Bridget de Vere, Countess of Berkshire, was an English noblewoman, the daughter of Edward de Vere, 17th Earl of Oxford.
Background
Lady Bridget was born on 6 April 1584 at Theobalds House, Hertfordshire. She was one of the three surviving daughters of courtier, playwright, and poet Edward de Vere, 17th Earl of Oxford, and Anne Cecil, daughter of Queen Elizabeth I of England"s chief minister, William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley.
Career
She was also styled Lady Norris of Rycote and Viscountess Thame. In 1591, Bridget"s father married secondly, Elizabeth Trentham, a Maid of Honour to Queen Elizabeth. This marriage produced a half-brother for Bridget, Henry who became her father"s heir, and later succeeded him as the 18th Earl of Oxford.
Bridget already had an older illegitimate half-brother, Sir Edward de Vere, by her father"s scandalous affair with the Queen"s Lady of the Bedchamber, Anne Vavasour.
On 28 January 1621, Norris was created 1st Viscount Thame and 1st Earl of Berkshire. At about the time Norris had been planning to divorce Bridget he was sent to Fleet Prison after elbowing and pushing Lord Scrope in front of the House of Lords in the presence of Prince Charles.
Upon his release, he went home to Rycote in Oxfordshire where he committed suicide on 29 January 1622. His estates and titles became forfeit to the crown.
Her effigy is on the tomb.