Isabella Markham facts for kids
Isabella Markham (born March 28, 1527 – died May 20, 1579) was an important English lady at the royal court. She was a close attendant to Queen Elizabeth I of England and one of the Queen's personal favorites. Isabella Markham was also the inspiration for the court official and poet John Harington, who wrote many poems and sonnets for her, both before and after they were married. A book called Divine Meditations was dedicated to her in 1572 by Thomas Palfreyman.
Contents
Isabella Markham's Early Life
Isabella Markham was born on March 28, 1527, in Ollerton, Nottinghamshire, England. Her father was Sir John Markham of Cotham, and her mother was Anne Strelley.
Her Family Background
Isabella had two brothers, Thomas and William. Her older sister, Frances, was the first wife of Henry Babington. Henry's son from his second marriage, Anthony Babington, was later executed for planning against Queen Elizabeth.
The Markham family was very old and important. Their family line could be traced back to Claron, who owned land in West Markham during the Norman Conquest in 1066. Claron's descendants took the name "de Marcham," which later became "Markham." Many members of the Markham family were well-known in English history.
Serving Queen Elizabeth I
Isabella Markham joined the household of Princess Elizabeth Tudor as one of her ladies-in-waiting before 1549. When Princess Elizabeth was arrested in March 1554 by her half-sister, Queen Mary I, Isabella went with her to the Tower of London. Isabella was known to be a favored lady-in-waiting. Her father had been in charge of the Tower from 1549 to 1551.
Time in the Tower of London
While in the Tower, Isabella met John Harington, a poet and former treasurer for King Henry VIII. He was also imprisoned because of a letter that linked him to a rebellion against Queen Mary. Harington was already married to another of Elizabeth's attendants, Ethelreda Malte. He had admired Isabella Markham since before 1549. He once remembered seeing her "at the Princess's windowe in goodlye attyre, and talkede to dyvers in the Courte-Yard." It's interesting to note that Harington had been imprisoned in the Tower before (from 1549 to 1550) for being involved in political trouble. During that time, Isabella's father, Sir John Markham, was in charge of the Tower. So, the woman Harington loved was the daughter of his former jailer!
Back at Hatfield House
In May, Elizabeth was moved to Woodstock Palace and placed under house arrest. It's not clear if Isabella went with her. However, when Elizabeth returned to her home at Hatfield House in October 1555, Isabella was back in the princess's household as one of her six close attendants. Harington had been freed in January 1555 and often visited Hatfield, where he met Isabella. He was described as being deeply in love with her during Queen Mary I's early reign.
When Elizabeth became Queen Elizabeth I in 1558, Isabella Markham was appointed a Gentlewoman of the Privy Chamber. This was a very close position to the Queen, and Isabella held it for the rest of her life.
A Poet's Inspiration
Isabella Markham was known for her "great beauty." She inspired John Harington to write many letters, poems, and sonnets for her. He often called her "Sweete Isabella Markham." He started writing these poems as early as 1549, when she was 22 years old. One part of a poem from 1549 reads:
"John Haryngton to Isabella Markham, 1549
Question. Alas! I love you overwell, Myne owne sweete deere delygte! Yet, for respects I feare to tell What moves my trobled spryghte: What workes my woe, what breeds my smarte, What wounds myn harte and mynde; Reason restrayns me to emparte Such perylls as I fynde."
Marriage and Family Life
Around 1559, after his first wife passed away, Isabella Markham married John Harington. He had inherited a lot of land and money from his first wife, Ethelreda. Queen Elizabeth approved of this marriage because she liked both Isabella and John very much.
This approval was clear when Queen Elizabeth became the godmother to Isabella's first child, John, on August 4, 1561. Thomas Howard, 4th Duke of Norfolk, and William Herbert, 1st Earl of Pembroke, were the baby's godfathers. The baptism took place at the Church of All Hallows, London Wall.
Her Children
Isabella and her husband had three children together:
- Sir John Harington (born before August 4, 1561 – died November 20, 1612): He became an author, a courtier, and is famous for inventing the flush toilet. He married Mary Rogers and had nine children.
- Elizabeth Harington (born around 1560)
- Francis Harington (born 1564 – died January 22, 1639): He married Jane Baylie.
In 1572, a book called Divine Meditations by Thomas Palfreyman was dedicated to Isabella Markham.
Isabella Markham was still serving the Queen when she died on May 20, 1579, at the age of 52. She was buried in St. Gregory's by St. Paul's in London. Her husband was later buried next to her.
Sources
- Ian Grimble, The Harington Family (1958), St Martin's Press, New York
