Death of Lady Penelope Devereaux

 

 On this day - 7th July 1607 

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 Death of Lady Penelope Devereaux 
Great-Grandaughter of Mary Boleyn

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 Penelope Devereux was born in early 1563 to Walter Viscount Hereford, and his wife, Lettice Knollys.

Through her mother Lettice, Penelope was the great- grandaughter of Mary Boleyn - and related to the queen of England.

Throughout Penelope’s early childhood, she lived at the family home of Chartley Manor in Staffordshire.

 When Penelope's father died in 1575, her mother remarried Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester.

For marrying the queen's favourite, Penelope's mother incurred the wrath of Queen Elizabeth, who was very unhappy at Dudley marrying Lettice.

 Penelope spent some months at Court, and was considered one of the beauties of Elizabeth's court.

She was golden-haired with dark eyes, a gifted singer and dancer, fluent in French, Italian, and Spanish.

Here she attracted lots of attention, especially with the court poets, playwrights and gallants - in particular, Philip Sidney.

 Penelope married Robert Rich, 3rd Baron Rich, in 1581.
Penelope was said to have protested in vain against the marriage with Rich.

The marriage was unhappy from the start, but together, the couple had four children: Robert, Henry, Lettice and Essex.

 In 1595, Penelope embarked on a relationship with Sir Charles Blount, Lord Mountjoy - later the Earl of Devonshire.

This relationship was to last until Blount’s death in 1606.

 Penelope’s brother, Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex, was a pivotal figure in the final fifteen years of Elizabeth’s reign.

Towards the end of Elizabeth's life, Penelope, Essex, and Lord Rich, were in secret correspondence with King James VI of Scotland - promising their support on his accession.

 In 1603 the intrigues with King James paid off, as he acceded to the throne of England on Elizabeth’s death.

Penelope, who had lost none of her charm and beauty, although now 40 and having borne at least nine children, became a great favourite with the new queen, Anne of Denmark.

Penelope accompanied the new queen on her entry to London, and served Queen Anne as a Lady of the Bedchamber.

Penelope was even granted the Earldom of Essex, raising her above other noble's wives.

 A divorce ‘from bed and board’ was granted to Penelope's husband Lord Rich, in November 1605.
This was granted on the grounds of his wife’s adultery with Charles Blount.

However, in line with Church of England regulations, Penelope and Charles could not remarry.

Penelope and Charles ignored this rule, perhaps believing they were so high in the King’s favour that they could afford to flout the law.

They were wrong.
The King was furious, and banished Penelope from court, and refused to accept the marriage was valid.

 In 1606, Charles Blount fell ill and died.
He had endeavoured to provide for his five children by Penelope, but his Will and settlements were challenged.

Penelope was brought before judges on charges of fraud.
Accused of being a ‘harlot, adulteress, concubine and wh0re’ the charges against her were carefully refuted.

Before a final settlement was reached, unfortunately Penelope died, on 7th July 1607, aged 44.

The Tudor Intruders (and more)
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 Source - tudortimes/lady-penelope-devereux
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 Portrait miniature of Penelope Devereux, Lady Rich c.1590.
By Nicholas Hilliard.