The Digital Ark: Early Modern Collections of Curiosities in England and Scotland, 1580-1700

[ Previous ][ Next ]

Henry Jermyn, 1st Earl of St Albans (bap. 1605 - 1684)

Alias Henry Germain

Courtier, government official, and favorite of Queen Henrietta Maria. He was part of Lord Kensington’s mission to Paris (1624-5) to negotiate the marriage of Charles I and Henrietta Maria, joining the household of the queen as gentleman usher in 1627, then master of the horse to the queen in 1639. Jermyn was created Baron of St. Edmundsbury on 8 September 1643 and became the queen's lord chamberlain in 22 January 1644, subsequently acting as her treasurer. In April 1644 Jermyn accompanied Henrietta Maria to France, where they lived at the Louvre and St Germain-en-Laye. During this time in France, Jermyn was the queen’s chief advisor.

Abraham Cowley became Jermyn’s secretary in 1643 and continued with him in France, returning back to England in 1654. John Bargrave met Jermyn and Cowley in Paris in May 1645. In his Diary, Bargrave misidentifies him as “Earl of Yarmouth.” The first Earl of Yarmouth, Robert Paston (FRS and collector of curiosities at Oxnead Hall), was not created until 1679. At the time Bargrave met him, Jermyn was Earl of St. Edmundsbury.
Dictionary of National Biography entry: https://doi-org.cyber.usask.ca/10.1093/ref:odnb/14780 Other biography: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Jermyn,_1st_Earl_of_St_Albans Relevant locations: Residence at Louvre Palace, Paris
Title (royalty or holy order) St Albans, Hertfordshire
Title (royalty or holy order) St Edmundsbury, Bury St. Edmunds
Relationships: Henry Jermyn was a associate or acquaintance (general) of John Bargrave (1610-1680)
Henry Jermyn was a employer of Abraham Cowley (1618-1667)
Henry Jermyn was a employed by Henrietta Maria (1609-1669)

References in Documents:
Bargrave's Travel Diary (Canterbury Cathedral CCA U11/8)
Direction of my letters to Dr Cos.Cosin by Mr Cooly A Monsieur Monsieur Cooly Secrettaire ordinaire de Monseigneur le Comte de Ge mie Anglois estant de present a couuare A Paris. Port 4 sols.
Bargrave's Travel Diary (Canterbury Cathedral CCA U11/8)

31. On Saturday the last of May I had an opportunety to talke aboue an howre wthith the Marquess of Newcastle, and after that wthith the Earle of Yarmouth and the Lord German whoe for the memorie of my vncle the Deane of Canterburie vsed me exceeding courteously. Mrr. Cooly of Trin Coll Camb. was the secretarie to the Lord,:

Bargrave's Travel Diary (Canterbury Cathedral CCA U11/8)

June 11 sti no.Being now at Paris I thought it to loose 10 dayes and alter the stile in my accoumpt of dayes.

On Sunday I went to SrSir Richard Browns lodgings whoe was Agent for his Maiesty of England, where wee had read the English liturgie, and an English sermon by MrMaster Crowder, chaplaine to the LdLord Germie Earle of Yarmouth, wchwhich being ended, wee receiued the sacrament in the forme appointed by the Church of England. On this day I mett wthwith DrDoctor Cosins att the Loouer (or Court) whoe is Master of the same Coll: whereof I am a memberfellow. viz StSaint Pet Coll Cantabrig.