A Life Full of Interest, Tempest, And Storm

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19028, 30 May 1936, Page 9

A Life Full of Interest, Tempest, And Storm

jp.EW subjects form more interesting reading than those claiming some measure of fact in their origin. Mrs. Laura Norsworthy lias chosen the life of Lady Elizabeth Hatton, whoso fame, like herself, was nothing if not original, as the subject tor her book, “The Lady of Bleeding Heart Yard.” Lady Elizabeth was rich and she was beautiful.. Her first marriage with Sir William Hatton was entirety 'happy, and had her husband lived her story might Have given little to relate. But he died in 1597 when his young wife was scarcely out of her teens, leaving her a very rich widow, the mistress of Corfe Castle and Hatton House in Holborn.

Blessed with everything that could make lier desirable in person, place, and fortune, it was only to 1"’ expected lliat she would marry again, but her family allowed her no time io think tilings over and make her’,own choice of a second husband. Among her many suitors were two men who aftc wards became famous; they were Francis Bacon and Edward Cook.'. Francis Bacon had little io offer the lady except debts and a volume of essays just about to be published, whereas Edward Cooke was already Attorney-General.

Lady Elizabeth’s family persuaded her much against her will be become married to Edward Cooke.

Difficult Marriage. Lady .Elizabeth was only 3(1. She soon found she hud made a mi,slake in thinking she could manage her now luisbamj. He immediately took possession ol' her entire estate and kept it lo himself. She was allowed to live in her own houses as thong li they were his, under his rules and regulations, dependent mi him for everything. Thai was I lie Altorney-G-eneral’s idea of the relative positions between husband and wife. But it was not Elizabeth's view—far from il. She was ahead of 'her limes i:i her thoughts for the enmneiputi.on fit women. She appealed to Queen Elizabeth, but the Queen was old, find believed that young ladies must lear.i obedience. Lady Elizabeth bore her nusband two daughters lo whom she was devot od. 'The rest of her lime she spent ni Court and in carrying out Eie counter manoeuvres necessary t.> cope willi her husband’s mil rageous conduce She forbade him to aileml her fanion parlies unless specially invited, and look no part whatever in hi.s life.

Lived In Three Reigns. Her li to was certainly an eventful one. She lived in three reigns— Queen Elizabeth, .Tames T, and Charles I—holding her own in all of them, and died in Uilfi an ardent Roundhead. She shone equally in the courts of law. where her forensic skill eclipsed that of her husband when she appeared against him. She defended iter daughter through thick and thin against tho Duke of Buckingham and hi; family; wen! to prison for helping her dnughtor in her desire to avoid marrying the Duke’s brother; fought four successive Bishops of Ely; went to prison for resisting the last bishop; and emerged triumphant under the Parliament. Such was the life of Lady Elizabeth Hatton—full of incident, tempest, and storm.