Elizabeth Savage, Countess Rivers
Encyclopedia
Elizabeth Savage, Countess Rivers and Viscountess Savage (1581 – 9 March 1650) was an English
courtier and a victim of uprisings during the English Civil War
. Born Elizabeth Darcy, she was the daughter of Thomas Darcy, 3rd Baron Darcy of Temple Hurst (later Earl Rivers
) and his wife, Mary (died 1644).
in Suffolk
. In 1615, he inherited his father's baronetcy and was created Viscount Savage
in 1626. On his death in 1635, Elizabeth (by now Viscountess Savage) inherited Melford, which, with St Osyth Priory in Essex
, formed her principal residences.
On death of Lady Savage's father in 1640, the earldom of Rivers passed to her eldest son, John
. As compensation for not enjoying the rank of a countess (due to the title passing to the heir-male in a female line), she was created Countess Rivers for life
in 1641.
. Both men were closely associated with Charles I
, had links with George Villiers, 2nd Duke of Buckingham
and both had enforced the king's policies in their respective counties (Essex in the case of Lord Rivers and Lancashire
and Cheshire
in the case of Lord Savage). Lady Rivers and her husband had both served in Queen Henrietta Maria
's court as a Lady of the Bedchamber
and Chancellor respectively, and these appointments reflected the family's strong Catholic links. Lady Rivers' father had been suspected of being a Papist
, but enjoyed royal protection against recusancy
legislation, although he was excluded from the county magistracy
.
. Following the attack on Sir John Lucas at Colchester
, St Osyth was ransacked and plundered by the crowds. Forewarned, Lady Rivers had fled to Melford but the crowds followed her there and almost destroyed that residence also. According to a local story, Lady Rivers, upon also escaping Melford, threw a box with a string of pearl
s into a nearby pond before fleeing.
subsequently refused to pay rent
. After a second episode of invasion of her estates by Parliamentarian soldiers, she sought permission to go to France
in May 1643. After her return, she successfully petitioned Parliament to have her estates restored again, but the attacks on them and the fines imposed upon her and her son left her penniless. On her death in 1651, she was said to have been bankrupt and was buried at St Osyth with her ancestors.
Kingdom of England
The Kingdom of England was, from 927 to 1707, a sovereign state to the northwest of continental Europe. At its height, the Kingdom of England spanned the southern two-thirds of the island of Great Britain and several smaller outlying islands; what today comprises the legal jurisdiction of England...
courtier and a victim of uprisings during the English Civil War
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
. Born Elizabeth Darcy, she was the daughter of Thomas Darcy, 3rd Baron Darcy of Temple Hurst (later Earl Rivers
Earl Rivers
Earl Rivers was an English title held in succession by the families of Woodville or Wydeville, Darcy and Savage. The first creation was made for Richard Woodville, 1st Baron Rivers in 1466 and remained in this family until 1491...
) and his wife, Mary (died 1644).
Marriage
On 14 May 1602, Elizabeth married Thomas Savage and they had eleven sons and eight daughters. He was the eldest son of Sir John Savage, 1st Baronet and his wife Mary née Allington, from whom he inherited Melford HallMelford Hall
Melford Hall is a stately home in the village of Long Melford, Suffolk, England. It is the ancestral seat of the Parker Baronets.The hall was mostly constructed in the 16th century, incorporating parts of a medieval building held by the abbots of Bury St Edmunds which had been in use since before...
in Suffolk
Suffolk
Suffolk is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in East Anglia, England. It has borders with Norfolk to the north, Cambridgeshire to the west and Essex to the south. The North Sea lies to the east...
. In 1615, he inherited his father's baronetcy and was created Viscount Savage
Viscount Savage
Viscount Savage was a title in the Peerage of England. It was created in 1626 for Sir Thomas Savage, 2nd Baronet, husband of Elizabeth Savage and heir-apparent by special remainder to his father-in-law's titles of Baron Darcy of Chiche , Viscount Colchester and Earl Rivers...
in 1626. On his death in 1635, Elizabeth (by now Viscountess Savage) inherited Melford, which, with St Osyth Priory in Essex
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
, formed her principal residences.
On death of Lady Savage's father in 1640, the earldom of Rivers passed to her eldest son, John
John Savage, 2nd Earl Rivers
-Family:Savage was the first son of Thomas Savage, 1st Viscount Savage and his wife Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas Darcy, 1st Earl Rivers. He succeeded to the Savage viscountcy in 1635 on the death of his father, and succeeded to the Rivers earldom on the death of his grandfather in 1640, by a...
. As compensation for not enjoying the rank of a countess (due to the title passing to the heir-male in a female line), she was created Countess Rivers for life
Pre-1876 Life Peerages
This is a list of Life Peerages created prior to the Appellate Jurisdiction Act 1876 and the Life Peerages Act 1958.-Richard II :*1377 – Guichard d'Angle, Earl of Huntingdon*1385 – Robert de Vere, Marquess of Dublin...
in 1641.
Allegiances
As well as inheriting property and being raised in rank following the death of her father and husband, she also inherited their political and religious allegiances that would later lead to her downfall in the English Civil WarEnglish Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
. Both men were closely associated with Charles I
Charles I of England
Charles I was King of England, King of Scotland, and King of Ireland from 27 March 1625 until his execution in 1649. Charles engaged in a struggle for power with the Parliament of England, attempting to obtain royal revenue whilst Parliament sought to curb his Royal prerogative which Charles...
, had links with George Villiers, 2nd Duke of Buckingham
George Villiers, 2nd Duke of Buckingham
George Villiers, 2nd Duke of Buckingham, 20th Baron de Ros of Helmsley, KG, PC, FRS was an English statesman and poet.- Upbringing and education :...
and both had enforced the king's policies in their respective counties (Essex in the case of Lord Rivers and Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
and Cheshire
Cheshire
Cheshire is a ceremonial county in North West England. Cheshire's county town is the city of Chester, although its largest town is Warrington. Other major towns include Widnes, Congleton, Crewe, Ellesmere Port, Runcorn, Macclesfield, Winsford, Northwich, and Wilmslow...
in the case of Lord Savage). Lady Rivers and her husband had both served in Queen Henrietta Maria
Henrietta Maria of France
Henrietta Maria of France ; was the Queen consort of England, Scotland and Ireland as the wife of King Charles I...
's court as a Lady of the Bedchamber
Lady of the Bedchamber
This is an incomplete list of those who have served as Lady of the Bedchamber in the British Royal Household...
and Chancellor respectively, and these appointments reflected the family's strong Catholic links. Lady Rivers' father had been suspected of being a Papist
Papist
Papist is a term or an anti-Catholic slur, referring to the Roman Catholic Church, its teachings, practices, or adherents. The term was coined during the English Reformation to denote a person whose loyalties were to the Pope, rather than to the Church of England...
, but enjoyed royal protection against recusancy
Recusancy
In the history of England and Wales, the recusancy was the state of those who refused to attend Anglican services. The individuals were known as "recusants"...
legislation, although he was excluded from the county magistracy
Magistrate
A magistrate is an officer of the state; in modern usage the term usually refers to a judge or prosecutor. This was not always the case; in ancient Rome, a magistratus was one of the highest government officers and possessed both judicial and executive powers. Today, in common law systems, a...
.
Civil War
Following parliament's explanation of the ineffectual settlement with the king to have been caused by a Catholic conspiracy, local grievances heightened rumour and suspicion and Lady Rivers was presented to the Essex court as a recusant and her home at St Osyth was searched for armsWeapon
A weapon, arm, or armament is a tool or instrument used with the aim of causing damage or harm to living beings or artificial structures or systems...
. Following the attack on Sir John Lucas at Colchester
Colchester
Colchester is an historic town and the largest settlement within the borough of Colchester in Essex, England.At the time of the census in 2001, it had a population of 104,390. However, the population is rapidly increasing, and has been named as one of Britain's fastest growing towns. As the...
, St Osyth was ransacked and plundered by the crowds. Forewarned, Lady Rivers had fled to Melford but the crowds followed her there and almost destroyed that residence also. According to a local story, Lady Rivers, upon also escaping Melford, threw a box with a string of pearl
Pearl
A pearl is a hard object produced within the soft tissue of a living shelled mollusk. Just like the shell of a mollusk, a pearl is made up of calcium carbonate in minute crystalline form, which has been deposited in concentric layers. The ideal pearl is perfectly round and smooth, but many other...
s into a nearby pond before fleeing.
Later life
Although attacked by the masses in opposition of her family's association with the king and their religious patronage, Lady Rivers was able to secure support from those that did not share the same views. Parliament later ordered her estates to be restored to her, but her tenantsLeasehold estate
A leasehold estate is an ownership of a temporary right to land or property in which a lessee or a tenant holds rights of real property by some form of title from a lessor or landlord....
subsequently refused to pay rent
Renting
Renting is an agreement where a payment is made for the temporary use of a good, service or property owned by another. A gross lease is when the tenant pays a flat rental amount and the landlord pays for all property charges regularly incurred by the ownership from landowners...
. After a second episode of invasion of her estates by Parliamentarian soldiers, she sought permission to go to France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
in May 1643. After her return, she successfully petitioned Parliament to have her estates restored again, but the attacks on them and the fines imposed upon her and her son left her penniless. On her death in 1651, she was said to have been bankrupt and was buried at St Osyth with her ancestors.