Elizabeth Willoughby, 3rd Baroness Willoughby de Broke


Elizabeth Willoughby, 3rd Baroness Willoughby de Broke, de jure 11th Baroness Latimer was an English noblewoman and wife of Sir Fulke Greville.

Life

Elizabeth Willoughby was the eldest daughter of Edward Willoughby of Alcester, Warwickshire, and Powick, and Margaret Neville, daughter of Anne Stafford and Edward Neville. Elizabeth's father, Edward Willoughby, died in November 1517, leaving Elizabeth still a minor. Her :wikt:wardship|wardship was acquired in 1522 by Sir Edward Greville of Milcote, Warwickshire. At her grandfather's death on 11 November 1521, the baronies of Willoughby de Broke and Latimer fell into abeyance between his three granddaughters; all daughters of his son Edward; Elizabeth, Anne and Blanche. The barony was settled on Elizabeth after Anne and Blanche died childless.
Shortly before 11 April 1526 Sir Edward Greville married his ward Elizabeth to his second son, Sir Fulke Greville of Beauchamps Court, Alcester. He did so because Elizabeth preferred Fulk over his older brother John. A manuscript dated 1644 entitled The Genealogie, Life and Death of Robert, Lord Brooke, then in the possession of the Earl of Warwick, describes their courtship:
In 1542/3 Elizabeth's husband, Fulke Greville, was knighted by Henry VIII for military service to the crown. He was High Sheriff of Warwickshire in 1543 and a member of Parliament from 1547. He further distinguished himself along with forty men in the suppression of the Pilgrimage of Grace and served in campaigns in 1544 against France. He built his wife and family a new house at Beauchamp's Court with stone reclaimed from Alcester Priory. Fulk died on 10 Nov 1559. Elizabeth died 9 November 1562 and was buried beside her husband with a monumental inscription.
At her death the title passed to her eldest son, Fulke Greville, 4th Baron Willoughby de Broke.

Family

Elizabeth Willoughby and Sir Fulke Greville had seven sons and eight daughters among whom were: