Lansdowne Roll 9

This roll contains an illustrated genealogy of Elin Ulfsdotter Snakenborg (b. 1548/9, d. 1635), commonly known as Helena Snakenborg, Marchioness of Northampton. Helena was a Swedish-born noblewoman who travelled to England in 1564 as part of the retinue of Princess Cecilia of Sweden (b. 1540, d. 1627). Remaining in England after the retinue’s departure, Helena soon became Maid of Honour to Elizabeth I (r. 1558-1603). She was richly rewarded by the Queen, growing to become one of her favourites and later serving as the chief mourner at her funeral. She was married twice, first to Sir William Parr (b. 1513, d. 1571), 1st Marquess of Northampton, in 1571, shortly before his death, and second to Sir Thomas Gorges (b. 1536, d. 1610), with whom she built Longford Castle.

The genealogy is arranged in the form of a tree diagram in pen-and-ink, drawn across five registers and set within an architectural frame. The first register features a large portrait of Helena Snakenborg between those of William Parr on the left and Thomas Gorges on the right. Panels on either side of these portraits give brief biographies and eulogies for Helena and William Parr, both written in English, together with their arms. Helena's panel mentions that by the time she died at the age of 85, she had at least 92 grandchildren.

The tree diagram then proceeds upwards, the second register depicting the lines of descent from Helena and Thomas Gorges, and portraits of seven of their children (from left to right):

• Francis Gorges (b. c. 1579, d. 1599)
• Elizabeth Gorges (b. 1578, d. 1659)
• Sir Theobald Gorges (b. 1583, d. 1647)
• Edward Gorges (b. 1582/3, d. 1652)
• Sir Robert Gorges (b. c. 1589, d. 1648)
• Frances Gorges (b. 1580, d. 1649)
• Bridget Gorges (b. 1584, d. c. 1634).

Each of these portraits features its own small panel, providing brief details of their marriages and offspring. Their lines of descent are in turn represented in the third, fourth and fifth registers by a series of interconnected roundels, inscribed with the names of their descendants. Decorated Corinthian columns delineate each branch of the family, suspended with coats of arms, with larger coats of arms drawn at the very top, mostly left unfinished.

The genealogy was probably made only a few years after Helena’s death in 1635, possibly for her son Edward Gorges (b. 1582/3, d. 1652), 1st Baron Gorges of Dundalk, whose portrait appears directly above hers, and who was also responsible for erecting an elaborate tomb and effigies for his parents in Salisbury Cathedral.