Hugh; Can you tell us exactly where Ditchley Hall is? What is the history behind it? I found this website, http://www.armourersandbrasiers.co.uk/history_hall.htm It states that: > Anne Vavasour was appointed a Gentlewoman of the Queen’s Bedchamber > in 1580 and got to know Sir Henry Lee who was Queen Elizabeth I’s > Champion. She became his mistress, although they used the rather > quaint term ‘reading lady’. Sir Henry’s wife died in 1590 and Anne > moved into the Lee home at Ditchley to keep house for him. Together, > they entertained the Queen at Ditchley in September 1592. > Anne outlived Sir Henry, but both were buried at Quarrandon, near > Aylesbury, in a chapel of which only a remnant of the outer wall now > remains. Sir Henry’s monument showed him lying down in armour with an > effigy of Anne kneeling at his feet. > > Sir Henry Lee became Queen Elizabeth I’s champion in 1570 and was > appointed Master of the Royal Armouries in 1580 until his death. He > resigned his office of Queen’s Champion in November 1590, aged 57, > when the annual Accession Day tilts were held at Westminster, > acknowledging that his ‘golden locks time hath to silver turned’. He > was made a Knight of the Garter in 1597, one of very few commoners to > have enjoyed that honour. The portrait of Sir Henry was painted by > Marcus Gheeraerts in 1602. This makes it sound as though Ditchley Hall was in England, was there another in Virginia? And who was Sir Henry LEE mentioned in the article? Interesting stuff, Hugh. Thank you. ---Lorraine