Elizabeth Boyle, Countess of Guilford

Elizabeth Boyle, Countess of Guildford, (née Feilding; died circa 3 September 1667 ) was an English peeress. She was created 1st Countess of Guildford for life at the Restoration on 14 July 1660,

On 6 June 1641 a barge carrying Elizabeth, her father, Lady Cornwallis, and Anne Kirke capsized while "shooting the rapids" at London Bridge. Kirke was drowned but the other passengers were rescued.

Her sisters-in-law included Lady Alice Boyle and Lady Sarah Boyle, and her brothers-in-law included Richard Boyle, 1st Earl of Burlington; Robert Boyle; and Roger Boyle, 1st Earl of Orrery. The marriage was brief, lasting less than three years; she was soon left a widow by her husband's death in 1642. Lord Kinalmeaky was killed at the battle of Liscarroll, at the start of the Irish Confederate Wars. She never remarried.

Later life During the following "dark days of the Irish Rebellion," Elizabeth stayed with her father-in-law, Lord Cork, who refers to her often, with special fondness, in his letters. Eventually he sent her away to England, for safety's sake. "God knows," he writes, "with what grief of soul I part with her." Her father fought in the English Civil War, as a Royalist. Lady Kinalmeaky became a Roman Catholic and shared for some years Queen Henrietta Maria's exile in France along with her mother, the Countess of Denbigh, who also attended the Queen.

While in France she had charge of Margaret Blagge, daughter of Colonel Thomas Blagge and eventually wife of Sidney Godolphin and mother of Francis Godolphin. John Evelyn, author of the book The Life of Mrs Godolphin, depicts Lady Guilford as a harsh, overly religious governess.

After the Restoration, she was made Countess of Guildford for life by Charles II on 14 July 1660. She also held the office of Groom of the Stole and Lady of the Bedchamber to Henrietta Maria, then the Queen-Mother. She died without issue c. 3 September 1667 at Colombes, France. Her will (dated 2 September 1667) was probated on 20 November 1667. Upon her death, the earldom of Guildford became extinct.

Styles Elizabeth Boyle, Countess of Guildford; Viscountess Boyle of Kinalmeaky; Baroness of Bandon.