Husband #4
In January 1567, the wife of George Talbot, 6th Earl of Shrewsbury (1528-90), died. A few months later, he was paying addresses to Bess, who had discouraged all suitors up to this time. The Talbot family was another ancient one, and had even greater landholdings than the St. Loe dynasty. To Talbot, Bess, with her extensive landholdings in the West Country and Derbyshire and several houses, was an attractive prospect. Bess probably saw Talbot in a similar light, with the added attraction of marrying into an ancient family and becoming Countess of Shrewsbury. They were married in early 1568.
Interestingly, almost at the same time some of their children were married, possibly to secure their respective estates in the event of one of the parents dying. Thus, a son and daughter from both sides married one from the other. This may have been at Bess’s behest, for she realized the strength of her own position and gave several conditions for her accepting Talbot’s proposal, mostly concerning control of her property. Despite these financial aspects, the marriage was at first a happy and loving alliance. The marriage, however, became strained during the imprisonment of Mary, Queen of Scots (see below).
Feeling the financial burden of keeping the troublesome queen prisoner, but not wanting to disappoint Queen Elizabeth, Talbot instead began to complain that Bess and her children lived too extravagantly, despite the ridiculous wealth he had. Bess would not brook any nonsense from Talbot, and continued to live as she felt fit, as stipulated in their marriage contract, and from spring 1580 the marriage began to fall apart. They argued in public, and Bess and her sons were accused (though cleared) of starting a rumour of Talbot and Mary having a love affair. Talbot, estranged from Bess, died in 1590.