Geoffrey Chaucer

Geoffrey Chaucer was married to Philippa de Roet, who was Katharine’s sister. This means, or course, that Chaucer was related to Katherine Swynford, and was her brother-in-law.John WycliffeJohn Wycliffe was Katharine’s friend, and probably the person who had the most influence on Katharine Swynford’s life.

Thomas Sutton &  John de Warsop

These two men were colleagues and friends who often appeared together in Katharine’s life. Both men were cannons of Lincoln Cathedral (which was a position of prestige, honour, and learning). Katharine Swynford was good enough friends with these two, that they stood as godfathers to her eldest son, Thomas Swynford.Roger FloresRoger Flores was a young man whose quick thinking had saved Katharine’s life during the Peasants Revolt. He was only a teenager, but he had a great future ahead of him.HawiseAs far as I am aware Hawise is a character whose existence in history is only recorded by one record, a grant that John of Gaunt made to her son. Both Anya Seton, and myself, have assumed she was more than a maid, servant or retainer; and more in the line of a friend and companion to Katharine.Katharine Swynford Raised Three Families:

The children born to Blanche and John of GauntPhilippe of Lancaster (1359 – 1415)

• Philippe would become Queen of Portugal

Elizabeth of Lancaster (1364-1425)

• Wild and headstrong best describes this daughter

Henry Bolingbroke (1358 – 1413)

• Henry would become King of England
• He referred to Katharine as the king’s mother

The children Katharine de Roet bore Hugh SwynfordBlanche (born August, 1368)
Thomas (born August, 1369)The children born to Katharine & John of GauntJohn Beaufort (born April, 1373)
Henry Beaufort (born June, 1375)
Thomas Beaufort (born August, 1379)
Joan Beaufort (born March, 1381)