The history of the life of this unfortunate beauty is a record of sin, shame, and wretchedness. The daughter of the Earl of Suffolk, Lord Chamberlain to King James, her birth placed her amongst the highest in the kingdom, and the remarkable loveliness of her person rendered her conspicuous at a very early age. According to the custom of that day, a marriage was formed for her, when she had scarcely passed the age of infancy, and the bridegroom selected was the Earl of Essex, a mere child also.

Her young husband, immediately after the ceremony which sealed their fates, proceeded to the university, and from thence abroad, while his wife returned to the care of her mother—a woman of bad principles and tarnished reputation, and imbued with all the vanities of that vainest and most thoughtless of periods. All that education and attention to ornamental accomplishments could do to render Frances Howard attractive, was attended to most scrupulously, but all the moral qualities were allowed to lie dormant, or were suppressed, if apparent, as likely to interfere with her success in the world. It is, however, somewhat strange, that a friend of her father's describes her as “of the best nature, and sweetest disposition” of all Lord Suffolk's children.

When the young Lady Essex appeared at Court, she became a rage—a passion; to admire and sigh for her was expected of every gallant who had any pretensions to fashion or taste.