LETTICE KNOLLYS

KEY EVENTS

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06 Nov 1543 - Birth of LETTICE KNOLLYS at Grey's Court, Rotherfield Greys, Oxfordshire. 

Sep 1554 - Father FRANCIS KNOLLYS and eldest brother Henry Knollys leave England for Protestant Europe (initially travelling to Geneva).

15-16 Jul 1556 - Julins Palmer, former tutor to Knollys Family, is tried at Newbury, Berkshire; he is found guilty of treason, with allegations as a "sower of sedition, and a procurer of unlawful assemblie". He is burnt at the stake on 16 Jul 1556.

Jun 1557 - Mother CATHERINE CAREY with 5 children (?youngest) flee to Frankfurt to escape persecution of English Protestants, during reign of Mary I, and join husband FRANCIS KNOLLYS who is already in Europe; LETTICE unlikely to have unaccompanied them ?placed in household of Princess/Lady Elizabeth at Hatfield at this time? (opinion of Nicola Tallis).

17 Nov 1558 - Death of MARY I and succession of half-sister as ELIZABETH I, Queen of England (Lettice's kinswoman - cousin and possible half-sister of her mother CATHERINE CAREY).

03 Jan 1559 - LETTICE KNOLLYS appointed as one of ELIZABETH I's ladies - "gentlewoman of our privy chamber", with annual salary of £33.

Jan 1559 - Return of FRANCIS KNOLLYS and CATHERINE CAREY from Frankfurt to England; Catherine appointed at one of the ladies of ELIZABETH I's Bedchamber.

15 Jan 1559 - Coronation of Elizabeth I at Westminster Abbey; LETTICE KNOLLYS, along with mother CATHERINE CAREY and sister ELIZABETH KNOLLYS, known to have participated, as they were all granted coronation livery.

c.New Year 1561 - Marriage of LETTICE KNOLLYS to WALTER DEVEREUX, likely in London (no specific date is documented - Lettice known to have left ELIZABETH I's service in 1561 due to salary ceasing).

Jan 1563 - Birth of daughter PENELOPE DEVEREUX at Chartley Manor, Staffordshire; ELIZABETH I made godmother (03 Feb 1563).
 

?17 Sep 1564 - Birth of daughter DOROTHY DEVEREUX at Chartley Manor, Staffordshire.

Summer 1565 - LETTICE KNOLLYS at court in London (whilst heavily pregnant), where she is reported to have flirted with ROBERT DUDLEY.

10 Nov 1565 - Birth of son ROBERT DEVEREUX at Netherwood Manor, Herefordshire.

15 Jan 1569 - Death of mother CATHERINE CAREY in London; father FRANCIS KNOLLYS returns to London from Tutbury Castle, Staffordshire, where he had been in charge of captivity of MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS.  Catherine is later buried at Westminster Abbey in funeral paid for by ELIZABETH I (Apr 1569).

31 Oct 1569 - Birth of son Walter Devereux 'the younger' ('Wat') at Chartley Manor, Staffordshire.

04 May 1572 - WALTER DEVEREUX created Earl of Essex; LETTICE KNOLLYS now known as 'Countess of Essex'.

Aug 1573 - WALTER DEVEREUX sails for Ireland, with force of 1200 men, with view of subduing/colonising Ulster.

Summer 1573 - LETTICE KNOLLYS gifted a 'hind' from ROBERT DUDLEY from Kenilworth Castle, Warwickshire.

Summer 1574 - LETTICE KNOLLYS known to have visited Kenilworth Castle for hunting - was gifted "3 bucks" from this visit.

09-27 Jul 1575 - 'Princely Pleasures'/Kenilworth Festivities are held at Kenilworth Castle, hosted by ROBERT DUDLEY for Elizabeth I; LETTICE KNOLLYS known to have attended.

03-08 Aug 1575 - LETTICE KNOLLYS hosts ELIZABETH I at her home at Chartley Manor, Staffordshire, whilst husband WALTER DEVEREUX remains in Ireland, as part of the Queen's summer progress; Elizabeth I believed to have met children during this visit, including future 'favourite' ROBERT DEVEREUX.

Oct 1575 - WALTER DEVEREUX returns to England; reportedly faces rumours regarding wife LETTICE KNOLLYS and ROBERT DUDLEY later that winter.

Jul 1576 - WALTER DEVEREUX returns to Ireland, following his appointment as 'Earl Marshal of Ireland'; LETTICE KNOLLYS known to have visited and hunted at Kenilworth at this time.

22 Sep 1576 - Death of husband WALTER DEVEREUX in Dublin, Ireland; reported he fell ill at his welcoming banquet and died 3 weeks later (likely of dysentery).

Jun 1577 - LETTICE KNOLLYS (with daughter PENELOPE DEVEREUX) known to have visited Kenilworth Castle for hunting, whilst ROBERT DUDLEY and AMBROSE DUDLEY were also present - ?evidence that relationship between Lettice and Robert developed at this time?

Jan-Feb 1578 - Daughters PENELOPE and DOROTHY DEVEREUX sent to Earl of Huntington's household in York (where brothers ROBERT and Walter were already) to continue their education; LETTICE KNOLLYS settled in Benington, Hertfordshire. 

Late Spring/Early Summer 1578 - Possible secret marriage/ceremony between LETTICE KNOLLYS and ROBERT DUDLEY at Kenilworth Castle.

21 Sep 1578 - Marriage of LETTICE KNOLLYS to ROBERT DUDLEY at Wanstead Hall, Essex, in presence of 6 witnesses, including father FRANCIS KNOLLYS and brother-in-law AMBROSE DUDLEY.

Late 1578-Early 1579 - Speculation that LETTICE KNOLLYS has stillborn child or child that dies shortly after birth (based on l582 deposition from priest that married her and ROBERT DUDLEY that she was wearing a "loose gown").

Jul 1579 - ELIZABETH I informed of the marriage between LETTICE KNOLLYS and ROBERT DUDLEY; Lettice is banished from court, and is referred to as a 'She-Wolf' by the queen.

06 Jun 1581 - Birth of son Robert Dudley, Lord Denbigh at Leicester House, The Strand, London.

19 Jul 1584 - Death of son Robert Dudley, Lord Denbigh ('Noble Impe') at Wanstead Hall, Essex; was buried in the Beauchamp Chapel, St Mary's Church, Warwick. 

04 Sep 1588 - Death of husband ROBERT DUDLEY at Cornbury Park, Oxfordshire, a hunting lodge in the forest on Wychwood. Was on route to Kenilworth and Buxton ('to take medicinal waters for health') when forced to take refuge for failing heath. LETTICE KNOLLYS was present at death. Was later buried at Beauchamp Chapel, St Mary's Church, Warwick in Oct 1588; Lettice not present. 

c.Jul 1589 - Marriage of LETTICE KNOLLYS and CHRISTOPHER BLOUNT - Sir Christopher Blount being a lower station and the late Earl of Leicester's Master of Horse; marriage is known/documented in Aug 1589.

08 Sep 1591 - Death of son Walter Devereux at the Siege of Rouen, France.

1593 - Gave up Leicester House to son ROBERT DEVEREUX (which was renamed 'Essex House'), and took up main residence in Drayton Bassett, Staffordshire. 

19 Jul 1596 - Death of father FRANCIS KNOLLYS in ?Caversham, Berkshire; is later buried at Rotherfield Greys, Oxfordshire on 18 Aug 1596.

27 Feb 1598 - LETTICE KNOLLYS granted audience with ELIZABETH I for first time since 1578, at request of son ROBERT DEVEREUX; however, Elizabeth chose not to attend, despite Lettice attending court. 

08 Feb 1601 - Failed coup led by son ROBERT DEVEREUX took place in London - 'Essex's Rebellion'. Both Robert and husband CHRISTOPHER BLOUNT are arrested and imprisoned.

25 Feb 1601 - Execution of son ROBERT DEVEREUX following conviction for treason for role in failed coup ('Essex Rebellion').

18 Mar 1601 - Execution of husband CHRISTOPHER BLOUNT following conviction for treason for role in failed coup ('Essex's Rebellion').​

28 Apr 1603 - LETTICE KNOLLYS attends ELIZABETH I's funeral at Westminster Abbey, following death on 23 Mar 1603 at Richmond Palace.

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07 Jul 1607 - Death of daughter PENELOPE DEVEREUX at Westminster; she is buried in "a London Church".

Aug 1617 - Death of daughter DOROTHY DEVEREUX at Syon House; she is later buried at Petworth House, Suffolk.

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25 Dec 1634 - Death of LETTICE KNOLLYS, aged 91yo, at home in Drayton Bassett, 

Feb 1635 - Burial of LETTICE KNOLLYS in the Beauchamp Chapel, St Mary's Church, Warwick; she is buried alongside her second husband ROBERT DUDLEY.