The Death of George Clifford, 3rd Earl of Cumberland - 30 October 1605
- thedudleywomen
- Oct 30
- 8 min read
George Clifford, 3rd Earl of Cumberland, courtier, naval commander and expeditioner, died in October 1605 in Westminster, following a month of ill-health.
Williamson (1922, p.25) has described Cumberland as "possessing a very strange and complex character...a mass of curious contradictions". Aged eleven, George Clifford inherited the Earldom of Cumberland on the death of his father in 1570, with favoured Elizabethan privy councillor Francis Russell, 2nd Earl of Bedford being granted his wardship. In 1577, Cumberland married Margaret Russell, the youngest daughter of his guardian; whilst this marriage had been arranged by their parents, there was clear love and affection at the start, with Cumberland referring to his wife as "my sweet Meg" and "My dear Love". The couple went on to have three children; however, the eldest two children, both boys did not long survive their fifth birthdays, leaving only their youngest child, a daughter Anne, born in January 1590 (Williamson, 1922; Holmes, 1975).
As the years passed, likely as a result of Cumberland's prolonged time abroad, the couple became increasingly estranged. Whilst he had been appointed by Elizabeth I to serve in naval campaigns, the Earl also volunteered and funded multiple naval expeditions over the years, seeking riches and glory. Described as 'wasteful' and being prone to extravagance, Cumberland had lost some of his northern properties and ran up debts, leading to conflict between the pair, despite being celebrated amongst his peers in the Elizabethan court, including the appointment to the Order of the Garter in 1592. Years of tolerance on Margaret's side came to an end with ongoing gambling debts and reports of infidelity, as by 1601, the couple had formally separated and were living apart; however, the pair continued to present themselves as a united couple at formal events, including at the funeral of Elizabeth I in March 1603, and the coronation of her successor, James I, months later in July 1603 (Williamson, 1922).
By 1605, Margaret and her fifteen-year-old daughter Anne were spending their time between their home in Clerkenwell, which was being funded by Cumberland, and attending the court of Anna of Denmark, the wife of James I. Mother and daughter had been part of the welcoming party on her journey down from Scotland, along with Margaret's beloved older sister Anne, Countess of Warwick, who died in February 1604. Following her arrival in London, Anna moved into Somerset House on The Strand, Westminster, setting up her court and household there; whilst not members of Anna's household, the countess and her daughter were frequent visitors in the early years of James's reign, although the new queen had began to surround herself with younger, more vibrant women in comparison to the Elizabethan court, including Penelope Devereux, Lady Rich and Lucy Russell, Countess of Bedford. Cumberland reportedly visited his family frequently, although Anne commented that he had taken on a lover in his later years, leading to further division between them; whilst he did express an interest in Anne and her prospects, they have been described as 'barely on speaking terms' in the months prior to his death (Holmes, 1975; Clifford, 2003; Varlow, 2009).
Cumberland appears to have fallen ill around a month prior to his death, the cause later described as being the "Blody Flix caused as was supposed by the many wounds & distempers he receyved formally in his sea viages [sic]" (Google Arts & Culture, 2024). The 'Bloody Flux' is today known as dysentery: a gastrointestinal infection, which causes bloody diarrhoea and mucus. Highly infectious in Tudor times due to poor sanitation, dysentery can be transmitted by drinking unclean water, eating food or drink handled by a person infected, or having sexual contact with an infected person. Whilst medical knowledge and understanding of infections, as well as access to antibiotics, mean that treatment in the 21st century (in Western and non-conflict affected countries) is generally sucessful, with a low mortality rate. This was not the case however, in the 16th century, with many citizens, of all ages and constitutions, succumbing to these virulent infections (NHS, 2025).
Knowing that his end was near, Cumberland wrote what would be his final correspondence to his "sweet and dear Meg"; in his "last lines, a token of true kindness", the Earl wrote of his love and devotion for his long-suffering wife, offering apologies and begging for her forgiveness, recognising "I have not dealt most kindly with thee". However, Cumberland reasserts his plans regarding their daughter's inheritance; he argues that his decisions have been made with "kindness", and requests that Margaret does not hold a harsh opinion on his brother Francis. Despite whatever feelings Margaret and Anne may have held regarding Cumberland, on receipt of this letter, they came to his bedside, the family being reunited for the final time (Williamson, 1922, p.270).
Cumberland was now at the 'Dutchy House by the Savoy', which is the location given as his place of death by Anne, who was known to be a prolific diarist. The Savoy Palace, formerly the home of John of Gaunt, had been converted into private apartments and lodgings, with an adjourning hospital and chapel within the boundaries; Charles Blount, 1st Earl of Devonshire chose to reside at the Savoy in March 1606, quickly becoming critically ill and dying there. Located on The Strand, the primary thoroughfare from Westminster to the city of London, it was located next door to Somerset House, which after Anna of Denmark's occupation and subsequent renovations, took on the name 'Denmark House' (Varlow, 2009).
Alternative dates of death have been given for Cumberland; the earlier date of 29 October was recorded in the parish records for Holy Trinity Church, Skipton, where he was interred two months after his death, whilst the latter date of 30 October was recorded on the 1646 portrait 'The Great Picture', giving his age as "forty seaven years, 3 months and wanting 9 days" (Google Arts & Culture, 2024). Both Margaret and Anne were present at the Earl's death, which Anne later described as being "penintently and willinglly...and at peace with all" (Williamson, 1920, p.271).
Immediately after his death, Cumberland's body was disemboweled and embalmed, his entrails being buried in the "Savoy Chapel" - the surviving chapel within the precinct of the Savoy Palace, dedicated to St John the Baptist. His body was likely wrapped in layers of cere cloth, as was the embalming process of the time, and placed in a coffin, before it was transported the 220 miles north to Skipton, Yorkshire, the principal seat of the Earls of Cumberland. On 29 December 1605, the body of George Clifford was interred in the Clifford family vault at Holy Trinity Church, Skipton, "being Honourably buried amongst his Ancestors", as well as his eldest son Francis, who died at Skipton Castle in Decermber 1589, aged 5 (Williamson, 1922; Google Arts & Culture, 2024). However, Cumberland's funeral was not formally held and 'solemnised' until 13 March 1606, which Anne reflects on years later when attending, as a Mourner, the funeral of Anna of Denmark on 13 May 1619 - "The 13th. It is past 13 yrs and a month since my father's Funeral was solemnised inthe Church at Skipton, as Queen Anne's Body was this night buried in the Abbey Church at Westminster" (Clifford, 2003, p.79).
Remaining a royalist stronghold in the north, Skipton Castle was slighted during the English Civil War, and many nearby buildings, including the church, damaged. In 1650s, following the end of the war, Anne, who by this time had come into her inheritance, set about on an ambitious building and restoration project for Skipton. Following the restoration of the church, Anne commissioned the construction of a permanent memorial for her father, in spite of their complicated relationship. A magnificent marble and alabaster tomb was erected in 1654, adorned with multiple coats of arms and heraldic shields, highlighting his Clifford ancestry, as was so important to his daughter at that stage of her life. The addition of the Clifford coat of arms impaled with the Russell one, at the head of the tomb, highlighted Cumberland and Margaret's marriage, and subsequently emphasised Anne's own heritage, being descendant of both noble families (Williamson, 1920; Holmes, 1975).
Cumberland had made his will six months prior to his death, on 27 April 1605, and as he was lying weak on his death bed, he called his lawyers and reiterated his wishes. Daughter Anne would be left a not-so ungenerous sum of £15,000; however, the majority of his remaining Clifford estates and property in the North, including Skipton Castle, Yorkshire, would be bequeathed to his younger brother Francis, who was to set to automatically inherit the Earldom of Cumberland, the title only being legally permitted to pass to male heirs. As well as being a controversal decision in bypassing his daughter for his brother, this was also not a legal one; this act illegally broke the entail of the inheritance of Clifford estates 'of the North', as set out by Edward II in 1310. Anne wrote that a few hours prior to his death, Cumberland expressed he believed that Francis would die without any male heirs, and thereby the estates would pass to Anne, who by this time would be an adult, likely be married, and potentially have male heirs of her own. However, Cumberland was either very naive or ignorant, as Francis had a healthy twelve-year-old son Henry at the time of his brother's death. Despite her youth, the decision to exclude Anne led to a four-decade pursuit for her rightful inheritance, initially supported and championed by her mother, until her death in 1616. Fortunately, Anne was successful in her petition to have her mother appointed as her legal guardian, rather than have her wardship offered to another (Williamson, 1922; Holmes, 1975).
