Dive into the extraordinary life of Frances Burke, as we explore the remarkable journey of this influential Elizabethan noblewoman, from her early life as the daughter of Sir Francis Walsingham to her strategic marriages with Philip Sidney, Robert Devereux, and Richard Burke. Discover how her personal story intertwines with pivotal historical events, her role in the political landscape of her time, and how her legacy was carried on by her children.

Today, we are talking about Frances Burke. She was the daughter of Francis Walsingham. She is spelled Frances versus Francis Walsingham’s Francis. So, their name was the same, but it was spelled differently. she is a fascinating woman. So let’s get right into it.

The Elizabethan period is renowned for its dramatic political intrigues and cultural flourishes, and Frances Burke, Countess of Clanricard, emerges as a figure of significant historical intrigue. Born Frances Walsingham, her life was a vivid intersection of personal tragedies and pivotal historical events, making her story not just a tale of an individual, but a window into the complexities of Elizabethan society. Frances was born into a world where familial connections were not just personal bonds, but also political alliances.

She married some fascinating men that we have talked about with their own episodes, but we never talked about the wife that they shared. Not at the same time, of course, that would be weird. But she was married first to Sir Philip Sidney, and then to Robert Devereux, 2^nd Earl of Essex. Finally, to Richard Burke, Earl of Clanricard.

These were more than mere social contracts. They were strategic moves that placed her at the heart of the political and cultural revolutions of her time. Each of her marriages brought her closer to the epicenter of power and influence, weaving her story indelibly into the fabric of English society.

Her life was marked by personal losses and public triumphs. Reflecting the turbulent and often merciless nature of Elizabeth in politics. From the court of Elizabeth I to the rugged landscapes of Ireland, her journey was as captivating as it was complex. In this exploration, we will delve into the life of Frances Burke, unearthing the layers of her story to understand not just the woman that she was, but also the era that she helped shape.

Frances’s life began in 1567. She was the daughter, like I said, of Francis Walsingham and Ursula St. Barb. Her father, of course, was a pivotal figure in Elizabethan England. He served as Secretary of State to Elizabeth I. He was also known as her chief spymaster. He was deeply involved in the political and religious intricacies of the time.

A defining moment of her very early life and possibly her first encounter with Philip Sidney happened during the St. Bartholomew’s Day Massacre in 1572. She would have just been four and a half, five years old. Sidney was a future poet and soldier and he took refuge in the Walsingham home following the violent religious conflict in Paris.

If you don’t know what the St. Bartholomew’s Day Massacre was, I talked about it at length in the episode I did on her father because it had a profound influence on not just him, but also the Protestants in England and their fear of Catholics. The St. Bartholomew’s Day Massacre was just that. It was a massive massacre of Protestants in Paris and France by Catholics.

As the Huguenots went to England and told the stories that they saw, it was just a horrible, horrible experience. It had a profound impact on Francis Walsingham’s life and was part of the reason why he became Elizabeth’s spymaster and had such a fear of Catholics.

So his daughter, Frances, was with him during that time in Paris and met Philip Sidney. She was just a little girl, of course, but she met her future husband when he also took refuge at their home. Many people took refuge in Walsingham’s home because he was in Paris on state business and presumably had a bit of a safer place to hide than other homes in the area.

That was her experience with the event. Like I said, it had a significant impact on the political climate of Europe and undoubtedly influenced her upbringing, exposing her to the realities of religious strife and political turmoil from a very young age. Growing up in such an environment, Frances would have been acutely aware of the political and religious tensions of the time.

Her father’s role as a spymaster would have brought a unique dynamic to her family life, blending domestic affairs with matters of national security and international diplomacy. This early exposure to high-stakes politics and the importance of strategic alliances likely shaped her understanding of her role and responsibilities as a member of a prominent political family.

Frances’s formative years were thus marked by a blend of personal connections and the broader religious and political currents of Elizabethan England. Her early experiences, including the potential meeting with Sidney during a time of crisis, set the stage for her future marriages and her own role in the political landscape of her time period.

So a decade later, Frances Burke would marry Philip Sidney, and this was of course a significant chapter in her life. The Union was orchestrated by her father, despite initial resistance from Queen Elizabeth I. The Queen’s reluctance possibly stemmed from concerns about the consolidation of power. Sidney was a nephew of Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, and a close advisor to the Queen. She may have been concerned about too much power being in the hands of just one or two families.

As a young bride and mother, Frances experienced the complexities of Elizabethan marital alliances. Her marriage to Sidney was not only a romantic union, but also a strategic alliance, reflective of the era’s political dynamics. The couple’s life together was brief, yet impactful.

Frances gave birth to a daughter, Elizabeth, named in honor of the Queen, who eventually came to accept and support their union. Tragedy struck with Sir Philip Sidney’s untimely death in 1586 due to injuries sustained at the Battle of Zutphen. That was where he was wounded, and there’s the saying, the apocryphal saying that he apparently gave his last water to another injured man and said that the other man’s need, was greater than his own. And he’s remembered for this act of self-sacrifice.

His passing left Frances a widow at a young age, grappling with the loss of her husband and the political ramifications of his death. Sidney was celebrated as a hero and a prominent literary figure, and left a lasting legacy that deeply affected Frances. Her life as a widow was marked by a transition from the roles of wife and mother to that of a figure navigating the intricacies of Elizabethan society on her own.

The impact of Sidney’s death on Frances was profound. It was not just the loss of a husband, but also the end of the partnership that had significant political and social implications. Her mourning was not only personal, but also public, as she dealt with the aftermath of losing a husband, who was a key figure in the Elizabethan court.

This period of her life was a testament to her resilience and the ability to adapt to changing circumstances, laying the groundwork for her subsequent marriages and her evolving role in Elizabethan England. Her experience as a young bride, mother, and widow in her first marriage offers a poignant glimpse into the personal and political landscapes of the Elizabethan era, revealing the multifaceted challenges and opportunities faced by women of her standing.

In 1590, Francis Walsingham, Frances’s father, died, and left her with an annuity of 300 pounds. And she married again, this time to Robert Devereaux to whom her previous husband had left his best sword. So Sir Philip Sidney and Robert Devereaux were friends, and Sidney had left Devereaux his best sword in his will, which is kind of a fun little piece of trivia.

Essex was a prominent figure in the Elizabethan court, known for his ambitious nature and his close relationship with Elizabeth I. Many people say he was flirtatious with Elizabeth, and that Elizabeth was flirtatious with him, but by this point, Elizabeth was really getting up there in years.

I’m not sure what romantic situation might have happened between the two of them, but he definitely was one of Elizabeth’s favorites, and his downfall was one of the kind of final heartbreaks that Queen Elizabeth had in her life.

The marriage was possibly arranged by Francis Walsingham, Frances’s father, before his death. And again, it did not initially receive the Queen’s approval. Essex was her favorite. She was not thrilled with this. But the union did link Frances directly to the very heart of English political power and courtly drama, and the marriage brought her into a tumultuous period marked by Essex’s increasing tension with the Queen.

His eventual participation in the Essex Rebellion of 1601, and this uprising against Elizabeth was bold and an untimely, disastrous move leading to Essex’s execution for treason. Now, how much Frances would have been involved in this is really up for debate. She probably wouldn’t have been involved in it very much at all. But the execution of her husband Essex, had profound consequences for Frances.

Not only did she lose her husband in a highly public and scandalous manner, she also had to navigate the aftermath of his downfall. He would have lost all of his money, his lands would have been taken because he was executed for treason. So she needed to have a lot of resilience during this period.

She had to ensure the well-being and future of her children amidst a backdrop of political disgrace and personal loss. The execution of Essex left Frances a widow once again. This time under vastly different and more challenging circumstances. Her first husband died fighting for Elizabeth, was a celebrated poet, and everything like that. Now, her second husband dies being executed for treason in rebellion against Elizabeth. So she had to adapt to these circumstances and protect her family’s interests, and her ability to do that speaks to her strength and acumen in a period of intense personal and political turmoil.

Her third marriage was to Richard Burke, Earl of Clanricard, and was a significant shift in her life, intertwining her story with the political and social landscape of Ireland. So she married him in 1603, and he was deeply involved in the turbulent Irish politics of the time, notably pressing his claims during the Irish rebellions and the period of English colonization.

This context provided a backdrop to their life together. Her marriage to Richard can be seen as a continuation of her involvement in Irish affairs. Considering her second husband, Robert Devereaux had also been deeply involved in the wars in Ireland and had fought there, unsuccessfully. Her transition to life in Ireland, they went to Ireland, was not just a geographical move, but also a dive into a highly charged political environment.

Burke’s efforts in establishing their presence in Ireland were marked by the construction of grand estates, like the Portumna Castle in County Galway, which served as symbols of their status and influence. Living in Ireland during a time of intense colonial expansion and rebellion, Frances would have had to navigate a complex array of local and colonial interests.

Her experience in Ireland, contrasting starkly with her life earlier in England, highlights her adaptability and resilience. Her life with Richard Burke was not just about adapting to a new home but also engaging with the broader political and cultural challenges of Ireland during this pivotal period in its history.

Frances Burke, daughter of Francis Walsingham, Countess of Clanricarde, one-time Countess of Essex, left a significant legacy in Elizabethan politics through her strategic marriages and the roles that her children played. Her unions with influential figures like Philip Sidney, Robert Devereaux, and Richard Burke positioned her at the epicenter of political power, allowing her to navigate subtly the influence and complex dynamics of the Elizabethan court.

She spent her time between England and Ireland. In 1609, they built a mansion in Kent, and in 1618, they constructed the castle in Galway. It was back and forth living in Ireland and England during this time of colonial expansion. She died in early 1633 at Sommerhill and was buried at St. Peter and St. Paul Tonbridge where she and her husband both have effigies.

He died in 1635. So they had a peaceful 20 years together, which was more than she had with either of her other husbands. Her children continued her legacy, cementing the family’s influence across generations.

Her daughter by Sidney, Elizabeth, maintained social prominence through her marriage. Frances’s children with Devereaux, especially Robert, who became the 3rd Earl of Essex, continued to play significant roles in English politics. And her children with Richard Burks, notably Ulick, later the Marquess of Clanricarde, became prominent figures in Ireland.

Her life reflects the roles and power of women in the Elizabethan era, showcasing how they could maneuver within and influence the socio-political landscape despite the limitations of their gender in that period. Frances Burke’s story is a testament to the resilience and strategic acumen of women in this period, often operating within the constraints of their societal roles.

I think it’s really interesting that I have done episodes through the years on Philip Sidney, on Francis Walsingham, on Robert Devereaux, on the English in Ireland, but I never did something on Frances Burke. So I am trying to do more on these women and giving their stories more attention, sharing what they would have been up to because they also had pivotal roles.

It’s harder because there are not as many records, so you have to have more conjecture and stuff like that because they just weren’t in the history books. People were talking about their husbands, not about them, but their roles deserve to have episodes done about them as well. And so as we move forward into 2024 and beyond. I will be doing more on some of these women whose husbands I did episodes on, but not them, and they deserve their own episode too.