ohfairmaidenofyork:

“The queen gave birth to a very handsome daughter, which rejoiced the king and all the nobles exceedingly, though they would have preferred a son.” (x)

On the 20th of March 1469 Cecily of York was born at Westminster, third daughter to Edward IV and Elizabeth Woodville. She was forced to flee into sanctuary with her mother and sister twice, once in 1470 when she was only one year old and secondly in 1483 after her father’s death. Her uncle Richard of Gloucester seized the crown for himself and declared her and her sisters illegitimate.

Upon leaving sanctuary in 1484, her uncle, now Richard III, promised safety and good matches for his nieces and thus in 1485 Cecily was married to Ralph Scrope. Later that year, when Henry Tudor was victorious at the Battle at Bosworth, he became king Henry VII, the York sisters were declared legitimate again and Cecily’s marriage to Scrope was annulled. Her older sister Elizabeth was married to the new king. By 1487 Cecily was married to the John Welles, half-brother to the king’s mother Margaret Beaufort.

Cecily was a prominent figure at court for most of her life, often playing part in ceremonies and festivities, such as her nephew prince Arthur’s christening, she was also chief lady-in-waiting to her sister Queen Elizabeth.

Her husband John Welles died in 1499 and neither their daughters, Elizabeth and Anne, lived till adulthood. About three years later, in 1502, Cecily married to Sir Thomas Kyme, without seeking royal permission. This, and the fact that her husband was far beneath her in rank, angered king Henry and he seized her estates and banished her from court. Margaret Beaufort, the king’s mother, intervened on behalf of Cecily, the two had always been on friendly terms. Margaret allowed Cecily and her husband to stay in her residence until the King returned their lands. Eventually some of their estates were reestablished, but Cecily was not allowed back at court and reportedly she did not attend her sister Elizabeth’s funeral in 1503.

When Cecily died on the 24th of August in 1507, Margaret Beaufort continued to show her affections towards Cecily and payed most of the funeral expenses. Due to her banishment from court, there is little known about Cecily last marriage but it was likely a love match and may have resulted in two children, Margaret and Richard.