Hail Mary, Countess of Pembroke

Does the name Mary Sidney Herbert ring any bells? Known as the Countess of Pembroke, Mary Sidney Herbert was the first English woman to achieve a significant literary reputation during the Renaissance, yet not many people have heard of her. Born three years before William Shakespeare, on October 27, 1561, Mary was a brilliant, yet hot-tempered redhead, who helped pave the way for future women writers.

One of the greatest non-royal woman writers, Mary was fifteen when she became the third wife of Henry Herbert, Earl of Pembroke, one of the richest men in England. The couple had four children together. After her children were out of infancy, Mary developed and led “Wilton Circle”. It was the most influential literary circle in English history, according to MarySidney.com. Her work, along with the works of the other writers in the circle were used as sources for Shakespeare’s plays. Mary was passionate about literature, and was especially devoted to creating great works in the English language. This was a brave mission because English was not considered a universal language at the time, like Italian, French, Latin, and Greek. Mary pushed the boundaries of what was acceptable for women. She was the first woman to publish a play and original dramatic verse in English.

 Mary was a woman of many other talents. One of the most educated women in England, she was fluent in Latin, French, and Italian, and was even trained in medicine. She was a creative inspiration to those around her, hosting gatherings where she danced and sang with her friends. Mary Sidney Herbert was truly a woman of the Renaissance.

It’s people like Mary who make the Renaissance period so inviting. If you want to step back into the past and sample some of it yourself, check out Much Ado About Sebastopol’s Renaissance Faire this September. It's living history that supports public schools! Details: www.muchadoaboutsebastopol.com.