Elizabeth Cary, Viscountess Falkland (née Tanfield; 1585–1639) was an English poet, dramatist, translator, and historian.

Her father arranged her marriage at the age of 15 to Sir Henry Cary, later Viscount Falkland, who married her because she was an heiress.

When she finally moved into her husband's home, her mother-in-law informed Cary that she was forbidden to read, so she instead chose to write poetry in her spare time.

This apparent sighting deeply moved Cary and furthered her mission to convert her surviving children, as Catherine had died a Protestant.

Eventually, four of her daughters — Anne, Elizabeth, Lucy, and Mary — became Benedictine nuns and her son Henry joined the priesthood.

In 1626 she returned from Ireland and publicly announced her conversion to Catholicism, which resulted in Henry Cary's attempting to divorce her.

She was questioned in the Star Chamber for kidnapping her sons — she had previously, and more easily, regained custody of her daughters — but although she was threatened with imprisonment there is no record of any punishment.

In 1634 Elizabeth, Mary, Lucy, and Anne Cary were converted to the Catholic faith by John Fursdon, who was their mother's confessor.

[12] Elizabeth Cary then wrote The History of the Life, Reign, and Death of Edward II (1626/1627), which was a political fable based on historical events.