Biography of Elizabeth Radclyffe Viscountess Haddington -1618

Elizabeth Radclyffe Viscountess Haddington was born to [her father] Robert Radclyffe 5th Earl of Sussex and [her mother] Bridget Morrison Countess Sussex.

On 14th December 1593 [her grandfather] Henry Radclyffe 4th Earl of Sussex [aged 61] died. He was buried at Boreham, Essex [Map]. His son [her father] Robert [aged 20] succeeded 5th Earl of Sussex, 5th Viscount Fitzwalter, 14th Baron Fitzwalter.

Before 12th October 1602 [her father] Robert Radclyffe 5th Earl of Sussex [aged 29] and [her mother] Bridget Morrison Countess Sussex were married. She by marriage Countess of Sussex. He the son of [her grandfather] Henry Radclyffe 4th Earl of Sussex and [her grandmother] Honora Pound Viscountess Fitzwalter.

On 11th June 1606 [her future husband] John Ramsay 1st Earl Holderness [aged 26] was created 1st Viscount Haddington.

Calendar of State Papers James I 1608. Feb. 11. [1608] London. 26. John Chamberlain to Dud. Carleton. Domestic affairs. Tobie Matthew ordered to depart the realm. Harry Constable [aged 46] and Rich. Carey committed to prison. A marriage and masque at Court, and presents to the bride [Lady Eliz. Ratcliffe]. The King gave them a pension of £600 a year, and wished the bridegroom [[her husband] Visct. Haddington [aged 28]] as much happiness as he himself had, the day he delivered him from the Gowrie conspiracy. Progress of the treaty of peace between Flanders and Holland. The Pope has commanded Sir Rob. Dudley [aged 33] to forsake his mistress [aged 24], &c.

Memorials of affairs of state in the reigns of Q Elizabeth and K James I Volume 3. Mr. John Chamberlaine to Sir Ralph Winwood.

My very good Lord, London, 10th Feb. 1612.

...

The Lady Haddington was forward with Child and miscarried the last Week. The Lady of Bedford lyes in weak case; and they say drawing on. The Countess of Salisbury's Daughter is to be Christened this Day in the King's Chappell, the Queen and the Countess of Suffolk being to be Godmothers.

On 6th December 1618 Elizabeth Radclyffe Viscountess Haddington died of smallpox. She was buried at New Hall, Essex.

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 countesse of Salisburie [aged 28] the Friday before made a great feast and a play, though her 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.

Around 1624 [her former husband] John Ramsay 1st Earl Holderness [aged 44] and Martha Cockayne Countess Holderness [aged 19] were married. She by marriage Countess Holderness. The difference in their ages was 25 years. She the daughter of William Cockayne [aged 63] and Mary Morris Countess Dover [aged 59].

In January 1626 [her former husband] John Ramsay 1st Earl Holderness [aged 46] died. Earl Holderness and Viscount Haddington extinct.