by Mayv 'SpearBourne' Amaia

Created on: March 24, 2010

Anne Parr was a lady-in-waiting to each of the wives of Henry VIII and was the younger sister of his sixth and final wife, Catherine Parr.

Anne was born in or about 1514, the third child of Sir Thomas Parr and his wife, Maud Green. Her elder brother, the middle child, was William Parr, 1st Marquess of Northampton.

In 1517, their father died of the sweating sickness, or English sweate, a virulent disease which struck Europe in a series of epidemics in the late 15th through mid 16th centuries; its cause is still unknown.

Maud, a widow at only the age of 22, decided not to remarry so she could safeguard her children's inheritance. She was maid of honour to Henry VIII's first wife, Catherine of Aragon, for whom Maud named her first-born.

Maud was also head of the court's Royal school, where her daughters were educated alongside other nobles' daughters by noted Humanist, Joan Lluis Vives. They learned French, Latin, philosophy, theology, and the Classics.

In 1528, Anne, with her mother's help, gained a post as Catherine of Aragon's maid of honour and became a ward of the King.

After his first marriage was annulled and Anne Boleyn was crowned queen in 1533, Anne Parr became maid of honour for the new queen.

Parr followed the charismatic queen's example and became a supporter of the New Faith (Protestantism).

When Anne Boleyn fell from power and was beheaded for adultery and treason, Parr remained at court as lady in waiting to Jane Seymour.

She was one of the small group present at Jane and Henry's son, Prince Edward's baptism on 15 October 1537. Jane died of complications following childbirth on 24 October 1537.

In February 1538, Anne married William Herbert, Esquire of the King's Body. The couple appeared to be in the favour of Henry VIII, and they received royal grants, including the Abbey of Wilton in Wiltshire and some lands in the West Country.

The Herberts' first child, Henry Herbert, future 2nd Earl of Pembroke, was born about 1539.

Henry VIII married for the fourth time on 6 January 1540, to Anne of Cleves. Anne Parr returned to court as her maid of honour.

This marriage was annulled after only six months, but Anne of Cleves remained a good friend of Henry VIII and his children; she also outlived him and the last two of his wives.

Henry VIII married Catherine Howard that same year (1540); Anne Parr continued as maid of honour. Catherine was arrested for alleged adultery in November 1541. After this, Anne was entrusted with the Queen's jewels.

When the King married her

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