# Elizabeth Holland

Elizabeth Holland (died 1547/8), commonly known as Bess Holland, was an English courtier. She was the mistress of Thomas Howard, 3rd Duke of Norfolk and maid-of-honour to his niece, Anne Boleyn, the second wife of Henry VIII of England.

## Life

The daughter or sister of the Duke's secretary, it is often said that Holland had worked for eight years as a laundress in the household of Norfolk's wife, Elizabeth Stafford, Duchess of Norfolk. This is from one of the Duchess of Norfolk's letters in which she describes Holland as a "churl’s daughter who was but a washer in my nursery for eight years". Kate Emerson points out that since Holland was a gentlewoman, she was probably not a laundress in the household, or the children's nurse, but may have been the children's governess. Holland was certainly on good terms with Lady Mary Howard, Norfolk's daughter.
When Anne Boleyn was created Marquess of Pembroke, Holland was one of her maids of honour.
Holland was still at court in 1537, when she rode in the funeral cortege of Queen Jane.

## Family

The Visitations of Norfolk and The Gawdy Papers identify Holland as "Elizabeth Holland da. to Thomas Holland of Swynested"; Kate Emerson, in A Who's Who of Tudor Women, claims Elizabeth Holland was the daughter (some sources say the sister) of John Holland of Wortwell Hall in Redenhall, Norfolk and a kinswoman, probably a niece, of John Hussey, 1st Baron Hussey of Sleaford.
Holland's brother, George, signed for her jewellery “for and in the name of my said sister” when it was returned to her in February 1547. After the Duke of Norfolk's fall the commissioners had seized rings, brooches, strings of pearls, silver spoons, ivory tables, and other treasures from her lodgings at Kenninghall, where she had at her disposal an outer chamber, a bedchamber, and an adjoining garret. Her eldest brother, Thomas, was involved in a dispute with her husband over her inheritance after her death.

## The fall of Norfolk

Despite a relationship of fifteen years duration with the Duke, when he and his son, Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey, were arrested in December 1546, Elizabeth Holland gave information which helped to seal their fates. Kate Emerson points out that she probably had no choice. Surrey was executed on the eve of the King's own death. Norfolk's execution was not carried out after the King's death; instead, he was kept in the Tower of London throughout the minority reign of King Edward VI, and was released in 1553, at the start of the reign of Queen Mary I, whose Catholic beliefs were similar to his.
In April, 1547 or earlier, Edmond of Sybeton, Suffolk, sent to Elizabeth Holland, a receipt for 100 pounds "from Mrs. Holland by hands of Mr. Henry to be paid unto my Lord of Norfolk his Grace". It appears that Elizabeth sent money to the Duke of Norfolk whilst he was incarcerated in the Tower.
In 1547 Elizabeth Holland married Henry Reppes (d. 1558) of South Reppes, Norfolk, She was given a pardon on July 1547, but by November she had died in childbirth. Her nephew, Thomas Holland, was made her heir.
Henry Reppes (d. 1558) was the son of Henry Reppes of Thorp Market in Norfolk and Elizabeth, daughter of Edmond Grymston of Rushangles in Suffolk, Esq. His paternal uncle John Reppes of West Walton in Norfolk, Esq. (d. 1561), was married to Margaret, daughter and one of the heirs of Henry Smyth of Walpole in Mershland, gentleman. Margaret was the sister of Bess Holland's mother or stepmother Jane, and her sister-in-law Elizabeth, making the two families related through several connections.
In 1547 or 1548 Symon Lowe of London wrote to William Andros, Beeball. The nature of their correspondence is recorded in The Gawdy Papers:
   Andros' son Edmond, who is with Lowe, is in good health. Harry Reppes married Elizabeth Holland of Mendham, who died in childbed, the Caesarean operation being performed. Reppes says the child was born alive and claims tenancy by the curtesy in her lands. Lowe thinks it impossible and, fearing foul play, asks Andros or his friends about Mendham or Harleston to make cautious enquiry. Thomas, Elizabeth's eldest brother and heir, sold the land to Lowe, but unthriftily spent the money and more (to the amount of 1,000 l.) within a year, so cannot defend the title except at Lowe's charges. Phillipa Oon, of Mendham, was the midwife; Richard Spayne of Harleston was the surgeon who operated; Edmond Halle, another surgeon of Mendham or Harleston, was present but refused to operate. One William Rochester of Mendham or Harleston has been tampering with the witnesses; he is "truly the falsest and craftiest man in the country," for "a forty shilling" he will confess all, if well handled. Get the witnesses to a tavern, make them talk, and have men by to hear them.
After her death, Henry Reppes remarried to Anne Wootton or Wotton (1536–1587). Anne was the daughter of John Wootton of North Tuddenham in Norfolk and the great-niece of Henry Wotton. Anne was the widow of Henry Reppes's nephew Thomas Woodhouse of Hickling, Norfolk, the son of his sister by her husband Sir William Woodhouse. After the death of Henry Reppes on 10 February 1557/8, Anne married thirdly Bassingbourne Gawdy (d. 1590).

## Holland's jewels and costume

An inventory of jewels belonging to Elizabeth Holland survives. It includes a diamond ring, which had been a gift from Mary Shelton and a sapphire ring given to by Mistress Freeston. She had a brooch with a picture of Cupid, one with the Trinity, and another of Our Lady of Pity with Christ in her lap. She owned a gold pin case, and three gold button clasps for partlets each set with two "counterfeit" stones. A girdle of gold chain links had a "tablet" or locket of gold with the Virgin Mary holding the "vernacle" or veil with the image of Jesus, and a jacinth stone on its other side. She owned four pairs of billiments, upper and nether, of goldsmith's work for her French hoods, and a velvet-covered prayer book with gold mounts.
An inventory of her clothes includes French-style gowns of black velvet, satin, and damask, some with "placards" (stomachers) of the same fabric. She had two farthingales made of red Bruges satin. Her partlets were made of lawn or of black velvet. She owned a velvet side-saddle, and practised embroidery and had a cushion cover on a frame, another was worked with her own initials "E.H".