On This Day (10 Nov) in 1565, Robert Devereux, later the 2nd Earl of Essex, was born in Netherwood, Herefordshire, the first son born to Walter Devereux, Viscount Hereford, and his wife Lettice Knollys, daughter of Sir Francis Knollys (Vice-Chamberlain of the Queen's Household) and his wife Catherine Carey (who that year had been promoted to Elizabeth's Chief Lady of the Bedchamber).
Walter and Lettice had married around New Year 1561, after meeting at court, where Lettice was in the service of Elizabeth I as one of her gentlewoman of the privy chamber. Following their marriage, Lettice left Elizabeth's employ, and the couple set up home at Chartley Manor, the Devereux family seat in Staffordshire, where they started a family - two daughters were born, Penelope and Dorothy in 1563 and 1564 respectively.
However, Lettice continued to attend court, and was present in the summer of 1565, when she was pregnant with her third child; it was during this time, that she was observed flirting with Robert Dudley, 1st Earl of Leicester and Elizabeth's 'favourite', whom she would later marry in secret in 1578. Some date their relationship to this time; however, it is likely that the flirtation was intentional on Leicester's side, as he was actively seeking a response from the queen regarding offers of marriage. This appears to have been successful, as Elizabeth was said to have been jealous of Leicester's behaviour towards her younger kinswoman, who was described as "one of the best looking ladies of the court".
Despite the controversy over the summer, Walter and Lettice's baby was named after Robert Dudley, who was nominated as one of his godparents. Whilst he was born at Netherwood, one of the Devereux's properties, he was raised in Chartley with his siblings. His mother Lettice reportedly took an active role in his upbringing, and ensured that he received a Protestant education, as she had done. He was especially close to his older sister Penelope, their close relationship continuing through to adulthood.
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