The Titian Portrait

Chapter 2

Jane Dormer and Susan Clariencieux travelled to Spain together where Jane later married the Spanish Duke of Feria, an old flame whom she met at Queen Mary’s wedding. Susan joined their household. Jane died in 1612 although Susan’s death is unrecorded.

Sir Francis Englefield travelled to Spain in 1559 and was soon active as spokesman for English Catholic exiles at the court of King Philip of Spain. He travelled between the Netherland and Rome and was in contact with the Pope. Catherine Englefield died in 1586 at Compton Beauchamp in Berkshire, one of her inherited Fettiplace family estates. Sir Francis continued to try to further the cause of Catholicism, speaking up on behalf of Mary Queen of Scots. His lands and estates in England were confiscated when he refused an order from the queen to return to England and he was attainted. It took a fiercely contested court case before the lands were eventually given to the crown and later, his nephew, Sir Francis Junior managed to get some of them back. He had a substantial pension from Philip II which he lived on for the last 20 years of his life as his eyesight failed. On a visit to the Spanish city of Valladolid, he wrote to Philip suggesting a second armada. He died there in 1596 leaving his young nephew to continue the Englefield line. England reverted to a protestant Church of England once again under Elizabeth I and remains so to this day.