Elizabeth Stafford facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Elizabeth Stafford
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Elizabeth Stafford memorial, St Mary's Church, Nettlestead
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| Born | c.1556 England |
| Died | 6 February 1599 |
| Noble family | Stafford |
| Spouse(s) | Sir William Drury |
| Issue |
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| Father | Sir William Stafford |
| Mother | Dorothy Stafford |
Elizabeth Stafford was an important lady in the court of Queen Elizabeth I. She was known as a Lady of the Bedchamber, which meant she was a close attendant and friend to the Queen. She was also called Dame Elizabeth Drury and later Dame Elizabeth Scott. In 1578, she and her first husband, Sir William Drury, even hosted Queen Elizabeth I at their home in Hawstead.
Her Family Background
Elizabeth Stafford was born around 1556 in England. Her father was Sir William Stafford and her mother was Dorothy Stafford.
Her mother, Dorothy Stafford, had a special connection to the royal family. Dorothy was the granddaughter of Edward Stafford, 3rd Duke of Buckingham. This meant Elizabeth and her brothers and sisters had royal blood, making them distant relatives of the Queen!
Before marrying Elizabeth's mother, Sir William Stafford was secretly married to Mary Boleyn. Mary was the sister of King Henry VIII's second wife, Anne Boleyn.
Elizabeth had several brothers and sisters:
- Sir Edward Stafford (1552–1604)
- William Stafford (1554–1612)
- Sir John Stafford (1556–1624)
- Ursula Stafford (born 1553)
- Dorothy Stafford, who likely died when she was very young.
Life at Court and Abroad
Elizabeth Stafford's parents were strong Protestants. During the reign of Queen Mary I, who was Catholic, many Protestants faced danger. So, in 1555, Elizabeth's family had to leave England and live in other countries. They went to places like Geneva and Basel in Europe.
In Geneva, a famous Protestant leader named John Calvin became the godfather to Elizabeth's youngest brother, John. After her father died, Elizabeth's mother managed to bring her children back to England in 1559. This was after Queen Mary died and Queen Elizabeth I became the new ruler.
Elizabeth Stafford joined her mother, Dorothy, in Queen Elizabeth's royal household in 1568. She became a "chamberer," which meant she helped the Queen in her private rooms. She received a yearly payment and special fabric for her clothes.
In 1578, Queen Elizabeth I visited Elizabeth Stafford and her husband, Sir William Drury, at their home, Hawstead Place. They prepared a grand dinner for the Queen. It's said that during her visit, the Queen accidentally dropped a silver-handled fan into the moat!
Elizabeth and her husband often exchanged New Year's gifts with the Queen. This was a common tradition at court.
Later, Sir William Drury faced some financial problems and left England. He then served in the military in the Low Countries (modern-day Netherlands and Belgium) and France. Sadly, he was injured in a fight and passed away soon after. His body was brought back to England and buried.
After Sir William's death, Queen Elizabeth I sent Elizabeth Stafford a comforting letter. The Queen even called her "my Bess," showing how close they were. Elizabeth Stafford continued to serve the Queen as a Lady of the Bedchamber until her own death in 1599.
Marriages and Children
Elizabeth Stafford married twice.
Her first husband was Sir William Drury (died 1590). Together, they had two sons and four daughters:
- Sir Robert Drury (1575–1615)
- Charles Drury, who died in battle in 1600
- Frances Drury (1576 – c. 1637)
- Elizabeth Drury (born 1578)
- Diana Drury (died 1631)
- Susanna Drury, who died unmarried in 1607
After Sir William Drury passed away, Elizabeth Stafford married her second husband, Sir John Scott.
