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Elizabeth Boyle, Countess of Guilford


Elizabeth Boyle, Countess of Guilford (née Feilding; died circa 3 September 1667) was an English peeress. She was created 1st Countess of Guildford for life at the Restoration on 14 July 1660, which became extinct upon her death c. 3 September 1667. She held the office of Groom of the Stole and Lady of the Bedchamber to Queen Dowager, Henrietta Maria.

She was born Elizabeth Feilding, the daughter of Sir William Feilding (later created 1st Earl of Denbigh) and his wife Susan Villiers, herself sister to the royal favourite George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham. William Feilding benefited greatly from his brother-in-law's rise in court, receiving various offices and dignities. He married circa 1607 and was invested as a knight around the same time, in March 1606/7. He was then created 1st Baron Feilding of Newnham Paddox in 1620, and 1st Earl of Denbigh and 1st Viscount Feilding on 14 September 1622.

Elizabeth Feilding had two sisters and two brothers which survived infancy. Her brother Basil, born ca. 1608, became the 2nd Earl of Denbigh upon their father's death. Her sister Margaret, also known as Mary, born ca. 1613, married James Hamilton, 1st Duke of Hamilton, and was the mother of Anne Hamilton, 3rd Duchess of Hamilton. Her brother George, born ca. 1614, became the 1st Earl of Desmond.

In the early 1620s, her maternal grandmother Mary Villiers, Countess of Buckingham, converted to Roman Catholicism, which probably influenced other members of the family including her mother, Susan, who converted to Catholicism after the death of her husband. Elizabeth and her sister Mary were known to be devout Catholics. On 21 January, either 1639 or 1640, Lady Elizabeth appeared as a masque in Salmacida Spolia.


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