Elizabeth Tilney, Countess of Surrey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Elizabeth Tilney
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| Countess of Surrey | |
Detail of a stained glass window at Holy Trinity Church, Long Melford, Suffolk depicting Elizabeth Tilney
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| Born | Before 1445 Ashwellthorpe Manor, Norfolk |
| Died | 4 April 1497 England |
| Buried | Convent of the Minoresses, outside Aldgate, London |
| Spouse(s) | Sir Humphrey Bourchier Thomas Howard, 2nd Duke of Norfolk |
| Issue | John Bourchier, 2nd Baron Berners Margaret Bourchier Anne Bourchier, Baroness Dacre Thomas Howard, 3rd Duke of Norfolk Lord Edward Howard Lord Edmund Howard Lord John Howard Lord Henry Howard Lord Charles Howard Lord Henry Howard (second of that name) Lord Richard Howard Elizabeth Howard Muriel Howard |
| Father | Sir Frederick Tilney |
| Mother | Elizabeth Cheney |
| Occupation | Lady-in-waiting Lady of the Bedchamber |
Elizabeth Tilney, Countess of Surrey (born before 1445 – died 4 April 1497) was an important English noblewoman. She was the first wife of Thomas Howard, 2nd Duke of Norfolk.
Elizabeth worked as a lady-in-waiting for two queens. First, she served Elizabeth Woodville, who was King Edward IV's wife. Later, she served Elizabeth of York, who was King Henry VII's wife. Elizabeth Tilney was also a godmother to Princess Margaret Tudor.
Her oldest son was Thomas Howard, 3rd Duke of Norfolk. Through two of her other children, she became the grandmother of two queens. These queens were married to King Henry VIII. Her daughter Elizabeth Boleyn, Countess of Wiltshire was the mother of Queen Anne Boleyn. Her son Lord Edmund Howard was the father of Queen Catherine Howard. This means Elizabeth Tilney was the great-grandmother of Queen Elizabeth I.
Elizabeth is remembered in a poem called The Garlande of Laurell by John Skelton. He called her the "Countess of Surrey" in his poem.
Contents
Family and Early Life
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Elizabeth Tilney was born at Ashwellthorpe Hall in Norfolk. This was sometime before the year 1445. She was the only child of Sir Frederick Tilney and Elizabeth Cheney.
Her father, Sir Frederick Tilney, died before 1447. Her mother, Elizabeth Cheney, then married Sir John Say. He was the Speaker of the House of Commons. Elizabeth's mother and Sir John Say had several children together.
One of Elizabeth's half-sisters was Anne Say. Anne married Sir Henry Wentworth. Their granddaughter was Jane Seymour, who became King Henry VIII's third queen. This made Jane Seymour a second cousin to Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard, who were Elizabeth Tilney's granddaughters.
Marriages and Life at Court
Elizabeth first married Sir Humphrey Bourchier around 1466. He was the son of John Bourchier, 1st Baron Berners. They had one son, John Bourchier, 2nd Baron Berners, and two daughters.
After her marriage, Elizabeth went to the royal court. She became a lady-in-waiting to Queen Elizabeth Woodville. Elizabeth Tilney even helped carry the Queen's long dress at her coronation in 1465. She stayed with the Queen during difficult times, including when King Edward IV lost his throne for a short period. She was also present when the future King Edward V was born.
Sir Humphrey Bourchier was killed in battle on 14 April 1471. He was fighting for the Yorkist side at the Battle of Barnet.
A year later, on 30 April 1472, Elizabeth married her second husband. This was Thomas Howard. Their marriage was arranged by the King. In 1475, Elizabeth inherited her family home, Ashwellthorpe Manor.
Thomas Howard was a close friend of Richard, Duke of Gloucester. Richard became king in 1483. Elizabeth was one of Anne Neville's attendants at Richard's coronation. Her husband carried the Sword of State during the ceremony.
In 1485, King Richard III was defeated at the Battle of Bosworth. Thomas Howard's father was killed fighting for Richard III. Thomas Howard himself was wounded and sent to the Tower. His family's titles and lands were taken away. However, Elizabeth was lucky. The rules of her husband's punishment meant she did not lose her own family inheritance.
After some years, Thomas Howard was released from prison. His titles and lands were given back to him. He then began to serve the new king, Henry VII. In 1487, Elizabeth and Thomas attended the coronation of Henry VII's wife, Elizabeth of York. Queen Elizabeth of York made Elizabeth Tilney a Lady of the Bedchamber. Elizabeth Tilney was also honored by being asked to be a godmother to Princess Margaret Tudor in 1489.
Elizabeth and Thomas Howard had eleven children together. These included Thomas Howard, 3rd Duke of Norfolk, Elizabeth Howard, and Lord Edmund Howard.
granddaughter of Elizabeth Tilney
Death and Legacy
Elizabeth Tilney passed away on 4 April 1497. It is often said she was buried at the Convent of the Minoresses outside Aldgate in London. However, some historians believe this is incorrect. They think she might have been confused with another noblewoman. Her actual burial place is not known for certain.
After Elizabeth's death, her husband Thomas Howard married her cousin, Agnes Tilney. They had more children together.
Elizabeth Tilney's granddaughters included Queen Anne Boleyn and Queen Catherine Howard. During the time of King Henry VIII, Elizabeth's oldest son, Thomas Howard, became very powerful. The Howard family became one of the most important families in England.
In Poetry, Art, and Fiction
Elizabeth Tilney is mentioned in a poem by John Skelton. The poem is called The Garlande of Laurell. Skelton wrote it in 1495 when he was staying with the Howard family. In the poem, Elizabeth, her daughters, and other ladies placed a special garland on Skelton's head. This was a sign of respect for the poet.
You can see Elizabeth's image in a stained glass window. It is in Holy Trinity Church in Long Melford, Suffolk. She is shown facing another noblewoman, Elizabeth Talbot.
A fictional story about Elizabeth Tilney's life was written by Juliet Dymoke. It is called The Sun in Splendour. This book tells a romanticized version of her life at the court of King Edward IV.
Children
Elizabeth Tilney had children from both of her marriages:
By Sir Humphrey Bourchier:
- John Bourchier, 2nd Baron Berners (1467–1533): He was a nobleman.
- Margaret Bourchier (1468–1552): She served as Lady Governess to Princess Mary and Princess Elizabeth.
- Anne Bourchier (1470 – 1530): She married Thomas Fiennes, 8th Baron Dacre.
By Thomas Howard, 2nd Duke of Norfolk:
- Thomas Howard, 3rd Duke of Norfolk: He became a very powerful duke.
- Lord Edward Howard: He was an admiral.
- Lord Edmund Howard: He was the father of Queen Katherine Howard.
- Lord John Howard
- Lord Henry Howard
- Lord Charles Howard
- Lord Henry Howard (the younger)
- Lord Richard Howard
- Elizabeth Howard: She married Thomas Boleyn, 1st Earl of Wiltshire. She was the mother of Queen Anne Boleyn and grandmother of Queen Elizabeth I.
- Muriel Howard (died 1512)
- A daughter who died young.
Images for kids
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Detail of a stained glass window at Holy Trinity Church, Long Melford, Suffolk depicting Elizabeth Tilney
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Arms of Tilney: Azure, a chevron between three griffin's heads erased or
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Ledger stone and monumental brass of Philip Tilney (d.1453), Elizabeth Tilney's grandfather
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The Battle of Barnet where Elizabeth's first husband Sir Humphrey Bourchier was killed
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Anne Boleyn, granddaughter of Elizabeth Tilney
