Cecily of York

Cecily of York, also known as Cecelia, was the third daughter of King Edward IV of England and his queen consort Elizabeth Woodville. Born into the House of York at Westminster Palace, she lived through turbulent times, including the death of her father and the subsequent usurpation of the throne by her uncle, King Richard III. Cecily and her siblings were declared illegitimate and sought asylum in Westminster Abbey. Later, rumors circulated that King Richard III intended to marry either Cecily or her sister Elizabeth, but instead, Cecily was married to Ralph Scrope. This marriage was annulled after Richard III’s death at the Battle of Bosworth, where Henry Tudor ascended to the throne. Cecily then married John Welles, 1st Viscount Welles, and had two daughters. After becoming a widow, she married Sir Thomas Kyme without royal consent, resulting in her banishment from court and the loss of her inherited possessions.

Despite her challenges, Cecily maintained a relationship with Lady Margaret Beaufort, the king’s mother, who contributed to the expenses of Cecily’s funeral in 1507. Cecily’s life was marked by political upheaval, shifting allegiances, and personal loss. She was buried at Quarr Abbey, Isle of Wight, or the friary at Kings Langley, Hertfordshire.