Lady Elizabeth Dacre Howard was a noblewoman who lived in the 16th century. She was the daughter of Thomas Dacre, 4th Baron Dacre of Gilsland, and Elizabeth Leyburne, a devout Catholic. She married twice, first to Thomas Dacre, 4th Baron Dacre of Gilsland, and then to Thomas Howard, 4th Duke of Norfolk. Her second marriage was a secret affair that ended in tragedy when she died in childbirth at the age of 31. But what was the cause of death of her infant child, who also perished with her?
A Secret Marriage
Lady Elizabeth Dacre Howard married her first husband, Thomas Dacre, 4th Baron Dacre of Gilsland, in 1555. They had five children together: Anne, George, Mary, Elizabeth, and Francis. Francis died as an infant, and George died at the age of nine.
After her husband’s death in 1566, Lady Elizabeth secretly married Thomas Howard, 4th Duke of Norfolk, on 29 January 1567. He was her third cousin and the most powerful nobleman in England. He was also a Catholic who had been raised as a Protestant. He had been married twice before, to Mary FitzAlan and Margaret Audley, both of whom had died. He had four children from his previous marriages: Philip, Thomas, Margaret, and Katherine.
The marriage ceremony was conducted in secrecy in the London home of Lady Elizabeth’s mother. The reason for the secrecy was that the Duke of Norfolk needed the permission of Queen Elizabeth I to marry, as he was a potential heir to the throne. The Queen was not likely to approve of his marriage to a Catholic widow with five children.
A Tragic Death
On 4 September 1567, just over seven months after her marriage, Lady Elizabeth died in childbirth at Kenninghall, Norfolk. The baby, whose sex is not known, also died.
It seems that Lady Elizabeth’s death was not only tragic but also painful and lonely. According to one source , although she was devoutly Catholic, her husband would not allow her access to a Catholic priest to administer the sacraments as she lay dying in labour:
the Duchesse . . . desir’d to have been reconciled by a Priest, who for that end was conducted into the garden, yet could not have access unto her, either by reason of the Duke’s vigilance to hinder it, or at least of his continual presence in the chamber at that time.
The cause of death of Lady Elizabeth and her infant child is not known for certain. It could have been due to complications from the delivery, such as bleeding or infection. It could also have been due to pre-existing health problems that were aggravated by pregnancy and childbirth. Lady Elizabeth had suffered from ill health for most of her life. She had been afflicted with smallpox as a child and had lost an eye as a result. She also suffered from rheumatism and gout.
A Forgotten Tomb
Lady Elizabeth and her infant child were buried together in the Lady Chapel of Lanercost Priory in Cumbria. Lanercost Priory was owned by the Dacre family and had been granted to Lady Elizabeth by her first husband.
The tomb of Lady Elizabeth and her infant child is a remarkable piece of art. It features an effigy of Lady Elizabeth lying on a bed with a pillow under her head and a coverlet over her body. Her hands are clasped in prayer and her face is serene. Next to her is a small effigy of her infant child wrapped in swaddling clothes. The effigy was sculpted by Sir Edgar Boehm (1834-90), a famous Victorian sculptor who also created the statue of Queen Victoria at Buckingham Palace.
However, despite its beauty and historical significance, the tomb is not well known or visited by many people. It is hidden away in a corner of the chapel and often overlooked by tourists and locals alike. It is a sad reflection of how Lady Elizabeth and her infant child have been forgotten by history.
Conclusion
Lady Elizabeth Dacre Howard was a noblewoman who lived a short and troubled life in the 16th century. She married twice, first to Thomas Dacre, 4th Baron Dacre of Gilsland, and then to Thomas Howard, 4th Duke of Norfolk. Her second marriage was a secret affair that ended in tragedy when she died in childbirth at the age of 31 along with her infant child.
The cause of death of Lady Elizabeth and her infant child is not known for certain but it could have been due to complications from the delivery or pre-existing health problems.
Lady Elizabeth and her infant child were buried together in Lanercost Priory in Cumbria, where they have a beautiful but forgotten tomb. Their story is a poignant reminder of the hardships and dangers that women faced in the past.
