Elizabethan Power Couple: William and Mildred Cecil, Lord and Lady Burghley

When we envision Queen Elizabeth I's right-hand man, William Cecil, Lord Burghley, we picture a consummate statesman, a champion of the Puritan faith, and steadfast fixture in the realm of Elizabethan politics. Yet few among us would ever assert that Elizabeth I's Master Secretary was a true romantic. It may come as a surprise that William Cecil married not once, but twice for love. The nature of both of his relationships reveal a tender, if not passionate man, who deeply loved both of his wives.

A detail from a portrait of William Cecil from the 1560's. Picture acquired through Wikimedia Commons. Image public domain.

William Cecil's beginnings were humble; around 1520 he was born into the Northamptonshire gentry, being the only son of Richard and Jane Cecil. William's parents had high-hopes for him, enrolling him in a succession of distinguished academic institutions, among them Gray's Inn and Cambridge University (Wagner, 59). 

Like the future Elizabeth I, William was taught by the celebrated humanist academics Roger Ascham and John Cheke. Through his association with Master Cheke, young William met his tutor's daughter, Mary. Neither the Chekes or the Cecils approved of their children's relationship, but the young couple did not seem to care. They defied their families by getting married. To have ignored their families wishes so boldly suggests that William and Mary were probably in love. It also shows us that even the stately William Cecil experienced rashness of youth and perhaps even lust.

An engraving of John Cheke by Joseph Nutting, from The Life of Sir John Cheke by John Strype, 1705. Picture acquired through Wikimedia Commons. Image public domain.

Tragically, Mary Cheke-Cecil died a year after giving birth to the couples only child, a son named Thomas, later 1st Earl of Exeter. While we do not have any insight into William Cecil's state of mind after the death of his first wife, I believe it is safe to assume that he was devastated. Cecil had so recently seized a chance at happiness, only to have his wife taken from him abruptly.  

Though a widower with a young son, Cecil did not permit his personal pain to affect his public reputation. A natural lawyer and politician, he quickly rose through the ranks at the Tudor court of King Henry VIII; Cecil would serve each of his children in turn. 

An engraving of the Tudor monarchs that William Cecil served in different capacities: King Henry VIII, Edward VI, Mary I, and Elizabeth I. Picture acquired through Flickr courtesy of Inor19.

In 1546, a highly educated young woman by the name of Mildred Cooke accompanied her father, Sir Anthony Cooke, to court when he was appointed tutor to Prince Edward. Mildred already had a reputation as a scholar. Roger Ascham had praised her for her fluency in Greek, and had included her and her sisters among the women he deemed to be the brightest in the land (Larsen and Levin, 74).  

The brilliant Mildred captured the heart and mind of the scholarly and driven Cecil. In addition to Greek, Mildred was also fluent in French and Latin. Besides being passionate about education, Mildred and Cecil also shared a strong conviction in the Protestant faith (Wagner, 58). Cecil's romance with Mildred again demonstrates his ability to love. The pair were wed on either December 21st or 25th, 1546. Mildred was twenty years old.

It may have been Cecil's father-in-law that introduced him to the uncle of Edward VI, the Lord Protector of England, Edward Seymour, Duke of Somerset. Cecil entered Somerset's service in 1547, quickly earning his master's trust. He accompanied him on campaign and assisted him with diplomacy. In 1549 Cecil became secretary to the Duke of Somerset (Wagner, 59). The Duke's wife, Duchess Anne Stanhope, was a patron of Mildred Cooke-Cecil. Cecil's star continued to rise until the fall of his master, who was executed for treason on January 22nd, 1552 due to the machinations of John Dudley, Earl of Warwick.

A detail of a portrait of the Lord Protector Edward Seymour, Duke of Somerset wearing his chain of office. Picture acquired through Wikimedia Commons. Image public domain.

Guilty by association, Cecil was imprisoned in the Tower for a time, but he was pardoned by Warwick, and named Secretary of State and privy councilor in 1550 (Wagner, 59). Despite owing a great deal to Warwick, now the 1st Duke of Northumberland, Cecil's scruples would not allow him to support the Duke's coup to put Lady Jane Grey and his son Guildford on the throne of England; Cecil knew that there was only one rightful heir, Mary Tudor (Wagner, 59). This was a brave move for a man who was very close to the epicenter of a dangerous plot, and it speaks to Cecil's integrity that he did not allow fear, greed, or the promise of power to sway his moral compass. It also demonstrates that Cecil honored the order of succession over his personal religious beliefs.

A portrait of Princess Mary Tudor by Master John; Mary is depicted at about 28 years old. Picture acquired through Wikimedia Commons. Image public domain.

Cecil instead gave his support to Mary Tudor, becoming one of her first Councilors when she came to the throne. Despite his loyalty to his sovereign, Mary declined to re-install Cecil as Secretary of State due to his Protestant faith (Wagner, 59). However, he still maintained his seat in Parliament. Many capable men who were willing to serve the new Queen were denied the opportunity due to their personal religious convictions. It was a mistake for Mary to turn them away, and it lessened her initial popularity considerably; it was a mistake that Queen Elizabeth would not repeat, instead choosing to employ Protestants, Catholics, and Puritans in her government.

In 1550, Mildred Cecil circulated her translation of St. Basil the Great's homily on Deuteronomy, which she herself had translated from Greek. The work was dedicated to her former mistress, Anne Stanhope, Duchess of Somerset. Yet Mildred never actually published her writing and translations, like her contemporary Mary Herbert, Countess of Pembroke. She did contribute to academia in a different way, however, becoming a benefactress of libraries. There are records that document Mildred Cecil-Cooke's charitable donations, including portions of her personal library to St. John's College, Cambridge, Christ Church, Oxford, and Westminster College, respectively (Hartley, 190). The books donated by Mildred Cecil-Cooke still bear her inscriptions.

A miniature portrait of Mary Sidney-Herbert, Countess of Pembroke by Hilliard, circa 1590. Picture acquired through Wikimedia Commons. Image public domain.

Mildred was a loving stepmother to young Thomas Cecil, who had never really known his own mother. For many years, Mildred and William struggled to have children together; those children that were born to the couple did not live for very long. Eventually the couple had two healthy children that survived into adulthood.

A detail of a portrait of Thomas Cecil, 1st Earl of Exeter. Picture acquired through Wikimedia Commons. Image public domain.

In addition to Cecil's son Thomas, the Cecil's had Anne (1556) and Robert (1563). Anne, like her mother and her aunts, was an academic and an accomplished poet; she also became the long-suffering wife of the Cecil's ward, the tempestuous Edward de Vere, 17th Earl of Oxford. Robert would later succeed his father as Queen Elizabeth I's Secretary of State in 1590. Queen Elizabeth I, who was fond of giving her courtiers and Councillors clever nicknames, called Robert her "pygmy" due to his diminutive stature. As Earl of Salisbury, Robert would also go on to serve James I.

A portrait of a pregnant lady, most likely Mildred Cooke-Cecil, from 1562-63. If the sitter is in fact Mildred Cecil, she was pregnant with her son Robert at the time the portrait was painted. Picture acquired through Wikimedia Commons. Image public domain.

When Queen Mary I was dying, Cecil pledged his support to Elizabeth Tudor. He had been keeping up correspondence with the Tudor princess, and assisting her in minor ways during the dangerous years her sister ruled. In 1558 Cecil gathered, along with other ministers, privy councilor's, and members of the peerage, at Hatfield House to hear Elizabeth's first public speech, and to learn of her appointments for her new government. Elizabeth trusted Cecil implicitly, and she made him her Secretary of State. The familiarity that the Queen and Cecil already had with one another was essential for developing the productive government she was striving for.

The Clopton Portrait of Queen Elizabeth I, circa 1560-65. Picture acquired through Wikimedia Commons. Image public domain through Creative Commons licensing, NPG, London.

Elizabeth publicly addressed Cecil in front of the other prominent witnesses, making an example of him and his new position, saying,

"I give you this charge, that you shall be of my Privy Council and content to take pains for me and my realm. This judgement I have made of you, that you will not be corrupted with any manner of gifts, and that you will be faithful to the state; and that without respect of my private will, you will give me that council which you think best; and, if you shall  know anything necessary to be declared to me of secrecy, you shall show it to myself only; and assure yourself I will not fail to keep taciturnity therein." (quoted in Plowden)

Elizabeth had learned from the mistakes of her father, brother, and sister. She would suffer no sycophancy in her government, and she wanted to hear the truth always, even if the truth would be disagreeable to hear. Cecil would uphold these instructions better than most who served her.

Cecil worked tirelessly for Queen and country, managing Parliament, supervising the exchequer, facilitating the deliberations of the Privy Council, advising on foreign policy and keeping up foreign correspondence (Wagner, 59). Cecil was an incredible record keeper of all things personal and political, and his Burghley Papers and state records are rich, detailed primary sources for historians to study.

The Cecil Map, 'a general description of England and Ireland' by Laurence Nowell, circa 1564. The artist's name is in the lower left-hand corner and his patron, Sir William Cecil, is listed in the right corner. The British Library. Image public domain.

From 1561 onward, William Cecil was the Master of the Court of Wards and Liveries, putting him in charge of the education of aristocratic boys whose fathers had died before they reached maturity. Mildred would take great care to not only personally supervise the education of her own children, but also the various wards and charges that her husband brought into their household (Wagner, 58). Among them was the aforementioned Edward de Vere, as well as Robert Devereux, later 2nd Earl of Essex and Henry Wriothesley, eventual 3rd Earl of Southampton. William Cecil appreciated his wife's ability to shape young minds, later writing to their son, Robert, "the virtuous inclinations of thy matchless mother, by whose tender and godly care thy infancy was governed, together with thy education under so zealous and excellent a tutor".

William Cecil presiding over the Court of Wards and Liveries, by an unknown artist. Picture acquired through Wikimedia Commons. Image public domain.

Though not a constant presence like her husband, Mildred also earned attention at court; Mildred was a Protestant with Puritan leanings, and the Spanish Ambassador hatefully described her in a letter from 1567 as a "furious heretic with great influence over her husband."(Hartley, 190). Seeing that England was a Protestant country, Mildred must have been particularly demonstrative of her beliefs to earn such disapproval from the ambassador. 

Since Queen Elizabeth valued discourse with well-educated women and men, it should come as no surprise that Mildred earned her respect. Mildred entertained the Queen several times at the Cecil's fine estate of Burghley House (Hartley, 190). The magnificent Burghley house was built between 1555-87 and is a prime example of architectural ambition in the 16th century.

The front view of Burghley House. Picture acquired through Wikimedia Commons. Image public domain.

Cecil earned the nickname "spirit" from his Queen, who appreciated his moderate stance in matters of state and foreign policy. Cecil, like Elizabeth, was not hasty in his decision making, but occasionally he did goad the Queen into acting quicker than she would have liked. One of the best examples of Cecil being insistent would be the Mary Stuart debacle. Cecil also thought it necessary that Queen Elizabeth marry and produce an heir, a matter on which they often clashed heads, until Cecil and the rest of the Privy Council admitted defeat.

A portrait of William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley, in his robes for the Order of the Garter, painted sometime after 1585. The portrait is attributed to Marcus Gheeraerts the Younger. Image public domain through Creative Commons licensing, NPG, London.

In addition to serving in Queen Elizabeth's government, William Cecil was a patron of the arts, a commissioner of many building projects, and a genealogist. He was also a faithful husband and devoted father. Mildred wrote that in her marriage to William she felt, "everlasting comfort...living with this noble man in divine love and charity".

William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley, Lord High Treasurer of England, riding a mule from the 1570's. Bodleian Library, Oxford. Picture acquired through Wikimedia Commons. Image public domain.

In 1572, Queen Elizabeth I raised Cecil to the Peerage as Lord Burghley, as well as naming him Lord High Treasurer. In 1589, Cecil's beloved wife Mildred Cooke-Cecil died. She and Cecil had enjoyed an incredible 43 years of marriage together, and Cecil was devastated. In yet another example of his usually overlooked passionate nature, Cecil grieved publicly, writing a very personal eulogy for his wife. Cecil called Mildred his "dearest above all"; he also declared that she was "far beyond the race of womankind."

She was laid to rest beside her daughter Anne, Countess of Oxford, in a tomb in Westminster Abbey. Cecil spared no expense, seeing the gesture as,

 “a testimony of my harty love which I did beare hir, with whom I lyved in the state of matrimony forty and tow yers contynually without any unkyndnes” (original spelling retained).

The tomb effigies of Mildred Cooke-Cecil and her daughter Anne Cecil, Countess of Oxford. Picture acquired through Wikimedia Commons. Image public domain.

Ever loyal, Cecil served the Queen until his death in 1598. He was succeeded by his son Robert Cecil, who had been previously sworn in as a privy councilor in May of 1591.

William Cecil, Lord Burghley, should be remembered as an integral part of Queen Elizabeth's government; their administrative partnership was strong and effective, and Cecil's council to the queen on delicate matters was invaluable. Yet shouldn't Cecil also be recognized as a man capable of passionate love and making grande gestures? Mildred Cooke-Cecil should be remembered for earning the distinction of being one of the most educated ladies in England. She was also a loving wife and a mother, as well as an educator of both her own children and her wards.

 Sources

Plowden, Alison. The Young Elizabeth. The History Press, 2011. Print

"Cecil, Mildred, Lady Burghley." The Historical Dictionary of the Elizabethan World. Print. (By John A. Wagner)

"Cecil, William, Lord Burghley." The Historical Dictionary of the Elizabethan World. Print. (By John A. Wagner)

Caroline M. K. Bowden, ‘Cecil [Cooke], Mildred, Lady Burghley (1526–1589)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004

Robin, Diana Maury, Larsen, Anne R. and Levin, Carole (2007). Encyclopedia of women in the Renaissance: Italy, France, and England. ABC-CLIO, Inc.

Cathy Hartley. A Historical Dictionary of British Women, Psychology Press, 2003. pg 190.

Elizabethan Power Couple: The 2nd Earl and Countess of Pembroke

Two of the most fascinating and accomplished people of the Elizabethan age also happened to be married to one another; Henry Herbert, the 2nd Earl of Pembroke and his wife, Mary Sidney-Herbert, Countess of Pembroke. Both husband and wife were born into distinguished pedigree's, yet they contributed to, rather than relied on their names, leaving their unique mark on history.

Henry Herbert was the eldest son of the 1st Earl of Pembroke, William, and his wife Anne Parr, the younger sister of Henry VIII's last wife, Katherine Parr. Henry was educated at Peterhouse, Cambridge under the instruction of John Whitgift; Whitgift would later become Queen Elizabeth I's Archbishop of Canterbury from 1583-1603, vigorously upholding Elizabeth's Church Settlement and drawing up articles against ministers who did not uphold religious uniformity (Palmer, 32). 

A portrait of William Herbert, 1st Earl of Pembroke, circa 1565. In the Museum of Wales, Cardiff. Picture acquired through Wikimedia Commons. Image public domain.

A sketch by Hans Holbein thought to be of Anne Parr; Henry Herbert was her only surviving child. Picture acquired through Wikimedia Commons. Image public domain.

Before he inherited his earldom, Henry Herbert was married to Lady Katherine Grey in 1553. Katherine's family were the cousins of the royal Tudor's through Frances Brandon; Frances was one of the daughter's of Henry VIII's sister, Mary Tudor and her second husband, Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk. Katherine was in line for the throne of England, and thus Henry Herbert's marriage to her was an incredibly prestigious match. It was orchestrated by John Dudley, the Earl of Northumberland in an attempt to strengthen his position in his plot to put his son Guildford and his daughter-in-law Jane Grey (Katherine's sister) on the throne. Nothumberland's plot succeeded, if only briefly. The coup resulted in the execution of Queen Jane, Guildford, and Northumberland himself. The disgrace was significant for anyone even peripherally associated with the plot, and Henry Herbert's father Earl William was now outraged that his son was joined in marriage to the sister of a convicted traitor. Earl William petitioned the new Queen Mary I to assist in the dissolution of the marriage, since it had allegedly never been consummated. Queen Mary granted the request, and the marriage was annulled in 1554. We do not know how Henry or Katherine felt about the dissolution of their marriage.

A miniature portrait of Katherine Grey, circa 1555-1560 by Leevina Teerlinc. Picture acquired through Wikimedia Commons. Image public domain.

Herbert next married Lady Katherine Talbot, who was the daughter of George Talbot, the 6th Earl of Shrewsbury and his first wife, Gertrude Manners. Shrewsbury was a prominent statesman, and later became the husband of the wealthiest woman in England, next to the queen herself, 16th century real-estate mogul Bess of Hardwick.

A portrait of Bess of Hardwick, Countess of Shrewsbury by Rowland Lockley, 1592. Hardwick Hall. Picture acquired through Wikimedia Commons. Image public domain.

  Upon the death of his father in 1570, Henry Herbert succeeded to the title of Earl of Pembroke, making him one of the most powerful members of the peerage. That same year, he was appointed Lord Lieutenant of Wiltshire. Through his mother he became Lord Parr, along with a variety of other distinguished titles.

While the Earl's star rose at court, his wife's health was failing. Katherine Talbot-Herbert was a favorite of Queen Elizabeth I, and when she took to her sickbed, the Queen visited her twice at the Herbert family's Baynards Castle (DNB, 189-90). Katherine Talbot-Herbert died in 1575, having had no children by her husband.

Henry Herbert, Earl of Pembroke had now been married twice, and both of his marriages and ended in sadness. Luckily, his third wife would be his equal in every way, and they would enjoy a long partnership, only ending with his death in 1601.

On April 21st, 1577 Herbert married his third wife, the fifteen-year old, highly educated Mary Sidney. Mary was the third daughter of Sir Henry Sidney and his wife, Mary Dudley. Mary Dudley was the daughter of the executed John Dudley, the Earl of Northumberland. Thus, Mary Sidney was the niece of Queen Elizabeth I's favorite, Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, Ambrose Dudley, Earl of Warwick, and Henry Hastings and his wife Katherine Dudley Hastings, Earl and Countess of Huntingdon. Ironically, Henry would once again be marrying into the same circle that his father had wanted the family distanced from. Henry Herbert must have first encountered his future wife around the time of his second wife's death in 1575, when Mary Sidney had come to court to take her sister Ambrosia's place in the Queen's service.

Queen Elizabeth I required the women around her to be highly educated and able to have intelligent conversation on diverse subjects. Mary Sidney fulfilled these requirements, being considered the most educated woman in England, next to the Queen herself and the Cooke sisters, daughter's of Anthony Cooke (Hannay). Mary studied the scriptures, ancient classics, poetry and verse. Mary became fluent in Latin, French and Italian, and probably had some understanding of Greek and Hebrew (Hannay). In addition to studying academia, Mary, like all aristocratic girls, was expected to learn how to manage a household. She learned how to balance the household accounts, manage servants, and trained in making and administering medicine. Mary also excelled at singing and playing the lute.

A portrait of the Earl of Leicester by an unknown artist, circa 1575-80. Picture acquired through Wikimedia Commons. Image public domain.

Henry Herbert, Earl of Pembroke had long been allied with Mary Sidney's uncle, the Earl of Leicester. Leicester had arranged the marriage between his niece and his close friend. Both earls enjoyed special favor from the Queen. This was to be especially apparent for Pembroke when Queen Elizabeth entrusted him, along with a few others, to represent her interests at the treason trials of Thomas Howard, the 4th Duke of Norfolk, (1571-72, executed in June of '72) Mary Queen of Scots in 1586, and the son of the Duke of Norfolk, Philip Arundel in 1589.

Grafitti in the Tower of London done by Philip Howard, Earl of Arundel in 1587. Picture acquired through Flickr courtesy of Lisby1.

Like the Herbert's, the Sidney's had long enjoyed royal favor. William Herbert, 1st Earl of Pembroke had served Mary I and her husband Philip II of Spain; Sir Henry Sidney had been Prince Edward's chamberlain, and his sons and daughters grew up alongside the Tudor Prince. When Edward became King, the Sidney's were rewarded for their service, yet they were punished along with the Dudley family following Northumberland's coup (Hannay). Given the intertwined fates of the families, it should be of no surprise that the earls of Leicester and Pembroke got along famously, and that Henry and Mary eventually became husband and wife.

Both the Herbert's and the Sidney's had been welcomed at court upon Elizabeth Tudor's accession to the throne in 1558. The Countess of Pembroke's mother, Mary Dudley, had become especially close to the Queen. When Elizabeth I fell gravely ill with smallpox, it was Mary Dudley, Lady Sidney who nursed her back to health. As a result of her exposure to the disease, Lady Sidney fell ill herself, and was disfigured. Queen Elizabeth I never forgot her friend's sacrifice, granting her a pension for her service.

A detail from a portrait of Sir Henry Sidney, circa 1573. Picture acquired through Wikimedia Commons. Image public domain.

A portrait of Mary Dudley, Lady Sidney, by Hans Eworth. Picture acquired through Wikimedia Commons. Image public domain.

  At 15, Mary had become Countess of Pembroke, making her in charge of Wilton House, the primary Herbert family estate, which had been built on the grounds of the former Wilton Abbey by her husband's parents in the 1540's. Wilton would also become the center of the Countess's literary salon, the "Wilton Circle". The Countess of Pembroke would also eventually entertain Queen Elizabeth I there. Mary also managed several other Herbert properties, among them Baynards Castle in London (Hannay). 

The East front view of Wilton House. After a devastating fire in 1647, Wilton had to be largely rebuilt. Sadly, much of Wilton as the 2nd Earl and Countess of Pembroke knew it is gone. Picture acquired through Wikimedia Commons courtesy of Mike Searle.

  Mary would give birth to four children rather quickly. In 1580, three years after Henry and Mary's wedding, a son was born, William, later the controversial 3rd Earl of Pembroke. Katherine was born in 1581, Anne in 1583, and Philip in 1584. Philip, likely named after Mary's beloved brother Philip Sidney, the acclaimed soldier-poet, would become 4rth Earl of Pembroke after his brother's death and the Earl of Montgomery. Sadly, neither daughter would live into adulthood. The Countess of Pembroke's biographer, Margaret P. Hannay observes that these early years of the Pembroke's marriage were equally happy and tragic. While Henry and Mary grew to love one another, many of their immediate relatives died during this period, including their eldest daughter:

"Little Katherine died the same day that Philip was born in October 1584. In 1586 Mary Sidney's father died in May and her mother in August. And then, in that same year, her brother Philip died on 17 October from wounds received in Zutphen, where he was fighting with the English forces that hoped to rescue the Netherlands from the rule of Catholic Spain. As a woman she was barred from participating in his elaborate funeral and from publishing in any of the volumes of elegies put out by the universities of Oxford, Cambridge, and Leiden. Overcome by illness and grief, and then fearing invasion by the Spanish Armada, Mary Sidney remained at the Pembroke country estates in Wiltshire for two years."(Hannay)

1586 had brought so much tragedy, yet that same year Henry Herbert, Earl of Pembroke succeeded his father-in-law as Lord President of Wales. He made Ludlow Castle, the traditional seat of the President of Wales, the new primary residence of his family. Cardiff still has a strong association with the Pembroke family,  and both the 1st and 2nd Earl of Pembroke's portraits reside in the National Museum in Wales. In 1588, Pembroke was responsible for the defense of Wales as the Spanish Armada approached England (Wagner, 152).

After England's great victory over the Spanish, the Countess of Herbert had rejoined public life. The coming years would be a period of immense productivity for her; Mary Herbert was to become a literary powerhouse. Mary was the first English women to have a successful literary career, publishing the first play written by a woman in English (a closet drama), original poetry with complex structures, literary translations, and the edited works of her brother, Sir Philip Sidney. The Countess of Pembroke also notably never apologized for her 'feminine condition' in her writing, as was typical for other female writers of the time (Hannay).

A portrait of Sir Philip Sidney. Picture acquired through Wikimedia Commons. Image public domain.

Hannay asserts that the Countess began her public literary career to honor her departed brother, by becoming a patron specifically to writers who praised his memory through their art, such as Edmund Spenser and Thomas Moffet. Meanwhile, the Earl was keeping up appearances with the Queen, and like many of his station, he was experiencing money troubles. In a letter to William Cecil, Lord Burghley dated June 20th, 1590, Pembroke complained that he had spent his entire fortune in the Queen's service, and petitioned for some recompense. Yet Pembroke was mindful not to bite the hand that fed him and his family, and in 1592 he went with the Queen on one of her many visits to Oxford University (DNB, 189-190).

A portrait by an unknown artist by of Queen Elizabeth I, circa 1590. Jesus College, Oxford. Note the unique cherry cluster-shaped earring that Elizabeth is wearing! Picture acquired through Wikimedia Commons. Image public domain.

The Countess's first contribution to English literature was supervising the publication of her brother Philip Sidney's masterpiece, Arcadia, which he had written for her at her literary salon at Wilton House, the aforementioned "Wilton Circle". The Countess, in collaboration with Fulke Greville, published The Countess of Pembroke's Arcadia. If it were not for the Countess's dedication to her brother, the literary world might never have known the gift of Philip Sidney. 

A portrait miniature of Mary Herbert, Countess of Pembroke by Hilliard, circa 1590. Picture acquired through Wikimedia Commons. Image public domain.

In addition to her brother, the Wilton Circle included Edmund Spenser, author of The Faerie Queen, and the poets Michael Drayton and Sir John Davies, among others. The members of the Wilton Circle not only discussed literature and writing methods, but discussed theology, specifically Calvinism, and philosophy. The sole woman in the group, the Countess was respected by her associates, and praised by many of them in their own works, either outwardly, or in the guise of a character, as was the custom in the 16th century. Among the literary figures that praised her and/or borrowed from her were William Shakespeare, Edmund Spenser, John Donne, Samuel Daniel, John Davies, Michael Drayton, and Gabriel Harvey (Hannay). 

Mary Herbert, Countess of Pembroke also inspired other female English writers; "Her importance as a role model for younger women writers is seen in Aemilia Lanyer's dedicatory poem in 'Salve Deus Rex Judaeorum' (1611), and in her niece Mary Wroth's affectionate portrayals of her in 'Urania' (1621) as the Queen of Naples." (Hannay)

A portrait miniature of Amelia Bassano Lanyer/Lanier. Victoria & Albert Museum, London. Picture acquired through Wikimedia Commons. Image public domain.

The Countess's sons were referenced in literature, as well; William may be the young man alluded to in Shakespeare's Sonnets, and Ben Jonson also dedicated a collection of epigrams to him. William, together with his younger brother Philip made up the "incomparable pair of bretheren" to whom Shakespeare's First Folio (1623) is dedicated, because, according to the Folio editors, the Herbert brothers had "prosecuted both them and their author living with so much favor". Other parts of the dedication imply Shakespeare was close to the Pembroke family. Shakespeare's sonnets are dedicated to "the onlie begetter of these insuing sonnets, "Mr. W.H."-William Herbert (DNB, 227-228). But 'W.H' could just as well be an scripted reference to Henry Wriothesly, the Earl of Southampton.

A portrait of William Herbert, 3rd Earl of Pembroke by Daniel Mytens, 1625. Picture acquired through Wikimedia Commons. Image public domain.

In 1590, the Countess  finished translating and adapting Seneca's tragedy, Antonius; in 1592 Antonius and A Discourse of Life and Death were ready for publication. In 1593 the Countess revised her brother's Arcadia again, adding additional works to it for its second publication (Hannay,71). The following year, the Countess had completed the metrical translation of Biblical psalms begun by her brother (Rathmell). By 1595, the Countess's husband, Henry, had started to suffer a rapid decline in his health. With the combination of undertaking the translation of biblical psalms and her husband's health problems, it is understandable that that the Countess did not debut any new material until 1599; that year, she presented a copy of of the biblical psalms translated by both herself and her brother to the Queen, complete with a personalized dedication (Hannay, 95). 

Queen Elizabeth I by an unknown artist, circa 1595. Picture acquired through Wikimedia Commons. Image public domain.

The year before the Countess gifted Queen Elizabeth, her husband had asked the Queen to be relieved of his strenuous duties in Wales (Wagner, 152). But despite his ill-health, in 1599, with the threat of another potential Spanish invasion, (which never came to fruition) Herbert offered to raise two hundred horsemen for the crown (190). 

3 quarter-length Italian armor, most likely that of Henry Herbert, the 2nd Earl of Pembroke. The Higgins Armory Museum, Worcester, MA. Picture taken by Ashlie R. Jensen.

A detail of the gauntlet from the 3 quarter-length Pembroke armor. The Higgins Armory Museum, Worcester, MA. Picture taken by Ashlie R. Jensen.

A detail of the gilded etching on the 3 quarter-length Pembroke armor. The Higgins Armory Museum, Worcester, MA. Picture taken by Ashlie R. Jensen.

As any writer can attest, Mary Herbert, Countess of Pembroke's immense body of work, produced in such a short amount of time, is rather remarkable. For those who study English literature, the quality and complexity of Mary's work is astounding. Because of the Countess's remarkable gift, she has become a candidate for the 'true' authorship of the Shakespeare canon; this is a far-fetched theory at best, but the fact that her name has been involved in the authorship controversy at all demonstrates the caliber of her work and the literary circle that she traveled in.

Henry Herbert, Earl of Pembroke was supportive of his wife's literary career. After all, even the least supportive husband would have been, since, "Her own literary works fit approved categories for women, elegy, encomium, and translation, thereby allowing her to stretch the boundaries for women even while she appeared to remain within them." (Hannay) Pembroke and his wife both shared a passionate love for the arts, and where his wife was the author, the Earl Henry was a patron. Hannay believes the Countess's role as a patron has been exaggerated, in comparison with her husband, though she did support the Wilton Circle and encourage her own relations to write, among them her niece, the English author Mary Wroth.

A portrait of Lady Mary Wroth, the niece of the Earl and Countess of Pembroke, and also the eventual mistress of their eldest son, William Herbert, 3rd Earl of Pembroke. Picture acquired through Wikimedia Commons. Image public domain.

When Henry Herbert was not playing an integral part in Elizabethan politics, he owned and operated his own theatre company, which may have for a time include William Shakespeare (Wagner,152). From 1592-1601 Pembroke's Men was the first company to perform Shakespeare's Henry VI, part I and the The Isle of Dogs by Ben Jonson and Thomas Nashe (190). The play was considered seditious by the government because of various thinly-veiled critical references within the script to foreign states with which England conducted business. Understandably, the decision to run The Isle of Dogs caused the company great financial difficulty and earned them the disapproval of the Queen and her government. Jonson was even imprisoned for a time for co-authoring the work (Wagner 152).

A portrait of Henry Herbert, 2nd Earl of Pembroke, circa 1590. Picture acquired through Wikimedia Commons. Image public domain.

On January 19th 1601, after years of ill-health, Henry Herbert, the 2nd Earl of Pembroke died at his family's beloved Wilton House. He left his wife with a significant amount of debt to settle. He was laid to rest in Salisbury Cathedral.

A view of Salisbury Cathedral. Picture acquired through Wikimedia Commons courtesy of Tony Hisgett and Magnus Manske.

After the death of her husband, Mary Herbert, Countess of Pembroke became the head of her family, arranging marriages for her children and managing the Pembroke estates. The Countess attempted to put down insurrections in Cardiff, Wales, and built herself the impressive and "innovative" Houghton House in Bedfordshire, and continued to write and translate (Hannay). 

The ruins of Houghton House, built by Mary Herbert, Countess of Pembroke. Houghton House was the inspiration for 'House Beautiful' in Paul Bunyan's The Pilgrim's Progress. Picture acquired through Wikimedia Commons. Image public domain.

Widowed for twenty-years, Mary Herbert never remarried, but she did carry on a prolonged flirtation with her much-younger doctor, Sir Matthew Lister (Hannay).

Ironically, the Countess died from the same disease that had scarred her mother's body, smallpox, on September 45th 1621 at her home in London on Aldersgate Street (Hannay, 205). After her funeral service at St. Paul's Cathedral, her body was taken to Wiltshire for burial in Salisbury Cathedral, alongside her husband.

A portrait of Mary Herbert, Countess of Pembroke in her old age, circa 1614. Picture acquired through Wikimedia Commons. Image public domain.

The Countess was replaced by her sons at court; both William and Philip found favor under James I. Both continued the work of their parents, becoming patrons of the arts. The 2nd Earl and Countess of Pembroke leave a shared legacy as patrons of the arts in England's Golden Age. Separately, Henry Herbert was one of the leading figures in the court of Queen Elizabeth I, and Mary Herbert was a pioneer, being the first English woman to create a successful literary career for herself.

Authors Note:
Henry Herbert, Earl of Pembroke and Mary Sidney-Herbert, Countess of Pembroke are two of my favorite Elizabethans, so it seemed fitting that I make them my 'pilot' Elizabethan Power Couple. I first discovered the Countess of Pembroke and her works when I studied English literature as an undergrad. I became more familiar with the Earl through independent research for James C. Donnelly, Jr., the President of the Board of Trustee's at the Higgins Armory Museum and a member of the Shakespeare Club of Worcester. I am blessed that the Earl of Pembroke's armor is in the Higgins collection, and I visit it every day that I am at work!

UPDATE: The Worcester Art Museum bought the Higgins collection and the Higgins Armory Museum closed.

Ashlie R. Jensen as Queen Elizabeth I, with 3-quarter length Italian armor, probably that of Henry Herbert, 2nd Earl of Pembroke. The Higgins Armory Museum, Worcester MA.

Sources

Hannay, Margaret P. Philip's Phoenix: Mary Sidney, Countess of Pembroke. New York: Oxford University Press, 1990. Print.

Hannay, Margaret P. Mary Sidney Herbert, Countess of Pembroke (1561-1621). Cambridge U,
     2000. Web. 27 September 2012.


Rathmell, John C. A. ed. "Introduction." Sir Philip Sidney transl., and Mary Sidney Herbert, Countess of Pembroke transl. The Psalms of Sir Philip Sidney and the Countess of Pembroke. Alternate Title: The Psalmes of David. New York: New York University Press, 1963.  

Palmer, Michael. Reputations: Elizabeth I. Bath Press, 1988. Print.

Wagner, John A. The Historical Dictionary of the Elizabethan World. Print.

"Henry Herbert, 2nd Earl of Pembroke (c.1538-1601)." Dictionary of National Biography. 
     Sir Leslie Stephen and Sir Sidney Lee, eds. Vol 26, Smith, Elder, & co., 1891. pg 189-90. 
     Electronic.

"William, third Earl of Pembroke (1580-1630)." Dictionary of National Biography. 
     Sir Leslie Stephen and Sir Sidney Lee, eds.Vol 26, Smith, Elder, & co., 1891. pp 227-228. 
     Electronic.

Theatre Thursday: Mirren Takes to the Stage, 'Anna Bolena' and more

A 2007 photo of Dame Helen Mirren at the Orange British Academy Film Awards in London's Royal Opera House. Picture acquired through Wikimedia Commons, courtesy of the photographer Caroline Bonarde Ucci.

There is a lot happening this week in Elizabethan and Tudor-themed theatre! As I continue to polish tomorrow's article for Feature Friday, the first in my Elizabethan Power Couples series, I bring you links from around the web to peruse at your leisure. Of course, the biggest news, which you have most likely already heard, is that Dame Helen Mirren is set to play Queen Elizabeth II once more, this time, on the stage. The accomplished Mirren will be playing Her Majesty from the age of 25 until her 80's! Now if only we could get a reprisal of Mirren as Elizabeth I....

Helen Mirren Set to Reign on the Stage

'Anna Bolena': Experiencing Henry VIII's World Through Tragic Opera

Shakespeare's Globe Theatre Offers 3 Plays at Cinemas

Old Pros to Perform 'Twelfth Night' 

A New BeingBess Series: Elizabethan Power Couples

Today I am proud to announce a new BeingBess feature article series, entitled Elizabethan Power Couples. The 16th century was a period of rapid growth and incredible change for women, the middle class, and religion, among many other things. These advancements inevitably caused a shift in societal norms, among them the male-female dynamic within marital relationships. 

While many husbands and wives experienced marital discord, some even petitioning for annulment or divorce, we also have plenty of examples that demonstrate that domestic bliss was alive and well in Elizabethan England. Compatible husbands and wives harnessed their affection for one another, utilizing there mutual trust and shared interests to build and run businesses, engage in philanthropy, and shape politics. Some even endured imprisonment and suffered financial and social ruin for their romances. Ample business and legal records, as well as personal accounts give us insight into the husbands and wives I have chosen to categorize as Elizabethan Power Couples.

The tomb effigies of Sir Thomas St. Pol and his wife, Faith Grantham. Picture acquired through Wikimedia Commons, courtesy of Richard Croft. Image public domain.

Keep checking BeingBess; 

our first Elizabethan Power Couples feature is just around the corner!