Elizabeth Somerset, Countess of Worcester (d. 1565)

Elizabeth (née Browne) Somerset, countess of Worcester (died 1565) was a lady-in-waiting to Anne Boleyn and the main informant against her. She may have been a mistress of King Henry VIII.[1]

Elizabeth was the daughter of Sir Anthony Browne, a trusted courtier at the court of Henry VIII, and his wife Lady Lucy Neville, a daughter of John Neville, 1st Marquess of Montagu and Isabel Ingaldesthorpe.

About 1508, Elizabeth's sister, Anne Browne, married Sir Charles Brandon, later Duke of Suffolk. By that union, Elizabeth was aunt to Lady Anne Brandon, and her younger sister, Lady Mary Brandon.

She was the second wife of Henry Somerset, 2nd earl of Worcester. Henry's first wife, Lady Margaret, had died without issue.[2] It is Elizabeth who produced their surviving children:

  1. Lady Anne Somerset, married Thomas Percy, 7th Earl of Northumberland (1538 - 1591/1596)
  2. William Somerset, 3rd Earl of Worcester (1527 - 21 February 1589)
  3. Lady Lucy Somerset, married John Neville, 4th Baron Latimer (died 23 February 1583)
  4. Lady Eleanor Somerset, married 1) Sir Roger Vaughan and 2) Henry Johns
  5. Thomas Somerset
  6. Charles Somerset
  7. Francis Somerset (died 10 September 1547, in battle)
  8. Lady Joan or "Jane" Somerset, married Sir Edward Mansel

References

  1. ^ Hart, Kelly (June 1, 2009). The Mistresses of Henry VIII (First ed.). The History Press. p. 25. ISBN 0752448358. http://books.google.com/books?id=r6HGPAAACAAJ. 
  2. ^ G. E. Cokayne. The Complete Peerage of England, Scotland, Ireland, Great Britain, and the United Kingdom, Vol. VIII, G. Bell & sons, 1898. pg 200. Google eBook