Biography of Henry "Wizard Earl" Percy 9th Earl of Northumberland 1564-1632

In Jan 1562 [his father] Henry Percy 8th Earl of Northumberland (age 30) and [his mother] Katherine Neville Countess Northumberland (age 17) were married. She by marriage Countess of Northumberland. They were third cousin once removed. He a great x 5 grandson of King Edward III of England.

On 27 Apr 1564 Henry "Wizard Earl" Percy 9th Earl of Northumberland was born to Henry Percy 8th Earl of Northumberland (age 32) and Katherine Neville Countess Northumberland (age 19) at Tynemouth Castle, Northumberland [Map].

On 17 Jul 1583 Thomas Perrot (age 30) and [his future wife] Dorothy Devereux Countess Northumberland (age 19) were married. The marriage took place without the consent of the Queen to whom Dorothy was lady in Waiting for which Thomas was imprisoned in the Fleet Prison [Map]. She the daughter of Walter Devereux 1st Earl Essex and [his future mother-in-law] Lettice Knollys Countess Essex (age 39).

On 21 Jun 1585 [his father] Henry Percy 8th Earl of Northumberland (age 53) committed suicide at Tower of London [Map]. He was found dead in his bed in his cell, having been shot through the heart. A jury was at once summoned, and returned a verdict of suicide. He was buried in St Peter ad Vincula Church, Tower of London [Map]. His son Henry (age 21) succeeded 9th Earl of Northumberland, 12th Baron Percy of Alnwick, 20th Baron Percy of Topcliffe, 3rd Baron Percy of Alnwick, 11th Baron Poynings. [his future wife] Dorothy Devereux Countess Northumberland (age 21) by marriage Countess of Northumberland.

In 1588 [his step-father] Francis Fitton and [his mother] Katherine Neville Countess Northumberland (age 43) were married. She the widow of [his father] Henry Percy 8th Earl of Northumberland.

On 26 Jun 1593 Henry "Wizard Earl" Percy 9th Earl of Northumberland (age 29) was appointed 378th Knight of the Garter by Queen Elizabeth I of England and Ireland (age 59).

In 1594 Henry "Wizard Earl" Percy 9th Earl of Northumberland (age 29) and Dorothy Devereux Countess Northumberland (age 30) were married. She the daughter of Walter Devereux 1st Earl Essex and Lettice Knollys Countess Essex (age 50). He the son of Henry Percy 8th Earl of Northumberland and Katherine Neville Countess Northumberland (age 49). They were third cousin once removed.

In 1596 Thomas Percy (age 36) was appointed Constable of Alnwick Castle, Northumberland [Map] by his second-cousin once-removed Henry "Wizard Earl" Percy 9th Earl of Northumberland (age 31).

On 28 Oct 1596 [his mother] Katherine Neville Countess Northumberland (age 51) died.

Around 1598 [his daughter] Dorothy Percy Countess Leicester was born to Henry "Wizard Earl" Percy 9th Earl of Northumberland (age 33) and [his wife] Dorothy Devereux Countess Northumberland (age 34).

In 1599 [his brother-in-law] Robert Devereux 2nd Earl Essex (age 33) was appointed Lord Lieutenant of Ireland.

On 05 Aug 1599 Alexander Radclyffe of Ordsall Hall (age 26) died of wounds and fever in Ulster while campaigning with the [his brother-in-law] Robert Devereux 2nd Earl Essex (age 33) during the unsuccessful attempt to bring Ireland under English control. The Queen (age 65) herself informed his twin sister of her brother's death.

In 1600 [his daughter] Lucy Percy Countess Carlisle was born to Henry "Wizard Earl" Percy 9th Earl of Northumberland (age 35) and [his wife] Dorothy Devereux Countess Northumberland (age 36). She was named for her mother's friend Lucy Harrington Countess Bedford (age 20).

On 29 Sep 1602 [his son] Algernon Percy 10th Earl of Northumberland was born to Henry "Wizard Earl" Percy 9th Earl of Northumberland (age 38) and [his wife] Dorothy Devereux Countess Northumberland (age 38).

In 1603 Robert Devereux 3rd Earl Essex (age 11) and Frances Howard Countess Essex and Somerset (age 12) were married. They were separated after the wedding given their young age. Essex went on a European tour from 1607 to 1609. When he returned she avoided him having fallen for Robert Carr 1st Earl Somerset (age 16) whilst her husband was away. He was ill with smallpox. She sought an annulment with her father [his brother-in-law] Robert Devereux 2nd Earl Essex and uncle Henry Howard 1st Earl of Northampton (age 62) acting for her. She maintained the marriage had not been consummated and was examined by ten matrons and two midwives who found her hymen intact. It was widely rumoured at the time that Sir Thomas Monson's (age 38) daughter was a substitute, which is possible because she had requested to be veiled during the examination "for modesty's sake". He maintained he was capable with other women, but was unable to consummate his marriage blaming her. She the daughter of Thomas Howard 1st Earl Suffolk (age 41) and Catherine Knyvet Countess Suffolk (age 39). He the son of Robert Devereux 2nd Earl Essex and Frances Walsingham Countess Essex (age 36). They were fourth cousins.

In 1604 [his son] Henry Percy was born to Henry "Wizard Earl" Percy 9th Earl of Northumberland (age 39) and [his wife] Dorothy Devereux Countess Northumberland (age 40).

In 1605 Robert Rich 1st Earl Warwick (age 45) and [his sister-in-law] Penelope Devereux Countess Devonshire (age 41) were divorced.

On 26 Dec 1605 Charles Blount 1st Earl Devonshire (age 42) and [his sister-in-law] Penelope Devereux Countess Devonshire (age 42) were married at Wansted House, Essex during a service conducted by Archbishop William Laud (age 32) (future). The marriage was regarded as uncanonical and resulted in the disgrace of both parties, who were banished from King James I's court circles. She by marriage Countess Devonshire. She the daughter of Walter Devereux 1st Earl Essex and [his mother-in-law] Lettice Knollys Countess Essex (age 62). They were third cousins.

On 07 Jul 1607 [his sister-in-law] Penelope Devereux Countess Devonshire (age 44) died.

In 1615 [his son-in-law] Robert Sidney 2nd Earl of Leicester (age 19) and [his daughter] Dorothy Percy Countess Leicester (age 17) were married. She the daughter of Henry "Wizard Earl" Percy 9th Earl of Northumberland (age 50) and [his wife] Dorothy Devereux Countess Northumberland (age 51). He the son of Robert Sidney 1st Earl of Leicester (age 51) and Barbara Gamage Countess Leicester (age 52).

On 06 Nov 1617 [his son-in-law] James Hay 1st Earl Carlisle (age 37) and [his daughter] Lucy Percy Countess Carlisle (age 17) were married. See Diary of Anne Clifford. The difference in their ages was 20 years. She the daughter of Henry "Wizard Earl" Percy 9th Earl of Northumberland (age 53) and [his wife] Dorothy Devereux Countess Northumberland (age 53).

Diary of Anne Clifford. 28 Apr 1619. The 28th my Lord (age 30) and I, my Coz. Sackville and Lady Windsor went to the Tower to see my Lady Somerset (age 28), where we saw her little child (age 3)¹. My Lord went to see Earl of Northumberland (age 55)² and I and the Lady Windsor went to see Lady Shrewsbury (age 63)³, and after supper my Lord and I went by water to Channel Row to see my Lord of Hertford (age 79)⁴ and his Lady (age 40) where we found my Lady Beauchamp⁵, my Lord Essex's (age 28) Sister, then I went to Arundel House and talked with her about Lords being made Knights of the Garter.

Note 1. "Her little Child," Anne Carr, afterwards married to William 5th Earl and 1st Duke of Bedford (age 2).

Note 2. Henry, 6th Earl, a Prisoner since the time of the Gunpowder Plot.

Note 3. Mary Cavendish, wife of Gilbert 7th Earl of Shrewsbury, was sent to the Tower in June 1611, at the same time with her niece the Lady Arabella Stuart first cousin of King James. Lady Arabella died, in the Tower, in 1615.

Note 4. Earl of Hertford son of Protector Somerset, and his 3rd wife Frances, d. of Thomas Viscount Howard of Bindon, widow of Henry Pranell, Esq., and married, 3rdly to Ludovick Stuart Duke of Lenox and Richmond (age 44).

Note 5. Lady Frances Devereux (age 19), and wife of William Lord Beauchamp (age 31), afterwards Marquis of Hertford; daughter of [his brother-in-law] Queen Elizabeth's favourite, and sister of the Parliament's General.

On 03 Aug 1619 [his wife] Dorothy Devereux Countess Northumberland (age 55) died.

In 1629 [his son] Algernon Percy 10th Earl of Northumberland (age 26) and [his daughter-in-law] Anne Cecil were married. She the daughter of William Cecil 2nd Earl Salisbury (age 37) and Catherine Howard Countess Salisbury (age 39). He the son of Henry "Wizard Earl" Percy 9th Earl of Northumberland (age 64) and [his former wife] Dorothy Devereux Countess Northumberland.

On 05 Nov 1632 Henry "Wizard Earl" Percy 9th Earl of Northumberland (age 68) died. His son [his son] Algernon (age 30) succeeded 10th Earl of Northumberland, 13th Baron Percy of Alnwick, 21st Baron Percy of Topcliffe, 4th Baron Percy of Alnwick, 12th Baron Poynings.

Around 1635 Anthony Van Dyck (age 35). Portrait of Henry "Wizard Earl" Percy 9th Earl of Northumberland.

John Evelyn's Diary. 07 Jul 1665. To London, to Sir William Coventry (age 37); and so to Sion [Map], where his Majesty (age 35) sat at Council during the contagion: when business was over, I viewed that seat belonging to the Earl of Northumberland, built out of an old nunnery, of stone, and fair enough, but more celebrated for the garden than it deserves; yet there is excellent wall-fruit, and a pretty fountain; nothing else extraordinary.