Talk:Elisabeth Brooke, Marchioness of Northampton

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Comment[edit]

I have made amendments so it is clear at the beginning that she was notable, rather than it being necessary to read through the information. She was notable as: an important plotter at court, including in the plot by Thomas Seymour and Dudley against the Duke of Somerset, as well as putting Jane Grey on the throne. She was at the centre of this both before Mary's accession and allegedly during her cousin, Wyatt's, rebellion. She was the most influential woman at the court of Edward VI. She caused a great scandal by living with a married man. She was the wife of the second most important man in the country. She was so close to Elizabeth I, her influence was said to rival Leicester's. Plus she led an amazing life, going against the accepted social norms of her day.

She was clearly notable. If anyone wishes to dispute this, please discuss it on the talk page first. Thanks Boleyn (talk) 11:00, 16 March 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Marriage to Parr[edit]

Huh. Where is the statement “Elisabeth openly lived in adultery with William Parr, 1st Marquess of Northampton and bigamously married him” coming from? On 17 April 1543, the marriage of Parr and his first wife, Anne, was annulled by an Act of Parliament and any of her children “born during esposels between Lord and Lady Parr” (there were none) were declared bastards. On 31 March 1551, a private bill was passed in Parliament annulling Parr’s marriage to Anne. William then married Elisabeth Brooke. A commission ruled in favour of his divorce shortly after he married Elizabeth Brooke in 1547, but Somerset punished Parr for his marriage by removing him from the Privy Council and ordering him to leave Elizabeth. The divorce was finally granted in 1551, and his marriage to Elizabeth was made legal. On 31 Mar 1552, a bill passed in Parliament declaring the marriage of Anne Bourchier and Parr null and void. However, the marriage was declared invalid in 1553 under Queen Mary and then valid again in 1558 under Queen Elizabeth. Each change of monarch, and religion, changed Elizabeth’s status. So to say they were openly living in adultery and the marriage was bigamous—not entirely true if his marriage to Anne was annulled in 1543. Lady Meg (talk) 01:34, 23 March 2023 (UTC)[reply]

Gosh. There is a lot of conflicting info out there. I’m now looking for “On 17 April 1543, the marriage of Parr and his first wife, Anne, was annulled by an Act of Parliament”. Looks like it was just a legal separation and a bastardized Anne’s children by her lover. Parliamentary Papers states it was in 1542 when he sought a divorce. Not finding much more. Lady Meg (talk) 02:59, 23 March 2023 (UTC)[reply]

Ok. Pg 83 of Susan James’s “official” biography confirms the separation in 1542. It also says, On 13 March 1543, a bill was passed condemning Anne’s adulterous behavior and declaring any children bastards. Lady Meg (talk) 03:12, 23 March 2023 (UTC)[reply]

Ok, so does anyone have access to G. E. Cokayne, The Complete Peerage, n.s., Vol.IX, p.672, note (b)?? That’s the source on Parr’s page for the the “17 April 1543 annulment”. The source is used for quite a few facts too. Lady Meg (talk) 03:59, 23 March 2023 (UTC)[reply]