Biography of Elizabeth Howard Countess Banbury 1583-1658

Before 1572 [her father] Thomas Howard 1st Earl Suffolk [aged 10] and Mary Dacre [aged 8] were married. She by marriage Baroness Audley Walden in Essex. She died six years later three months short of her fifteenth birthday. She being his step-sister. An unusual example of a Marriage of Three Sets of Siblings where, in this case, three brothers, married three sisters, who were also step-siblings, as a means of keeping the sisters inheritance. She the daughter of Thomas Dacre 4th Baron Dacre Gilsland 8th Baron Greystoke and Elizabeth Leybourne Duchess Norfolk. He the son of [her grandfather] Thomas Howard 4th Duke of Norfolk [aged 35] and [her grandmother] Margaret Audley Duchess Norfolk. They were half third cousin once removed.

Before 1580 Richard Rich and [her mother] Catherine Knyvet Countess Suffolk [aged 15] were married.

Before 1582 [her father] Thomas Howard 1st Earl Suffolk [aged 20] and [her mother] Catherine Knyvet Countess Suffolk [aged 17] were married. She by marriage Baroness Audley Walden in Essex. He the son of [her grandfather] Thomas Howard 4th Duke of Norfolk and [her grandmother] Margaret Audley Duchess Norfolk. They were third cousins.

Around 1583 Elizabeth Howard Countess Banbury was born to [her father] Thomas Howard 1st Earl Suffolk [aged 21] and [her mother] Catherine Knyvet Countess Suffolk [aged 19].

Before 1595 [her future husband] William Knollys 1st Earl Banbury [aged 50] and Dorothy Braye Baroness Chandos and Knollys [aged 70] were married. The difference in their ages was 20 years; she, unusually, being older than him.

On 20th August 1595 William Vaux 3rd Baron Vaux Harrowden [aged 60] died. His grandson [her future husband] Edward [aged 6] succeeded 4th Baron Vaux Harrowden.

In 1597 Thomas Howard 1st Earl Suffolk [aged 35] was created 1st Baron Howard de Walden by writ of summons. Catherine Knyvet Countess Suffolk [aged 33] by marriage Baroness Howard de Walden. His mother's father was the first and last Baron Audley Walden in Essex.

In 1603 [her future husband] William Knollys 1st Earl Banbury [aged 59] was created 1st Baron Knollys. Dorothy Braye Baroness Chandos and Knollys [aged 79] by marriage Baroness Knollys.

In 1603 [her brother-in-law] Robert Devereux 3rd Earl Essex [aged 11] and [her sister] Frances Howard Countess Essex and Somerset [aged 12] were married. They were separated after the wedding given their young age. Essex went on a European tour from 1607 to 1609. When he returned she avoided him having fallen for Robert Carr 1st Earl Somerset [aged 16] whilst her husband was away. He was ill with smallpox. She sought an annulment with her father Robert Devereux 2nd Earl Essex and uncle Henry Howard 1st Earl of Northampton [aged 62] acting for her. She maintained the marriage had not been consummated and was examined by ten matrons and two midwives who found her hymen intact. It was widely rumoured at the time that Sir Thomas Monson's [aged 38] daughter was a substitute, which is possible because she had requested to be veiled during the examination "for modesty's sake". He maintained he was capable with other women, but was unable to consummate his marriage blaming her. She the daughter of Thomas Howard 1st Earl Suffolk [aged 41] and Catherine Knyvet Countess Suffolk [aged 39]. He the son of Robert Devereux 2nd Earl Essex and Frances Walsingham Countess Essex [aged 36]. They were fourth cousins.

In 1603 [her father] Thomas Howard 1st Earl Suffolk [aged 41] was created 1st Earl Suffolk. [her mother] Catherine Knyvet Countess Suffolk [aged 39] by marriage Countess Suffolk.

In 1604 [her brother-in-law] Robert Devereux 3rd Earl Essex [aged 12] was restored 3rd Earl Essex, 4th Viscount Hereford, 13th Baron Ferrers of Chartley, 10th Baron Bourchier although it isn't clear whether the latter three titles were forfeit when his father was executed in 1601. [her sister] Frances Howard Countess Essex and Somerset [aged 13] by marriage Countess Essex.

On 23rd December 1605 William Knollys 1st Earl Banbury [aged 61] and Elizabeth Howard Countess Banbury [aged 22] were married. She by marriage Baroness Knollys. The difference in their ages was 39 years. She the daughter of Thomas Howard 1st Earl Suffolk [aged 44] and Catherine Knyvet Countess Suffolk [aged 41]. They were third cousin once removed.

On 1st December 1608 [her brother-in-law] William Cecil 2nd Earl Salisbury [aged 17] and [her sister] Catherine Howard Countess Salisbury [aged 18] were married. She the daughter of [her father] Thomas Howard 1st Earl Suffolk [aged 47] and [her mother] Catherine Knyvet Countess Suffolk [aged 44]. He the son of Robert Cecil 1st Earl Salisbury [aged 45] and Elizabeth Brooke. They were fifth cousins.

In 1612 [her brother] Theophilus Howard 2nd Earl Suffolk [aged 29] and [her sister-in-law] Elizabeth Home Countess Suffolk [aged 13] were married. She the daughter of George Home 1st Earl Dunbar and Elizabeth Gordon Countess Dunbar [aged 37]. He the son of [her father] Thomas Howard 1st Earl Suffolk [aged 50] and [her mother] Catherine Knyvet Countess Suffolk [aged 48].

On 24th May 1612 Robert Cecil 1st Earl Salisbury [aged 48] died at Marlborough, Wiltshire [Map]. His son [her brother-in-law] William [aged 21] succeeded 2nd Earl Salisbury. [her sister] Catherine Howard Countess Salisbury [aged 22] by marriage Countess Salisbury.

On 25th September 1613 [her brother-in-law] Robert Devereux 3rd Earl Essex [aged 22] and [her sister] Frances Howard Countess Essex and Somerset [aged 23] marriage annulled by King James I of England and Ireland and VI of Scotland [aged 47]. She married Robert Carr 1st Earl Somerset [aged 26] three months later.

In 1614 [her brother] Thomas Howard 1st Earl Berkshire [aged 26] and [her sister-in-law] Elizabeth Cecil Countess Berkshire [aged 18] were married. She the daughter of William Cecil 2nd Earl Exeter [aged 48] and Elizabeth Drury Countess Exeter [aged 35]. He the son of [her father] Thomas Howard 1st Earl Suffolk [aged 52] and [her mother] Catherine Knyvet Countess Suffolk [aged 50]. They were fourth cousins.

In 1616 [her husband] William Knollys 1st Earl Banbury [aged 72] was created 1st Viscount Wallingford. Elizabeth Howard Countess Banbury [aged 33] by marriage Viscountess Wallingford.

Letters of John Chamberlain Volume 2.252. [14th November 1616] [her husband] Vicount Wallingford [aged 72] is willing to make roome for Sir Thomas Edmonds [aged 53] advancement to be controller, having besides the dignitie conferred now upon him £2000 a yeare during life out of the court of wardes, or the best ward (saving noble men) that falls every yeare at his owne choise, so that the King is the only gainer by these bargains, except perhaps his Lady [aged 33] whose ambition they say yt was to have him a vicount that she might have place of certain Ladies, but specially of the Lady Fenton [aged 48], whom she did most aime at. The Lord Rosse [aged 26] went from Portesmouth the third of this present, having had ever since as fayre a wind as ever blew, so that yt is certainly held that he is before this time arrived at Lisbone. At his parting he sent Secretarie Winwod [aged 53] a diamond worth forty pound.

Letters of John Chamberlain Volume 2.310. [19th December 1618] Yt is growne altogether in fashion to burie now by night, as on Sonday last the Lady Haddington¹ had a solemne convoy of almost an hundred coaches (and torches in aboundance), that accompanied her from Westminster to White-chappell on her way to New-hall in Essex where she is to be buried: in this troupe besides the countesses of Bedford [aged 38], Excester [aged 38], and Devonshire [aged 50] was the Lady Verulam [aged 26] with a world of other Ladies. The [her sister] countesse of Salisburie [aged 28] the Friday before made a great feast and a play, though her [her brother-in-law] husband [aged 27] were absent at court, and the rest of her house and frends in sorow about a lewde libell, that (excepting the highest) runs over all the court and countrie almost that followes not theyre faction, and though the author cannot be found out, yet notice is taken that the Lady of Wallingford [aged 35] was one of the first that sunge yt, and the King thinckes of her yt may be required. I heare of another crosse libell that shold pay her and all hers in the same coine, but for my part I protest I have neither seene nor seeke after any of them, but only heare the generall buzze abrode.

Note 1. Cf. Letters 309.

In 1619 Daniel Mijtens [aged 29]. Portrait of Elizabeth Howard Countess Banbury [aged 36].

Letters of John Chamberlain Volume 2.315. 315. To Sir Dudley Carleton. [S. P. Dom. Jac. I, cv, 69.] London, January 30, 1619.

My very goode Lord: This weeke Abell Barnard comming to towne I brought Dieston and him together to conclude on theyre journie,? which they have agreed to undertake the next weeke, for though Dieston were redy (yf the winde had served) to come presently, yet the other had not bid his wife fare-well and so must needs returne to take his leave. The Lord Chauncellor * hath conceaved certain new orders for his court and published them the first day of this terme. No doubt we shall have them shortly in print and then you shall have them with the first: there was a great assemblie to see and heare Sir Lionell Cranfeld at his first sitting in the court of wardes, but he deceaved all theyre expectation, and without further preamble asked what causes were to be heard that day and so fell to the busines. His predecessor the [her husband] Lord of Wallingford [aged 75] is retired into the countrie, but was not sent empty away, for besides the fee-farme of New-elme Parke he hath somwhat els in consideration; and when he delivered up his patent the King told him that having ben a long servant to Quene Elizabeth and him, he was loth to remove him, neither wold he accuse him of negligence, insufficiencie or corruption but only he had one fault common to him with divers other of his frends and fellowes, which could not stand with his service nor of the state, that he was altogether guided and overruled by an arch-wife [aged 36].

In 1621 [her brother] Thomas Howard 1st Earl Berkshire [aged 33] was created 1st Viscount Andover in Hampshire, 1st Baron Howard of Charlton in Wiltshire. [her sister-in-law] Elizabeth Cecil Countess Berkshire [aged 25] by marriage Baroness Howard of Charlton in Wiltshire.

Letters of John Chamberlain Volume 2.315. [19th January 1622] The Marquis Buckingam [aged 29] hath contracted with the [her husband] Lord [aged 78] and Lady Wallingford [aged 39] for their house neere White-hall, for some monie, and the making of Sir [her brother] Thomas Howard baron of Charleton and Vicount Andover [aged 34], and some thincke the deliverie of the [her brother-in-law] Lord of Somerset [aged 35] and his [her sister] Lady [aged 31] out of the Towre was part of the bargain. I heare they came out severally on Thursday in the evening and lay that night at Northampton House. Then they are to go to Master Gibbes by Otelands, and so to Grayes a house of the Lord of Wallingfords in Oxfordshire where they are to continue.

Around 1624 [her brother] Edward Howard 1st Baron Howard [aged 22] and [her sister-in-law] Mary Boteler Baroness Howard were married. He the son of [her father] Thomas Howard 1st Earl Suffolk [aged 62] and [her mother] Catherine Knyvet Countess Suffolk [aged 60].

In 1626 [her husband] William Knollys 1st Earl Banbury [aged 82] was created 1st Earl Banbury. Elizabeth Howard Countess Banbury [aged 43] by marriage Countess Banbury.

On 7th February 1626 [her brother] Thomas Howard 1st Earl Berkshire [aged 38] was created 1st Earl Berkshire. [her sister-in-law] Elizabeth Cecil Countess Berkshire [aged 30] by marriage Countess Berkshire.

On 28th May 1626 [her father] Thomas Howard 1st Earl Suffolk [aged 64] died at Charing Cross [Map]. He was buried at Waldon Priory and Abbey [Map]. His son [her brother] Theophilus [aged 43] succeeded 2nd Earl Suffolk. [her sister-in-law] Elizabeth Home Countess Suffolk [aged 27] by marriage Countess Suffolk.

In 1627 [her son] Edward Knollys 2nd Earl Banbury was born to [her husband] William Knollys 1st Earl Banbury [aged 83] and Elizabeth Howard Countess Banbury [aged 44]. Given the advanced age of William Knollys the true father was believed to be Edward Vaux 4th Baron Vaux Harrowden [aged 38] who Elizabeth Howard Countess Banbury married shortly after the death of Edward Knollys 2nd Earl Banbury.

On 12th April 1628 [her brother] Edward Howard 1st Baron Howard [aged 26] was created 1st Baron Howard of Escrick. [her sister-in-law] Mary Boteler Baroness Howard by marriage Baroness Howard of Escrick.

In 1631 [her son] Nicholas Knollys 3rd Earl Banbury was born to [her husband] William Knollys 1st Earl Banbury [aged 87] and Elizabeth Howard Countess Banbury [aged 48]. Given the advanced age of William Knollys the true father is believed to be Edward Vaux 4th Baron Vaux Harrowden [aged 42] who Elizabeth Howard Countess Banbury married shortly after the death of Edward Knollys 2nd Earl Banbury [aged 4]. He married (1) before February 1655 his first cousin twice removed Isabella Blount, daughter of Mountjoy Blount 1st Earl Newport and Anne Boteler Countess Newport and Portland (2) 4th October 1655 Anne or Abigail Sherard, daughter of William Sherard 1st Baron Sherard and Abigail Cave Baroness Sherard, and had issue.

On 25th May 1632 [her husband] William Knollys 1st Earl Banbury [aged 88] died. His son Edward [aged 5] de jure 2nd Earl Banbury, 2nd Viscount Wallingford, 2nd Baron Knollys. Parliament disallowed the succession on the basis that Edward had been born when William was some eighty-two years old and Edward was, in fact, the son of Edward Vaux 4th Baron Vaux Harrowden [aged 43] whom Edward's mother [aged 49] subsequently married around a month after William's death.

Around 30th June 1632 Edward Vaux 4th Baron Vaux Harrowden [aged 43] and Elizabeth Howard Countess Banbury [aged 49] were married some five weeks after the death of her first husband William Knollys 1st Earl Banbury [deceased] on 25th May 1632. They, Edward and Elizabeth, when teenagers, had been subject to marriage negotiations which broke down as a consequence of the Gunpowder Plot and she had married William Knollys 1st Earl Banbury some thirty-nine years her senior. She the daughter of Thomas Howard 1st Earl Suffolk and Catherine Knyvet Countess Suffolk [aged 68]. They were fifth cousin once removed.

On 23rd August 1632 [her sister] Frances Howard Countess Essex and Somerset [aged 42] died.

In 1638 [her mother] Catherine Knyvet Countess Suffolk [aged 74] died.

On 3rd June 1640 [her brother] Theophilus Howard 2nd Earl Suffolk [aged 57] died at Suffolk House, Suffolk Street. He was buried at Waldon Priory and Abbey [Map]. His son [her nephew] James [aged 21] succeeded 3rd Earl Suffolk, 3rd Baron Howard de Walden.

Before June 1645 [her son] Edward Knollys 2nd Earl Banbury [aged 18] was killed in a duel. His brother Nicholas [aged 14] succeeded 3rd Earl Banbury, 3rd Viscount Wallingford, 3rd Baron Knollys although was never summoned to Parliament as a consequence of questions over his father's paternity.

Before February 1655 Nicholas Knollys 3rd Earl Banbury [aged 24] and Isabella Blount [aged 25] were married. She the daughter of Mountjoy Blount 1st Earl Newport [aged 58] and Anne Boteler Countess Newport and Portland [aged 55]. He the son of William Knollys 1st Earl Banbury and Elizabeth Howard Countess Banbury [aged 72]. They were first cousin twice removed.

On 4th October 1655 Nicholas Knollys 3rd Earl Banbury [aged 24] and Anne or Abigail Sherard [aged 22] were married. He the son of William Knollys 1st Earl Banbury and Elizabeth Howard Countess Banbury [aged 72].

On 17th April 1658 Elizabeth Howard Countess Banbury [aged 75] died.

On 8th September 1661 [her former husband] Edward Vaux 4th Baron Vaux Harrowden [aged 72] died. His brother [her former brother-in-law] Henry [aged 70] succeeded 5th Baron Vaux Harrowden. He left all of his estates to his presumed son Nicholas Knollys 3rd Earl Banbury [aged 30].