Francis Knollys, the eldest son and heir of Sir Robert Knollys and his wife Lettice Penninston, was born c.1512, likely at Rookes Manor, Hampshire. Robert Knollys had served Henry VII, and his sons Arthur Prince of Wales, and later Henry VIII, and was subsequently awarded a long lease Greys Court, Rotherfield Greys, Oxfordshire, for the annual rent of 'a single red rose'. It has been reported that Francis had a traditional, classical education, which included likely attendance at Oxford (Tallis, 2009). Whilst his father had died in 1521, Henry VIII granted favour to his son, and in 1539 Francis was appointed as one of the king's 'Gentleman at Arms', who provided protection to the monarch at ceremonial events.
Catherine Carey was the eldest child of Mary Boleyn, older sister to the ill-fated Queen of England, and Henry VIII's second wife, Anne Boleyn. Mary had been married to courtier William Carey, although she was known to have been the king's mistress concurrently. As Catherine was born c.1526, questions have been raised in regards to her true parentage. However, despite acknowledgement of the affair (in which Mary, her family and her husband were generously rewarded), Henry did not publicly acknowledge paternity of Catherine (likely due to the fact he was now courting Mary's sister Anne), and therefore held the name of 'Carey'.
Catherine's childhood upbringing cannot be confirmed, although it is felt by some historians that she may have been placed in the household with her cousin (and possible half-sister) Elizabeth, as her brother Henry Carey had been. She first came to court when she was about 15 years old in November 1539, having been appointed as a maid of honour in preparation for the arrival of Anne of Cleves. Francis Knollys was also chosen as one of the gentleman to greet Anne on her arrival to England; the appointment of these roles led to a meeting between the two, and a relationship quickly formed.
Francis and Catherine married on 26 April 1540, which has been felt by many to have been a 'love match', rather than one for political or financial advantage. This marriage was successful, with the couple having fourteen children over 22 years (with only two dying in infancy), as well as there being no evidence of infidelity on either side. It is known that shortly following their wedding, Francis and Catherine made their home at Greys Court, which was granted to them by Henry VIII by an Act of Parliament. From here, they started their family, their first child Henry being born on 12 April 1541, less than a year after their marriage. Francis recorded the date of his marriage, as well as all the precise dates of birth of all their children in a Latin dictionary which was discovered at Greys Court; this includes the couple's third child Lettice (later Countess of Essex and Leicester) - born "1543. ye tewsdaye present aftr all halou daye" (ie 06 November 1543).
Francis and Catherine were both vehemently Protestant. and during the reign of Mary I, England was a dangerous place for those who were openly practicing this 'heretical' religion. Whilst his prospects had risen during the reign of the Protestant Edward VI (including being knighted and granted additional lands, including the manor of Caversham). However, with Mary's ascension, his overt religious views placed him in direct opposition with the new Marian government, and so as many English Protestants did, made arrangements to leave the country to avoid persecution.
Francis initially left for the continent first (known to have been in Basle by winter 1556), and by June 1557, Catherine had joined him in Frankfurt-am-Main, accompanied by their five youngest children. The older children, Lettice included, remained in England, being placed in the households of other prominent families to continue their education. Lady Elizabeth wrote to Catherine prior to her leaving, expressing her distress at her leaving, signing off her letter "Your loving cousin and ready friend [Broken Heart]" (Norton, 2013; p. 236),
Following the death of Mary I, and ascension of her half-sister Elizabeth, it once again became safe for those following the new Protestant religion to return to England, It is known that Francis and Catherine packed up their home in Frankfurt in November 1558, and were back in the country for the New Year and Elizabeth I's coronation. As kinswomen to the new Queen, positions were found for the Knollys' women. Catherine was made a 'Lady of the Bedchamber', and given the responsibility of looking after the Queen's pet monkey. Lettice was 15 years old in January 1559, and was able to join the household as a 'Gentlewoman of our Privy Chamber, as did her 9 year old daughter Elizabeth both of whom were given roles in Elizabeth's coronation. Catherine remained in Elizabeth's household, being promoted to 'Chief Lady of the Bedchamber' in 1565. Despite holding this position within the royal household, the Knollys family was not complete; Catherine would have another three children following their return to England and Elizabeth's coronation in January 1559; Katherine in October 1559, Dudley in May 1562 (who passed away within a few weeks), and another unnamed daughter in 1563.
Catherine had first started to show signs of illness in July 1568, news of which had reached her family, including Francis (from whom she was unwillingly separated) and daughter Lettice. However, she appeared to recover by August 1558, and joined the court in moving to Hampton Court Palace for the Christmas period in late 1568. Francis's requests to come to court for Christmas were still denied, of which he expressed discontent to the Queen (Tallis, 2017; p. 96). Following this move to Hampton Court, Catherine was again taken ill, this time gravely so. Despite being attended to by physicians, Catherine died on 15 January 1569, in the presence of her daughter Elizabeth.
At the time of Catherine's illness and death, Francis was north; following Mary Queen of Scots fleeing Scotland and seeking refuge in England in May 1568 (initially at Carlisle Castle), Francis Knollys was chosen as one of her guardians in charge of her imprisonment. Francis' requests to be accompanied north by his wife had been refused by Elizabeth, who stated that she could not be parted from her Chief Lady (Tallis, 2017). Mary remained under Francis' custody from May 1568 until February 1559, initially at Carlisle Castle, before moving to Bolton Castle and then to Tutbury Castle. From when the news reached Francis of Catherine's illness in the summer of 1568, he wrote repeatedly to Elizabeth I and William Cecil (her Secretary of State) to request to leave his post and return to London; however, these requests were repeatedly refused, and he only left Tutbury on 03 February 1559 following news of Catherine's death. Mary Queen of Scots later wrote how she placed blame on Elizabeth I for Catherine's premature death, due to the couple's prolonged separation.
It was reported that Elizabeth I was significantly impacted by Catherine's death, appearing grief-stricken and neglecting her own health and wellbeing for a time. On Elizabeth's comment, Catherine was buried in an elaborate funeral in St Edmund's Chapel at Westminster Abbey in April 1569, that was funded by the Queen (costing £640). An alabaster and marble monument mounted on the wall remains, which reads:
"...O, Francis, she who was thy wife, behold, Catherine Knolle lies dead under the chilly marble. I know well that she will never depart from thy soul, though dead. Whilst alive she was always loved by thee: living, she bore thee, her husband, sixteen children and was equally female and male (that is, both gentle and valiant). Would that she had lived many years with thee and thy wife was now an old lady. But God desired it not. But he willed that thou, O Catherine, should await thy husband in Heaven."
Following Catherine's death in 1559, Francis did not remarry, nor appear to take a mistress, as many of his contemporaries did; this appears to be further evidence of his commitment to Catherine and that the marriage was indeed a 'love match'. He remained close to his children, including Lettice, Countess of Leicester. It is known that following the death of her first husband Walter Devereux, Earl of Essex in 1576, she spent time at Grey's Court, as well as in the spring of 1581, just prior to her giving birth to her son Robert Dudley, Lord Denbigh. Portraits of Knollys' family members, including Francis, hung at Leicester House, the home of his daughter and son-in-law; in 1584, an inventory noted "a picture of Sir Francis Knolles the elder, half proportion".
![Francis Knollys Tomb, St Nicholas' Church, Rotherfield Greys ©erichardyuk [Flickr]](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/ed9b82_13a1c1d4546840c9886189ee6dbcae8c~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_147,h_113,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/ed9b82_13a1c1d4546840c9886189ee6dbcae8c~mv2.jpg)