Wealth
After the death of her third husband, Sir William St Loe, Bess inherited his wealth, and indisputably became the second-richest woman in the country. At that time, her annual income was estimated at £600, 000, equivalent to £17.22 million in today’s money ($22.19 million). This only increased with Talbot’s death. However, it would be wrong to see Bess as simply the beneficiary of her husbands’ wills. She was an astute businesswoman, lending money, acquiring profitable land, and running her estates at a consistently healthy profit, well into old age. She seldom sold land, but preferred to rent it out.
Although she spent lavishly on herself, Bess was also a very generous woman. Even when on poor terms, she gave liberally to her children and grandchildren. She frequently made small gifts to her servants, and when her maids were due to give birth would pay for the best midwife available. She would also generously tip tradesmen who met her expectations in delivering items for her many projects. And she did not forget those less fortunate than herself outside of her employment. There are several instances of her giving ‘twenty shillings to the poor of Chelsea’ in her financial records.
Historians of a more misogynistic age saw Bess as something of a black widow, whispering slanderous theories about her killing her four husbands to benefit from their estates. Lamentably, these accusations have stuck, despite there being absolutely no evidence to back them up. At a time when the mortality rate was significantly higher than today, it was not uncommon for someone to marry several times, especially someone as rich and charming or as long-lived as Bess. Although she doubtless did benefit from the estates of her husbands, this was the expected dividend due to widows in 16th-century England.