A Biographical Dictionary of the Celebrated Women of Every Age and Country/Pembroke, (Anne, Countess of)
PEMBROKE (ANNE, COUNTESS OF) born at Skipton Castle, in Craven, 1589,
Daughter and sole heir to George Clifford, third earl of Cumberland; descended from the three ancient and noble families of the Cliffords, Viponts, and Vesseys, lords and barons in the north; and she added to her escutcheons Pembroke, Dorset, and Montgomery, the titles of three great earldoms in the south.
She had a greatness of mind which added dignity to her high rank; for bishop Rainbow, who knew her well, assures us, that she was enriched by nature with very extraordinary endowments. 'She had, (says he) a clear soul, shining through a vivid body; her body was durable and healthful, her soul sprightful, of great understanding and judgment, faithful memory, and ready wit.'
Her natural endowments were happily improved by our ingenious historian and poet, Mr. Samuel Daniel, who was her preceptor, and under whom she made a considerable progress in many parts of literature; increasing her knowledge by reading and conversing with persons eminent for learning: 'By which means, as the above-mentioned prelate observes, she had early gained an ability to discourse in all commendable arts and sciences, as well as in those things which belong to persons of her birth and sex to know. For she could discourse with virtuosos, travellers, scholars, merchants, divines, statesmen, and with good housewives in any kind; insomuch that a prime and elegant wit, Dr. Donne, well seen in all human learning, and afterwards devoted to the study of divinity, is reported to have said of this lady, in her younger years, to this effect; that she knew well how to discourse of all things, from predestination to slea silk. Meaning, that although she was skilled in housewifery, and in such things in which women are conversant, yet her penetrating wit soared up to pry in the highest mysteries, looking at the highest example of female wisdom. Although she knew wool and flax, fine linen and silk, things appertaining to the spindle and the distaff; yet she could open her mouth with wisdom, knowledge of the best and highest things; and if this had not been most affected by her, solid wisdom, knowledge of the best things, such as make wise unto salvation; if she had sought fame rather than wisdom, possibly she might have been ranked among those wise and learned of her sex, of whom Pythagoras or Plutarch, or any of the ancients, have made such honourable mention.
'But she affected rather to study those noble Bereans, and those honourable women (as St. Paul there stiles them) who searched the scriptures daily; with Mary she chose the better part, of hearing the doctrine of Christ.'
She had two husbands; the first was, Richard, earl of Dorset, to whom she was married 1609. He died 1624. By him she had Thomas, who died young, Margaret, married to the earl of Northampton, and Isabel, to the earl of Thanet. Her second husband was Philip, earl of Pembroke and Montgomery, who died 1629, by whom she had no issue.
She survived him 27 years, during which time she employed herself in a constant series of good works, extensive charities, and generosity to learned men; also in erecting several sacred edifices; besides a noble hospital, and many other stately buildings, both for the honour of her family and for the public good.
She was very exemplary in observing religious duties both in public and private, a constant frequenter of divine service, as well as attendant on the sacrament of the Lord's supper. Nor was she less diligent in her private devotions, which were constantly performed in her private oratory three times a day; and careful that none of her servants might be remiss or negligent in the observance of religious duties. She shewed herself a zealous daughter of the church of England in the most perilous times, and constantly persisted in practising its doctrines, discipline, and worship. She erected a beautiful pillar on the place, where she took her last farewel of her mother; it is commonly called the countess's pillar; and is adorned with coats of arms, dials, &c. with an obelisk on the top coloured black; and the following inscription in brass, declaring the occasion and meaning of it:
This pillar was erected anno 1656, by the right honourable Anne, countess dowager of Pembroke, and sole heir of the right honourable George, earl of Cumberland, &c. For a memorial of her last parting in this place with her good and pious mother the right honourable Margaret, countess dowager of Cumberland, the second of April, 1616. In memory whereof she also left an annuity of four pounds, to be distributed to the poor within this parish of Brougham, every second day of April, upon this stone table by.
She also erected a monument to her tutor, Mr. Daniel, in the church at Beckington, near Philips Norton, in Somersetshire.
Repaired and restored an alms-house at Bearmky, which was built and endowed by her mother.
And in 1651 laid the first stone of an hospital, which she founded at Appleby, in Westmoreland, for a governess and twelve other widows; for the endowments of which she purchased the manor of Brougham, and certain lands called St. Nicholas, near Appleby.
When she had finished her hospital, she not only led and placed her pensioners in their several apartments, but frequently dined with them there, as they often did with her at her own table; some of them every week, and all of them once a month; and after dinner she would as freely converse with them, as with persons of the highest rank.
She repaired the church, school-house, town-hall and bridge, at Appleby.
Rebuilt a great part of the church, and made a vault at the north east corner of the chapel for her own sepulchre, at the expence of about 700£. over which, she erected a monument of black and white marble for herself.
She built a great part of the steeple at Skipton, in Craven, which had been pulled down in the time of the civil wars. And having repaired a great part of that church, erected there a fine monument for her father, George, earl of Cumberland.
She entirely built the church at Bongate, near Appleby; the chapel at Brougham, and that of Ninekirk.
She rebuilt the chapel of Mallerstang, and purchased lands of 11£. per annum, for the perpetual support of a person qualified to read prayers, with the Homilies of the church of England, therein; and to teach the children of the Dale to read and write English.
She likewise performed many great things for the honour and benefit of her family and posterity; for besides other inferior structures, she built six castles. Neither was she less careful in preserving the memoirs of her ancestors; for we are assured by bishop Rainbow, 'that, as she had been a most critical searcher into her own life, so she had been a diligent enquirer into the lives, fortunes, and characters of many of her ancestors for many years. Some of them she has particularly described, and the exact annals of divers passages which were most remarkable in her own life, ever since it was wholly at her own disposal, that is, since the death of her last lord and husband, Philip, earl of Pembroke, which was for the space of six or seven and twenty years.'
Thus did this great and excellent lady employ her time in good and useful works of various kinds, till she arrived at the age of 85, when she resigned her soul into the hands of her Creator, in the castle at Brougham, 1575–6, and was buried at Appleby, in Westmoreland.