Penelope Devereux Countess Devonshire 1563-1607

Around 1561 Walter Devereux 1st Earl Essex [aged 19] and Lettice Knollys Countess Essex and Leicester [aged 17] were married. She by marriage Viscountess Hereford. They were fourth cousins.

In January 1563 Penelope Devereux Countess Devonshire was born to Walter Devereux 1st Earl Essex [aged 21] and Lettice Knollys Countess Essex and Leicester [aged 19] at Chartley Castle [Map].

On 28th January 1571 Anne Bourchier 7th Baroness Bourchier [aged 54] died from a fall from a horse at Benington, Hertfordshire. Her first cousin twice removed Walter [aged 29] succeeded 8th Baron Bourchier. Lettice Knollys Countess Essex and Leicester [aged 27] by marriage Baroness Bourchier.

On 4th May 1572 Walter Devereux 1st Earl Essex [aged 30] was created 1st Earl Essex. Lettice Knollys Countess Essex and Leicester [aged 28] by marriage Countess Essex.

On 22nd September 1576 Walter Devereux 1st Earl Essex [aged 35] died. His son Robert [aged 10] succeeded 2nd Earl Essex, 3rd Viscount Hereford, 12th Baron Ferrers of Chartley, 9th Baron Bourchier.

On 21st September 1578 Robert Dudley 1st Earl of Leicester [aged 46] and Lettice Knollys Countess Essex and Leicester [aged 34] were married secretly much to the anguish of Queen Elizabeth I of England and Ireland [aged 45] who developed a deep hatred of Lettice Knollys Countess Essex and Leicester. She by marriage Countess of Leicester. Roger North 2nd Baron North [aged 48] was present. He the son of John Dudley 1st Duke Northumberland and Jane Guildford Duchess Northumberland. They were fifth cousins.

In 1581 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].

On 17th July 1583 [her brother-in-law] Thomas Perrot [aged 30] and 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 [her father] Walter Devereux 1st Earl Essex and [her mother] 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. Dorothy Devereux Countess Northumberland [aged 21] by marriage Countess of Northumberland.

On 5th June 1587 Robert Rich 2nd Earl Warwick was born to Robert Rich 1st Earl Warwick [aged 27] and 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.

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

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

Around April 1589 Christopher Blount [aged 24] and Lettice Knollys Countess Essex and Leicester [aged 45] were married. The difference in their ages was 21 years; she, unusually, being older than him.

In 1590 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 [her father] Walter Devereux 1st Earl Essex and [her mother] Lettice Knollys Countess Essex and Leicester [aged 46]. They were half fourth cousin once removed.

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

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

In 1594 William Blount 7th Baron Mountjoy [aged 33] died at Hooke, Dorset. His brother Charles [aged 31] succeeded 8th Baron Mountjoy.

In 1594 Henry "Wizard Earl" Percy 9th Earl of Northumberland [aged 29] and Dorothy Devereux Countess Northumberland [aged 30] were married. She the daughter of [her father] Walter Devereux 1st Earl Essex and [her mother] 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.

Around 1597 Mountjoy Blount 1st Earl Newport was born illegitimately to Charles Blount 1st Earl Devonshire [aged 34] and Penelope Devereux Countess Devonshire [aged 33]. Illegitimate at birth his parents subsequently married.

On 5th August 1599 Alexander Radclyffe of Ordsall Hall [aged 26] died of wounds and fever in Ulster while campaigning with the 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 Charles Blount 1st Earl Devonshire [aged 40] was created 1st Earl Devonshire.

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 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 [her brother] Robert Devereux 2nd Earl Essex and [her former sister-in-law] 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 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 Lettice Knollys Countess Essex and Leicester [aged 62]. They were third cousins.

On 3rd April 1606 Charles Blount 1st Earl Devonshire [aged 43] died at Savoy Palace [Map]. Earl Devonshire, Baron Mountjoy extinct.

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

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

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.

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

[her 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.