FITTON, MARY

(baptized June 24, 1578, Gawsworth, Cheshire, Eng.d. c. 1647), English lady considered by some to be the still-mysterious dark lady of William Shakespeare's sonnets, though her authenticated biography does not suggest acquaintance with him. Her colouring is represented as dark on the painted monument of the Fitton family in the church at Gawsworth. She became maid of honour to Elizabeth I about 1595 and mistress to William Herbert (later earl of Pembroke) and to Sir Richard Leveson. She was twice married and widowed.