Elizabeth Boyle, Countess of Guilford
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Elizabeth Boyle, Countess of Guilford (d. 1667 or 1673) was created Countess of Guilford for life at the Restoration in 1660, which title became extinct upon her death in 1673 (or 1667). She held the office of Groom of the Stole to Henrietta Maria, the Queen-Mother.
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[edit] Biography
[edit] Family
She was born Elizabeth Feilding, the daughter of William Feilding, 1st Earl of Denbigh and his wife Susan from the Villiers family, herself sister to the royal favorite George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham. Lord Denbigh benefited greatly from his brother-in-law's rise in court, receiving various offices and dignities.
[edit] Marriage
On October 2, 1639, the bright, attractive young Lady Elizabeth married Lewis Boyle, 1st Viscount Boyle of Kinalmeaky (sometimes Kynalmeaky or Kenelmeky), the second son of Richard, Earl of Cork. As a result of her marriage, she was styled as Viscountess Boyle of Kinalmeaky.
Lady Elizabeth appeared as a masquer in Salmacida Spolia, as performed on the twenty-first of January, 1639 or 1640.
[edit] Civil War
She was soon left a widow by her husband's death in 1642; Lord Kinalmeaky was killed at the battle of Liscarroll, at the start of the Irish Confederate Wars. During the following "dark days of the Irish Rebellion," Elizabeth stayed with her father-in-law, Lord Cork, who refers to her often, with special fondness. Eventually he sent her away to England, for safety's sake. "God knows," he writes, "with what grief of soul I part with her."
Lady Kinalmeaky became a Roman Catholic and shared for some years Queen Henrietta Maria's exile in France.
After the Restoration, she was made Countess of Guilford for life by Charles II on the fourteenth of July, 1660. She also held the office of Groom of the Stole to Henrietta Maria, now the Queen-Mother.
She died without issue in 1673 (or 1667 by some accounts), when the earldom of Guilford became extinct.
[edit] Styles
- Elizabeth Boyle, Countess of Guilford;
- Viscountess Boyle of Kinalmeaky;
- Baroness of Bandon.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
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