Frances Walsingham
Encyclopedia
Frances Walsingham, Countess of Essex and Countess of Clanricarde (1567 – 13 February 1631) was an English
noblewoman. The daughter of Francis Walsingham
, Elizabeth I's Secretary of State
, she became the wife of Sir Philip Sidney at age 14. Her second husband was Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex
, Queen Elizabeth's favourite
, with whom she had five children. Shortly after his execution in 1601 she married her lover, Richard Burke, 4th Earl of Clanricarde
, and went to live in Ireland
.
, Secretary of State for Queen Elizabeth I, and Ursula St. Barbe
. A lady-in-waiting to Queen Elizabeth, she married Philip Sidney
in 1583, who died three years later in 1586. In 1590 Frances’ father also died, leaving her with an annuity of £300.
In 1590 Frances married again, to Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex
, to whom she had been committed by Philip at his death fighting overseas. This match caused great displeasure to the Queen, partly because Essex was the stepson of her life-long favorite, Robert Dudley, 1st Earl of Leicester
.. Essex was also the great-grandson of two of Henry VIII
's mistresses, Mary Boleyn
, the sister of Queen Anne Boleyn
, and Anne Stafford, Countess of Huntingdon. Some historians believe that Catherine Carey
, the daughter of Mary Boleyn and the grandmother of Essex, was fathered by Henry VIII. This would make Frances' children the great-great-grandchildren of England's best-known king.
Robert was executed in 1601 after participating in an attempted coup against the Queen. Frances had three children who survived infancy with her second husband, these were named Frances
, Robert and Dorothy. Robert became the third Earl of Essex
.
In 1603, she married her third husband Richard De Burgh (or Burke)
, Earl of St Albans and Clanricarde. They had one son, Ulick Burke, 1st Marquess of Clanricarde
, and two daughters, Honora, who became the second wife of John Paulet, 5th Marquess of Winchester
, and Mary, who married Hon. Edward Butler of Ballinahinch.
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
noblewoman. The daughter of Francis Walsingham
Francis Walsingham
Sir Francis Walsingham was Principal Secretary to Elizabeth I of England from 1573 until 1590, and is popularly remembered as her "spymaster". Walsingham is frequently cited as one of the earliest practitioners of modern intelligence methods both for espionage and for domestic security...
, Elizabeth I's Secretary of State
Secretary of State (England)
In the Kingdom of England, the title of Secretary of State came into being near the end of the reign of Queen Elizabeth I , the usual title before that having been King's Clerk, King's Secretary, or Principal Secretary....
, she became the wife of Sir Philip Sidney at age 14. Her second husband was Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex
Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex
Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex, KG was an English nobleman and a favourite of Elizabeth I. Politically ambitious, and a committed general, he was placed under house arrest following a poor campaign in Ireland during the Nine Years' War in 1599...
, Queen Elizabeth's favourite
Favourite
A favourite , or favorite , was the intimate companion of a ruler or other important person. In medieval and Early Modern Europe, among other times and places, the term is used of individuals delegated significant political power by a ruler...
, with whom she had five children. Shortly after his execution in 1601 she married her lover, Richard Burke, 4th Earl of Clanricarde
Richard Burke, 4th Earl of Clanricarde
Richard Burke, 4th Earl of Clanricarde was an Irish nobleman. He was the son of Ulick Burke, 3rd Earl of Clanricarde and Honora Burke, daughter of John Burke....
, and went to live in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
.
Family and marriages
She was the only child of Sir Francis WalsinghamFrancis Walsingham
Sir Francis Walsingham was Principal Secretary to Elizabeth I of England from 1573 until 1590, and is popularly remembered as her "spymaster". Walsingham is frequently cited as one of the earliest practitioners of modern intelligence methods both for espionage and for domestic security...
, Secretary of State for Queen Elizabeth I, and Ursula St. Barbe
Ursula St. Barbe
Ursula St. Barbe was a lady at the court of Queen Elizabeth I of England. The daughter of John St. Barbe from Somerset, and Eleanor Lewknor, she first married Sir Richard Worsley, who was the captain of the Isle of Wight. After his death, she married Sir Francis Walsingham in 1566...
. A lady-in-waiting to Queen Elizabeth, she married Philip Sidney
Philip Sidney
Sir Philip Sidney was an English poet, courtier and soldier, and is remembered as one of the most prominent figures of the Elizabethan Age...
in 1583, who died three years later in 1586. In 1590 Frances’ father also died, leaving her with an annuity of £300.
In 1590 Frances married again, to Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex
Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex
Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex, KG was an English nobleman and a favourite of Elizabeth I. Politically ambitious, and a committed general, he was placed under house arrest following a poor campaign in Ireland during the Nine Years' War in 1599...
, to whom she had been committed by Philip at his death fighting overseas. This match caused great displeasure to the Queen, partly because Essex was the stepson of her life-long favorite, Robert Dudley, 1st Earl of Leicester
Robert Dudley, 1st Earl of Leicester
Robert Dudley, 1st Earl of Leicester, KG was an English nobleman and the favourite and close friend of Elizabeth I from her first year on the throne until his death...
.. Essex was also the great-grandson of two of 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...
's mistresses, Mary Boleyn
Mary Boleyn
Mary Boleyn , was the sister of English queen consort Anne Boleyn and a member of the Boleyn family, which enjoyed considerable influence during the reign of King Henry VIII of England...
, the sister of Queen 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 Anne Stafford, Countess of Huntingdon. Some historians believe that Catherine Carey
Catherine Carey
Katherine Carey, often spelt Catherine Carey, after her marriage Katherine Knollys and later Lady Knollys, pronounced "Noles" Katherine Carey, often spelt Catherine Carey, after her marriage Katherine Knollys and later Lady Knollys, pronounced "Noles" Katherine Carey, often spelt Catherine Carey,...
, the daughter of Mary Boleyn and the grandmother of Essex, was fathered by Henry VIII. This would make Frances' children the great-great-grandchildren of England's best-known king.
Robert was executed in 1601 after participating in an attempted coup against the Queen. Frances had three children who survived infancy with her second husband, these were named Frances
Frances Seymour, Duchess of Somerset (1599-1674)
Frances Seymour , Duchess of Somerset , was an English noblewoman who lived in the reigns of Queen Elizabeth I and Kings James I, Charles I and Charles II. Her father was Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex, Queen Elizabeth's favourite who was executed for treason in 1601...
, Robert and Dorothy. Robert became the third Earl of Essex
Robert Devereux, 3rd Earl of Essex
Robert Devereux, 3rd Earl of Essex was an English Parliamentarian and soldier during the first half of the seventeenth century. With the start of the English Civil War in 1642 he became the first Captain-General and Chief Commander of the Parliamentarian army, also known as the Roundheads...
.
In 1603, she married her third husband Richard De Burgh (or Burke)
Richard Burke, 4th Earl of Clanricarde
Richard Burke, 4th Earl of Clanricarde was an Irish nobleman. He was the son of Ulick Burke, 3rd Earl of Clanricarde and Honora Burke, daughter of John Burke....
, Earl of St Albans and Clanricarde. They had one son, Ulick Burke, 1st Marquess of Clanricarde
Ulick Burke, 1st Marquess of Clanricarde
Ulick Burke, 1st Marquess of Clanricarde , was an Irish nobleman and figure in English Civil War....
, and two daughters, Honora, who became the second wife of John Paulet, 5th Marquess of Winchester
John Paulet, 5th Marquess of Winchester
John Paulet, 5th Marquess of Winchester , styled Lord John Paulet until 1621 and Lord St John from 1621 to 1628 was third but eldest surviving son of William Paulet and his successor as 5th Marquess of Winchester....
, and Mary, who married Hon. Edward Butler of Ballinahinch.