Elizabeth Clinton, Countess of Lincoln

Elizabeth FitzGerald, Countess of Lincoln (1527-March1589, also known as The Fair Geraldine) was an Irish noblewoman and the second wife of Sir Anthony Browne and later the third wife of English admiral Edward Clinton, 1st Earl of Lincoln.

Family

Elizabeth was born in Maynooth, Kildare, Leinster, Ireland, a daughter of Gerald "Gearòig òg" FitzGerald, 9th Earl of Kildare, Lord Deputy of Ireland, and his second wife, Elizabeth Grey. Her half-brother was Thomas "Silken Thomas" FitzGerald. Her paternal grandparents were Gerald Garret Mor FitzGerald, 8th Earl of Kildare and Alison FitzEustace. Her maternal grandparents were Thomas Grey, 1st Marquis of Dorset and Cecily Bonville. [Tudorplace.com.Kildare] Her maternal great-grandmother was Elizabeth Woodville. Elizabeth was brought up at the Court of King Henry VIII as a companion to the infant Princess Elizabeth. She first arrived in 1533. In 1534, her father, who was imprisoned in the Tower of London on corruption charges, died on 2 September. In 1537 at the age of ten she became immortalised by the poet Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey as "The Fair Geraldine" in his sonnet "The Geraldine". [Biographical Dictionary of English Literature] The poet was said to have been captivated by her childish beauty, and composed it while he was briefly imprisoned for striking a courtier. There is no truth to the rumour that they were lovers as she was only ten years old at the time. Her younger brothers were raised alongside Prince Edward, who later became King Edward VI. Following the execution of her half-brother "Silken Thomas" and her five uncles for treason, her eldest brother Gerald, the 11th Earl of Kildare, went on the run in Ireland. In Donegal, Gerald, along with other powerful Irish clans, who were related to the FitzGeralds by marriage, formed the Geraldine League. When that federation was defeated in Monaghan, he sought refuge on the Continent. He returned to England in the reign of Edward VI, where he was welcomed at Court and his confiscated lands returned to him.

Marriages

In 1543, at the age of 16, Elizabeth married Sir Anthony Browne KG, following the death of his first wife Alice Gage. Elizabeth became step-mother to Browne's eight children, which included Anthony Browne, 1st Viscount Montagu, Mary Browne, and Mabel Browne who would later marry Elizabeth's brother Gerald FitzGerald 11th Earl of Kildare also known as "The Wizard Earl". The Brownes were staunchly Roman Catholic. On 6 May 1548, Sir Anthony died, leaving Elizabeth a widow at the age of 21. On 1 October1552 she married her second husband, Lord High Admiral Edward Clinton at Sempringham, Kesteven, Lincolnshire. She was his third wife. Clinton was Lord-Lieutenant of Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire. He was also a Privy Counsellor. He was created 1st Earl of Lincoln in 1572 and served as Ambassador to France. Elizabeth was a close intimate of Queen Elizabeth I. On an unknown date in March 1589, Elizabeth FitzGerald died at Lincoln Chapel. She is buried in St.George's Chapel Windsor Castle. She had no children by her two husbands.

List of siblings

By her father's first marriage to Elizabeth Zouche (died 6 October 1517), Elizabeth 's half-siblings included:
# Thomas FitzGerald, 10th Earl of Kildare, also known as "Silken Thomas" (1513- 3 February1537). Married Frances Fortescue. He was hanged, drawn, and quartered, along with his five uncles at Tyburn for treason and rebellion.
# Mary FitzGerald. Married Brian Mac Cathaoir O'Connor, King of Uì Failghe. They had eight children.
# Catherine FitzGerald. Married Jenico Preston, 3rd Viscount Gormanston. They had eight children. By her father's second marriage to her mother Elizabeth Grey (c. 1497-after 1530), Elizabeth's siblings included:
# Gerald FitzGerald, 11th Earl of Kildare, known as "The Wizard Earl" (25 February1525-16 November1585). Married 28 May1554 Mabel Browne. They had five children. Mabel was Elizabeth's step-daughter by her first marriage to Sir Anthony Browne.
# Edward FitzGerald (born 1528). Married Agnes Leigh. They had two sons, including Gerald FitzGerald, 14th Earl of Kildare.
# Thomas Fitzgerald

Depictions in art and fiction

Elizabeth's portrait was painted in 1560 by Steven van der Meulen. It is currently on display in the National Portrait Gallery, London. She briefly appears in Anya Seton's historical romance "Green Darkness", which was partially set in mid-16th century England.

References

# Biographical Dictionary of English Literature
# Tudorplace.com.ar/Kildare
# James Graves "A Brief Memoir of Lady Elizabeth Fitzgerald"