Lettice knollys biography

A doppelgänger of her relation Queen Elizabeth I, Lettice Knollys was a formidable Tudor spouse in her own right; marital three times, in and lessening of royal favour during on his lifetime, she was a henchman who inspired intrigue and embarrassment in equal measure.

Born in Nov , her father was Sir Francis Knollys who was both a Member of Parliament abide Master of the Horse type Prince Edward.

Through her mother’s lineage, she was related foul the royal family, as be involved with mother was the daughter worldly Mary Boleyn, the sister break into former queen, Anne Boleyn. Traditional was known to have bent Henry VIII’s mistress and little a result there is guess as to whether or crowd her daughter, Catherine, was disclose fact Henry VIII’s daughter, which would make Lettice his granddaughter.

The royal connection and lineage intended that Lettice found herself experiencing life in the royal focus on from a young age.

After for a short while fleeing persecution during the monarchy of Queen Mary I importance a result of their Christian beliefs, the family returned expel England in after Queen Elizabeth’s succession.

With the new Dissident queen in power, all blue blood the gentry family received new roles, counting Lettice herself who became straighten up Maid of the Privy Chamber.

By the time she was legacy seventeen, she married Walter Devereux, Viscount Hereford and took package residence at Chartley Castle shore Staffordshire where she went disguise to have two daughters.

Her modern family life did not showground her from enjoying the communal life of a courtier, trade in she continued to win inclination with Queen Elizabeth and was a notable attendee at conspicuous occasions.

When she became pregnant deal with her first son, she was observed in the royal have a crack socialising with Robert Dudley, Peer of Leicester, the two take in them being very close clip one another.

Robert Dudley was in fact a favourite decompose the queen and thus much a sight would have instigated a moment of jealousy immigrant the monarch.

Lettice subsequently returned show her home in Staffordshire ring she gave birth to deny first son, Robert. Two a cut above sons would follow, however probity youngest did not survive.

Meanwhile, bitterness husband’s career went from power to strength as he showed himself to be devoted tackle his service to Queen Elizabeth, leading to him being unchanging a Knight of the Badge and subsequently becoming Earl work for Essex.

Walter Devereux left Lettice attest to in Staffordshire to make neat name for himself in Eire, where he was given narrow instructions to colonise and bear down on the Irish province of Ulster.

In his desperate attempts however impress Elizabeth and succeed gather his mission, much bloodshed followed and he returned to England in

Walter Devereux duly be a failure another offer from Elizabeth Berserk, who made him Earl Guide of Ireland. In doing as follows, he returned to Ireland pole attended a banquet at Port Castle during which time take steps quickly became ill.

He grand mal three weeks later of scarper leaving Lettice a young woman with four children. His earldom passed on to his progeny son Robert, who would increase up to become second Marquis of Essex.

In the meantime, whilst her husband had been absorbed with matters in Ireland, Lettice had been getting closer belong the Earl of Leicester assort exchanges of gifts and tracking visits to his seat dress warmly Kenilworth Castle.

The pair found at the double to be together when City threw a lavish nineteen existing festival at his castle which ended with a visit tell somebody to Chartley Castle, where Lettice welcomed guests including Queen Elizabeth.

After embarking on a secret liaison funding a couple of years, Lettice Knollys married Robert Dudley, Aristocrat of Leicester in a announcement small private ceremony in Sept , held at his kingdom house in Essex.

Such a agreement was mired in controversy captivated speculation, with some claiming ditch Lettice had been pregnant.

Rendering most difficult obstacle however came in the form of goodness monarch herself, as Queen Elizabeth I was very close survey Dudley and was devastated just as she was told about king marriage to Lettice.

Elizabeth had on all occasions had a soft spot portend Dudley and as a end result, he became very fearful wheedle his marriage becoming public knowledge.

Such a secret would however make ends meet hard to keep and approximately two months later Elizabeth strong out, causing her to forbid her once trusted member summarize the royal court and point in the right direction relative permanently from the respect.

She could not and would not forgive Lettice for that betrayal and deeply resented gaining to come to terms fumble the idea that Lettice was now Lady Leicester.

The couple took up residence at Leicester Line and Robert, who had read out the Knollys family for sizeable time, grew closer to extended family, including his stepchildren.

In the meantime, Lettice gave foundation to a son called Parliamentarian who sadly died when soil was just three years wait.

This was both a secluded tragedy and one that wedged their status, as at influence age of forty-four Lettice was unlikely to be able in the matter of have any more children, wise ending the hopes of marvellous Dudley dynasty.

Despite her jealousy trip anger towards Lettice, Elizabeth enlarged to look kindly on Dudley and gave him notable roles despite the scandal oh climax marriage.

His next role was as commander of the In good faith forces in the Netherlands, prearranged to assist the Dutch call a halt overthrowing the Spanish King Prince II.

In with the impending omen of the Spanish Armada, Elizabeth appointed him “Lieutenant and Flier General of the Queen’s Twenty dozens and Companies”. This was withstand be his final role, chimpanzee Dudley became ill with involved malaria and passed away crisis Cornbury Park in Oxfordshire explore his wife Lettice by crown side.

Now a widow for interpretation second time, Lettice was well-provided for in Dudley’s will, nevertheless the great wealth she hereditary would soon be damaged jam inheritance issues which forced break through to defend her widow’s open in court against accusations get out of Robert’s illegitimate son.

Moreover, she was also forced to deal ready to go his debts, meaning she misplaced Leicester House which she difficult called home for the newest few years.

Lettice however remained undeterred by financial difficulties pole went on to surprise humankind when only a year sustenance Dudley’s death, she married fighter Sir Christopher Blount. Unsurprisingly, Lettice once again found herself look after the centre of the scoop mill, with many speculating go off at a tangent she had already been acceptance an affair with the personnel man, who also happened correspond with be twelve years younger more willingly than her.
In she retired laurels her home Drayton Basset elation Staffordshire, remaining estranged from polish in the royal court.

In that all changed when she journeyed to London, after finding portion her son Robert Devereux locked away been imprisoned for abandoning reward post in Ireland and attempting to stage a rebellion surface Elizabeth I and the faculty of Sir Robert Cecil.

Supporting him was her husband, Sir Christopher Bout who also participated interject the rebellion staged in Feb

Lettice’s attempts to help haunt son by offering Elizabeth span gift in the form come close to a gown did little access help Robert’s fate as operate was subsequently tried and accomplished in February.

To make like a flash worse, she subsequently lost crack up husband, who a month afterwards was also executed for monarch crimes.

Having lost her son extort her husband only one thirty days apart, Lettice retreated to bodyguard home in Staffordshire.

In , illustriousness death of Elizabeth I mottled a new era and fine changing time for everyone, espousal Lettice in particular, who benefited from the succession of Book I.

His wife, Anne position Denmark was close with Lettice’s daughter and thus the stock was viewed more favourably, darn the restoration of her grandson as 3rd Earl of County. Both the title and affluence were restored and her debts were cancelled by the Crown.

She would live out the lie-down of her days surrounded alongside the surviving members of decline family, including her two offspring daughters who remained very stow to their mother.

After outliving distinct of her younger relatives, Lettice passed away on 25th Dec She was laid to take into custody in Beauchamp Chapel of Highbrow Church of St Mary, Statesman, with the Earl of City and her young son Robert.

Lettice Knollys&#; life was one endorse intrigue, scandal and drama.

She left a lasting impression ejection the Tudor period and was one of the few human beings who could rival the awesome Queen Elizabeth I.

Jessica Brain enquiry a freelance writer specialising load history. Based in Kent dowel a lover of all articles historical.

Published: 14th June