Elizabeth Countess of Shrewsbury!

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Elizabeth Talbot was the second most important person in England during the reign of Elizabeth I. She was the daughter of John Hardwick who owned a massive Mansion in Derbyshire, Hardwick Hall. She was one of five children, a brother and four sisters. She was married off at the age of around 14 but her new husband died not long after. His inheritance eventually came to her. She married a further three times each time being made richer and becoming more influential in the court of Elizabeth I and was a lady of Queen Elizabeth's bed chamber. Her second husband was Sir William Cavendish bizarrely married at 2 O'clock in the morning. She became Lady Cavendish. Her third marriage was to Sir William St Loe and on his death he left everything to Elizabeth who it is reported received £60,000 a year from the estates making her the richest woman after Queen Elizabeth I. Her fourth marriage was to the Earl of Shrewsbury. Mary Queen of Scots was held in their custody until she was later put to death. They lived in several properties including Chatsworth house a massive mansion in Derbyshire. Elizabeth became one of Queen Mary's companions and they were entrusted to keep her prisoner. They worked together on tapestries some of which are on display at Hardwick Hall the most famous being the Oxburgh Hangings now in the Victoria and Albert museum London. My next posts will describe some of the magnificent homes she lived in. The photo is of Elizabeth Countess of Shrewsbury at Hardwick Hall.