Elizabeth Lucy facts for kids
Elizabeth Lucy lived around the 1460s. She was a special friend of Edward IV of England, who was King of England at the time. Many historians believe she was the mother of several of his children, including Arthur Plantagenet, 1st Viscount Lisle.
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Who Was Elizabeth Lucy?
We don't know much about Elizabeth Lucy's family background. A famous writer named Thomas More called her "Dame Elizabeth." He wrote that King Edward's mother was upset when her son married Elizabeth Woodville. This was because Edward had already had a child with Elizabeth Lucy. His mother claimed that Elizabeth Lucy and Edward were already legally promised to marry each other.
Her Connection to King Edward IV
Elizabeth Lucy herself said that she and the King were not officially engaged. However, she did say, "his grace spoke such loving words to her, she truly hoped he would have married her."
The Claim of a Secret Engagement
Later, Richard III of England, Edward IV's brother, brought up this claim again. He wanted to say that Edward's children with Elizabeth Woodville were not rightful heirs to the throne. This would allow Richard to become king himself. However, it was later found that Richard had actually claimed that another woman, Lady Eleanor Talbot, was Edward's secretly promised wife. Lady Eleanor had already passed away, so she couldn't be asked about the claim.
Was She Elizabeth Wayte?
An old historian named John Anstis wrote in 1724 that Elizabeth Lucy was actually "Elizabeth Wayte." He said she was the daughter of Thomas Wayte from Southampton and the mother of Arthur Plantagenet. Another writer, Bridget Boland, thinks King Edward might have met her when he was traveling in southern England in 1461. Other historians, Chris Given Wilson and Alice Curteis, also believe she was Elizabeth Wayte. They think her son was probably born sometime between 1461 and 1464.
Her Children with the King
The name "Lucy" is thought to come from a later marriage she might have had. However, historian Michael Hicks suggests she was a young widow when she met King Edward.
Even though we're not completely sure if Elizabeth Wayte and Elizabeth Lucy were the same person, many historians believe that Elizabeth Lucy was also the mother of Elizabeth Plantagenet. This daughter was born around 1464 and later married Sir Thomas Lumley in 1477. Elizabeth Lucy may have had other children with the King as well.
