The Countess of Oxford and her Will

 

The brass of Elizabeth de Vere, Countess of Oxford, who died in 1537 and is buried in St Mary's Church, Wivenhoe

Elizabeth de Vere lived at Wivenhoe Hall. When she died in 1537, in her Will, she instructed that she was to be buried next to her first husband William Viscount Beaumont in St. Mary’s Church Wivenhoe. She died leaving no children.

She bequeathed various vestments and a chalice from her private chapel to St Mary’s Church.  It is thought that a fragment of embroidery which came from one of these garments, is now in the Victoria & Albert Museum.

Her Will gave detailed instructions how her estate should be divided amongst her relatives and includes some close servants.