Lettice Knollys, Oct 17, 2025 · When Lettice Knollys married Queen Elizabeth’s rumored lover, the queen banished her from court and spent years destroying her reputation—yet in the end, Lettice still won their bitter feud. Lettice Knollys (/ ˈnoʊlz / NOHLZ, sometimes latinized as Laetitia; 8 November 1543 [1] – 25 December 1634) was an English noblewoman and mother to the courtiers Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex, and Penelope, Lady Rich. Lettice Knollys (/ ˈnoʊlz / NOHLZ, sometimes latinized as Laetitia; 8 November 1543 [1] – 25 December 1634) was an English noblewoman and mother to the courtiers Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex, and Penelope, Lady Rich. She was the daughter of Sir Francis Knollys, Treasurer of the Royal Household, and Lady Catherine Carey, Chief Lady of the Bedchamber to Queen Elizabeth I. She was the mother of Elizabeth's favourite, Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex. Lettice Knollys was born on 8 November 1543 at Rotherfield Greys in Oxfordshire. Through her mother, Lettice was the granddaughter of Mary Boleyn, sister of Queen Anne Boleyn, making her a first cousin to Elizabeth I. However, she caused a huge royal scandal by stealing the queen's rumored true love. On the morning of Sunday 21st September 1578, between seven and eight o'clock, Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, married Lettice Devereux (née Knollys), widow of Walter Devereux, Earl of Essex, at his house in Wanstead, Essex. Lettice was accused of flirting with Elizabeth’s untouchable favourite and would later boldly marry Dudley. ohhhx4, au76uam, gdyz1, ei, ta5gj3w8j, 5ij, 0iy, outqd, 7i, qh,