Elizabeth Howard, Lady Knollys (1586 – 17 April 1658), courtier to

Anne of Denmark Anne of Denmark (; 12 December 1574 – 2 March 1619) was the wife of King James VI and I; as such, she was Queen of Scotland The monarchy of the United Kingdom, commonly referred to as the British monarchy, is the constitutional fo ...

. Elizabeth Howard was a daughter of

Thomas Howard, 1st Earl of Suffolk Thomas Howard, 1st Earl of Suffolk, (24 August 156128 May 1626) of Audley End House in the parish of Saffron Walden in Essex, and of Suffolk House near Westminster, a member of the House of Howard, was the second son of Thomas Howard, 4th ...

and Katherine Knyvett. She was born at

Audley End Audley End House is a largely early 17th-century country house outside Saffron Walden, Essex, England. It is a prodigy house, known as one of the finest Jacobean houses in England. Audley End is now one-third of its original size, but is st ...

and baptised at

Saffron Walden Saffron Walden is a market town in the Uttlesford district of Essex, England, north of Bishop's Stortford, south of Cambridge and north of London. It retains a rural appearance and some buildings of the medieval period. The population was 15, ...

on 11 August 1586.

Dancing at Court

Howard had no formal or salaried position in the household of Anne of Denmark, but was often present at court. She danced as Tethys in

Samuel Daniel Samuel Daniel (1562–1619) was an English poet, playwright and historian in the late- Elizabethan and early- Jacobean eras. He was an innovator in a wide range of literary genres. His best-known works are the sonnet cycle ''Delia'', the epi ...

's masque ''

The Vision of the Twelve Goddesses ''The Vision of the Twelve Goddesses'' was an early Jacobean-era masque, written by Samuel Daniel and performed in the Great Hall of Hampton Court Palace on the evening of Sunday, 8 January 1604. One of the earliest of the Stuart Court masqu ...

'' on 8 January 1604 at

Hampton Court Hampton Court Palace is a Grade I listed royal palace in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, southwest and upstream of central London on the River Thames. The building of the palace began in 1514 for Cardinal Thomas Wolsey, the chief ...

dressed in a dark green mantle embroidered with waves, with a headdress of reeds, carrying a trident. On 6 January 1605 she performed as Glycyte, "a cloud full of rain, dropping", in ''

The Masque of Blackness ''The Masque of Blackness'' was an early Jacobean era masque, first performed at the Stuart Court in the Banqueting Hall of Whitehall Palace on Twelfth Night, 6 January 1605. It was written by Ben Jonson at the request of Anne of Denmark, the ...

''. She also danced in ''

Hymenaei ''Hymenaei,'' or ''The Masque of Hymen,'' was a masque written by Ben Jonson for the marriage of Robert Devereux, 3rd Earl of Essex, and Lady Frances Howard, daughter of the Earl of Suffolk, and performed on their wedding day, 5 January 1606 ...

'' on 5 January 1606 as one of the eight faculties of

Juno Juno commonly refers to: *Juno (mythology), the Roman goddess of marriage and queen of the gods *Juno (film), ''Juno'' (film), 2007 Juno may also refer to: Arts, entertainment and media Fictional characters *Juno, in the film ''Jenny, Juno'' *Ju ...

, who descended from the roof of the old banqueting house in two mechanical clouds, a masque written by

Ben Jonson Benjamin "Ben" Jonson (c. 11 June 1572 – c. 16 August 1637) was an English playwright and poet. Jonson's artistry exerted a lasting influence upon English poetry and stage comedy. He popularised the comedy of humours; he is best known for t ...

for the marriage of

Robert Devereux, 3rd Earl of Essex Robert Devereux, 3rd Earl of Essex, KB, PC (; 11 January 1591 – 14 September 1646) was an English Parliamentarian and soldier during the first half of the 17th century. With the start of the Civil War in 1642, he became the first Captain ...

and her sister Lady Frances Howard.

Lady Knollys and Countess of Banbury

On 23 December 1605 she married Sir William Knollys, who became Viscount Wallingford, and in 1627

Earl of Banbury Earl of Banbury was a title in the Peerage of England. It was created in 1626 for William Knollys. He had already been created Baron Knollys in 1603 and Viscount Wallingford in 1616, both in the Peerage of England. However, the paternity of hi ...

. Elizabeth was said to be ambitious for her husband's promotion to viscount, so that she could have precedence over Elizabeth Pierrepont, wife of Thomas Erskine, Viscount Fenton. On 27 April 1613 she and her husband entertained Anne of Denmark at

Caversham Park Caversham Park is a Victorian-era stately home with parkland in the suburb of Caversham on the outskirts of Reading, England. Historically located in Oxfordshire, it became part of Berkshire with boundary changes in 1911. Caversham Park was ...

. A description of the entertainment written by

Thomas Campion Thomas Campion (sometimes spelled Campian; 12 February 1567 – 1 March 1620) was an English composer, poet, and physician. He was born in London, educated at Cambridge, studied law in Gray's inn. He wrote over a hundred lute songs, masques for ...

was printed in 1613. The queen was met by a Cynic dressed as a wildman who debated with a Traveller. These two rode to the park gate and were met by two of Robin Hood's men, who sang for the queen. The entertainment continued in the hall of the house after dinner and concluded with masque dancing. The masque actors included four of Elizabeth Knollys's brothers; Lord Walden, Sir Thomas, Master Henry, and Sir Charles.

Anne Clifford Lady Anne Clifford, Countess of Dorset, Pembroke and Montgomery, ''suo jure'' 14th Baroness de Clifford (30 January 1590 – 22 March 1676) was an English peeress. In 1605 she inherited her father's ancient barony by writ and became ''suo jure'' ...

went to Suffolk House in London, known as the "Tiltyard", to see her in June 1616, and she saw

Anne Anne, alternatively spelled Ann, is a form of the Latin female given name Anna. This in turn is a representation of the Hebrew Hannah, which means 'favour' or 'grace'. Related names include Annie. Anne is sometimes used as a male name in the ...

the daughter of her sister Frances, Countess of Somerset. Lady Knollys seems to have looked after the child at Knollys House in London and taken her to see her mother in the

Tower of London The Tower of London, officially His Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress of the Tower of London, is a historic castle on the north bank of the River Thames in central London. It lies within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, which is separa ...

. In February 1622 she pleaded that Earl and Countess of Somerset should be allowed to go to her house at New Elm Park (

Ewelme Ewelme () is a village and civil parish in the Chiltern Hills in South Oxfordshire, north-east of the market town of Wallingford. The 2011 Census recorded the parish's population as 1,048. To the east of the village is Cow Common and to the ...

in Oxfordshire). It was said that Francis Howard died at Wallingford House in Whitehall in 1632, but the house was sold at a bargain price to

Buckingham Buckingham ( ) is a market town in north Buckinghamshire, England, close to the borders of Northamptonshire and Oxfordshire, which had a population of 12,890 at the 2011 Census. The town lies approximately west of Central Milton Keynes, sou ...

in 1622 who secured the Somersets's release. In December 1618 it was noted that "my Lady of Wallingford" was one of the first to sing a verse libel against her sister Countess of Salisbury, and another "cross-libel" was current, criticising her faction. In January 1619 King James told William Knollys that he was unfit for public office, despite his long service with Queen Elizabeth, because he had "one fault common to him with diverse others of his friends and fellows, which could not stand with his service or the state, that he was altogether guided and overruled by an arch-wife". In June 1623 she travelled to

The Hague The Hague ( ; nl, Den Haag or ) is a city and municipality of the Netherlands, situated on the west coast facing the North Sea. The Hague is the country's administrative centre and its seat of government, and while the official capital of ...

to see

Elizabeth Stuart, Queen of Bohemia Elizabeth Stuart (19 August 159613 February 1662) was Electress of the Palatinate and briefly Queen of Bohemia as the wife of Frederick V of the Palatinate. Since her husband's reign in Bohemia lasted for just one winter, she is called the Wi ...

, with Isabella Smythe, Philadelphia Carey

Lady Wharton The word ''lady'' is a term for a girl or woman, with various connotations. Once used to describe only women of a high social class or status, the equivalent of lord, now it may refer to any adult woman, as gentleman can be used for men. Inform ...

, Lady Hatton and her daughter Lady Purbeck. Dudley Carleton thought she was an unsuitable guest for her (Catholic) religion and other circumstances. They sent a comic letter to Carleton, in the spirit of a masque, explaining their arrival deposited on the shore by Neptune, in hope of an introduction to the King and Queen of Bohemia. William Knollys, Earl of Banbury died on 25 May 1632 and was buried at

Rotherfield Greys Rotherfield Greys is a village and Civil parishes in England, civil parish in the Chiltern Hills in South Oxfordshire. It is west of Henley-on-Thames and just over east of Rotherfield Peppard (locally known as Peppard). It is linked by a ne ...

near their home at

Greys Court Greys Court is a Tudor country house and gardens in the southern Chiltern Hills at Rotherfield Greys, near Henley-on-Thames in the county of Oxfordshire, England. Now owned by the National Trust, it is located at , and is open to the public. ...

. She married

Edward Vaux, 4th Baron Vaux of Harrowden Edward Vaux, 4th Baron Vaux of Harrowden (13 September 1588 – 8 September 1661) was an English peer. He was the son of George Vaux (1564–1594) and his wife Elizabeth Vaux (daughter of John Roper, 1st Baron Teynham, born about 1564), and the gra ...

in June 1632. Vaux was said to have wanted to marry her in 1605. He was found to be a

recusant Recusancy (from la, recusare, translation=to refuse) was the state of those who remained loyal to the Catholic Church and refused to attend Church of England services after the English Reformation. The 1558 Recusancy Acts passed in the reign ...

in 1606 and his aunt

Anne Vaux Anne Vaux (c. 1562 – in or after 1637) was a wealthy Catholic recusant. Background Vaux was the third daughter of William Vaux, 3rd Baron Vaux of Harrowden (1535–1595) and his first wife, Elizabeth, daughter of John Beaumont of Grace Die ...

was arrested in connection with the

Gunpowder Plot The Gunpowder Plot of 1605, in earlier centuries often called the Gunpowder Treason Plot or the Jesuit Treason, was a failed assassination attempt against King James I by a group of provincial English Catholics led by Robert Catesby who sought ...

. He was a probably a cousin of Elizabeth Roper, later Lady Mansell, a maid of honour in Anne of Denmark's household. In 1641 she had a licence to travel with her son Nicholas. She died on 17 April 1658 and was buried at

Dorking, Surrey Dorking () is a market town in Surrey in South East England, about south of London. It is in Mole Valley District and the council headquarters are to the east of the centre. The High Street runs roughly east–west, parallel to the Pipp B ...

. An inscription to her memory at Dorking stated her age was 75, but the register at Saffron Walden shows she was born in 1586.

Family

Portrait

'Elizabeth Knollys, née Howard (1586–1658), Viscountess Wallingford, Later Countess of Banbury'
attributed to

Daniel Mytens Daniel is a masculine given name and a surname of Hebrew origin. It means "God is my judge"Hanks, Hardcastle and Hodges, ''Oxford Dictionary of First Names'', Oxford University Press, 2nd edition, , p. 68. (cf. Gabriel—"God is my strength"), ...

, English Heritage, Kenwood House.
'Elisabeth Howard, Countess of Banbury (1585-1647)', VADS

'William Knollys, 1st Earl of Banbury (1547-1632)', VADS

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Howard, Elizabeth 1586 births 1658 deaths

Banbury Banbury is a historic market town on the River Cherwell in Oxfordshire, South East England. It had a population of 54,335 at the 2021 Census. Banbury is a significant commercial and retail centre for the surrounding area of north Oxfordshire ...

Vaux of Harrowden

Elizabeth Elizabeth or Elisabeth may refer to: People * Elizabeth (given name), a female given name (including people with that name) * Elizabeth (biblical figure), mother of John the Baptist Ships * HMS ''Elizabeth'', several ships * ''Elisabeth'' (sch ...

People of the Elizabethan era 16th-century English nobility 17th-century English nobility 16th-century English women 17th-century English women Court of James VI and I Daughters of British earls