Robert Devereux was born in 1566. It has been claimed that Robert's father was really the Earl of Leicester. It has also been suggested that Elizabeth was his real mother. Most historian's reject this theory and as Philippa Jones, the author of Elizabeth: Virgin Queen (2010) has pointed out: "At this time Elizabeth... headed a household of more than 1,000 people and rarely had any time to herself. She was constantly observed by the officials of her Court, who were desperate to stay abreast of events, as well as by the spies and representatives of various foreign powers. Logistically, how viable was it for the Queen to find sufficient time alone with a lover, hide any signs of a pregnancy for a long nine months and then have a secret labour and birth." (8) In October 1569, Lettice gave birth to a second son, Walter. Robert Lacey, points out: "It was a well-balanced Tudor family: two daughters to bestow in marriage: two sons to double up against the risks of sixteenth-century illness and medicine." (9)

Walter Devereux, 1st Earl of Essex, died of dysentery in September 1576 while on military service in Ireland. It was claimed that he had been poisoned on the orders of Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, because of his adulterous relationship with Devereux's wife. A post-mortem examination ordered by Sir Henry Sidney, revealed that he had died of natural causes. (10)

Robert Devereux now inherited the earldom and the family estates from his father. By virtue of succeeding to his title as a minor, Essex became a ward of the crown. He was taken by William Cecil, Lord Burghley, the lord treasurer and master of the Court of Wards. According to a report of November 1576, the ten-year-old Devereux "can express his mind in Latin and French as well as English" and as well as being "very curious and modest" was more "disposed to hear than to answer" and was "greatly to learning".

Robert was brought up with Burghley's older son, Robert Cecil. (11) Anka Muhlstein has argued "The two youngsters, so dissimilar in their tastes and talents, had never been close, but William Cecil's affection for Essex and the later's respect for the old man were never disputed." (12)

By September 1578, two years after her husband's death, Lettice was unmistakably pregnant. Sir Francis Knollys was furious and had a meeting with Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, the man responsible for her condition. On 21st September, Knollys arranged for a brief marriage service to take place. All those involved were sworn to secrecy but thirteen months later, one of Dudley's enemies, told Queen Elizabeth about the marriage. (13)

Elizabeth Jenkins, the author of Elizabeth the Great (1958) has commented: "Elizabeth's rage was shattering. That she had repeatedly refused to marry Leicester herself was, as anyone would foresee, a straw against the torrential force of wounded affection, betrayed confidence, jealously and anger." (14) At first she considered sending him to the Tower of London but she eventually banished him to his house in Wanstead and Lettice was exiled from court for ever. (15)

Lettice Dudley gave birth to Robert Dudley (Lord Denbigh) in June 1581. Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester now acknowledged his new son as his new heir. The three-year-old Robert died suddenly on 19th July 1584. His death destroyed the dynastical hopes of the House of Dudley. (16)

In 1585 the Earl of Leicester was given command of the army going to the Netherlands. It was agreed that Lettice's son, Robert Devereux, should accompany his step-father to war and he sailed with Leicester's entourage from Harwich on 8th December. A month later, when the army was mustered for service, the 19-year-old Devereux was appointed colonel-general of the cavalry. Command of the cavalry was not only socially prestigious but also politically significant and it appeared that Leicester was using his power to promote Devereux's career. In September 1586 Devereux participated in Leicester's capture of Doesburg and in the famous skirmish at Zutphen, where he and a small body of other horsemen repeatedly charged a much larger Spanish force with almost foolhardy bravery. (17)

On his return to England, Robert Dudley, now back in favour, arranged for his stepson to meet Queen Elizabeth. It is believed he was hoping his advancement would weaken the position of his main rival, Sir Walter Raleigh. Elizabeth was greatly impressed with Devereux. It has been claimed that "captivated within a few weeks by his gaiety, wit and high spirits, she became besotted with him" and "they were soon inseparable". One of his servants recorded that "nobody near her but my Lord of Essex, and at night my Lord is at cards or one game or another with her, that he cometh not to his own lodging till the birds sing in the morning." (18)

The Queen, who was now in her early fifties, demanded his constant attendance and "would dance with no one else" and insisted he went hunting with her. "Elizabeth's dislike of retiring to bed before dawn exhausted her entourage, but the young earl tirelessly kept her company. After an evening at the theatre they would return to the palace and play interminable hands of cards." (19)

Robert Devereux, Earl of Essex, was described as being "tall, strikingly attractive with dark eyes and auburn hair" who was "intelligent, witty and flirtatious". It was suggested that the twenty-one-year-old's youth "enlivened her and gave her new energy". At court entertainments he would always sit close to Queen Elizabeth and she was often reported to whisper to him or touch him fondly. Despite the thirty-three age gap, members of the Royal Court began to speculate on the nature of their relationship. (20)

In June 1587, Essex was given the post of Master of the Horse. This made him the only man in England officially allowed to touch the Queen, as he was responsible for helping Elizabeth mount and dismount when she went horse-riding. The post also paid well and came with a salary of £1,500 per annum. (21)

Lettice Knollys used her son's relationship to try and get close to Queen Elizabeth again. However, it was not long before the two women were in conflict. "When Lettice then deliberately started wearing in the royal presence dresses that were finer than the Queen's own garments, Elizabeth exploded." Elizabeth told Lettice "that as but one sun lighted the east, so she would have but one Queen in England". Once again she was told never to return to Court again." (22)

Dudley was a strong supporter of Protestantism. In 1585 he was appointed commander of the expeditionary force to help the Dutch against Spain. Dudley was seen as a "new messiah" and a leader of the international Protestant cause. He was offered the post of Governor General of the Netherlands. He accepted the title, much to the "queen's fury and consternation". When at the beginning of 1586, he was confirmed as absolute governor, "she became incandescent with rage". (23)

Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, died from a malarial infection on 4th September, 1588. It was said that the Queen was so upset that she retired to her chamber and did not appear for two days and eventually William Cecil ordered her door to be broken down. (24)

Lettice was nominally a very wealthy widow. Her combined jointures from Essex and Leicester gave her an income of £3,000 a year, and she possessed £6,000 worth of plate and household furniture. (25) However, Leicester was deeply in debt. He owed Elizabeth over £25,000 and admitted in his will: "I have always lived above any living I had, for which I am heartily sorry". Elizabeth insisted on a public auction of his goods to meet his debts as she had no intention of allowing Lettice to enjoy more of her inheritance than she was entitled to. (26)

In July 1589 the countess suddenly married Sir Christopher Blount, a Roman Catholic, who was the Earl of Leicester's Gentleman of the Horse. (27) It was very unusual for someone of her class to marry a former servant. He was also 12 years her junior. (28) Her son, Walter Devereux, described the marriage as a "unhappy choice". One rumour suggested that Lettice was having an affair with Blount since 1587 and that the couple had murdered Leicester. (29)

Queen Elizabeth decided to send Robert Devereux, Earl of Essex, to Ireland. On 27th March, 1599, he set off with an army of 16,000 men. He originally intended to attack the Hugh O'Neill, Earl of Tyrone, in the north, both by sea and by land. On his arrival in Dublin he decided he needed more ships and horses to do this. Information he received suggested he was significantly outnumbered. Essex also feared that Spain would send soldiers to support the 20,000 Irishmen in Tyrone's army. (30)

Essex decided to launch an expedition against Munster and Limerick. Although this did not bring a great deal of success he knighted several of his officers. This upset the Queen as only she had the power to confer knighthoods. (31) This lasted two months and upset Queen Elizabeth who demanded that Essex confronted Tyrone's army. She pointed out that such a large army was costing her £1,000 a day. (32)

Essex insisted he could not do this until more men from England arrived. He also began to worry that his enemies were keeping him short of supplies on purpose: "I am not ignorant what are the disadvantages of absence - the opportunities of practising enemies when they are neither encountered nor overlooked." (33) As a result of military action and especially illness, Essex now only had 4,000 fit men. (34)

Essex reluctantly marched his men north. The two armies faced each other at a ford on the River Lagan. Essex, aware he was in danger of experiencing an heavy defeat, agreed to secret negotiations. (35) The two men announced a truce but it was not known at the what was said during these talks. Essex's enemies back in London began spreading rumours that he was guilty of treachery. It later emerged that Essex had offered without permission, Home Rule for Ireland. (36)

Queen Elizabeth reacted to this news by appointing Robert Cecil to become master of the Court of Wards, a lucrative post that Essex himself had hoped to occupy. Essex wrote to the Queen that "from England I have received nothing but discomfort and soul's wounds" and that "Your Majesty's favour is diverted from me and that already you do bode ill both to me and to it?" (37)

Robert Devereux, Earl of Essex, decided to return to England so he could give Queen Elizabeth a detailed account of the agreements reached with the Earl of Tyrone. He brought with him 200 men and six officers. (38) Deserting his post without permission was an extremely grave step. As Anka Muhlstein has pointed out: "His panic and desperation were such that they blinded him to reality. One question remains: Was he going to court to beg the queen to forgive him, or to intimidate her?" (39)

Without stopping at Essex House to change his spoiled, mud-splattered clothes, he crossed the Thames at Westminster by the horse-ferry, and after landing at Lambeth he rode on to Nonsuch Palace at Stoneleigh. On arriving he walked unannounced into Elizabeth's Bedchamber. The Queen had just a simple robe over her nightdress, her wrinkled skin was free of cosmetics and without her wig Essex saw her bald head with just wisps of thinning grey hair "hanging about her ears". This was the reality of the Queen's natural body that no one, except her trusted servants, saw. (40)

Although no man had ever entered her Bedchamber uninvited, the Queen remained calm, not knowing whether or not she was in danger, fearing that he might be leading an attempted coup. Elizabeth refused to talk to him and said she would arrange a meeting with the Privy Council the following day. Messengers were immediately dispatched to London and later that day senior officials arrived with news that their were no signs of an uprising. (41)

Robert Devereux, Earl of Essex, was now arrested and interrogated. He was accused of committing a series of offences. The councillors accused him of disobeying the Queen's direct orders and deserting his command in Ireland. They also complained about entering the Queen's Bedchamber without permission. (42) Essex was criticized for knighting dozens of his junior officers without authority. This charge was especially serious. He was accused of trying to create a following composed of men entirely devoted to his service. Essex was held in custody in York House on the Strand and forbidden to leave or receive visitors. (43)

Essex's sister, Lady Penelope Rich, presented Queen Elizabeth with a strongly worded letter. In it she defended her brother, denounced his enemies and complained that Essex had not been allowed enough time to answer his critics. Elizabeth was outraged at Lady Penelope's letter and complained to Robert Cecil about her "stomach and presumption" and ordered her not to leave her house. Soon afterwards copies of the letter was being sold on the streets of London. (44) Lettice Knollys, left her country estate to come to London to petition for her son's release. Elizabeth, who had never forgiven Lettice for marrying Robert Dudley, immediately rejected this plea. (45)

Essex's health was given cause of concern. On 18th December 1599, it appeared he was on the verge of death. This prompted several churches in London to ring their bells or offer special prayers for him. This upset Queen Elizabeth and her Privy Council as he highlighted the fact that Essex remained a popular figure in England. (46)

Essex gradually recovered and on 7th February, 1560, he was visited by a delegation from the Privy Council and was accused of holding unlawful assemblies and fortifying his house. (47) Fearing arrest and execution he placed the delegation under armed guard in his library and the following day set off with a group of two hundred well-armed friends and followers, entered the city. Essex urged the people of London to join with him against the forces that threatened the Queen and the country. This included Robert Cecil and Walter Raleigh. He claimed that his enemies were going to murder him and the "crown of England" was going to be sold to Spain. (48)

At Ludgate Hill his band of men, that included Lettice's husband, Sir Christopher Blount, were met by a company of soldiers. As his followers scattered, several men were killed and Blount was seriously wounded. (49) Essex and about 50 men managed to escape but when he tried to return to Essex House he found it surrounded by the Queen's soldiers. Essex surrendered and was imprisoned in the Tower of London. (50)

On 19th February, 1560, Essex and some of his men were tried at Westminster Hall. He was accused of plotting to deprive the Queen of her crown and life as well as inciting Londoners to rebel. Essex protested that "he never wished harm to his sovereign". The coup, he claimed was merely intended to secure access for Essex to the Queen". He believed that if he was able to gain an audience with Elizabeth, and she heard his grievances, he would be restored to her favour. Essex was found guilty of treason and sentenced to be hanged, drawn and quartered. (51)

In the early hours of 25th February, Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex, attended by three priests, sixteen guards and the Lieutenant of the Tower, walked to his execution. In deference to his rank, the punishment was changed to being beheaded in private, on Tower Hill. (52) Essex was wearing doublet and breeches of black satin, covered by a black velvet gown; he also wore a black felt hat. (53)

As he knelt before the scaffold Essex made a long and emotional speech of confession where he admitted that he was "the greatest, the most vilest, and most unthankful traitor that ever has been in the land". His sins were "more in number than the hairs" of his head. It took three strokes of the axe to sever his head. (54)

Queen Elizabeth was playing the virginals when a messenger brought confirmation of Essex's death. She received the news in silence. After a few minutes she began to play again. (55) Robert Lacey has pointed out: "This was a relationship of convenience founded initially perhaps upon passing infatuation but drawing its real life from the profit motive of one, the ageing insecurity of the other and the vanity of both. When the profit vanished, when age proved inescapable and when the vanity exhausted itself then the relationship collapsed." (56)

Lettice Knollys not only lost her son. Her husband, Sir Christopher Blount, was tried for treason at Westminster Hall on 5th March. Found guilty, he was executed on Tower Hill on 18th March 1601, openly professing his Catholicism on the scaffold. (57)

Queen Elizabeth died on 24th March, 1603. Lettice was still responsible £3,967 debts that was owed to the crown by her former husband, Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester. James VI decided to cancel these debts and also to allow Robert Devereux, to become 3rd Earl of Essex. Sir Robert Cecil became her main supporter during this period. (58)

Lettice remained close to her daughters, Penelope Rich, Countess of Devonshire and Dorothy Percy, Countess of Northumberland, until their deaths in 1607 and 1619. It was claimed that in her late eighties she still walked a mile a day. (59)

Lettice Knollys Devereux Dudley Blount died, aged 91, on 25th December 1634. She left instructions to be buried "at Warwick by my dear lord and husband the Earl of Leicester with whom I desire to be entombed". Her probate inventory valued her possessions at £6,645 11s. 4d. (60)

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(1) Robert Lacey, Robert, Earl of Essex (1971) page 15

(2) Peter Ackroyd, Tudors (2012) pages 315-316

(3) Paul E. J. Hammer, Robert Devereux : Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (2004-2014)

(4) Philippa Jones, Elizabeth: Virgin Queen (2010) page 119

(5) Robert Lacey, Robert, Earl of Essex (1971) page 15

(6) Simon Adams, Lettice Knollys : Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (2004-2014)

(7) Robert Lacey, Robert, Earl of Essex (1971) page 16

(8) Philippa Jones, Elizabeth: Virgin Queen (2010) page 14

(9) Robert Lacey, Robert, Earl of Essex (1971) page 9

(10) J. J. N. McGurk, Walter Devereux : Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (2004-2014)

(11) Philippa Jones, Elizabeth: Virgin Queen (2010) page 142

(12) Edward Seymour, Duke of Somerset, letter to a friend in Italy (September, 1549)

(13) Robert Lacey, Robert, Earl of Essex (1971) page 17

(14) Elizabeth Jenkins, Elizabeth the Great (1958) page 220

(15) Anna Whitelock, Elizabeth's Bedfellows: An Intimate History of the Queen's Court (2013) page 178

(16) Paul E. J. Hammer, The Polarisation of Elizabethan Politics: The Political Career of Robert Devereux (1999) page 35

(17) Paul E. J. Hammer, Robert Devereux : Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (2004-2014)

(18) Elizabeth Jenkins, Elizabeth the Great (1958) page 290

(19) Anka Muhlstein, Elizabeth I and Mary Stuart (2007) page 312

(20) Anna Whitelock, Elizabeth's Bedfellows: An Intimate History of the Queen's Court (2013) page 254

(21) Paul E. J. Hammer, Robert Devereux : Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (2004-2014)

(22) Robert Lacey, Robert, Earl of Essex (1971) page 31

(23) Peter Ackroyd, Tudors (2012) page 414

(24) Robert Lacey, Robert, Earl of Essex (1971) page 49

(25) Simon Adams, Lettice Knollys : Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (2004-2014)

(26) Robert Lacey, Robert, Earl of Essex (1971) page 49

(27) Elizabeth Jenkins, Elizabeth the Great (1958) page 287

(28) Sally Varlow, The Lady Penelope: The Lost Love and Politics in the Court of Elizabeth I (2007) pages 109–110

(29) Simon Adams, Lettice Knollys : Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (2004-2014)

(30) Anna Whitelock, Elizabeth's Bedfellows: An Intimate History of the Queen's Court (2013) pages 312

(31) Philippa Jones, Elizabeth: Virgin Queen (2010) page 248

(32) Elizabeth Jenkins, Elizabeth the Great (1958) pages 307

(33) Roger Lockyer, Tudor and Stuart Britain (1985) page 196

(34) Elizabeth Jenkins, Elizabeth the Great (1958) pages 307

(35) Richard Rex, Elizabeth: Fortune's Bastard (2007) page 202

(36) Elizabeth Jenkins, Elizabeth the Great (1958) pages 308

(37) Peter Ackroyd, Tudors (2012) page 456

(38) Elizabeth Jenkins, Elizabeth the Great (1958) pages 309

(39) Anka Muhlstein, Elizabeth I and Mary Stuart (2007) page 342

(40) Anna Whitelock, Elizabeth's Bedfellows: An Intimate History of the Queen's Court (2013) pages 315

(41) Anka Muhlstein, Elizabeth I and Mary Stuart (2007) page 342

(42) Peter Ackroyd, Tudors (2012) page 457

(43) Anka Muhlstein, Elizabeth I and Mary Stuart (2007) page 344

(44) Elizabeth Jenkins, Elizabeth the Great (1958) pages 313

(45) Anna Whitelock, Elizabeth's Bedfellows: An Intimate History of the Queen's Court (2013) pages 316

(46) Paul E. J. Hammer, Robert Devereux : Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (2004-2014)

(47) Philippa Jones, Elizabeth: Virgin Queen (2010) page 251

(48) Anna Whitelock, Elizabeth's Bedfellows: An Intimate History of the Queen's Court (2013) pages 319-320

(49) Paul E. J. Hammer, Christopher Blount : Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (2004-2014)

(50) Richard Rex, Elizabeth: Fortune's Bastard (2007) page 203

(51) Lacey Baldwin Smith, Treason in Tudor England (2006) page 268

(52) Anna Whitelock, Elizabeth's Bedfellows: An Intimate History of the Queen's Court (2013) page 321

(53) Peter Ackroyd, Tudors (2012) page 462

(54) Lacey Baldwin Smith, Treason in Tudor England (2006) pages 272-273

(55) Anna Whitelock, Elizabeth's Bedfellows: An Intimate History of the Queen's Court (2013) page 321

(56) Robert Lacey, Robert, Earl of Essex (1971) page 315

(57) Paul E. J. Hammer, Christopher Blount : Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (2004-2014)

(58) Simon Adams, Lettice Knollys : Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (2004-2014)

(59) Sally Varlow, The Lady Penelope: The Lost Love and Politics in the Court of Elizabeth I (2007) page 271

(60) Simon Adams, Lettice Knollys : Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (2004-2014)