She was the only surviving child of Sir Francis Walsingham, Secretary of State for Queen Elizabeth I, and Ursula St. Barbe. A lady-in-waiting to Queen Elizabeth, she married Philip Sidney in 1583, a match arranged by her father over the objections of the Queen, possibly because she did not like the prospect of two close councillors forming a power block (Sidney was nephew to Robert, Earl of Leicester). Sidney was appointed Governor of Flushing and left to attend his duties in the Netherlands, but pregnant with her first child, Frances waited until she had given birth. Her daughter was born in 1585 and named Elizabeth after the Queen, who had forgiven the couple and was one of the godparents. In June 1586 Frances left England for the Netherlands to meet her husband. On 22 September, Sidney was injured at the battle of Zutphen, and the wound became infected. Frances, again pregnant, nursed him, but he died on 17 October. She brought his body back to England, where he was given a hero's funeral, but miscarried their child.[1]
Second marriageEdit
In 1590 Frances' father died, leaving her with an annuity of £300; she married again, to Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex, to whom her previous husband had left his "best sword." The match may have been arranged by her father and took place before he died, however it caused great displeasure to the Queen, (although she forgave them relatively quickly) partly because the couple had not asked for permission beforehand.[2]
Frances had three children who survived infancy with her second husband, these were named Frances, Robert and Dorothy. Her husband Robert was executed in 1601 after participating in an attempted coup against the Queen. Frances attempted to see the queen to plead on his behalf, but was not permitted to see her.[2] Her son became the third Earl of Essex.[3]
Third marriageEdit
In 1603, she married her third husband Richard De Burgh (or Burke), Earl of St Albans and Clanricarde. They had one son, Ulick, and two daughters; the first, Honora, and the second known as Margaret or Mary.[1]
Together they lived in both Ireland and England, building great houses in each country. In 1609 they built a mansion at Somerhill in Kent, and around 1618 the construction of Portumna Castle in County Galway, Ireland began.[4]
She died early in 1633 at Somerhill, and was buried at St Peter and St Paul, Tonbridge, where she and her husband have effigies.[1]
Margaret/Mary m. Hon. Edward Butler of Ballinahinch[1]
ReferencesEdit
^ abcdefTsakiropoulou, Ioanna (9 May 2019), "Devereux, Frances [née Walsingham; other married names Sidney and Burke], countess of Essex and of Clanricarde (c.1568–1632), noblewoman", Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, doi:10.1093/odnb/9780198614128.013.112779, ISBN9780198614128, retrieved 17 May 2019
^ abRickman, Johanna (2008). Love, Lust, and License in Early Modern England: Illicit Sex and the Nobility. Ashgate Publishing, Ltd. pp. 57, 52. ISBN9780754661351.
^ abHutchinson, Robert (2007) Elizabeth's Spy Master: Francis Walsingham and the Secret War that Saved England. London: Weidenfeld & Nicolson. ISBN978-0-297-84613-0, pages 266–267
^"Portumna Castle, Portumna, County Galway: Buildings of Ireland: National Inventory of Architectural Heritage". Buildings of Ireland. Retrieved 17 May 2019.
^ abcdefHammer, Paul E.J. (23 September 2004). "The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography". In Matthew, H. C. G.; Harrison, B. (eds.). Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/7565. Retrieved 18 May 2019. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
^Cokayne, George Edward (1887). Complete peerage of England, Scotland, Ireland, Great Britain and the United Kingdom. London, G. Bell & sons. p. 175. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
October 20, 2023
frances, burke, countess, clanricarde, frances, walsingham, redirects, here, confused, with, francis, walsingham, dowager, countess, essex, née, walsingham, formerly, devereux, sidney, 1567, february, 1633, english, noblewoman, daughter, francis, walsingham, e. Frances Walsingham redirects here Not to be confused with Francis Walsingham Frances Burke Countess of Clanricarde Dowager Countess of Essex nee Walsingham formerly Devereux and Sidney 1567 17 February 1633 was an English noblewoman The daughter of Sir Francis Walsingham Elizabeth I s Secretary of State she became the wife of Sir Philip Sidney at age 16 Her second husband was Queen Elizabeth s favourite Robert Devereaux Earl of Essex with whom she had five children Two years after his execution in 1601 she married Richard Burke Earl of Clanricarde and went to live with him in Ireland Frances BurkeCountess of ClanricardeDowager Countess of EssexThe Countess of Essex and her son Robert by Robert Peake the Elder 1594Born1567 1567 EnglandDied17 February 1633 1633 02 17 aged 65 66 Kent EnglandBuriedTonbridgeNoble familyDevereux by marriage Spouse s Philip Sidney m 1583 died 1586 wbr Robert Devereux m 1590 died 1601 wbr Richard Burke m 1603 wbr IssueElizabeth Manners Countess of RutlandThe 3rd Earl of EssexLady Dorothy DevereuxFrances Duchess of SomersetThe 1st Marquess of ClanricardeHonora Paulet Marchioness of WinchesterFatherSir Francis WalsinghamMotherUrsula St Barbe Contents 1 Family and first marriage 2 Second marriage 3 Third marriage 4 Children 5 ReferencesFamily and first marriage EditShe was the only surviving child of Sir Francis Walsingham Secretary of State for Queen Elizabeth I and Ursula St Barbe A lady in waiting to Queen Elizabeth she married Philip Sidney in 1583 a match arranged by her father over the objections of the Queen possibly because she did not like the prospect of two close councillors forming a power block Sidney was nephew to Robert Earl of Leicester Sidney was appointed Governor of Flushing and left to attend his duties in the Netherlands but pregnant with her first child Frances waited until she had given birth Her daughter was born in 1585 and named Elizabeth after the Queen who had forgiven the couple and was one of the godparents In June 1586 Frances left England for the Netherlands to meet her husband On 22 September Sidney was injured at the battle of Zutphen and the wound became infected Frances again pregnant nursed him but he died on 17 October She brought his body back to England where he was given a hero s funeral but miscarried their child 1 Second marriage EditIn 1590 Frances father died leaving her with an annuity of 300 she married again to Robert Devereux 2nd Earl of Essex to whom her previous husband had left his best sword The match may have been arranged by her father and took place before he died however it caused great displeasure to the Queen although she forgave them relatively quickly partly because the couple had not asked for permission beforehand 2 Frances had three children who survived infancy with her second husband these were named Frances Robert and Dorothy Her husband Robert was executed in 1601 after participating in an attempted coup against the Queen Frances attempted to see the queen to plead on his behalf but was not permitted to see her 2 Her son became the third Earl of Essex 3 Third marriage EditIn 1603 she married her third husband Richard De Burgh or Burke Earl of St Albans and Clanricarde They had one son Ulick and two daughters the first Honora and the second known as Margaret or Mary 1 Together they lived in both Ireland and England building great houses in each country In 1609 they built a mansion at Somerhill in Kent and around 1618 the construction of Portumna Castle in County Galway Ireland began 4 She died early in 1633 at Somerhill and was buried at St Peter and St Paul Tonbridge where she and her husband have effigies 1 Children EditBy Sir Phillip Sidney Elizabeth Sidney 1585 1612 Married Roger Manners 5th Earl of Rutland in March 1599 and died without issue 3 By Robert Devereux Earl of Essex Robert 1592 1646 5 later 3rd Earl of Essex Penelope b 1593 4 bur 27 June 1599 5 Henry bap 14 April 1595 d 7 May 1596 5 Stillbirths in 1596 and 1598 5 Frances b 30 September 1599 1674 later Duchess of Somerset 5 Dorothy b c 20 Dec 1600 later Lady Shirley 5 By Richard Burke Earl of Clanricarde Ulick 1604 1657 later Earl then Marquess of Clanricarde 1 Honora 1610 1661 m John Paulet 5th Marquess of Winchester c 1645 1 6 Margaret Mary m Hon Edward Butler of Ballinahinch 1 References Edit a b c d e f Tsakiropoulou Ioanna 9 May 2019 Devereux Frances nee Walsingham other married names Sidney and Burke countess of Essex and of Clanricarde c 1568 1632 noblewoman Oxford Dictionary of National Biography Oxford University Press doi 10 1093 odnb 9780198614128 013 112779 ISBN 9780198614128 retrieved 17 May 2019 a b Rickman Johanna 2008 Love Lust and License in Early Modern England Illicit Sex and the Nobility Ashgate Publishing Ltd pp 57 52 ISBN 9780754661351 a b Hutchinson Robert 2007 Elizabeth s Spy Master Francis Walsingham and the Secret War that Saved England London Weidenfeld amp Nicolson ISBN 978 0 297 84613 0 pages 266 267 Portumna Castle Portumna County Galway Buildings of Ireland National Inventory of Architectural Heritage Buildings of Ireland Retrieved 17 May 2019 a b c d e f Hammer Paul E J 23 September 2004 The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography In Matthew H C G Harrison B eds Oxford Dictionary of National Biography online ed Oxford University Press doi 10 1093 ref odnb 7565 Retrieved 18 May 2019 Subscription or UK public library membership required Cokayne George Edward 1887 Complete peerage of England Scotland Ireland Great Britain and the United Kingdom London G Bell amp sons p 175 Retrieved 20 May 2015 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Frances Burke Countess of Clanricarde amp oldid 1171081836, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
