The extraordinary life of Elizabeth de Burgh (1295-1360), known to many of us as the Lady Clare, was described in a 1999 biography by the late Frances A. Underhill, Professor Emerita at the University of Richmond. Only a few documents survive in which we hear Elizabeth’s voice directly – her 1326 testimony against tyranny and injustice, her 1355 will, and her 1359 statutes for Clare College. However, the administration of her estates required detailed book-keeping, and a remarkable number of these records survive. Studying these in combination with official and legal archives, Professor Underhill pieced together a remarkable portrait of our resilient and determined benefactor.
A new edition, lavishly illustrated, provides additional context on the dramatic political events of 1326 – and on Elizabeth’s role in the network of key patrons, at a time of innovative architecture, extraordinarily beautiful books, intellectual stimulation, university expansion, and fine craftsmanship. In the wake of the Black Death, Elizabeth set out an educational vision for the future which continues to inspire us today.