Elizabeth Darrell (maid-of-honour)
Encyclopedia
Elizabeth Darrell was the long-term mistress
and muse of Sir Thomas Wyatt
. They had at least one child, Francis. Wyatt was married to Elizabeth Brooke, Lady Wyatt
who had committed adultery
, resulting in their separation. She was later rumoured to have been involved with Henry VIII
.
, Wiltshire
and his wife Jane. Sir Edward was Chamberlain
to Katherine of Aragon. Elizabeth was a servant of the Marchioness of Dorset
and then afterward, on an unknown date, she became Maid of Honour to Queen Katherine. Possibly out of loyalty to Katherine or due to her dislike of Anne Boleyn
, Elizabeth refused to take the Oath of Supremacy
. When Katherine of Aragon died in January 1536, she left Elizabeth a gift of £200 for her future marriage.
, Sir Thomas Wyatt
(1503 – 11 October 1542). He was legally married to Elizabeth Brooke
, the mother of his children Thomas and Anne, but they were separated and she was living in adultery with another man. Elizabeth bore Sir Thomas three sons, Henry (who died in early infancy), Francis (born in 1540 and took the surname of Darrell), and Edward, who was later executed for his part in the Wyatt's Rebellion
of 1554, led by his legitimate half-brother, Sir Thomas Wyatt, the younger. Sir Thomas left Elizabeth properties in Dorset
. She also received the manor of Tarrant, given to her by her lover's son, Sir Thomas. Some historians have speculated that she became the mistress of Sir Thomas Wyatt, the younger, after his father's death in 1542 and that he was actually the real father of Elizabeth's youngest son, Edward. Elizabeth went on to marry Robert Stroude in 1554.
portrayed Darrell in several episodes of The Tudors
second season. Her fate is however dramatically altered. Instead of returning to royal service after the death of her mistress as is historically accurate, Darrell hangs herself from the beams of her mistresses former home. The show is correct however in portraying Darrell and Wyatts affair. This is the only known portrayal of Elizabeth Darrell in popular culture.
Mistress (lover)
A mistress is a long-term female lover and companion who is not married to her partner; the term is used especially when her partner is married. The relationship generally is stable and at least semi-permanent; however, the couple does not live together openly. Also the relationship is usually,...
and muse of Sir Thomas Wyatt
Thomas Wyatt (poet)
Sir Thomas Wyatt was a 16th-century English lyrical poet credited with introducing the sonnet into English. He was born at Allington Castle, near Maidstone in Kent – though his family was originally from Yorkshire...
. They had at least one child, Francis. Wyatt was married to Elizabeth Brooke, Lady Wyatt
Elizabeth Brooke, Lady Wyatt
Elizabeth Brooke was the wife of Thomas Wyatt, the poet, and the mother of Thomas Wyatt the younger who led Wyatt's Rebellion against Mary I. She was the sister of George Brooke, 9th Baron Cobham and was considered a possible candidate for the sixth wife of Henry VIII of England.Elizabeth separated...
who had committed adultery
Adultery
Adultery is sexual infidelity to one's spouse, and is a form of extramarital sex. It originally referred only to sex between a woman who was married and a person other than her spouse. Even in cases of separation from one's spouse, an extramarital affair is still considered adultery.Adultery is...
, resulting in their separation. She was later rumoured to have been involved with 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...
.
Early years
Elizabeth Darrell (sometimes spelt Darell) was the daughter of Sir Edward Darrell of LittlecoteLittlecote House
Littlecote House is a large Elizabethan country house and estate in the civil parishes of Ramsbury and Chilton Foliat in the English county of Wiltshire near to Hungerford. The estate includes 34 hectares of historic parklands and gardens, including a walled garden from the 17th and 18th centuries...
, Wiltshire
Wiltshire
Wiltshire is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers...
and his wife Jane. Sir Edward was Chamberlain
Chamberlain (office)
A chamberlain is an officer in charge of managing a household. In many countries there are ceremonial posts associated with the household of the sovereign....
to Katherine of Aragon. Elizabeth was a servant of the Marchioness of Dorset
Marquess of Dorset
The title Marquess of Dorset has been created three times in the Peerage of England. It was first created in 1397 for John Beaufort, 1st Earl of Somerset, but he lost the title two years later. It was then created in 1442 for Edmund Beaufort, 1st Earl of Dorset, who was created Duke of Somerset...
and then afterward, on an unknown date, she became Maid of Honour to Queen Katherine. Possibly out of loyalty to Katherine or due to her dislike of 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...
, Elizabeth refused to take the Oath of Supremacy
Oath of Supremacy
The Oath of Supremacy, originally imposed by King Henry VIII of England through the Act of Supremacy 1534, but repealed by his daughter, Queen Mary I of England and reinstated under Mary's sister, Queen Elizabeth I of England under the Act of Supremacy 1559, provided for any person taking public or...
. When Katherine of Aragon died in January 1536, she left Elizabeth a gift of £200 for her future marriage.
Thomas Wyatt
Around the year 1537, Elizabeth became the mistress of the poet and cousin of the late queen Anne BoleynAnne 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...
, Sir Thomas Wyatt
Thomas Wyatt (poet)
Sir Thomas Wyatt was a 16th-century English lyrical poet credited with introducing the sonnet into English. He was born at Allington Castle, near Maidstone in Kent – though his family was originally from Yorkshire...
(1503 – 11 October 1542). He was legally married to Elizabeth Brooke
Elizabeth Brooke, Lady Wyatt
Elizabeth Brooke was the wife of Thomas Wyatt, the poet, and the mother of Thomas Wyatt the younger who led Wyatt's Rebellion against Mary I. She was the sister of George Brooke, 9th Baron Cobham and was considered a possible candidate for the sixth wife of Henry VIII of England.Elizabeth separated...
, the mother of his children Thomas and Anne, but they were separated and she was living in adultery with another man. Elizabeth bore Sir Thomas three sons, Henry (who died in early infancy), Francis (born in 1540 and took the surname of Darrell), and Edward, who was later executed for his part in the Wyatt's Rebellion
Wyatt's rebellion
Wyatt's Rebellion was a popular uprising in England in 1554, named after Thomas Wyatt the younger, one of its leaders. The rebellion arose out of concern over Queen Mary I's determination to marry Philip II of Spain, which was an unpopular policy with the English...
of 1554, led by his legitimate half-brother, Sir Thomas Wyatt, the younger. Sir Thomas left Elizabeth properties in Dorset
Dorset
Dorset , is a county in South West England on the English Channel coast. The county town is Dorchester which is situated in the south. The Hampshire towns of Bournemouth and Christchurch joined the county with the reorganisation of local government in 1974...
. She also received the manor of Tarrant, given to her by her lover's son, Sir Thomas. Some historians have speculated that she became the mistress of Sir Thomas Wyatt, the younger, after his father's death in 1542 and that he was actually the real father of Elizabeth's youngest son, Edward. Elizabeth went on to marry Robert Stroude in 1554.
In popular culture
Canadian actress Krystin PellerinKrystin Pellerin
Krystin Pellerin is a Canadian actress of theatre, television and film.Pellerin was born and raised in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador. After high school she was selected to attend the prestigious National Theatre School of Canada in Montreal. Following her graduation she was cast in her...
portrayed Darrell in several episodes of The Tudors
The Tudors
The Tudors is a Canadian produced historical fiction television series filmed in Ireland, created by Michael Hirst and produced for the American premium cable television channel Showtime...
second season. Her fate is however dramatically altered. Instead of returning to royal service after the death of her mistress as is historically accurate, Darrell hangs herself from the beams of her mistresses former home. The show is correct however in portraying Darrell and Wyatts affair. This is the only known portrayal of Elizabeth Darrell in popular culture.