| Zachary Bethell | |
| Birth Place: | England |
| Death Place: | England |
| Occupation: | Courtier, usher, royal wardrobe administrator |
| Spouse: | Susan |
| Children: | 1+ |
Zachary Bethell (died 1635) was an English courtier, an usher, and administrator in the wardrobes of Anne of Denmark and Henrietta Maria.
He was a grandson of Richard Bethell, a mayor of Winchester. Zachary Bethell was a gentleman usher, daily waiter usher and a gentlemen of the robes in the royal wardrobe. He bought his place from a Mr Izard. Bethell kept an account book (which is not known to survive).[1] In 1640 Katherine Lisle sought an old debt to her grandfather, Edward Barnes, a silkman who had supplied Anne of Denmark. William Juxon observed that a part of the sum claimed was recorded as paid in Mr Bethell's book of "Queen Anne's Robes".[2]
Elizabeth Sidney, Countess of Rutland, paid Bethell a contribution towards the cost of the masque Hymenaei in January 1606, and also contributed to the costs of her costume.[3] Bethell was involved in preparations for masques and entertainments, particularly at Greenwich Palace, and at Somerset House, where he prepared a space for Anne of Denmark to practice her dance for The Masque of Beauty.[4] Bethell received money for the masque costumes.[5]
Bethell seems to have been a conduit for Anne of Denmark's patronage. A letter from Stephen Proctor to Bethell mentions his hopes for a meeting with the queen.[6] Bethell became Keeper of Somerset House, which he called "Denmark House" in his will. An 1610 account for building work there mentions "Mr Bethell's lodginge".[7]
After the death of Anne of Denmark, he walked in her funeral procession with the usher John Tunstall. Inventories note some items of her clothing and linen in his keeping.[8] He signed bills for the masque Chloridia, included payment for copper lace to two "maskinge suttes for Jefferye" (Jeffrey Hudson) supplied by Benjamin Henshawe.[9] By 1637 he was replaced as surveyor of the robes of Henrietta Maria by Mr White.[10]
Bethell had a house close to St Giles in the Fields and was a neighbour of the queen's silkwoman Dorothy Speckard.[11]
He died in 1635 and was survived by his wife Susan, and his son William Bethell, who he disowned as a spendthrift with a bequest of 20 shillings.