Alice Spencer, Countess of Derby facts for kids

Alice Spencer, Countess of Derby (born May 4, 1559 – died January 23, 1637) was an important English noblewoman. She came from the famous Spencer family. Alice was well-known for supporting artists and writers.

A famous poet named Edmund Spenser wrote about her. He called her "Amaryllis" in his poem Colin Clouts Come Home Againe. He also dedicated another poem, The Teares of the Muses, to her.

Alice's first husband was Ferdinando Stanley, 5th Earl of Derby. He was a possible heir to the English throne. Her oldest daughter, Anne Stanley, Countess of Castlehaven, was next in line to Queen Elizabeth I. Later, in 1600, Alice married Thomas Egerton, 1st Viscount Brackley. This made her part of the Egerton family.

Her Life and Family

Alice Spencer was born in Althorp, England, on May 4, 1559. She was the youngest daughter of Sir John Spencer. Her father was a Member of Parliament. He was also the High Sheriff of Northamptonshire. Her mother was Katherine Kytson. Alice had three older brothers and three older sisters.

Her Marriages and Children

Around 1579, Alice married her first husband, Ferdinando Stanley, 5th Earl of Derby. He was the heir to the Earldom of Derby. He also had a claim to the English throne. His mother, Lady Margaret Clifford, was next in line to Queen Elizabeth I. This was true from 1578 until her death in 1596.

On September 25, 1593, Ferdinando became the Earl of Derby. From that day, Alice was known as the Countess of Derby.

Alice and Ferdinando had three daughters:

• Lady Anne Stanley (born May 1580 – died around October 1647). She married twice and had children.
• Lady Frances Stanley (born May 1, 1583 – died March 11, 1636). She married John Egerton, 1st Earl of Bridgewater and had children.
• Lady Elizabeth Stanley (born January 6, 1588 – died January 20, 1633). She married Henry Hastings, 5th Earl of Huntingdon and had children.

Ferdinando died on April 16, 1594. Two years later, his mother passed away. This meant Alice's oldest daughter, Anne, became the next in line to Queen Elizabeth I. However, when Queen Elizabeth died in 1603, the crown went to King James VI of Scotland. He was related to King Henry VIII through his older sister. The Stanleys were related through Henry VIII's younger sister.

After her husband's death, his group of actors, known as the Earl of Derby's Men, performed for a month. They were then called The Countess of Derby's Men.

On October 20, 1600, Alice married her second husband. He was Thomas Egerton, 1st Viscount Brackley. He later became Baron Ellesmere in 1603. In 1616, he became Viscount Brackley. Less than two years after their wedding, Thomas's son married Alice's second daughter, Lady Frances.

Alice and her new husband started the Bridgewater Library together.

In 1601, Thomas Egerton bought Harefield Place in Middlesex. In July 1602, Queen Elizabeth I visited them at Harefield. She was entertained there. In August 1607, Alice was welcomed at Ashby de la Zouch Castle. She enjoyed a special performance there. In April 1613, she joined Queen Anne of Denmark on a trip to Bath.

Alice had Haydon Hall built in Eastcote in 1630. She was worried that her son-in-law, Lord Castlehaven, might try to claim her property. After she died in 1637, her oldest daughter, Anne, became the owner of the house. Alice was known as the Dowager Countess of Derby until her death.

Supporting the Arts

Alice was a strong supporter of the arts. Her sisters, Anne and Elizabeth, also supported artists. The poet Edmund Spenser was a distant relative. In his poem Colin Clouts Come Home Againe, he called Alice "Amaryllis". Her sisters were called "Charillis" and "Phyllis". Alice's husband was "Amyntas". Spenser described "Amaryllis" as "the highest in degree." He also dedicated his poem The Teares of the Muses to her.

The famous poet and author John Milton lived near Alice's home at Harefield Place.

Alice also used her influence to help people in politics. Because of her, Geoffrey Osbaldeston, another distant relative, got a job as a judge in Ireland.

Death

Alice died on January 23, 1637. She was buried on January 28 at St Mary the Virgin Church in Harefield. A monument was built there to remember Alice and her three daughters. She had planned this monument herself before she died.

This is an engraving of Alice Spencer by an unknown artist. You can see it in the National Portrait Gallery in London.

Images for kids

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  This portrait might be Alice Spencer when she was younger.