Beatrice ap Rice (died 1561) was a servant of Mary I of England. She was first recorded as a laundress in 1519. ^[1]

Her name was sometimes written as Beatrix a Pryce, or Beatrice Aprice. ^{[2] [3]} The household accounts of Lady Mary call her the "launder". ^[4] She and Jane Foole were ill in 1543 while the household was at Beddington, ^[5] and at Greenwich Palace. ^[6]

Mary and Philip II of Spain granted her lands at Boreham in the honour of Beaulieu alias Newhall, citing her forty years in royal service. ^[7] This included a holding of 30 acres known as "Bullis" or "Boles", with the "Deyhouse" and "Coggeshallfield". Beatrice was confirmed as the leaseholder on 6 November 1557, after the death of her husband. ^{[8] [9]}

Beatrice ap Rice was of sufficient status to be involved in the New Year gift exchange at court, perhaps as an assistant to the " mother of the maids". The surviving 1557 gift roll records a "free gift" of a gilt salt given to "Betterys, laundrys". ^{[10] [11]}

Beatrice died in December 1561, after making a will on 25 May, ^[12] and was buried at Boreham in Essex. The parish register recorded her burial in January, "Betteris Apryse landeris to Queen Marie". ^[13]

Family

Her husband was David ap Rice, a yeoman of the chamber. ^[14] He died before November 1557. ^[15] Their children included Harry, Susan, Winifred, and probably Mary. The accounts of Lady Mary include gifts to the children. ^[16]

It is not known if she was a relation to Mrs Barbara Ryce, Mary's chamberer, and her husband William Ryce (died 1588), who was also a royal servant. ^[17] John Foxe, who wrote a description of Mary's final days, claimed to have received his information from a Mr Rice. ^[18]

References