Lettice Knollys, Countess of Leicester and Sir Christopher Blount - c. July 1589
Lettice Knollys, Countess of Essex and Leicester was widowed for a second time in September 1588 when her second husband Robert Dudley, 1at Earl of Leicester died suddenly. She remained exiled from court, despite the rising popularity of her son Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex, and her father Sir Francis Knollys's military appointments and ongoing high position within the Queen's household.
Within a year of Leicester's death, Lettice had married for a third, and what would be her final time: Sir Christopher Blount. Her groom was a surprising choice for a Dowager Countess, with close kinship to the queen: Blount was a younger man of a lower rank. He was the second son of Thomas Blount, a Warwickshire man who had been in the employ of the Dudley family for many years, including at the time of Leicester's first wife Amy Robsart's death in 1560. The younger Blount was employed as Leicester's Gentleman/Master of Horse, and had accompanied him to the Netherlands during his disastrous tenure as Governor General in 1584-87.
Exact details of their marriage are unconfirmed, but it is believed the couple were married around July 1589. A letter sent by the Earl of Essex to his mother the following month mentions 'Mr Blount', although confirmed that Lettice continued to use her title of Countess of Leicester.
In the early years of their marriage, the couple appear to have resided between Wanstead Hall, Essex and Leicester House on The Strand, both previous residences of Leicester, having been bestowed on Lettice and her son Essex. By 1593, Lettice appears to have relinquished ownership of these properties, and the couple subsequently relocated to Drayton Bassett, Staffordshire, which would remain her primary residence, until her death 41 years later.
Exact details of their marriage are unconfirmed, but it is believed the couple were married around July 1589.
