For those who know me, they will know I am OBSESSED, with finding information about Mary Newman Drake, Francis Drake's first wife.
It could be her. The background has faded, but it is a similar color to the Francis Drake miniature. The lady is decked out in heavy finery (almost to the point of "over doing it") as perhaps the newly minted "Lady" Drake might have done? She's very pretty (as Mary was reputed to be) and it would be AWESOME if this was her.
No one knows. I'd like to think it IS her. I've put this picture in my ever-growing binder of Mary Newman research. I'll never tire of research. It's like going on a treasure hunt--in the comfort of your own home!
I'm naive. I'd like to think there is something out there about her, but alas, nothing has turned up. As historians before me have claimed. "Nothing is known about her." She has dates of marriage and death, and that's it. She was a nobody when she married Francis, and she died just shortly after he became a "somebody."
I've written a novel that has to do with Mary, and the possibility of lost Spanish gold...and where she might have hidden it. For research, I thought to myself "Okay, so, Nicholas Hilliard painted a miniature of Francis Drake in 1581 shortly after he was knighted and had become very rich, wouldn't Francis have wanted a miniature done of Mary, his then wife? If anything, to have with him when he went to sea?" Perhaps Hilliard painted it, but Mary was dead before Francis could claim it?
I went on a hunt: "Unknown Ladies" painted by Hilliard, circa 1580's. And I found this gem:
It could be her. The background has faded, but it is a similar color to the Francis Drake miniature. The lady is decked out in heavy finery (almost to the point of "over doing it") as perhaps the newly minted "Lady" Drake might have done? She's very pretty (as Mary was reputed to be) and it would be AWESOME if this was her.
No one knows. I'd like to think it IS her. I've put this picture in my ever-growing binder of Mary Newman research. I'll never tire of research. It's like going on a treasure hunt--in the comfort of your own home!
She's beautiful! Let's say it's her. :)
ReplyDeleteYh. I think it Is her to
DeleteHi Lara,
ReplyDeleteI do have information about Mary Newman Drake.
I can also tell you that the image that you show here is indeed her. You need a bit of an accepting and open mind to hear more of what I can tell you, however, I can assure you that my source is impeccable.
I'm in California. You can email me if you'd like at duane@novaalbionprod.com and I can tell you more if you are interested.
Cheers,
~ Duane Van Dieman
Mill Valley, Ca.
Duane.....Im playing drake this next year at our Renaissance Faire....can you give me info on mary as I'm looking for a character tips for someone about to play Drakes wife and need all the info about her. Hope you can help
ReplyDeletethanks
Ray Hitchmough
Fishers Renaissance Faire, Indianapois, Indiana
Put up ALL the facts you know about her
ReplyDeletethis looks similar to Sir Francis Drake's second wife, Elizabeth sydeham
ReplyDeleteI will say there is a "resemblance" to Elizabeth Sydenham, however this is an "unknown" portrait by Hilliard. If it were indeed the Second Lady Drake, the portrait would certainly be attributed to her. So, I like to think not. ;-)
ReplyDeleteThere is a reason there aren't portraits of her, and that there is such limited information available concerning her. There is also a precedent over 500 years earlier, same conditions...
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, this is her, but the angle is bad, her cheeks should be "chipmunk", not amorphous, and the mouth should be a bit wider.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.flickr.com/photos/20631910@N03/2551499914/in/set-72157605336209206/
ReplyDeleteI like tacos and cheesecake
ReplyDeletecool
DeleteIt is her and I know who she is...
ReplyDeletehttps://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/usbiography/monarchs/maryqos.html
ReplyDeleteAnd his second wife is: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_I_of_England#/media/File:Elizabeth_I_in_coronation_robes.jpg
ReplyDeleteI can prove these facts with science. My own DNA! If you do not believe me now, you will when the real truth comes out very soon...
ReplyDeleteHello Lara,
ReplyDeleteLast year we took over Drakes Island in Plymouth Sound in the United Kingdom. The Island was originally called St Nicholas Island as there was a Chapel built on the Island in approximately the year 1250. We believe we have found the foundations of this Chapel. Sir Francis Drakes was the Mayor of Plymouth for one year, so he would also have been the Governor of St Nicholas Island.
Now this is going to seem a bit far out there, but we have recently been working with a Clairvoyant, who has identified a number of spirits on the Island. These spirits are represented by a Lady who calls herself Mary. We initially believed that Mary was from the mid 1800's, she died on the Island, but recent information leads us to believe she was much earlier, 1500's. If this is Lady Drake, we are not yet sure why she would have been on the Island, although it would have been very easy for her to get there as it is only 600 metres from the mainland at Plymouth. Information from Mary comes slowly, but what she is telling us, via the Clarevoyant, has proved to be correct, that is how we found the foundations of the Chapel, Mary told us where they were and this proved to be correct. Happy to corrospond via email if the above is of interest to you. morganphillips@giukgroup.com
wheeeeee33eee
ReplyDelete