Cecily of York
Also known as: Cicilie / ladie Cicilie · Family: England · Role: daughter of Edward IV · First appears: Edward IV 36
Around 1480, Edward IV accepted an embassy from James III seeking Cecily’s marriage to his eldest son, James IV, and paid money to secure the arrangement. In 1482, however, Edward IV rejected the proposed marriage and sought repayment of the sums, declaring that his choice was “to refuse the accomplishment of the said mariage, and to haue the repaiment of all such summes of monie”.
Cecily was a daughter of Edward IV and Elizabeth Woodville, and a sister of Edward V, Richard of Shrewsbury, Duke of York, Elizabeth of York, Bridget of York, Anne of York, and Katherine of York; Arthur Plantagenet, Viscount Lisle was her father’s base son. She was later listed as married to the viscount Welles. Around 1485, Richard III, then a widower without children, was reported to intend marrying Elizabeth of York and arranging Cecily’s marriage to an unknown man of unknown lineage and family.
Relationship record
Life events
- c. 1480 · Edward IV accepted James III's marriage arrangement for Cecily of York and James IV, funding it against cancellation.(Edward IV 36 · 📍 England)
- With: James III Edward IV James IV
- “In this verie season Iames the third of that name king of Scots sent into England a solemne ambassage for to haue the ladie Cicilie, king Edwards second daughter, to be married to his eldest sonne Iames, prince of Scotland, duke of Rothsaie, and earle of Caricke. King Edward and his councell, perceiuing that this affinitie should be both honourable and profitable to the realme, did not onelie grant to his desire; but also before hand disbursed certeine summes of monie, to the onelie intent that the marriage hereafter should neither be hindered nor broken.”
- 1482 · Edward IV refuses James IV's proposed marriage to Cecily of York and chooses repayment.(Edward IV 38 · 📍 Edenburgh)
- c. 1485 · Richard III was reported to intend marrying Elizabeth of York and arranging Cecily of York’s marriage.(Richard III 18)
- With: Richard III Elizabeth of York
- “tidings were brought to him that king Richard (being without children, and now a widower) intended shortlie to marie the ladie Elizabeth his brothers daughter; and to prefer the ladie Cicilie hir sister to a man found in a cloud, and of an vnknowne linage and familie.”