ON THIS DAY - 07 August 1574

On This Day (07 Aug)  in 1574, Robert Dudley, also known as ‘Robin Sheffield’, was born - the ‘illegitimate’ son of Robert Dudley, 1st Earl of Leicester and Douglas Howard, Lady Sheffield. He was born at the royal palace of Richmond (formerly known as Sheen) whilst the Leicester was accompanying the Queen on her Summer Progress.

‘Probably Sir Robert Dudley’ Unknown Artist c.1590s ©️ National Portrait Gallery, London

The couple had been having a long-standing affair since 1568; Douglas had returned to court following the death of her husband and Robert was reportedly frustrated after years of rejection from Elizabeth I.

There were reports that the couple married in secret; Douglas later reported that they had exchanged vows in the presence of a clergyman in Esher, Surrey in 1573, and were in possession of a licence. However, whilst Leicester acknowledged Robin as his son, with his brother Ambrose acting as one of his sponsors at his christening, he persistently acknowledged him as his ‘base-born son’.

This relationship appears to have continued until the relationship between Leicester and Lettice Knollys, Countess of Essex blossomed (leading to their own marriage in 1578); Douglas herself remarried in 1579.

In 1603, following the deaths of his father and uncle, Robin tried to claim the ancient titles of Earls of Leicester and Warwick, arguing that his parents were married at the time of his birth; Lettice subsequently filed a case against Robin in the Star Chamber in Feb 1604, disputing his claim of legitimacy. Over a year later, after listening to evidence from more than 100 witnesses, the Star Chamber rejected his claim and ruled in favour of Lettice.