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 Mary Belasye, Countess Falconberg3743325114300I was born near Ely in 1637. I was the daughter of a gentleman farmer and the 8th of nine children. My mother was the daughter of a gentleman too. My father was a member of Parliament and important in the local area. He is now one of the most famous men in British history, Oliver Cromwell. His statue is still outside Parliament. I was only five years’ old when the Civil War began. My father was away fighting for Parliament and I stayed at home with my mother and younger siblings. Oliver Cromwell discovered a talent for soldiering and leadership. He played a very important role at the trial that led to the execution of King Charles I in 1649. By 1653 he was Lord Protector of England. I was still only 16 years’ old in 1653 and I moved with my parents into the palaces of Whitehall and Hampton Court. I had my own apartments in both palaces. It was a big change from the farmhouse in Cambridgeshire. I was now often referred to as ‘Lady’ Mary or ‘Princess’ Mary. My marriage was suddenly of interest and importance to many people. Despite my new status, I was given some choice about who I married, although my father had to approve. In 1657 I married Thomas Belasyse, Viscount (later Earl) Fauconberg. It was a civil wedding in Hampton Court. The groom was a widow with connections to the royalist side of the Civil War, but my parents were very happy for me. They provided my husband with a dowry of ?15,000 to take into the marriage. There were also wedding celebrations at Whitehall and it is possible (I’m not telling!) that we had a secret second marriage ceremony using the Church of England prayer book that was now no longer to be used in England. The ambassador to the city of Venice wrote back home that he was surprised at the marriage, as the Count was rumoured to have sent money to help the royal family in exile. However, Oliver Cromwell trusted and promoted my husband, his new son-in-law, making him a colonel. The war was over, perhaps the future could bring people together. My new husband and I lived in the London apartments and also on his estates in North Yorkshire. We were in London in the autumn of 1658 when both my father, Oliver, and sister, Elizabeth, died. I was very upset by their deaths. Thomas wrote: 'I know not what in the Earth to do with' [her], for 'when seemingly quieted, she bursts out again into passion that tears her very heart in pieces'. My elder brother, Richard Cromwell now took charge of the country, but things did not go well. By the spring of 1660, King Charles II was welcomed back to the throne of England. Oliver Cromwell’s body was dug up and his head stuck on a spike. This was not an easy time for Thomas and I. In 1659 we had left for North Yorkshire and, before we left, Thomas had sent ?1000 to help Charles. Despite this, there was an order for his arrest by the Council at the end of 1659, but he was soon set free. Once King Charles returned, Thomas’s royalist background served us well. We were soon welcome at court. Thomas became, once again, a diplomat, politician, administrator, and courtier. He fought duels and he was ambassador to Venice. He turned against King James II in 1687 and welcomed the arrival of King William and Queen Mary to take the throne in 1688. He was made an earl and was part of the committee that negotiated the declaration of rights.Thomas and I divided our time between our properties in and around London (including a new house in Soho Square) and our estates in Lancashire and Yorkshire. There is a legend that the body of Oliver Cromwell was reburied at our estate at Newburgh Priory close to York. We never had children and had a strong and happy marriage. We wrote to each other when apart and were very close and close to our wider families. We were very wealthy and loved entertaining a wide circle of friends and courtiers. Thomas retired from public life in 1692 and died at the end of 1700. After his death, I continued to own most of our London properties. I was popular and good company. When I died in 1713 I left great wealth, including a gift of ?4000 for my sister Frances. More events for a national timeline here - restoration etcWomen’s role againMore unity than could expect - continuitiesSurvivors! P: 1637, 1653, 1657, 1658, 1659, 1687, 1700, 1713N: 1642, 1649, 1653, 1658, 1660, 1688 ................
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