Blanche Parry

Queen and for the presentation of Parliamentary bills. She had charge of the Queen's jewels, furs, books, even the Great Seal and received considerable sums of money on behalf of the Queen. She examined petitions and carried out the Queen's wishes in the manner of a modern personal assistant. Being in charge of the Privy Chamber, she could control access to the Queen. The residual Lollard influence in Blanche's family may have helped form Queen Elizabeth's own religious views and as she never married Blanche provided a rôle model for the Virgin Queen. Blanche composed her Bacton epitaph herself and, as Ruth has now dated the monument to November 1578, Blanche was the first to depict Queen Elizabeth as Gloriana.

All this, and much more, can be found in Ruth's biography Mistress Blanche, Queen Elizabeth I's Confidante, published 2007 by Logaston Press at £12.95, and on the website blancheparry.co.uk Ruth pointed out that when she started her research she did not know if she would have liked Blanche Parry. All the evidence now shows that Blanche was discreet, meticulous, trustworthy, elegant, respected and evidently well-liked despite the factional politics. Blanche and her aunt Lady Troy should not again be forgotten.