Elizabeth Leyburne
Encyclopedia
Elizabeth Leyburne, Duchess of Norfolk (1536 – 4 September 1567), was a member of the English aristocracy. She first married Thomas Dacre, 4th Baron Dacre
; following his death in 1566, she secretly married Thomas Howard, 4th Duke of Norfolk
. She was his third wife.
and Helen Preston. The latter was the child of Thomas Preston and Anne Thornburgh. She had one sister, Anne, who married William Stanley, 3rd Baron Monteagle, by whom she had a daughter, Elizabeth.
The members of the Leyburne (also written as Leybourne) family were recusants
.
There was disagreement between Elizabeth and the Dacres as to her husband's will, which settled his lands on his son and brothers, limiting their inheritance to heirs male. Elizabeth allegedly felt aggrieved on behalf of her daughters, but according to her brother-in-law Leonard Dacre
, Elizabeth herself received more ‘than ever anye the wyves of the auncestors of the said Lorde Dacre had.’ When her husband died on 25 July 1566, Elizabeth wasted no time in finding another. Six months later on 29 January 1567, she secretly married Thomas Howard, 4th Duke of Norfolk, a man who had already been married twice. The marriage ceremony was conducted in secrecy in the London home of her mother.
, Norfolk http://www.tudorplace.com.ar/DACRE.htm; the baby, whose sex is not known, died as well. The Duke was granted wardship of her children two months after her death. He later arranged the marriages of her three daughters to his own sons by his former wives. Elizabeth's son, George, who had succeeded his father as 5th Baron Dacre, died at the age of nine in 1569. In that same year, Norfolk was imprisoned on the orders of Queen Elizabeth I
for having plotted to marry Mary, Queen of Scots.
Thomas Dacre, 4th Baron Dacre
Thomas Dacre, 4th Baron Dacre of Gilsland, also Baron Greystock and de jure Baron Boteler was an English Member of Parliament and after his father's death a peer and major landowner in the counties of Cumberland, Yorkshire and Northumberland.-Early life:Born about 1527, Dacre was the eldest of...
; following his death in 1566, she secretly married Thomas Howard, 4th Duke of Norfolk
Thomas Howard, 4th Duke of Norfolk
Thomas Howard, 4th Duke of Norfolk, KG, Earl Marshal was an English nobleman.Norfolk was the son of the poet Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey. He was taught as a child by John Foxe, the Protestant martyrologist, who remained a lifelong recipient of Norfolk's patronage...
. She was his third wife.
Family
Elizabeth was born in 1536, the daughter of Sir James Leyburne of Cunswick, WestmorlandWestmorland
Westmorland is an area of North West England and one of the 39 historic counties of England. It formed an administrative county from 1889 to 1974, after which the entirety of the county was absorbed into the new county of Cumbria.-Early history:...
and Helen Preston. The latter was the child of Thomas Preston and Anne Thornburgh. She had one sister, Anne, who married William Stanley, 3rd Baron Monteagle, by whom she had a daughter, Elizabeth.
The members of the Leyburne (also written as Leybourne) family were recusants
Recusancy
In the history of England and Wales, the recusancy was the state of those who refused to attend Anglican services. The individuals were known as "recusants"...
.
Marriages and issue
She married her first husband, Thomas Dacre, 4th Baron Dacre of Gilsland in 1555. The marriage produced five children:- Hon. Francis Dacre (d. an infant)
- Anne DacreAnne Howard, Countess of ArundelAnne Howard , Countess of Arundel , was an English noblewoman, who became a Catholic conspirator, having converted to the faith in the early 1580s...
(21 March 1557- 19 April 1630), married Philip Howard, 20th Earl of ArundelPhilip Howard, 20th Earl of ArundelSaint Philip Howard, 20th Earl of Arundel was an English nobleman. He was canonised by Pope Paul VI in 1970, as one of the Forty Martyrs of England and Wales...
, by whom she had issue. - George Dacre, 5th Baron Dacre (1560- 17 May 1569)
- Mary Dacre (4 July 1563- 7 April 1576)
- Elizabeth Dacre (12 November 1564- 1639), married Lord William HowardLord William HowardLord William Howard was an English nobleman and antiquary, sometimes known as "Belted or Bauld Will".-Life:...
, by whom she had issue.
There was disagreement between Elizabeth and the Dacres as to her husband's will, which settled his lands on his son and brothers, limiting their inheritance to heirs male. Elizabeth allegedly felt aggrieved on behalf of her daughters, but according to her brother-in-law Leonard Dacre
Leonard Dacre
Leonard Dacre was an English nobleman, one of the promoters of the Northern Rebellion against Queen Elizabeth.-Life:He was the second son of William Dacre, 3rd Baron Dacre of Gilsland and brother of Thomas Dacre, 4th Baron Dacre....
, Elizabeth herself received more ‘than ever anye the wyves of the auncestors of the said Lorde Dacre had.’ When her husband died on 25 July 1566, Elizabeth wasted no time in finding another. Six months later on 29 January 1567, she secretly married Thomas Howard, 4th Duke of Norfolk, a man who had already been married twice. The marriage ceremony was conducted in secrecy in the London home of her mother.
Death and legacy
On 4 September 1567, just over seven months after her marriage, Elizabeth died in childbirth at KenninghallKenninghall
Kenninghall is a village and civil parish in the English county of Norfolk.It covers an area of and had a population of 878 in 369 households as of the 2001 census.For the purposes of local government, it falls within the district of Breckland....
, Norfolk http://www.tudorplace.com.ar/DACRE.htm; the baby, whose sex is not known, died as well. The Duke was granted wardship of her children two months after her death. He later arranged the marriages of her three daughters to his own sons by his former wives. Elizabeth's son, George, who had succeeded his father as 5th Baron Dacre, died at the age of nine in 1569. In that same year, Norfolk was imprisoned on the orders of Queen Elizabeth I
Elizabeth I of England
Elizabeth I was queen regnant of England and Ireland from 17 November 1558 until her death. Sometimes called The Virgin Queen, Gloriana, or Good Queen Bess, Elizabeth was the fifth and last monarch of the Tudor dynasty...
for having plotted to marry Mary, Queen of Scots.