Weddings and Feuds: English Catholic Nobles in Court Conflicts of the Late 16th Century

The article is based on a prosopographic study of English Catholic nobles that makes it possible to assess the evolution of court clienteles in Elizabethan England. Growing influence of the Cecils attracted Catholic nobles to their clientele, and their relations were strengthened by dynastic marriages. But in the 1590s, many young Catholic aristocrats preferred the clientele of the Earl of Essex in hope of achieving toleration with his help. However, building of family alliances was not defined only by financial and political reasons. The case of Bridget Manners and her secret wedding, which has been analysed in detail, shows that personal choices of young people involved were just as important as political and familial interests.