Carlisle, Lucy Hay, Countess of, 1599-1660

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Lucy Hay, Countess of Carlisle was born Lady Lucy Percy. In 1617, she became the second wife of James Hay, 1st Earl of Carlisle. Her greatest achievement was the timely disclosure to her cousin Robert Devereux, 3rd Earl of Essex, of the king's intended arrest of the five members of the Long Parliament in 1642, which enabled Essex and the others to escape. However, she appears to have served both parties simultaneously, betraying communications on both sides, and doing considerable mischief by inflaming political animosities.

In 1647, she attached herself to the interests of the moderate Presbyterian party, which assembled at her house, and in the Second Civil War showed great zeal and activity in the royal cause, pawning her pearl necklace for £1500 to raise money for Lord Holland's troops, establishing communications with Prince Charles during his blockade of the Thames, and making herself the intermediary between the scattered bands of royalists and the queen. As a result, her arrest was ordered on 21 March 1649, and she was imprisoned in the Tower of London, where she maintained a correspondence in code with the king through her brother, Lord Percy, until Charles went to Scotland. According to a royalist newsletter, while in the Tower, she was threatened with torture on the rack to gain information. She was released on bail on 25 September 1650, but appears never to have regained her former influence in the royalist counsels, and died soon after the Restoration.

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referencedIn John Knight, MD, Serjeant-Surgeon to Charles II: Prescriptions, receipts and medical observations: 17th cent.Sir Alexander Fraiser, MD, Physician to Charles II: Prescriptions, receipts and medical observations: n.d.Theodore Turquet de Mayerne, Baron;... British Library
referencedIn Vol. XV (ff. 173). 1653.includes:ff. 2,4 Major William Hamilton: Letters to W. Dobbins: 1653.f. 6 John Clotworthy, 1st Viscount Massereene: Letter to Sir J. Perceval: 1654.: Signed.ff. 8,10 (signed), 22 Lucy Hay, wife of James, 2nd Earl of Carl..., 1653 British Library
referencedIn Vol. ii. (ff. 218). Caddington-Hatfleld.includes:ff. 1-6 Caddington, counties Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire: Drawings of Markyate Cell in: 19th cent. ff. 1-6 Market Street, Hertfordshire: Drawings of Margaret Cell and Chapel: 19th cent. f. 7 Calde..., 16th century-19th century British Library
referencedIn Vol. I. (ff. 233). 1262-1704. 1. Grants of the Honour, Castle, and Rape of Hastings, co. Sussex, to Peter de Savoy, uncle of Henry III.; 4 June, 1262;-to John, son of John, Duke of Brittany, 20 Nov. 1268;-and to John of Gaunt, as Earl of Richmond; 3 ..., 1262-1704 British Library
referencedIn Strafford, Thomas Wentworth, Earl of, 1593-1641,. Autograph letter from Thomas Wentworth, Earl of Strafford, to Sir George Radcliffe [manuscript], 1640 November 5. Folger Shakespeare Library
referencedIn TRUMBULL PAPERS. Vol. CXCVIII (ff. 179). G. R. Weckherlin: Personal papers and correspondence, partly relating to his official duties, together with some family letters, etc.; 1615-1651. Several of the letters and other items relate to literary matte..., 1588-1651 British Library
referencedIn A COLLECTION Of autograph letters and papers, chiefly relating to the family of Sidney, of the xvith, xviith, and xviiith centuries, viz:-Receipt from Henry [Herbert], second Earl of Pembroke, to Sir Henry Sydney, Ld. Deputy of Ireland, for £1000, p..., 16th century-18th century British Library
referencedIn ORIGINAL LETTERS to and from members of the family of Sydney, with other documents relating to them ; in the following orderCommission from Thomas [Ratcliffe, third] Earl of Sussex, Chief Justice of the Queen's forests on this side Trent, to Sir Henr..., 1550-1709 British Library
referencedIn Autograph File, C Houghton Library
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