Susan Bertie, Countess of Kent

Susan Bertie 1554-1596+ The daughter of Catherine Willoughby, duchess of Suffolk (March 22,1521-September 19,1580) by her second husband, Richard Bertie (December 25,1517-April 9,1582), Susan Bertie spent her early years in exile in Poland with her brother Peregrine and her parents. Her parents were noted reformers, and when Susan was a baby the family left for exile in Geneva to escape the increasing persecution of Protestants. On their return to Grimshorpe, Lincolnshire, in 1559, Susan was educated in a strongly Puritan atmosphere, under Miles Coverdale. During Susan's youth, her mother was custodian of Lady Mary Grey, following the latter's ill-advised marriage. Susan was educated at Grimsthorpe with her brother and ten children of honor (nine boys and one other girl). In 1570, Susan married Reginald Grey (d. March 17,1573), who was restored as earl of Kent through her mother’s influence. He died leaving her a young, childless wideow. After his death, Susan spent several years at the court of Queen Elizabeth. She remarried in 1582 to an army captain. Her second husband was Sir John Wingfield (d. 1596) and she accompanied him to the Low Countries in 1585. Their son, Peregrine, was born in Holland in 1589. On being widowed a second time, she returned to England, where like her mother before her, she was a patron of education. In particular, the poet Emilia Bassano paid tribute to her as:

“The Mistress of my youth, the noble guide of my ungovern'd dayes"

Biography:

http://tudortimes.co.uk/people/susan-bertie