Elizabeth Brydges facts for kids
Elizabeth Brydges (around 1575–1617) was an important lady at court. She served as a Maid of Honour to Queen Elizabeth I. Elizabeth also faced a difficult marriage because her husband was already married.
She was the daughter of Giles Brydges, 3rd Baron Chandos, and Frances Clinton. Her family lived at Sudeley Castle.
Life at Court
In 1592, Queen Elizabeth I visited Sudeley Castle. During a special show, Elizabeth Brydges played the part of Daphne. She was shown as clever, loyal, and pure. Soon after, she joined the Queen's royal household. She became one of the Queen's Maids of Honour.
In 1593, it was said that the young Earl of Bedford wanted to marry Elizabeth. While at court in the 1590s, she borrowed a lot of money from Charles Lister. She had promised to marry him. In 1598, Lister complained that he had loaned her over £3000. This caused him great financial trouble. Elizabeth used some of Lister's money to invest in the Earl of Essex's attack on Cadiz. She may have been very close to the Earl of Essex around this time.
One day in 1597, "Mistress Brydges" and "Mrs Russell" (Elizabeth Russell) took some medicine. Perhaps they pretended to be sick to avoid their duties. They went through the palace to watch men playing a game called "balloon." Queen Elizabeth became very angry. She scolded Elizabeth Brydges. Both women were suspended from their duties for three days. They had to stay outside the palace. Some people hinted that the Queen's anger was also because of Essex's interest in Elizabeth Brydges.
During a celebration at Harefield in August 1602, Elizabeth received a special gift. She got a dozen clothing toggles in a lottery. The verses with them said she was a "true lover."
Elizabeth was one of the heirs of her father, Baron Chandos. He died in 1594 without any sons. In June 1602, her cousin, Grey Brydges, disagreed about her share of the family property. He even had a fight with her representative, Ambrose Willoughby. Grey's father died in November 1602. After this, the family property was sorted out. A plan for Elizabeth and Grey to marry was then dropped.
After Queen Elizabeth died, Elizabeth Brydges and other ladies went to see King James at Theobalds. In June 1603, "Mistress Bridges" rode from London to meet the new queen, Anne of Denmark. She traveled with the Countess of Warwick and Anne Vavasour. The Countess of Cumberland and Anne Clifford joined them later.
Married Life
Later in 1603, Elizabeth married Sir John Kennedy. He was a Scottish member of King James's household. He had recently become an English citizen. The King wanted marriages between Scottish and English nobles. This was to help unite England and Scotland. However, Kennedy was already married. He was also determined to get Elizabeth Brydges's money. Her dowry, or marriage gift, was said to be £16,500. She tried to claim her share of the Chandos estate and Sudeley in 1603.
Sir John Kennedy's past was a bit unclear. A John Kennedy had been a cup bearer for Anne of Denmark. Another John Kennedy was a royal servant in 1601.
The King reportedly wrote a letter to Elizabeth's mother, Lady Frances. He recommended Kennedy to her. In 1604, the King also wrote to Grey Brydges. Grey did not approve of the marriage. The King told him to be kind to the couple. But at some point, it was discovered that Kennedy had been married before. The couple then separated. Kennedy was still liked at court for a while. He even took part in a play called The Hue and Cry After Cupid in February 1608. His troubles likely started after that date.
Elizabeth made Kennedy move out of their house at Barn Elms. On September 3, 1609, she was asleep at midnight. A doctor, William Paddy, was also in the house. Kennedy attacked with a group of "furious Scots." Elizabeth and the doctor escaped through the back door. They found safety at the house of her cousin Elizabeth. This cousin was married to Arthur Gorges and lived in Chelsea. Gorges wrote that Elizabeth Brydges arrived "more likely to die than live." Elizabeth had been unwell. A list of Kennedy's debts included money for her lodging, her servant, and her medicine. Her child, Francis Kennedy, had died in November 1608.
Stories about the marriage vary. Some said Sir John's first wife had died. In September 1609, Elizabeth Brydges complained to Archbishop of Canterbury. She spoke about Kennedy's cruelty and that he had a wife when he married her. The situation was confusing at the time. In November 1609, the King and the Chancellor of Scotland discussed it. They wondered how Kennedy could swear an oath about his first wedding. This might show if their marriage could be ended. On September 26, 1609, Viscount Lisle wrote about it. He said Lady Kennedy's case was heard. But she said she was Elizabeth Bridges, claiming Kennedy had a previous marriage. A request to the king for her divorce mentioned a court decision in Scotland that was not in her favor.
John Chamberlain heard she was divorced in October 1611. He also heard she might marry the poet Henry Reynolds. Reynolds was a secretary to the Lord Chamberlain. He was also a friend of Michael Drayton. However, Reynolds soon looked for another bride.
Elizabeth Brydges died on October 7, 1617, in Westminster. She had fits or convulsions. This made some people wonder if she had poisoned herself.
An older version of her story says Elizabeth spent too much money. It also says Kennedy could not meet her demands. He supposedly tried to end the marriage with the help of lawyer Francis Bacon. However, Kennedy's dealings with Bacon happened after the marriage ended. In 1621, Bacon was accused of corruption. This was in a case involving Kennedy and a jeweler named Peter Vanlore.
In 1615, Kennedy and Sir George Belgrave were put in Gatehouse Prison. They had falsely accused a gentleman of speaking badly about the Duke of Lennox and the Scots at court. Kennedy died in 1622. He left a will naming his daughter Dorothy Kennedy and the Duke of Lennox as his executors. Dorothy was still a child when he died. So Barbara Ruthven was appointed to manage things.
Portraits
Hieronimo Custodis painted Elizabeth's portrait in 1589. It shows her at age 14. A portrait of Sir John Kennedy from 1614 is at Woburn Abbey. It shows a woman's portrait hidden behind a curtain. Another portrait at Woburn is of Elizabeth Brydges. It is thought to be by Daniel Mytens or Marcus Gheeraerts the Younger. In this painting, her stomacher, a part of her dress, has six-pointed stars with pearls. There is also a small portrait, called a miniature, by Isaac Oliver.
