Elizabeth Wyckes facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Elizabeth Wyckes
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| Born | |
| Died | 1529 |
| Occupation | Wife of Thomas Cromwell, chief minister to Henry VIII |
| Spouse(s) | Thomas Cromwell, Earl of Essex |
| Children | Gregory Cromwell, 1st Baron Cromwell Anne Cromwell Grace Cromwell |
| Parent(s) | Henry Wyckes |
Elizabeth Wyckes (also spelled Wykys or Wykes) was an important woman in English history. She was the wife of Thomas Cromwell, a powerful advisor to King Henry VIII. Elizabeth lived in the 1500s and came from a well-off family. Her father, Henry Wyckes, was a successful cloth maker from Chertsey.
Elizabeth's Family Life
Elizabeth first married a man named Thomas Williams. He was a Yeoman of the Guard, a special group of guards for the King. They did not have any children together.
Around 1515, Elizabeth married again. Her second husband was Thomas Cromwell. He had just returned to England from Antwerp. Thomas Cromwell later became a very important person in King Henry VIII's government.
Elizabeth and Thomas Cromwell had three children who survived:
- Gregory Cromwell, 1st Baron Cromwell (born around 1520)
- Anne Cromwell
- Grace Cromwell
We do not know much about Elizabeth Wyckes' life or her marriage to Thomas Cromwell. She passed away early in his career, before he became extremely famous.
During their early marriage, Thomas Cromwell was a successful merchant and lawyer. He even took over her father's business. Elizabeth, Thomas, and her mother lived in a happy and successful home. Cromwell was wealthy enough to buy expensive jewelry. He bought a sapphire ring and a gold bracelet worth a lot of money.
Thomas and Elizabeth often welcomed friends to their home. These friends were merchants and scholars. Elizabeth and her mother were also part of this friendly group. One friend asked Elizabeth to send a special plaster for his knee. Another friend sent greetings to Elizabeth's mother, calling her a "singular good friend." The only letter from Thomas to Elizabeth shows they had a normal, happy marriage. He even sent her a deer he had caught while hunting.
Elizabeth and Thomas Cromwell lived in Austin Friars, London. Before Elizabeth's death, Thomas Cromwell had started to become important in the King's court. He had caught the attention of Cardinal Thomas Wolsey. After Elizabeth passed away, her mother continued to live in Cromwell's house for several more years with her second husband, Sir John Pryor.
Elizabeth's Children and Grandchildren
Elizabeth passed away in early 1529. It is thought she died from the sweating sickness, a serious illness at the time. Her husband, her three children, and her mother survived her. Sadly, her daughters, Anne and Grace, are believed to have died soon after their mother from the same illness. Thomas Cromwell never married again after Elizabeth's death.
Her son, Gregory Cromwell, married Elizabeth Seymour. Elizabeth Seymour was the sister of Queen Jane Seymour, one of King Henry VIII's wives. Gregory and Elizabeth had five children:
- Henry Cromwell, 2nd Baron Cromwell (1538 – 1592)
- Edward (born 1539, died young)
- Thomas Cromwell (born around 1540)
- Katherine (or Catherine) Cromwell (born around 1541)
- Frances Cromwell (born around 1544, died 1562)
Elizabeth in Fiction
Elizabeth Wyckes has been shown in TV shows. Actress Natasha Little played her in the TV series Wolf Hall. This show was first shown in 2015 on BBC Two. In the show's credits, her character was called Liz Cromwell.
