Blanche Parry

She was born at Newcourt, Bacton, Herefordshire, one of the daughters of Henry Myles[a] of Newcourt, three times Sheriff of Herefordshire, Steward of Ewyas Lacy and of Dore Abbey,[1] a relative of the Welsh family of Herbert, Earls of Pembroke, and a relative of the prominent Stradling family[2] of St Donat's Castle in Glamorgan, Wales.

[3] From the age of about 25 or 26 until her death, she was a servant of Queen Elizabeth, whom she served from her birth in 1533 onwards, writing in her epitaph in Bacton Church that her "cradle saw I rocked."

In addition, she supervised the Queen's linen "and other things belonging to her majesty"; this included "our musk cat", probably a ferret.

[7] She was friends with her cousin Sir William Cecil, Lord Burghley, the Queen's chief adviser, and worked closely with him.

Parry made an inventory of the jewels, now held by the British Library, listing 628 pieces delivered into the custody of Mary Radcliffe.

Thomas Markham of Ollerton sent news of her death to the Earl of Shrewsbury; "On Thursday last Mrs Blanshe a Parrye departed; blind she was here on earth, but I hope the joys in heaven she shall see.

"[13] Her marble and alabaster mural monument survives on the south west wall of St Margaret's Church, Westminster, although this was not its original position, having been moved several times.

[14] It shows a relief-sculpted and painted effigy of Parry kneeling towards the left at a prayer desk, with hands now missing.

The effigy utilizes the religious imagery of the Virgin Mary, with a kneeling Parry praying before the enthroned Elizabeth.

[15] Tradition maintained that her monument in Bacton Church contained Blanche's bowels,[14] or according to Bradford, her heart,[16] however there is no evidence of this.