Elizabeth Carew

Elizabeth Carew (née Bryan; c. 1500 – 1546) was an English courtier and reputed mistress of King Henry VIII.

Her brother, Sir Francis, a member of the Privy Chamber and one of the king's closest friends, was responsible for sitting in the jury that convicted his sister's husband, who was sentenced to death, and thus reduced her to penury.

[2] The grant was "to [Elizabeth's] marriage, which by Gods grace shall be espoused to and wedded to Nicholas Carewe, son and heir apparent to Sir Richard Carewe, knight, before the feast of the Purification of Our Blessed Lady the Virgin,"[2] The grant was made on November 7 and both Elizabeth and her mother signed it.

[4] In the early, halcyon days of Henry VIII's reign, Elizabeth and her future husband were members of the king's inner social circle and performed regularly in the masques and dances that were among his favorite pastimes.

[6] Included in her collection of books were copies of Recuyell of the Histories of Troye, The Voyage of Sir Nicholas Carewe, and John Lydgate’s Fall of Princes.

"[1] She wanted the king to grant her daughter the manor of Bletchingley, which Henry had given to the Carews in 1522, in addition to the Sussex property.

Elizabeth's previous properties in Bletchingly remained in the king's hands until he granted them to Anne of Cleves as part of their divorce settlement in 1540.

[8] These rumors most likely stem from a letter written by Henry's brother in law, Charles Brandon, 1st Duke of Suffolk in which he implies he had been flirting with both Elizabeth and Bessie Blount.

"[2] This quote has been interpreted by some historians as an invitation to King Henry to take Suffolk's place as the flirtatious pursuer of the two girls.

"[3][2][6] Records show that the king gave Lady Carew extremely expensive gifts for New Year and on the birth of her son.

[2] There is no evidence that Henry and Elizabeth had an affair, but this pattern of gift giving is reminiscent of similar items given to Catherine of Aragon and Anne Boleyn when the king was wooing them.

[3] In her book, A Who's Who of Tudor Women, Kathy Lynn Emerson notes that "Queen Jane was very fond of Elizabeth Carew and left her several pieces of jewelry when she died.

This gift, described as 'many beautiful diamonds and pearls and innumerable jewels,' seems to be the source of a totally unfounded story that Elizabeth Bryan, as a young teenager, was Henry VIII's mistress.