Mistress of the Monarchy (55 page)

The arms that Katherine adopted after her marriage to John of Gaunt. Throughout her life, Katherine showed great devotion to her patron saint, and adopted her wheel emblem in her arms as Duchess of Lancaster.

Pontefract Castle, Yorkshire. This Lancastrian castle was a favored residence of John of Gaunt and Katherine Swynford after their marriage. It may also have been the scene of an earlier parting.

Ely Place. A model of the great palace as it looked in the sixteenth century. Ely Place was the London residence of John of Gaunt and Katherine Swynford after their marriage.

St. Etheldreda’s Church, the former chapel of Ely Place.

Richard II receives his child-bride, Isabella, from her father, Charles VI of France. Katherine Swynford was to serve as companion to the young Queen.

The arms of John Beaufort

The arms of Cardinal Henry Beaufort

T
he Beauforts were Katherine’s children by John of Gaunt, and from them descended the royal house of Tudor.

The arms of Thomas Beaufort

The seal of Joan Beaufort

John Beaufort, Earl of Somerset, and his wife, Margaret Holland, from
The Beaufort Hours
.

John Beaufort: effigy in Canterbury Cathedral.

Cardinal Beaufort: effigy in Winchester Cathedral.

Portrait of a Cardinal by Jan Van Eyck. It is possible that the sitter may be Henry Beaufort.