Elizabeth Leyburne facts for kids
Elizabeth Leyburne, Duchess of Norfolk (1536 – 4 September 1567) was an important English noblewoman. She was born in England and lived during the time of Queen Elizabeth I. She first married Thomas Dacre, 4th Baron Dacre. After he died in 1566, she secretly married Thomas Howard, 4th Duke of Norfolk. She was his third wife.
Her Family Background
Elizabeth was born in 1536. Her parents were Sir James Leyburn of Cunswick and Helen Preston. Helen's parents were Thomas Preston and Anne Thornburgh. Elizabeth had one sister named Anne. Anne married William Stanley, 3rd Baron Monteagle. They had a daughter named Elizabeth.
Some members of Elizabeth's family were Catholics. This was a time when it was difficult to be openly Catholic in England. Her great-nephew, James Leyburn, faced serious consequences for his Catholic faith in 1583.
Her Marriages and Children
Elizabeth married two times in her life.
Her first husband was Thomas Dacre, 4th Baron Dacre of Gilsland. They married in 1555. They had five children together:
- Francis Dacre (died as a baby)
- Anne Dacre (born 1557, died 1630). She married Philip Howard, 20th Earl of Arundel. Philip was the son of Elizabeth's second husband from an earlier marriage.
- George Dacre, 5th Baron Dacre (born 1560, died 1569). He died when he was nine years old.
- Mary Dacre (born 1563, died 1578). She married Thomas Howard (born 1561, died 1626). He later became the 1st Earl of Suffolk. Thomas was also a son of Elizabeth's second husband from an earlier marriage.
- Elizabeth Dacre (born 1564, died 1639). She married Lord William Howard. William was another son of Elizabeth's second husband from an earlier marriage.
After her first husband died, there was a disagreement about his will. The will left his lands to his son and brothers. It limited the inheritance to male heirs. Elizabeth was concerned for her daughters' future. However, her brother-in-law, Leonard Dacre, said Elizabeth herself received a very good inheritance.
Six months after her first husband died, Elizabeth secretly married Thomas Howard, 4th Duke of Norfolk. This happened on 29 January 1567. The wedding was kept secret. It took place at her mother's home in London.
Her Death and Legacy
Elizabeth died on 4 September 1567. She passed away during childbirth at Kenninghall, Norfolk. The baby also died. This was just over seven months after her marriage to the Duke of Norfolk.
Elizabeth was a very religious Catholic. Her husband, the Duke, was also Catholic but had been raised as a Protestant. It seems he did not allow her to see a Catholic priest. She wanted a priest to give her the last rites as she was dying.
Two months after Elizabeth's death, the Duke of Norfolk was given care of her children. Her son, George, who had become the 5th Baron Dacre, died in 1569. He was only nine years old.
The Duke of Norfolk later arranged for Elizabeth's three daughters to marry his own sons. These sons were from his previous marriages.
- In 1571, Anne married her stepbrother Philip Howard. He later became the 20th Earl of Arundel.
- Before May 1577, Mary married her stepbrother Thomas Howard. He later became the 1st Earl of Suffolk.
- In October 1577, Elizabeth married Lord William Howard. He was the Duke's third son.
Elizabeth's daughter Mary Howard died at age fourteen in 1578. Her oldest child, Anne Howard, lived until 1630. Her third daughter, Elizabeth, became known as "Bess of the Broad Apron." This was because of the large estates she inherited.
According to her daughter Anne's biographer, Elizabeth Leyburne was a remarkable woman. She was described as beautiful, intelligent, and wise. She was said to be "qualified to wear a Crown."
