Lady Honor Lisle: The power limits of an Early Tudor Noblewoman

Abstract

The article examines the possibilities of a noblewoman’s influence on strengthening the positions and promoting the interests of her own and her family in the Early Tudor aristocratic society, based on the letters of Lady Honor Lisle. It is revealed that letters, personal contacts, patronage, exchange of information and gifts were widely practiced by Lady Lisle. The limits of this woman’s power were also outlined by various requests addressed to her, the fulfillment of which was within the competence of her husband. The author concludes that Lady Honor Lisle, in accordance with the ideas of that time, was perceived primarily as the wife of Viscount Lisle and an instrument of influence over her high-born spouse.

Keywords

• england
• 16th century
• tudors
• early tudor‘s aristocracy
• lisle family
• lisle letters
• women’s social webs