Elizabeth Stafford, Countess of Sussex

Elizabeth Stafford (born c. 1479 – 11 May, 1532) was a daughter of Henry Stafford, 2nd Duke of Buckingham and his wife Catherine Woodville. She was a sister of Edward Stafford, 3rd Duke of Buckingham and Henry Stafford, 1st Earl of Wiltshire.

Her only paternal aunt was Margaret Dayrell who was wife to James Tuchet, 7th Baron Audley. Her maternal uncles included (among others) Anthony Woodville, 2nd Earl Rivers, Richard Woodville, 3rd Earl Rivers and Lionel Woodville, Bishop of Salisbury. Her aunts included Elizabeth Woodville and Mary Woodville, married respectively to Edward IV of England and William Herbert, 2nd Earl of Pembroke.

Her first cousins included (among others) John Tuchet, 8th Baron Audley, Thomas Grey, 1st Marquess of Dorset, Richard Grey, Elizabeth of York, Mary of York, Cecily of York, Edward V of England, Margaret of York, Richard of Shrewsbury, 1st Duke of York, Anne of York, George Plantagenet, Duke of Bedford, Catherine of York, Bridget of York and Elizabeth Herbert, 3rd Baroness Herbert.

In 1510, one of the sisters of the Duke - either Elizabeth or her sister Anne Stafford, Countess of Huntingdon, became the mistress of Henry VIII. The woman's husband took her off to a convent and the Duke refused to stay under Henry's roof. The Imperial ambassador, Eustace Chapuys unfortunately does not name the sister, although it is likely to have been the adventurous Anne, who later lived quite openly in adultery with William Compton who was both the King's close friend and a man who helped Henry arrange his liaisons with his lovers, even giving over his own house in Thames Street for this purpose. It is said that the virtuous sister, probably Elizabeth, told both her brother and Queen Katherine of Aragon of the affair, causing the arguments at court. She and her husband were dismissed from court temporarily.

Her father was executed for treason by order of Richard III of England on 2 November, 1483. She would remain in the care of her mother until her own marriage. Elizabeth was married to Robert Radclyffe, 1st Earl of Sussex on 23 July, 1505). They were parents to four known sons:

*Henry Radclyffe, 2nd Earl of Sussex (1507 - 1542). He was father to Thomas Radclyffe, 3rd Earl of Sussex, a leading courtier in the reign of Elizabeth I of England.
*George Radclyffe. Married Catherine Marney.
*Sir Humphrey Radclyffe (c. 1509 - 13 August, 1566). Married Isabel Harvey, daughter of wealthy merchant Edmund Harvey and Margaret Wentworth. They were parents of Edward Radclyffe, 6th Earl of Sussex.
*Thomas Radclyffe (1511 - 1539).

Elizabeth was buried in Boreham, Essex on 11 May, 1532.