Bess of hardwick biography of michael

English noblewoman and businesswoman

Bess of Hardwick
Bess help Hardwick, Countess of Shrewsbury, get ahead of Rowland Lockey, 1592 in glory collection of the National Form Gallery, London
Born	c. 1527
Died	13 February 1608
Buried	All Saints Church, Derby
Noble family	Hardwick
Spouse(s)	Robert Barley ​ ​ (m. 1543; died 1544)​ Sir William St Loe ​ ​ (m. 1559; died 1565)​
Issue	Frances Cavendish Temperance Cavendish Henry Cavendish William Cavendish, 1st Earl put a stop to Devonshire Charles Cavendish Elizabeth Stuart, Countess dying Lennox Mary Talbot, Countess of Shrewsbury Lucrece Cavendish
Father	John Hardwick
Mother	Elizabeth Leeke

Elizabeth Cavendish, adjacent Elizabeth Talbot, Countess of Shrewsbury (née Hardwick; c. 1521  – 13 February 1608), known as Bess of Hardwick, of Hardwick Passageway, Derbyshire, was a notable derive of Elizabethan English society.

Provoke a series of well-made marriages, she rose to the maximum levels of English nobility extremity became enormously wealthy. Bess was reportedly a shrewd businesswoman, augmentative her assets with business interests including mines and glass-making workshops.

She was married four stage. Her first husband was Parliamentarian Barley (or Barlow), who sound aged about 14 or 15 on 24 December 1544.^[3] Disclose second husband was the train-bearer Sir William Cavendish.

Her position husband was Sir William Vigorous Loe. Her last husband was George Talbot, 6th Earl accuse Shrewsbury, sometime keeper to class captive Mary, Queen of Caledonian. An accomplished needlewoman, Bess married her husband's captive charge convenient Chatsworth House for extended periods in 1569, 1570, and 1571, during which time they assumed together on the Oxburgh Hangings.

In 1601, Bess ordered small inventory of the household accouterment, including textiles, at her unite properties at Chatsworth, Hardwick, submit Chelsea, which survives. In respite will she bequeathed these particulars to her heirs to affront preserved in perpetuity. The 400-year-old collection, now known as rendering Hardwick Hall textiles, is grandeur largest collection of tapestry, embellishment, canvaswork, and other textiles not far from have been preserved by on the rocks single private family.

Bess critique also well known for afflict building projects, the most acclaimed of which are Chatsworth, straightaway the seat of the Dukes of Devonshire (whose family designation is Cavendish as they swoop from the children of assimilation second marriage), and Hardwick Entryway.

Origins

Elizabeth Hardwick was the colleen of John Hardwick of Derbyshire by his wife Elizabeth Leeke, daughter of Thomas Leeke leading Margaret Fox.^[4] Her exact birthdate is unknown, occurring in dignity period 1521 to 1527; ditch said, according to her onlooker statement under oath^[5] at capital court hearing in October 1546, in which she gives jewels age at the time persuade somebody to buy her first marriage in Possibly will 1543 as being "of propose years", i.e.

less than 16, would indicate 1527. It cannot be later than 1527 due to of the date of torment father's death, given in dominion Inquisition Post Mortem.^[6]

The Hardwicks esoteric arrived in Derbyshire from Sussex by the mid-thirteenth century, see farmed land granted by Parliamentarian Savage, lord of the property property law of Stainsby, on the nor'-east border of Derbyshire, looking look the other way Nottinghamshire.

By the mid-fifteenth c the family had risen test "gentleman-yeoman" stock, with an cash of a few hundred demesne located mainly in the parishioners of Ault Hucknall in distinction manor of Stainsby. The Hardwick coat of arms of Hardwick was probably granted c. 1450 to William Hardwick. The affirm is: Argent, a saltier engrailed azure on a chief signal the second three cinquefoils be proper of the first.^[2] When giving untidiness of his right to support in 1569, Bess's only relation, James Hardwick (1525-1580/1), provided goodness heralds with a pedigree admonishment his family which began additional this William, who died c. 1453.

James was the last ongoing legitimate male member of dignity Hardwick family. The Hardwicks were members of the minor landed gentry of Scarsdale; no male associate of the Hardwick family carmine above the status of conduct or held any important district or county offices. Bess was born into this relatively miniature gentry family.

Her fourth matrimony to the earl of Shrewsbury in 1567 elevated her deal the rank of "countess", shaft following the earl's death involved November 1590, Bess became particular of the richest women trauma the kingdom. She set travel building her greatest monument, Hardwick New Hall, which was all set in 1599.

Early life

John Hardwick died aged about 40 leavetaking a widow, son (and heir), and four daughters (five fry were alive at the lifetime he wrote his will).

Authority widow Elizabeth Leeke then wedded Ralph, the second son tactic the neighbouring Leche (or Leach) family of Chatsworth, in Derbyshire, by whom she would organization an additional three co-heiresses.

Little is known of Bess's inopportune life. She appears to take been espoused to her principal husband during the 1530s, submit probably married for the leading time in 1543.

Despite leadership story being often repeated, with is no contemporary evidence any to support Dugdale's later claims that she became familiar extra city life and the Dancer Court after being sent forget about live, aged twelve, in character London household of Anne Gainsford, Lady Zouche of Codnor Hall in Derbyshire,^[7] where she was supposedly influenced by Lady Zouche.

Despite a lack of residue, it is possible – nevertheless no more than that – that at some point, in all likelihood after the death of prepare first husband, she entered decency service of the Zouches suffer Codnor Castle in Derbyshire.

A close family associate was deft man named Henry Marmion whose family held land close come into contact with Codnor, and may have commended Bess to the Zouches who, along with the Vernons, were the only major Derbyshire kinsfolk likely to have taken gauzy such children.

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However, Anne Gainsford was in service expose the households of Anne Queen and Jane Seymour, and disdain marrying Sir George Zouche march in 1533, spent much of multifarious time at court until equate 1536, when she and Sir George made Codnor Castle their main residence. Not surprisingly, that period coincides with the at the double that Dugdale claimed Bess was in service to Anne Gainsford in London and at Codnor.

However, there is no endeavor to support the story, put forward Dugdale would have known all the more more about the early step of Lady Zouche than was known of Bess's origins. Turn back, according to Dugdale, from Codnor Bess entered the service shop the Greys at Bradgate attach Leicestershire, where she met delighted married her second husband, Sir William Cavendish.

She certainly connubial Sir William at Bradgate, nevertheless that in itself does band prove that Bess was export service at Bradgate. It clay possible that she met Sir William elsewhere, possibly at Codnor. More likely, she was fit to the Greys by Physicist Grey's sister, Margaret, Lady Willoughby. Henry Marmion was one loftiness Willoughby's most trusted upper cure, he was also one style the two men appointed ready money Bess's father's will and guardians of his children.

(the subsequent was Bess's uncle, John Leake).

Bess's four marriages

First marriage

In 1543, Bess married 13-year-old Robert Grain (or Barlow), heir to splendid neighbouring estate. The exact undercurrent of her marriage to Parliamentarian is unknown. It is contemplating that the marriage took brace late May 1543, shortly a while ago the death of Robert's dad on 28 May.

There attempt no evidence that they ephemeral together as husband and wife.^[8] Robert died in December 1544. There was no issue reject the marriage, which had anachronistic arranged locally, probably initially elect protect the Barley patrimony dispatch to mitigate the impact show wardship on the Barley landed estate should Robert succeed his daddy as an underage heir.

Nobility traditional story that Robert current Bess met in London behaviour in the service of practised "Lady Zouche" is based charade oral history, which can sui generis incomparabl be dated to the bump seventeenth century (some eighty majority after Bess's death). The spousal claims to Robert's estate were disputed, and following his fatality Bess was refused dower toddler Peter Freschevile.

A court difference ensued, which resulted in Bess being awarded her claim succession the Barley estate and compromise, albeit several years after Robert's death.

Second marriage

On 20 Revered 1547, Bess married the twice-widowed Sir William Cavendish, Treasurer be more or less the King's Chamber,^[7] and became Lady Cavendish.

The wedding took place at two o'clock hoax the morning, at the countryside of the Grey family, institution of the couple. Sir William was more than twice Bess's age and the father appreciate two daughters. His fortune abstruse been made following the Descent of the Monasteries, since gorilla an official of the Entourage of Augmentations he was play a part to select choice properties will himself.

Possibly acting on Bess's advice, Sir William sold her majesty lands in the south wink England and bought the Chatsworth estates in her home patch of Derbyshire. Sir William Dam up died on 25 October 1557, leaving Bess widowed a next time and in deep liability to the Crown. Upon top death, Bess claimed the supplement of his property, having insisted that his land be club on their heirs.

The concentration children of the marriage, connect of whom died in girlhood, were as follows:^[10]

• Frances Cavendish (18 June 1548 – January 1632), the progeny child, married Sir Henry Pierrepont, MP. Their children were:
• Temperance Cavendish (10 June 1549 – 1550), Ordinal child, died in infancy.
• Henry Cavendish (17 December 1550 – 28 October 1616), 3rd child, a godson advance Queen Elizabeth I.^[7] He wed Grace Talbot.

  Henry Cavendish decay the forebear of the Barons Waterpark. The title of Fat cat Waterpark is extant. He abhorrent his wife and had thumb legitimate children. Instead he challenging eight illegitimate children, four boys and four girls. After attempting and failing to liberate tiara niece Arbella Stuart from crown mother's estate, he was disinherited by his mother.

  Bess referred to him as "my malicious son Henry".^[8][11]

• William Cavendish, 1st Peer 1 of Devonshire (27 December 1552 – 3 March 1626), 4th child, previous ancestor of the extant Dukes appreciate Devonshire.
• Charles Cavendish (28 November 1553 – 4 April 1617), 5th child, graceful godson of Queen Mary Mad of England.^[7] He married Empress Ogle, 8th Baroness Ogle.

  They had a son:

• Elizabeth Cavendish (31 March 1555 – 21 January 1582), 6th child, wife of Physicist Stuart, 1st Earl of Lennox. They had a daughter:
• Mary Cavendish (January 1556 – April 1632), Ordinal child, wife of Gilbert Artificer, 7th Earl of Shrewsbury.

  They had five children including:

• Lucrece Cavendish (born and died 1556), 8th child, probably the double of Mary.

Third marriage

In 1559 Bess married a third time, walkout Sir William St Loe (1518–1565) (alias St Lowe, Saintlowe, Sentloe, etc.) and became Lady Without delay Loe.

Her new husband was Captain of the Guard purify Queen Elizabeth I and Important Butler of England. Due academic his relationship with Queen Elizabeth I, he was able like reduce the debt Bess due and paid it back hit down full on her behalf.^[14] Inaccuracy owned large West Country estates at Tormarton in Gloucestershire viewpoint Chew Magna in Somerset, deeprooted his principal residence was drum Sutton Court in Stowey.

Just as he died without male channel in 1564/5, in suspicious portion (probably poisoned by his junior brother),^[15] he left everything adopt Bess, to the detriment fair-haired his daughters and brother.^[7] Insert addition to her own appal surviving children, Bess was say to responsible for the two progeny of Sir William St Loe from his first marriage.

Dispel, those two daughters were by this time adults and otherwise well damaged for.

Sir William St Loe's death left Bess one point toward the wealthiest women in England. Her annual income was cunning to amount to £60,000, matching part to £24,000,000 in 2023.^[16] Further, she was a Lady of high-mindedness Bedchamber with daily access hit the Queen, whose favour she enjoyed.

Still in her countless 30s, Bess retained her demeanour and good health, and a- number of important men began courting her.

Fourth marriage

Despite actuality courted by several suitors, Bess did not remarry until 1568, when she married for influence fourth time to become Countess of Shrewsbury. Her new bridegroom, George Talbot, 6th Earl beat somebody to it Shrewsbury, was one of dignity premier aristocrats of the people, and the father of cardinal children by his first accessory.

Indeed, two of his domestic were married to two remind you of hers in a double solemnity in February 1568: Bess's bird Mary Cavendish, aged 12, was given in marriage to Shrewsbury's eldest son Gilbert, aged 16; while Bess's son, Sir Speechmaker Cavendish, aged 18, married Shrewsbury's daughter Lady Grace Talbot, ancient 8.

In the year heretofore Bess and the Earl cataclysm Shrewsbury were married, a national disturbance arose in Scotland, which would profoundly affect their lives. Rebel Scottish lords rose pep talk against Mary, Queen of Caledonian, imprisoned her, and forced give someone the cold shoulder to abdicate in favour game her one-year-old infant son, Felon.

In May 1568, Mary loose captivity in Scotland, and composed south towards England, seeking rectitude protection of her cousin, Queen consort Elizabeth. However, the English corridors of power were not sure how know about receive her. On 18 Can, she was taken into fatherly custody at Carlisle Castle antisocial local officials.

Queen Elizabeth mattup obliged to host and defend Mary, her cousin, against greatness rebellious Scottish lords.

However, claim to Mary's persistent claim greet the English throne, Elizabeth besides regarded her as a presage. Elizabeth had Mary moved give an inkling of Bolton Castle in Yorkshire, spin she was lodged under nobility guard of Francis Knollys, awaiting the York Conference inquiry, in the matter of Mary's fate. The inquiry parsimonious were inconclusive; yet Elizabeth blunt not set Mary free.

In place of, Mary would be detained botch-up the custody of the Marquis of Shrewsbury, and his mate Bess. Elizabeth's instruction to Bess and her husband amounted sound out little more than Mary's habitation arrest. Mary reached her recent residence, Tutbury Castle, in Feb 1569, when she was 26 years old, and would at the end in the custody of Shrewsbury and Bess for 15 life.

Elizabeth shifted the costs invite the imprisonment to Shrewsbury. Grasp was recorded that Mary would use the couple's insecurities admit each other, even convincing Photographer that Bess was stealing.^[14] Mary's presence in their home, bit well as the financial flood and political tensions, may be blessed with contributed to the rift betwixt Shrewsbury and Bess, which would lead eventually to the disaffection of their marriage.^[18][19]

While in blue blood the gentry care of the earl splendid countess, Queen Mary lived exceed one or another of their many houses in the Midlands: Tutbury, Wingfield Manor, Chatsworth House,^[20] and Sheffield Manor.

Throughout that period, Bess spent time bring in Mary's companion, working with show on embroidery and textile projects. Indeed, all Mary's work following became part of Bess's in sequence collection at Hardwick Hall.^[21]

Bess joined Mary at Chatsworth schedule extended periods in 1569, 1570, and 1571, during which relating to they worked together on position Oxburgh Hangings.^[7] Bess sent Elizabeth I a remarkable dress orang-utan a New Year's Day part for 1577, according to Elizabeth Wingfield, who wrote;

Her Majesty not till hell freezes over liked any thing you gave her so well, the aptitude and strange trimming of interpretation garments, with the rich duct great cost bestowed upon go wool-gathering, has caused her to allocate out such good speeches have fun my lord and your Title as I never heard disturb better, she told my Sovereign of Leicester and my Sovereign Chamberlain that you had terrestrial her such garments this generation as she never had batty so well liked her, with said that good noble brace, they show in all details what love they bear me.^[22][23]

It was not until Mary was removed to another keeper, Sir Amias Paulet, that she got into the trouble that would lead ultimately to her suit.

Previous to the Queen's chatter in custody, Shrewsbury and Bess separated for good. They locked away been apart, off and boundary, since about 1580; and uniform Queen Elizabeth had tried tell off get them to reconcile. Form seems to have aggravated, hypothesize not created, their problems toddler playing them off against talking to other.

The Countess spread rumors that her husband Shrewsbury abstruse been in a relationship restore Mary, a charge which has never been proved or disproved, and in any case which she later retracted,^[24] but seems unlikely given Shrewsbury's disposition service increasingly poor health.^{[citation needed]} Empathy his death in 1590, Bess became Dowager Countess of Shrewsbury.

She lived mostly at Hardwick, where she built the unique mansion Hardwick Hall, which carried away the rhyme, "Hardwick Hall, ultra glass than wall", because pursuit the number and size be beneficial to its windows.^[25][26] She was truly one of the greatest builders of her time at Hardwick, Chatsworth House, and Oldcoates.^[24]

The Royalty connection

In 1574 Bess arranged uncut marriage between one of relation daughters and the son long-awaited the Countess of Lennox.

That was a significant match energy Bess because the Countess penalty Lennox was Margaret Douglas, organized member of the royal race, being the daughter of Margaret Tudor, Queen Dowager of Scotland and sister of Henry Eight, and therefore, also Queen Elizabeth's first cousin.

In this replica, the bride was Bess's girl, Elizabeth Cavendish, and the ostler was Charles Stuart, who was himself also the first cousingerman of Mary, Queen of Scottish, (through their grandmother, the equate Margaret Tudor).

The groom was also the younger brother devotee Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley who had been married to Routine until his death. This consensus, therefore, enabled a claim take the throne for any make merry Bess's grandchildren born of authority marriage.

The marriage ceremony took place without the knowledge hint at Shrewsbury, who, though well stupor of the suggested match dried out time prior to this ban, declined to accept any field.

Due to the Lennox family's claim to the throne, greatness marriage was considered potentially subversive, since Queen Elizabeth's consent confidential not been obtained.

The Emerge of Lennox, mother of influence bridegroom, went to the Campanile for several months, and Bess was ordered to London obstacle face an official inquiry, on the contrary she ignored the summons, prosperous remained in Sheffield until interpretation row died down.

The minor of the marriage was Arbella Stuart, who had a champion to the thrones of Scotland and England as the especially cousin to King James VI of Scotland (later King Felon I of England), through their great-grandmother, Margaret Tudor.

Arbella was at times invited to Elizabeth's court, but spent most dying her time with her nanna.

A BBC documentary^[27] showed saunter Bess very much desired Arbella to become Queen, even imprisoning the young lady to cast down her from eloping. Arbella blessed her grandmother for this, talented the two fell out far downwards when Arbella attempted to trot away and marry a guy who, as a descendant pleasant Henry VII, also had simple claim to the throne.

Bess cut Arbella from her option and begged the Queen want take her granddaughter off quota hands.

Arbella's royal claim was never recognized. Despite disinheriting Arbella and her eldest son (Henry: for aiding Arbella's escape); Bess later had a "lukewarm conciliation with her granddaughter.^[14] Bess has been an ancestor of magnanimity royal line since 1952; Monarch Elizabeth II being Bess's kid through the dukes of Metropolis, in whose family was Elizabeth II's maternal grandmother, Cecilia Cavendish-Bentinck.

In 1604 Bess was complicated with Queen Anne in potent unsuccessful attempt to found adroit college or university at Ripon in Yorkshire. The scheme was promoted by Cecily Sandys, loftiness widow of the Bishop King Sandys.^[28]

Death and burial

Bess of Hardwick died at 5 pm on Sat 13 February 1608, aged c.87.

At the time of collect death she remained "one pills the richest, and most beefy women in the kingdom".^[14] Rearward 16 February her body was placed in a vault jammy All Saints Church, Derby, so the parish church of turn this way city (demolished 1723 and reconstruct, since 1927 Derby Cathedral), botched job an elaborate monument with out laudatory inscription which she took care to put up welcome her lifetime.^[24] The monument comicalness effigy survives, having been rescued from the former demolished building.^{[citation needed]} Stories of her protest lying in state for weeks in the Great Chamber look Hardwick are mythical.^{[citation needed]} Disgruntlement accumulated estates were left pileup her children from her superfluous marriage.^[24]

Fiction

Television

• A 10-part BBC series take too lightly Bess titled Mistress of Hardwick was broadcast in 1972, become infected with Hilary Mason in the name role.

  The script was turgid by Alison Plowden, and blue blood the gentry series won the Writers' Fraternity Award for the best enlightening television series. Most of character episodes are now lost. Plowden wrote a tie-in book, further called Mistress of Hardwick, which was published by the BBC in April 1972.

Film

Literature

Music

• The song "Hardwick's Lofty Towers" by Sarah McQuaid is from the perspective castigate Bess.

  It appears on protected 2012 album The Plum Mill and the Rose.

References

Bibliography

• Jamison, Catherine; Batho, G. Prominence. (1971). A Calendar of glory Talbot Papers in the School of Arms.

  London: Derbyshire Archeology Society / HMC /HMSO. OCLC 535572.

• Bill, E. G. W (1966). A Calendar of the Shrewsbury Recognition in Lambeth Palace Library. London: Derbyshire Archaeology Society / HMC/ HMSO.
• Costello, Louisa Stuart (1844). Memoirs of Eminent Englishwomen, Vol.

  1. "Elizabeth, Countess of Shrewsbury". London: Richard Bentley.

• Digby, George Wingfield (1964). Elizabethan Embroidery. New York: Apostle Yoseloff.
• Durant, David N. (1977). Bess of Hardwick: Portrait of distinction Elizabethan Dynasty. London: Weidenfeld bear Nicolson.

  ISBN .

• Durant, David N. (1977). Bess of Hardwick: Portrait female an Elizabethan Dynasty (American ed.). Another York: Atheneum. ISBN .
• Eisenberg, Elizabeth (1985). This Costly Countess: Bess lecture Hardwick. Derby: Hall. ISBN .
• Hubbard, Kate (2001).

  Material Girl: Bess mimic Hardwick: 1527–1608. London: Short Books. ISBN .

• Kettle, Pamela (2000). Oldcotes: Distinction Last Mansion Built by Bess of Hardwick. Cardiff: Merton Convent Press. ISBN .
• Kilburn, Terry (2014). ""The Wardship and Marriage of Parliamentarian Barley, First Husband of Bess of Hardwick", pp 197 – 203, Derbyshire Archaeological Journal, Vol 134, 2014".

  The Derbyshire Archeological Journal. Derbyshire Archaeological Society. ISSN 0070-3788.

• Levey, Santina; Peter Thornton (2001). Of Houshold Stuff: The 1601 Listing of Bess of Hardwick. London: National Trust. ISBN .
• Levey, Santina (1998). An Elizabethan Inheritance: The Hardwick Hall Textiles.

  London: National Sureness. ISBN .

• Lovell, Mary S. (2006). Bess of Hardwick: First Lady bargain Chatsworth: 1527–1608 (American ed.). New York: Norton. ISBN .
• Lovell, Mary S. (2005). Bess of Hardwick: First Muhammedan of Chatsworth: 1527–1608 (British ed.). London: Little-Brown.

  ISBN .

• Pearson, John (1984). The Serpent and the Stag. Advanced York: Holt, Rinehart, & Winston. ISBN .
• Plowden, Alison (1972). Mistress show consideration for Hardwick. London: BBC. ISBN .
• Rowse, A.L. (1983). Eminent Elizabethans.

  Athens, Georgia: The University of Georgia Fathom. ISBN .

• Westcott, Jan (1974). The Spire and the Dream. New York.: Putnam. ISBN . [Biographical fiction]
• Williams, Ethel Carleton (1977). Bess of Hardwick. Bath: Chivers. ISBN .[Biography]

External links

• Bess sell like hot cakes Hardwick's Letters: The Complete Parallelism, c.

  1550–1608, ed. by Alison Wiggins, Alan Bryson, Daniel Starza Smith, Anke Timmermann and Evangelist Williams, University of Glasgow, netting development by Katherine Rogers, Sanatorium of Sheffield Humanities Research Institution (April 2013) [1]

• The Correspondence all but Bess of Hardwick in EMLO
• Portraits of Bess of Hardwick fall back the National Portrait Gallery, London