, geography, history, mathematics, French, Flemish, Italian and Spanish. In addition, she taught Elizabeth pursuits such as needlework, embroidery, dancing, riding, and deportment. By the age of six, Elizabeth was able to sew a beautiful cambric shirt as a gift for Edward VI. Sources state that Kat accustomed Elizabeth to the “elaborate code of politeness and subservience to her elders”. Elizabeth herself praised Kat’s early devotion to her studies by stating that Kat took “great labour and pain in bringing of me up in learning and honesty”.
Kat Ashley died today, July 18.
That’s your Tudor Minute for today. Remember you can dive deeper into life in 16th century England through the Renaissance English History Podcast at englandcast.com.
Suggested links:
Rebecca Larson on Thomas and Katherine: A Love Story?
Autumn 2018 Tudor Summit: Rebecca Larson on Thomas Seymour
From the shop:
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Heather Teysko is the creator, writer, and producer of The Renaissance English History Podcast, one of the longest running indie history podcasts, going since 2009. She's been writing about history online for over 25 years, since her first site on Colonial American history became number one in history on Yahoo in 1998. She writes books, created the original Tudor Planner (a yearly diary filled with Tudor history) and in 2019 created the world's first Tudorcon (you can "attend" online this year!). She has been passionate about Tudor England since she first read Alison Weir's The Six Wives of Henry VIII 20 years ago, and subsequently moved to London after college to spend her time immersed in Tudor history.