Elizabeth Somerset, Countess of Worcester (died 1565)
Encyclopedia
Elizabeth Somerset, countess of Worcester (died 1565) was a lady-in-waiting
to Anne Boleyn
and the main informant against her. She may have been a mistress of King Henry VIII
.
Elizabeth was the daughter of Sir Anthony Browne, a trusted courtier at the court of Henry VIII, and his wife Lady Lucy Neville, a daughter of John Neville, 1st Marquess of Montagu
and Isabel Ingaldesthorpe.
About 1508, Elizabeth's sister, Anne Browne, married Sir Charles Brandon
, later Duke of Suffolk
. By that union, Elizabeth was aunt to Lady Anne Brandon, and her younger sister, Lady Mary Brandon
.
She was the second wife of Henry Somerset, 2nd earl of Worcester
. Henry's first wife, Lady Margaret, had died without issue. It is Elizabeth who produced their surviving children:
Lady-in-waiting
A lady-in-waiting is a female personal assistant at a royal court, attending on a queen, a princess, or a high-ranking noblewoman. Historically, in Europe a lady-in-waiting was often a noblewoman from a family highly thought of in good society, but was of lower rank than the woman on whom she...
to Anne Boleyn
Anne Boleyn
Anne Boleyn ;c.1501/1507 – 19 May 1536) was Queen of England from 1533 to 1536 as the second wife of Henry VIII of England and Marquess of Pembroke in her own right. Henry's marriage to Anne, and her subsequent execution, made her a key figure in the political and religious upheaval that was the...
and the main informant against her. She may have been a mistress of King Henry VIII
Henry VIII of England
Henry VIII was King of England from 21 April 1509 until his death. He was Lord, and later King, of Ireland, as well as continuing the nominal claim by the English monarchs to the Kingdom of France...
.
Elizabeth was the daughter of Sir Anthony Browne, a trusted courtier at the court of Henry VIII, and his wife Lady Lucy Neville, a daughter of John Neville, 1st Marquess of Montagu
John Neville, 1st Marquess of Montagu
John Neville, 1st Marquess of Montagu KG was a Yorkist leader in the Wars of the Roses, best-known for eliminating Lancastrian resistance in the north of England during the early part of the reign of Edward IV of England....
and Isabel Ingaldesthorpe.
About 1508, Elizabeth's sister, Anne Browne, married Sir Charles Brandon
Charles Brandon, 1st Duke of Suffolk
Charles Brandon, 1st Duke of Suffolk, 1st Viscount Lisle, KG was the son of Sir William Brandon and Elizabeth Bruyn. Through his third wife Mary Tudor he was brother-in-law to Henry VIII. His father was the standard-bearer of Henry Tudor, Earl of Richmond and was slain by Richard III in person at...
, later Duke of Suffolk
Duke of Suffolk
Duke of Suffolk is a title that has been created three times in British history, all three times in the Peerage of England.The third creation of the dukedom of Suffolk was for Henry Grey, 3rd Marquess of Dorset, in 1551. The duke also held the title Baron Ferrers of Groby...
. By that union, Elizabeth was aunt to Lady Anne Brandon, and her younger sister, Lady Mary Brandon
Mary Brandon, Baroness Monteagle
Lady Mary Brandon, Baroness Monteagle , was an English noblewoman, and the daughter of Charles Brandon, 1st Duke of Suffolk, by his second wife, Anne Browne...
.
She was the second wife of Henry Somerset, 2nd earl of Worcester
Henry Somerset, 2nd Earl of Worcester
Henry Somerset, 2nd Earl of Worcester was an English nobleman, son of Charles Somerset, 1st Earl of Worcester and Elizabeth Herbert, 3rd Baroness Herbert. On his father's death on 15 April 1526, he succeeded as the second Earl of Worcester...
. Henry's first wife, Lady Margaret, had died without issue. It is Elizabeth who produced their surviving children:
- Lady Anne SomersetAnne Somerset, Countess of NorthumberlandAnne Somerset, Countess of Northumberland was an English noblewoman and one of the instigators of the Northern Rebellion against Queen Elizabeth I of England...
, married Thomas Percy, 7th Earl of NorthumberlandThomas Percy, 7th Earl of NorthumberlandBlessed Thomas Percy, 7th Earl of Northumberland, 1st Baron Percy, KG , led the Rising of the North and was executed for treason. He was later beatified by the Catholic Church.-Early life:...
(1538 - 1591/1596) - William Somerset, 3rd Earl of WorcesterWilliam Somerset, 3rd Earl of WorcesterWilliam Somerset, 3rd Earl of Worcester, KG was born before 1526 to Henry Somerset, 2nd Earl of Worcester and his second wife Elizabeth Browne....
(1527 - 21 February 1589) - Lady Lucy SomersetLucy SomersetLady Lucy Somerset, Baroness Latimer was an English noblewoman and the daughter of Henry Somerset, 2nd Earl of Worcester by his second wife, Elizabeth Browne. She served as a Maid of Honour to Queen consort Catherine Howard...
, married John Neville, 4th Baron Latimer (died 23 February 1583) - Lady Eleanor Somerset, married 1) Sir Roger Vaughan and 2) Henry Johns
- Thomas Somerset
- Charles Somerset
- Francis Somerset (died 10 September 1547, in battle)
- Lady Joan or "Jane" Somerset, married Sir Edward Mansel