Biography of Lettice Knollys Countess Essex 1543-1634

On 26 Apr 1540 [her father] Francis Knollys (age 28) and [her mother] Catherine Carey (age 16) were married. She a great x 5 granddaughter of King Edward III of England.

On 08 Nov 1543 Lettice Knollys Countess Essex was born to Francis Knollys (age 31) and Catherine Carey (age 19).

After 1549 Lettice Knollys Countess Essex (age 5) was appointed Lady of the Bedchamber to Queen Elizabeth I of England and Ireland (age 15).

On 04 Jun 1550 [her future husband] Robert Dudley 1st Earl of Leicester (age 17) and Amy Robsart (age 17) were married at Sheen Palace [Map]. King Edward VI of England and Ireland (age 12) and William Cecil 1st Baron Burghley (age 29) attended. He the son of John Dudley 1st Duke Northumberland (age 46) and Jane Guildford Duchess Northumberland (age 41).

Around 1561 Walter Devereux 1st Earl Essex (age 19) and Lettice Knollys Countess Essex (age 17) were married. She by marriage Viscountess Hereford. They were fourth cousins.

In Jan 1563 [her daughter] Penelope Devereux Countess Devonshire was born to [her husband] Walter Devereux 1st Earl Essex (age 21) and Lettice Knollys Countess Essex (age 19) at Chartley Castle [Map].

Around 1564 [her daughter] Dorothy Devereux Countess Northumberland was born to [her husband] Walter Devereux 1st Earl Essex (age 22) and Lettice Knollys Countess Essex (age 20).

On 10 Nov 1565 [her son] Robert Devereux 2nd Earl Essex was born to [her husband] Walter Devereux 1st Earl Essex (age 24) and Lettice Knollys Countess Essex (age 22).

On 15 Jan 1569 [her mother] Catherine Carey (age 45) died at Hampton Court Palace, Richmond [Map].

In 1570 [her son] Walter Devereux was born to [her husband] Walter Devereux 1st Earl Essex (age 28) and Lettice Knollys Countess Essex (age 26).

On 28 Jan 1571 Anne Bourchier 7th Baroness Bourchier (age 54) died from a fall from a horse at Benington, Hertfordshire. Her first cousin twice removed [her husband] Walter (age 29) succeeded 8th Baron Bourchier. Lettice Knollys Countess Essex (age 27) by marriage Baroness Bourchier.

On 04 May 1572 [her husband] Walter Devereux 1st Earl Essex (age 30) was created 1st Earl Essex. Lettice Knollys Countess Essex (age 28) by marriage Countess Essex.

On 22 Sep 1576 [her husband] Walter Devereux 1st Earl Essex (age 35) died. His son [her son] Robert (age 10) succeeded 2nd Earl Essex, 3rd Viscount Hereford, 12th Baron Ferrers of Chartley, 9th Baron Bourchier.

On 21 Sep 1578 Robert Dudley 1st Earl of Leicester (age 46) and Lettice Knollys Countess Essex (age 34) were married secretly much to the anguish of Queen Elizabeth I of England and Ireland (age 45) who developed a deep hatred of Lettice Knollys Countess Essex. She by marriage Countess of Leicester. Roger North 2nd Baron North (age 48) was present. He the son of John Dudley 1st Duke Northumberland and Jane Guildford Duchess Northumberland.

On 10 Jan 1581 [her son-in-law] Robert Rich 1st Earl Warwick (age 21) and [her daughter] Penelope Devereux Countess Devonshire (age 18) were married. She by marriage Baroness Rich of Leez. She the daughter of [her former husband] Walter Devereux 1st Earl Essex and Lettice Knollys Countess Essex (age 37).

On 17 Jul 1583 [her son-in-law] Thomas Perrot (age 30) and [her daughter] 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 [her former husband] Walter Devereux 1st Earl Essex and Lettice Knollys Countess Essex (age 39).

On 04 Sep 1588 [her husband] Robert Dudley 1st Earl of Leicester (age 56) died at Cornbury Park, Oxfordshire. He was buried at Beauchamp Chapel, St Mary's Church, Warwick [Map]. Earl of Leicester extinct.

In 1589 [her son] Walter Devereux (age 19) and [her daughter-in-law] Margaret Dakins (age 18) were married. He the son of [her former husband] Walter Devereux 1st Earl Essex and Lettice Knollys Countess Essex (age 45).

Around Apr 1589 Christopher Blount (age 24) and Lettice Knollys Countess Essex (age 45) were married. The difference in their ages was 21 years; she, unusually, being older than him.

In 1590 [her son] Robert Devereux 2nd Earl Essex (age 24) and [her daughter-in-law] Frances Walsingham Countess Essex (age 23) were married. She by marriage Countess Essex. He the son of [her former husband] Walter Devereux 1st Earl Essex and Lettice Knollys Countess Essex (age 46).

Around 1592 Nicholas Hilliard (age 45) painted a portrait of Lettice Knollys Countess Essex (age 48).

In 1594 [her son-in-law] Henry "Wizard Earl" Percy 9th Earl of Northumberland (age 29) and [her daughter] Dorothy Devereux Countess Northumberland (age 30) were married. She the daughter of [her former husband] 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.

Around 1595 Marcus Gheeraerts (age 33). Portrait believed to be of Lettice Knollys Countess Essex (age 51).

Before 1596 George Gower (age 55). Portrait of Lettice Knollys Countess Essex (age 52) with the Knollys Arms with Elephant Crest on her right.

On 19 Jul 1596 [her father] Francis Knollys (age 84) died.

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

On 26 Dec 1605 [her son-in-law] Charles Blount 1st Earl Devonshire (age 42) and [her daughter] 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 [her former husband] Walter Devereux 1st Earl Essex and Lettice Knollys Countess Essex (age 62). They were third cousins.

On 07 Jul 1607 [her daughter] Penelope Devereux Countess Devonshire (age 44) died.

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

On 25 Dec 1634 Lettice Knollys Countess Essex (age 91) died.