Elizabeth Hatton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Elizabeth
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|---|---|
| Lady Hatton Lady Coke |
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| Born | 1578 |
| Died | 3 January 1646 (aged 67–68) |
| Buried | St Andrew Holborn, England |
| Noble family | Cecil |
| Spouse(s) | Sir William Newport alias Hatton Edward Coke |
| Issue | Frances Coke, Viscountess Purbeck Elizabeth Coke |
| Father | Thomas Cecil, 1st Earl of Exeter |
| Mother | Dorothy Neville |
Elizabeth, Lady Coke (born Cecil; 1578 – 3 January 1646) was an important English lady at court. She worked as a lady-in-waiting for Anne of Denmark, who was the Queen of England. Elizabeth was the daughter of Thomas Cecil, 1st Earl of Exeter. Her mother was Dorothy Neville. She was also the granddaughter of William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley, a very powerful man. Elizabeth was married first to Sir William Hatton and later to Sir Edward Coke.
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Elizabeth's Early Life
Elizabeth Cecil was born in 1578. Her father was Thomas Cecil, 1st Earl of Exeter. Her mother was Dorothy Neville. Elizabeth's grandfather on her father's side was William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley. He was a very famous and powerful advisor to Queen Elizabeth I.
First Marriage: Sir William Hatton
In the early 1590s, Elizabeth married Sir William Newport. He was born William Newport but took the name Hatton. This happened because his uncle, Sir Christopher Hatton, gave him his estates. Sir Christopher Hatton was a very important person. He was the Lord Chancellor for Queen Elizabeth I.
When Sir Christopher Hatton died in 1591, William Hatton became very wealthy. A writer named Robert Greene even wrote a book for Elizabeth. He called her "the right worshipful, bountiful, and virtuous lady." This shows how respected Elizabeth was.
Second Marriage: Sir Edward Coke
After Sir William Hatton passed away in 1597, Elizabeth married Sir Edward Coke. This marriage happened on 6 November 1598. Their wedding was held in a private home. It was also at a time that was not allowed by church rules. Because of this, everyone involved in the wedding faced legal trouble. Sir Edward had to ask the King for a special pardon.
Elizabeth was 26 years younger than Sir Edward Coke. She was known for being strong-willed and outspoken. People said they were not a good match, but they were both very strong personalities. By 1604, their marriage became difficult. Elizabeth was described as a challenging person for her husband.
They often argued about who owned the Hatton estate. This was the land Elizabeth had inherited from her first husband. The arguments became so bad that King James had to step in. He tried to help them settle their disagreements. Elizabeth and Sir Edward never truly made up. At his funeral, she famously said, "We shall never see his like again, thanks be to God."
Working for Queen Anne of Denmark
When James VI of Scotland became King of England in 1603, Elizabeth and her husband wanted to be close to the new royal family. Elizabeth traveled to Scotland to meet the new Queen, Anne of Denmark. People said that Elizabeth, with her strong personality, managed to impress the Queen.
Because of this, Elizabeth and Sir Edward Coke stayed in the Queen's favor. They kept her trust and affection for as long as she lived. Elizabeth tried to become the keeper of the Queen's jewels. She also wanted to help the Queen get dressed. However, she was not successful in getting these jobs.
Lady Hatton was invited to perform in some of the Queen's special shows called masques. These were plays with music and dancing. She performed in The Vision of the Twelve Goddesses in 1604. She also performed in The Masque of Beauty in 1608. In 1613, Queen Anne visited Wells, Somerset. Lady Hatton was among the important people who had dinner with the Queen's household.
After Queen Anne of Denmark died in 1619, Lady Hatton remained part of the court. In 1621, she and her daughter had their fortunes told in a masque called The Gypsies Metamorphosed. In 1623, Elizabeth and her daughter, Lady Purbeck, traveled to The Hague. They went to visit Elizabeth Stuart, Queen of Bohemia.
Elizabeth's Family
Elizabeth had two daughters with her second husband, Sir Edward Coke. Their names were Frances Coke, Viscountess Purbeck and Elizabeth Coke. Elizabeth Coke never married.
Frances Coke married John Villiers, 1st Viscount Purbeck in 1617. John Villiers was the older brother of George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham. Buckingham was a favorite of King James. This marriage caused many problems between Elizabeth and Sir Edward Coke.
Elizabeth did not want her daughter Frances to marry John Villiers. She believed he was not mentally well. So, Elizabeth sent Frances away from their home without telling her husband. She planned for Frances to marry Henry de Vere, 18th Earl of Oxford instead. However, Sir Edward Coke found Frances. He then kept her locked up in different houses.
In September 1617, Frances was married at Hampton Court. The King and Queen were there. But the marriage was not happy. In 1621, Frances left her husband. She then lived with Sir Robert Howard for many years.
Death and Burial
Elizabeth, Lady Hatton, died on 3 January 1646. She was buried in the church of St Andrew Holborn in London.
Legacy
In her will, Lady Hatton left money to buy land in Stoke Poges, England. This money helps a local charity today. In 2023, a new road in Stoke Poges was named Lady Hatton Place in her honor.
See also
