| Elizabeth Spencer | |
|---|---|
Miniature portrait of Elizabeth Spencer by Nicholas Hilliard |
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| Born | 29 June 1552 Althorp, Northamptonshire, England |
| Died | 25 February 1618 (aged 65) |
| Known for | Aristocrat Patron of the arts Scholar Represented "Phyllis" in Edmund Spenser's poem, Colin Clouts Come Home Againe |
| Title | Baroness Hunsdon |
| Religion | Anglican |
| Spouse | George Carey, 2nd Baron Hunsdon Ralph Eure, 3rd Baron Eure |
| Children | Hon. Elizabeth Carey |
| Parents | Sir John Spencer Katherine Kytson |
Elizabeth Spencer, Baroness Hunsdon (29 June 1552 – 25 February 1618) was an aristocratic English woman, a scholar, and a patron of the arts. She was the inspiration for Edmund Spencer's Muiopotmos, was commemorated in one of the poet's dedicatory sonnets to the Faerie Queene, and was represented as "Phyllis" in the latter's pastoral poem Colin Clouts Come Home Againe. She herself translated Petrarch. Her first husband was George Carey, 2nd Baron Hunsdon, the grandson of Mary Boleyn, sister of Queen consort Anne Boleyn.
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Elizabeth was born on 29 June 1552 in Althorp, Northamptonshire, England, the second eldest daughter of Sir John Spencer of Althorpe and Katherine Kytson. She had three brothers, Sir John, Sir William, and Sir Richard; and three sisters, Anne, Katherine, and Alice. In the year of her birth, Elizabeth's father held the office of High Sheriff of Northamptonshire, and the following year was Member of Parliament for Northamptonshire.
On 29 December 1574, by licence from Matthew Parker, Archbishop of Canterbury, Elizabeth married her first husband, George Carey, the eldest son of Henry Carey, 1st Baron Hunsdon and Anne Morgan. As George was a grandson of Mary Boleyn, sister of Queen Anne Boleyn, this made him a close relative to Queen Elizabeth I who held the Hunsdons in high favour. From 23 July 1596, when her husband succeeded to the title, Elizabeth was styled Baroness Hunsdon.
Together George and Elizabeth had one daughter:
Elizabeth's husband, Baron Hunsdon died in 1603. Shortly before January 1613, she married her second husband, Ralph Eure, 3rd Baron Eure.
Elizabeth was a noted patron of the arts and a scholar. She translated Petrarch's works,[2] She was the inspiration for Edmund Spenser's Muiopotmos[3] in 1590, and she was represented as "Phyllis" in his pastoral poem Colin Clots Come Home Againe, with her sisters Anne and Alice representing "Charillis" and "Amaryllis". Elizabeth was also commemorated in one of Spenser's dedicatory sonnets to the Fairie Queene:[4]
"Ne may I, without blot of endless blame,
You, fairest Lady leave out of this place,
Remembrance of your gracious name
Wherewith that courtly garlond most ye grace
And deck the world."
Besides Edmund Spenser, to whom she was distantly related, she was a patron of Thomas Nashe and composer John Dowland.
Elizabeth's miniature portrait was painted by Nicholas Hilliard on an unknown date.
Elizabeth died on 25 February 1618, and was buried on 2 March in Westminster Abbey, London.