Read Part One HERE
In this post I will continue to focus on Evangelical women born in 1600, this time focusing on a woman named Bathsua Reginald Makin. She lived from 1600 - ca 1675. Bathsua was the daughter of Henry Reginald, who was a schoolmaster of a school in Stepney, London.
At the age of sixteen, Bathsua published a book with Latin, Greek, Hebrew, Spanish, French and German verses. She argued primarily for the equal rights of woman and girls to obtain an education in an environment or culture that viewed women as the weaker vessel, subordinated to men and uneducable. In 1621, Bathsua married Richard Makin, a courtier. The couple moved to Westminister, London.
By 1640, Bathsua was known as the most learned woman in England. She was tutor to the children of Charles I of England, and governess to his daughter Elizabeth Stuart. Bathsua was also tutor to Lady Elizabeth Langham, daughter of Ferdinando Hastings, 6th Early of Huntingdon, probably until Lady Elizabeth's marriage in 1652.
By 1673, Bathsua and Mark Lewis had established a school of gentlewomen in Tottenham, High Cross, then four miles out of London. The school at which Elizabeth was governess, taught music, song and dance, but also writing in English, keeping accounts, Latin and French. If students wished, they could also learn Greek, Hebrew, Italian and Spanish.
We have no further information on Bathsua but believe that she died ca 1675.
Read Part Three HERE
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