Elizabeth Somerset, Countess of Worcester (1546–1621)
The Countess of Worcester | |
|---|---|
Elizabeth Somerset, Countess of Worcester, attributed to William Segar | |
| Tenure | 1571—1621 |
| Born | Lady Elizabeth Hastings 1546 Scotland |
| Died | 24 August 1621 |
| Spouse(s) | |
| Issue | 15, including: |
| Parents | |
Elizabeth Somerset, Countess of Worcester (née Lady Elizabeth Hastings; 1546 – 24 August 1621) was a Scottish-born noblewoman. She was the daughter of Francis Hastings, 2nd Earl of Huntingdon, and Catherine Pole.
On 16 December 1571, at Whitehall Palace, she married Sir Edward Somerset in a triple wedding with Edward de Vere, 17th Earl of Oxford and bride, Anne Cecil, and Edward Sutton, 4th Baron Dudley and bride, Mary Howard, , Sir Edward was the son of son of William Somerset, 3rd Earl of Worcester and Christian North. He succeeded as the 4th Earl of Worcester in 1589.
In 1603, Lady Elizabeth travelled to Berwick upon Tweed with other courtiers in an official party to welcome Anne of Denmark. These were chosen by the Privy Council, following the order of King James of 15 April 1603. The group consisted of two countesses, Frances Howard, Countess of Kildare, Lady Elizabeth, Countess of Worcester; two baronesses Philadelphia, Lady Scrope and Penelope, Lady Rich; and two ladies Anne Herbert, a daughter of Henry Herbert, 2nd Earl of Pembroke, and Audrey Walsingham. A Venetian diplomat, Giovanni Carlo Scaramelli, wrote that the six great ladies were escorted by 200 horsemen. They welcomed the new queen into England on 3 June 1603.