dudley and lettice 2
St Marys Collegiate Church, Warwick, Warwickshire
The monument to Robert Dudley and Lettice Knollys, the favourite Courtier and the favourite Lady-in-waiting, who defied Elizabeth I to marry, and were banished from Court forever.
Robert Dudley was born 24 June 1532 the fifth son of John Dudley, 1st Duke of Northumberland and Jane Guildford. At a young age he was tutored by, among others, Dr. John Dee. He had a talent for languages, writing and maths.
He learnt the Courtiers craft at the court of Henry VIII.
1549 he was involved in crushing the Kett's Rebellion.
4 June 1550 he married Amy Robsart, the daughter of a Norfolk farmer, in the presence of King Edward. It would seem that the marriage was a love match and the young couple were dependent on John Dudley financially.
In 1553 Edward died and the plot to put Lady Jane of the throne was put into action. Robert led a force of 300 against Mary, taking various towns in Norfolk in the name of Queen Jane.
By the 19th July the reign was over and all parties involved were tried, condemned to death and placed in the Tower of London. At the same time the Princess Elizabeth was also imprisoned in the Tower and it would seem that it was during this time that the two childhood friends became close. By the autumn he and Ambrose had been released and joined the army of Phillip II of Spain.
1557 he was at the Battle of St Quentin, his bravery allowing him to return to Court, at least whilst Phillip was present.
On 18 November 1558 he witnessed the surrender of the Great Seal to Elizabeth on her accession to the throne at Hatfield. He was entrusted with the duty of organising the coronation festivities. As soon as Elizabeth was Queen, Robert was made Master of the Horse.
By April 1559 he was made a Knight of the Garter and several Ambassadors were noting that the Queen and Dudley had become so close that it was widely acknowledged that the Queen would marry no-one except Dudley. For this he attracted many enemies and the assassination plots were so rife he started wearing light chain mail under his clothes.
He was not allowed to leave the Queen's side for any length of time and was only allowed to spend four days with his wife, Amy, at Easter in 1559. She was also allowed to come to London for a month in the summer, but that was the last time he would see her. She was found at the bottom of the stairs at Cumnor place on 8 September 1560. He was with the Queen at Windsor Castle. The rumours were immediate, mainly that either Robert or the Queen had Amy murdered so they could marry. It had the opposite affect. To limit the damage and he was removed from Court for two years.
1562 he was made a Privy Councillor. He was infact to be made Protector or the Realm that year if the Queen had died from the Smallpox she had caught.
1563 Elizabeth suggested that Dudley should marry Mary Queen of Scots. If the match had gone ahead, Elizabeth was willing to proclaim Mary her heir. However, Dudley refused, and supported Mary's cause until the 1580s. He was present at her execution at Fotheringhay castle.
1564 he was created Earl of Leicester. By 1566 Dudley had given up hope he could ever marry Elizabeth, however, her hold was strong. His apartments were next to hers, and he had overwhelming influence over each other. There was long periods of time that he could not leave the Queen and at ceremonial occassions he acted as an unofficial consort or ambassador.
1587 he was made Steward of the Royal Household, and involved with the needs and running of the entire court.
He proved to be an adventurous businessman, financing many ventures including privateers such as Drake.
He also had strong religious views, trying to mediate between the non-conforming puritans and the Bishops of the church.
1575 he held a three weeks festivity at Kenilworth Castle for the visit of the Queen. It was a spectacular event.
1569-1574 he was involved in affair with Lady Douglas Sheffield. Although he claimed to love her, he was honest and stated that he could never marry the lady or he would be ruined. They had a son, Robert, in 1574, and Dudley found her a suitable husband. The boy was much loved and given an excellent education.
21 September 1578 he secretly married Lettice Knollys. He did not tell the Queen, but his enemies did and the outburst was tremendous and they were both sent from court.
They had a son, the noble imp, in 1581 but he died in 1584.
After that Robert turned heavily to God and religion.
In July 1588 at the eve of the Spanish Armada, he was created Lieutenant and Captain-General of the Queen's Armies and Companies. It was he that set up camp in Tilbury and invited the Queen to be with her troops. After the battle was one he basked in his older spledour, even dining with the Queen, for a few precious weeks.
4 September 1588, on his way to Buxton to take the baths, he died at Combury Park, having been suffering from both malaria and stomach cancer.
The Queen locked herself away for a week, refusing to be comforted, and only emerged when Lord Burghley had the door broken down. She kept his last letter by her bedside until she died 15 years later.
Lettice Knollys was born 8 November 1543 to Sir Francis Knollys and Catherine Carey at Rotherfield Greys, Oxfordshire.
She was introduced early to Court life and had known the Princess Elizabeth since childhood as they were cousins.
In 1560 at the age of 17 she married Walter Devereux, Viscount Hereford, with whom she had her two daughters, Penelope and Dorothy.
By 1565, pregnant with her first son, she was at court and as a result of flirting with Dudley was sent away again in a fit of rage from the Queen.
1572 her husband was created Earl of Essex and sent to Ulster for two years. During that time it is rumoured that she actually started an affair with Dudley. In 1573 he sent her a present of venison from the Kenilworth estate, and in 1574 and 1576 she made hunting trips to the estate.
1575 she was present as one of the Queens ladies at the three week festivities at Kenilworth, the party then progressed to her home of Chartley where the Queen stayed next.
The Earl died in Dublin in September 1576. Under her husbands will, she was left little and was forced to return to fathers house at Rotherfield Greys. After much legal wrangling she obtained some of the estates back.
21 September 1578 she married Dudley at 7 in the morning. Only six people were present. When the Queen was told the following year, she banished her cousin from court forever. She refused to forgive her and refused to accept the marriage. She was forced to live discreetly, as her every movement was resented, and she continued to go by the title of the Countess of Essex and not Leicester.
1581 she had a son, the noble imp, but he died in 1584. Although she had other pregnancies, the results are not known.
She continued to remained excluded from social life, and paid for her own household out of her dowar money and not from Dudley's venue.
When Dudley died in 1588, he left her a wealthy woman at £3000 a year and moveables worth £6000, although she had his debts to settle.
In 1589 she married Sir Christopher Blount, a soldier 12 years her junior who had been a gentleman to Dudley. Her son, now the Earl of Essex, was not happy with the match, which seems to have been a genuinely happy one.
1593 she sold Leicester House to her son Essex and moved to Drayton Bassett near Chartley. She stayed their for the rest of her life, seeing no point in returning to London as she was still banished from court.
In 1599, Essex, her son and now the Queens great favourite, was imprisoned for returning from Ireland without permission. Lettice only made matters worse by trying to send the Queen gifts and speak with her, all of which failed. He was spared but was again arrested in 1601 for rising against the Queen. He was executed that year with Christopher Blount.Lettice having lost both husband and son to the executioners block now found herself in legal disputed over her remaining properties. Only the death of the Queen in 1603 saved her from complete ruin.
James I was kinder and restored her grandson as the 3rd Earl of Essex but also cancelled the remainder of her debts to the crown - some £4000.
The same year, Dudley's illegitimate son, Robert tried to lay claim to his fathers estates, mostly Kenilworth. The Countess took him to Star Chamber over the matter and managed to produce 56 witnesses who all confirmed Dudley had never considered his son legitimate. The chamber found un favour of the Countess.
She spent the rest of days looking after siblings, children and grandchildren. The young Earl spent much time living with his grandmother.
She was still walking a mile a day at the age of 90, and peacefully passed away in her chair on the 25 December 1634 aged 91.
Her will stated that she wished to be buried "at Warwick by my lord and husband the Earl of Leicester with whom I desire to be entombed."
dudley and lettice 2
St Marys Collegiate Church, Warwick, Warwickshire
The monument to Robert Dudley and Lettice Knollys, the favourite Courtier and the favourite Lady-in-waiting, who defied Elizabeth I to marry, and were banished from Court forever.
Robert Dudley was born 24 June 1532 the fifth son of John Dudley, 1st Duke of Northumberland and Jane Guildford. At a young age he was tutored by, among others, Dr. John Dee. He had a talent for languages, writing and maths.
He learnt the Courtiers craft at the court of Henry VIII.
1549 he was involved in crushing the Kett's Rebellion.
4 June 1550 he married Amy Robsart, the daughter of a Norfolk farmer, in the presence of King Edward. It would seem that the marriage was a love match and the young couple were dependent on John Dudley financially.
In 1553 Edward died and the plot to put Lady Jane of the throne was put into action. Robert led a force of 300 against Mary, taking various towns in Norfolk in the name of Queen Jane.
By the 19th July the reign was over and all parties involved were tried, condemned to death and placed in the Tower of London. At the same time the Princess Elizabeth was also imprisoned in the Tower and it would seem that it was during this time that the two childhood friends became close. By the autumn he and Ambrose had been released and joined the army of Phillip II of Spain.
1557 he was at the Battle of St Quentin, his bravery allowing him to return to Court, at least whilst Phillip was present.
On 18 November 1558 he witnessed the surrender of the Great Seal to Elizabeth on her accession to the throne at Hatfield. He was entrusted with the duty of organising the coronation festivities. As soon as Elizabeth was Queen, Robert was made Master of the Horse.
By April 1559 he was made a Knight of the Garter and several Ambassadors were noting that the Queen and Dudley had become so close that it was widely acknowledged that the Queen would marry no-one except Dudley. For this he attracted many enemies and the assassination plots were so rife he started wearing light chain mail under his clothes.
He was not allowed to leave the Queen's side for any length of time and was only allowed to spend four days with his wife, Amy, at Easter in 1559. She was also allowed to come to London for a month in the summer, but that was the last time he would see her. She was found at the bottom of the stairs at Cumnor place on 8 September 1560. He was with the Queen at Windsor Castle. The rumours were immediate, mainly that either Robert or the Queen had Amy murdered so they could marry. It had the opposite affect. To limit the damage and he was removed from Court for two years.
1562 he was made a Privy Councillor. He was infact to be made Protector or the Realm that year if the Queen had died from the Smallpox she had caught.
1563 Elizabeth suggested that Dudley should marry Mary Queen of Scots. If the match had gone ahead, Elizabeth was willing to proclaim Mary her heir. However, Dudley refused, and supported Mary's cause until the 1580s. He was present at her execution at Fotheringhay castle.
1564 he was created Earl of Leicester. By 1566 Dudley had given up hope he could ever marry Elizabeth, however, her hold was strong. His apartments were next to hers, and he had overwhelming influence over each other. There was long periods of time that he could not leave the Queen and at ceremonial occassions he acted as an unofficial consort or ambassador.
1587 he was made Steward of the Royal Household, and involved with the needs and running of the entire court.
He proved to be an adventurous businessman, financing many ventures including privateers such as Drake.
He also had strong religious views, trying to mediate between the non-conforming puritans and the Bishops of the church.
1575 he held a three weeks festivity at Kenilworth Castle for the visit of the Queen. It was a spectacular event.
1569-1574 he was involved in affair with Lady Douglas Sheffield. Although he claimed to love her, he was honest and stated that he could never marry the lady or he would be ruined. They had a son, Robert, in 1574, and Dudley found her a suitable husband. The boy was much loved and given an excellent education.
21 September 1578 he secretly married Lettice Knollys. He did not tell the Queen, but his enemies did and the outburst was tremendous and they were both sent from court.
They had a son, the noble imp, in 1581 but he died in 1584.
After that Robert turned heavily to God and religion.
In July 1588 at the eve of the Spanish Armada, he was created Lieutenant and Captain-General of the Queen's Armies and Companies. It was he that set up camp in Tilbury and invited the Queen to be with her troops. After the battle was one he basked in his older spledour, even dining with the Queen, for a few precious weeks.
4 September 1588, on his way to Buxton to take the baths, he died at Combury Park, having been suffering from both malaria and stomach cancer.
The Queen locked herself away for a week, refusing to be comforted, and only emerged when Lord Burghley had the door broken down. She kept his last letter by her bedside until she died 15 years later.
Lettice Knollys was born 8 November 1543 to Sir Francis Knollys and Catherine Carey at Rotherfield Greys, Oxfordshire.
She was introduced early to Court life and had known the Princess Elizabeth since childhood as they were cousins.
In 1560 at the age of 17 she married Walter Devereux, Viscount Hereford, with whom she had her two daughters, Penelope and Dorothy.
By 1565, pregnant with her first son, she was at court and as a result of flirting with Dudley was sent away again in a fit of rage from the Queen.
1572 her husband was created Earl of Essex and sent to Ulster for two years. During that time it is rumoured that she actually started an affair with Dudley. In 1573 he sent her a present of venison from the Kenilworth estate, and in 1574 and 1576 she made hunting trips to the estate.
1575 she was present as one of the Queens ladies at the three week festivities at Kenilworth, the party then progressed to her home of Chartley where the Queen stayed next.
The Earl died in Dublin in September 1576. Under her husbands will, she was left little and was forced to return to fathers house at Rotherfield Greys. After much legal wrangling she obtained some of the estates back.
21 September 1578 she married Dudley at 7 in the morning. Only six people were present. When the Queen was told the following year, she banished her cousin from court forever. She refused to forgive her and refused to accept the marriage. She was forced to live discreetly, as her every movement was resented, and she continued to go by the title of the Countess of Essex and not Leicester.
1581 she had a son, the noble imp, but he died in 1584. Although she had other pregnancies, the results are not known.
She continued to remained excluded from social life, and paid for her own household out of her dowar money and not from Dudley's venue.
When Dudley died in 1588, he left her a wealthy woman at £3000 a year and moveables worth £6000, although she had his debts to settle.
In 1589 she married Sir Christopher Blount, a soldier 12 years her junior who had been a gentleman to Dudley. Her son, now the Earl of Essex, was not happy with the match, which seems to have been a genuinely happy one.
1593 she sold Leicester House to her son Essex and moved to Drayton Bassett near Chartley. She stayed their for the rest of her life, seeing no point in returning to London as she was still banished from court.
In 1599, Essex, her son and now the Queens great favourite, was imprisoned for returning from Ireland without permission. Lettice only made matters worse by trying to send the Queen gifts and speak with her, all of which failed. He was spared but was again arrested in 1601 for rising against the Queen. He was executed that year with Christopher Blount.Lettice having lost both husband and son to the executioners block now found herself in legal disputed over her remaining properties. Only the death of the Queen in 1603 saved her from complete ruin.
James I was kinder and restored her grandson as the 3rd Earl of Essex but also cancelled the remainder of her debts to the crown - some £4000.
The same year, Dudley's illegitimate son, Robert tried to lay claim to his fathers estates, mostly Kenilworth. The Countess took him to Star Chamber over the matter and managed to produce 56 witnesses who all confirmed Dudley had never considered his son legitimate. The chamber found un favour of the Countess.
She spent the rest of days looking after siblings, children and grandchildren. The young Earl spent much time living with his grandmother.
She was still walking a mile a day at the age of 90, and peacefully passed away in her chair on the 25 December 1634 aged 91.
Her will stated that she wished to be buried "at Warwick by my lord and husband the Earl of Leicester with whom I desire to be entombed."