Robert Rich 1st Earl Warwick 1559-1619

Before 1559 [his father] Robert Rich 2nd Baron Rich of Leez [aged 21] and [his mother] Elizabeth Baldry Baroness Rich Leez [aged 21] were married.

In December 1559 Robert Rich 1st Earl Warwick was born to Robert Rich 2nd Baron Rich of Leez [aged 22] and Elizabeth Baldry Baroness Rich Leez [aged 22].

On 12th June 1567 [his grandfather] Richard Rich 1st Baron Rich [aged 70] died at Rochford, Essex. His son [his father] Robert [aged 30] succeeded 2nd Baron Rich of Leez. [his mother] Elizabeth Baldry Baroness Rich Leez [aged 29] by marriage Baroness Rich of Leez.

In 1581 [his father] Robert Rich 2nd Baron Rich of Leez [aged 44] died. In 1581 His son Robert [aged 21] succeeded 3rd Baron Rich of Leez.

On 10th January 1581 Robert Rich 1st Earl Warwick [aged 21] and Penelope Devereux Countess Devonshire [aged 18] were married. She by marriage Baroness Rich of Leez. She the daughter of Walter Devereux 1st Earl Essex and Lettice Knollys Countess Essex and Leicester [aged 37].

In 1583 George St Paul 1st Baronet [aged 21] and [his future wife] Frances Wray Countess Warwick were married.

On 17th July 1583 Thomas Perrot [aged 30] and [his sister-in-law] Dorothy Devereux Countess Northumberland [aged 19] were married. The marriage took place without the consent of the Queen to whom Dorothy was lady in Waiting for which Thomas was imprisoned in the Fleet Prison [Map]. She the daughter of Walter Devereux 1st Earl Essex and [his mother-in-law] Lettice Knollys Countess Essex and Leicester [aged 39]. They were fifth cousins.

On 21st June 1585 Henry Percy 8th Earl of Northumberland [aged 53] committed suicide at Tower of London [Map]. He was found dead in his bed in his cell, having been shot through the heart. A jury was at once summoned, and returned a verdict of suicide. He was buried in St Peter ad Vincula Church, Tower of London [Map]. His son Henry [aged 21] succeeded 9th Earl of Northumberland, 12th Baron Percy of Alnwick, 20th Baron Percy of Topcliffe, 3rd Baron Percy of Alnwick, 11th Baron Poynings. [his sister-in-law] Dorothy Devereux Countess Northumberland [aged 21] by marriage Countess of Northumberland.

On 5th June 1587 [his son] Robert Rich 2nd Earl Warwick was born to Robert Rich 1st Earl Warwick [aged 27] and [his wife] Penelope Devereux Countess Devonshire [aged 24]. He married (1) February 1605 Frances Hatton Countess Warwick and had issue (2) before 20th January 1626 Susan Rowe Countess Warwick (3) after 1646 his fifth cousin once removed Eleanor Wortley Countess Sussex Warwick Manchester, daughter of Richard Wortley and Elizabeth Boughton Countess Devonshire.

Around 1589 [his daughter] Essex Rich was born to Robert Rich 1st Earl Warwick [aged 29] and [his wife] Penelope Devereux Countess Devonshire [aged 25]. She married her third cousin once removed Thomas Cheeke and had issue.

In 1589 [his daughter] Lettice Rich was born to Robert Rich 1st Earl Warwick [aged 29] and [his wife] Penelope Devereux Countess Devonshire [aged 25]. She married (1) before 15th February 1616 George Carey (2) before 1619 Arthur Lake.

In 1590 [his brother-in-law] Robert Devereux 2nd Earl Essex [aged 24] and Frances Walsingham Countess Essex [aged 23] were married. She by marriage Countess Essex. He the son of Walter Devereux 1st Earl Essex and [his mother-in-law] Lettice Knollys Countess Essex and Leicester [aged 46]. They were half fourth cousin once removed.

Before 19th August 1590 [his son] Henry Rich 1st Earl Holland was born to Robert Rich 1st Earl Warwick [aged 30] and [his wife] Penelope Devereux Countess Devonshire [aged 27]. He married 1616 Isabel Cope Countess Holland and had issue.

On 19th December 1591 [his mother] Elizabeth Baldry Baroness Rich Leez [aged 54] died.

Around 1593 [his daughter] Isabella Rich was born to Robert Rich 1st Earl Warwick [aged 33] and [his wife] Penelope Devereux Countess Devonshire [aged 29]. She married her fifth cousin once removed John Smythe and had issue.

In 1594 Henry "Wizard Earl" Percy 9th Earl of Northumberland [aged 29] and [his sister-in-law] Dorothy Devereux Countess Northumberland [aged 30] were married. She the daughter of Walter Devereux 1st Earl Essex and [his mother-in-law] Lettice Knollys Countess Essex and Leicester [aged 50]. He the son of Henry Percy 8th Earl of Northumberland and Katherine Neville Countess Northumberland [aged 49]. They were third cousin once removed.

On 5th August 1599 Alexander Radclyffe of Ordsall Hall [aged 26] died of wounds and fever in Ulster while campaigning with the [his brother-in-law] Robert Devereux 2nd Earl Essex [aged 33] during the unsuccessful attempt to bring Ireland under English control. The Queen [aged 65] herself informed his twin sister of her brother's death.

In 1603 Robert Devereux 3rd Earl Essex [aged 11] and Frances Howard Countess Essex and Somerset [aged 12] were married. They were separated after the wedding given their young age. Essex went on a European tour from 1607 to 1609. When he returned she avoided him having fallen for Robert Carr 1st Earl Somerset [aged 16] whilst her husband was away. He was ill with smallpox. She sought an annulment with her father [his brother-in-law] Robert Devereux 2nd Earl Essex and uncle Henry Howard 1st Earl of Northampton [aged 62] acting for her. She maintained the marriage had not been consummated and was examined by ten matrons and two midwives who found her hymen intact. It was widely rumoured at the time that Sir Thomas Monson's [aged 38] daughter was a substitute, which is possible because she had requested to be veiled during the examination "for modesty's sake". He maintained he was capable with other women, but was unable to consummate his marriage blaming her. She the daughter of Thomas Howard 1st Earl Suffolk [aged 41] and Catherine Knyvet Countess Suffolk [aged 39]. He the son of Robert Devereux 2nd Earl Essex and Frances Walsingham Countess Essex [aged 36]. They were fourth cousins.

In 1605 Robert Rich 1st Earl Warwick [aged 45] and Penelope Devereux Countess Devonshire [aged 41] were divorced.

In February 1605 Robert Rich 2nd Earl Warwick [aged 17] and Frances Hatton Countess Warwick [aged 15] were married. He the son of Robert Rich 1st Earl Warwick [aged 45] and Penelope Devereux Countess Devonshire [aged 42].

On 26th December 1605 Charles Blount 1st Earl Devonshire [aged 42] and [his former wife] Penelope Devereux Countess Devonshire [aged 42] were married at Wansted House, Essex during a service conducted by Archbishop William Laud [aged 32] (future). The marriage was regarded as uncanonical and resulted in the disgrace of both parties, who were banished from King James I's court circles. She by marriage Countess Devonshire. She the daughter of Walter Devereux 1st Earl Essex and [his former mother-in-law] Lettice Knollys Countess Essex and Leicester [aged 62]. They were third cousins.

On 7th July 1607 [his former wife] Penelope Devereux Countess Devonshire [aged 44] died.

Before 1612 [his son-in-law] Gervase Clifton 1st Baronet [aged 24] and Penelope Rich Lady Clifton were married. She by marriage Lady Clifton of Clifton in Nottinghamshire. She the daughter of Robert Rich 1st Earl Warwick [aged 52] and Penelope Devereux Countess Devonshire.

In 1616 Henry Rich 1st Earl Holland [aged 25] and Isabel Cope Countess Holland were married. He the son of Robert Rich 1st Earl Warwick [aged 56] and Penelope Devereux Countess Devonshire.

In 1616 Robert Rich 1st Earl Warwick [aged 56] and Frances Wray Countess Warwick were married. She by marriage Baroness Rich of Leez.

Before 15th February 1616 [his son-in-law] George Carey [aged 75] and Lettice Rich [aged 27] were married. The difference in their ages was 48 years. She the daughter of Robert Rich 1st Earl Warwick [aged 56] and Penelope Devereux Countess Devonshire.

In 1618 Robert Rich 1st Earl Warwick [aged 58] was created 1st Earl Warwick. [his wife] Frances Wray Countess Warwick by marriage Countess Warwick.

Before 1619 [his son-in-law] Arthur Lake [aged 20] and Lettice Rich [aged 29] were married. She the daughter of Robert Rich 1st Earl Warwick [aged 59] and Penelope Devereux Countess Devonshire.

Diary of Anne Clifford. 20th March 1619. The 20th my Lord of Warwick [aged 59] died at Arlington House leaving a great estate to [his son] Lord Rich [aged 31]¹ and my good friend his [his daughter-in-law] Lady [aged 29], and leaving his wife which was my Lady Lampwell a widow the second time. This day Wat. Coniston made an end of reading Mr Saragol's Book of the Supplication of the Saints which my Lord [aged 30] gave me.

Note 1. 2nd Earl of Warwick, the Parliament's Admiral.

On 20th March 1619 Robert Rich 1st Earl Warwick [aged 59] died. His son Robert [aged 31] succeeded 2nd Earl Warwick, 4th Baron Rich of Leez. Frances Hatton Countess Warwick [aged 29] by marriage Countess Warwick.

He was buried at St Lawrence's Church, Snarford [Map]. Unusual head and shoulder portrait sculpture of deceased full face, with a profile of his wife Frances Wray Countess Warwick behind, set in a circular medallion. To either side are pelleted Pilasters supporting an entablature with scrolled Cartouche of arms and flanked by heraldic supporters. The whole is painted and gilded and beneath is a panel containing an inscribed poem. Above his Arms implaled with hers. His are quartered 1&4 Rich Arms 2&3 Baldry Arms (his mother), hers quartered 1&4 Wray 2&3 Unknown. the monument is perhaps the work of Epiphanius Evesham. Sculpted by Epiphanius Evesham.

Around 1634 [his former wife] Frances Wray Countess Warwick died. She was buried at St Lawrence's Church, Snarford [Map].

[his daughter] Penelope Rich Lady Clifton was born to Robert Rich 1st Earl Warwick and Penelope Devereux Countess Devonshire. She married before 1612 Gervase Clifton 1st Baronet and had issue.

[his son] Charles Rich was born to Robert Rich 1st Earl Warwick and Penelope Devereux Countess Devonshire.