Lettice Knollys, Countess of Leicester

Lettice Knollys , Countess of Essex and Countess of Leicester , was an English noblewoman and mother to the courtiers Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex and Lady Penelope Rich, although via her marriage to Elizabeth Is favourite, Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, she incurred the Queens unrelenting displeasure.

Lettice Knollys was born onNovember 1543 at Rotherfield Greys, Oxfordshire. Her father, Sir Francis Knollys, was a Member of Parliament and acted as Master of the Horse to Prince Edward. Her mother, Catherine Carey, was a daughter of Mary Boleyn, sister to Anne Boleyn. Thus Catherine Knollys was Elizabeth Is first cousin, and Lettice Knollys her first cousin once removed. Lettice was the third of her parentschildren.

Source: Wikipedia