By the Rev. Canon J. E. Jackson> F.S.A. 45 



Chaplain : M — <( Leicester had been suspected of causing the death 

 of Walter Devereux, Earl of Essex, by poison. The suspicion was 

 increased by Leicester's presently putting away Douglas Sheffield 

 with money and fair promises (whether his paramour or his wife 

 I cannot say) on whom he had begotten a son, and now more 

 openly making love to Lettice, Essex his widow, to whom after- 

 wards he joyned himself in a double matrimony. For though it 

 were reported that he had already privately married her ; yet Sir 

 Frances Knolles father to Lettice, who was acquainted with 

 Leicester's Rambling and inconstance in his Love, would not 

 believe it (fearing lest he should put a Trick upon his daughter) 

 unless he might see the Marriage performed in his own presence, 

 with some witnesses by, and a public Notary.-"] 



"Saturday 18th Feb. 1580. Humfiy Tindall, clerk, Bachelor in Sacred 

 Theology, 34 years of age or thereabouts, of free condition, &c, being produced 

 and sworn, &c, saith. That uppon a Saterday being as this deponent now re- 

 membereth the xx th day of September in the yeare of our Lorde 1578, The right 

 honourable Robert Dudley Earle of Leycester, brake with this deponent (being 

 then attendant uppon him at Wanstede nere London as his chappelin) to the 

 effect following, viz., he signified that he had a good seazon forborne marriadge 

 in respect of her majestie's displeasure, and that he was then for sondrie respects 

 and especially for the better quieting* of his own conscience determined to marry 

 with the Right Honourable Countesse of Essex, but for so much as it might not 

 not be publiquely knowe without great damages of his estate, he moved this 

 deponent to solemnnize a marriadge in secret betweene them, and finding this 

 deponent willing thereunto, he appointed him to attende for the dispatch thereof 

 the next morninge about vij of the clocke, w ch this deponent did accordingly, and 

 theruppon (betwixt seaven and eight of the clock on the next morning being 

 sonday) was conveyed up by the Lorde North into a little gallery of Waynstede 

 howse opening uppon the garden, into wh h gallery their camme within a while after 

 together with the af oresayd Earle of Leycester the Right Honourable the Earl of 

 Pembrook, the Earle of Warwick,* and Sir Frances Knowlles, and within a little 

 while after them the Countesse of Essex herself attired as he now remembereth in a 

 loose gowne. And then and ther he this deponent did with the free consente of them 

 both marry the said R fc . hon. Robert Dudley earle of Leycester and the Lady 

 Letice Countesse of Essex together in such maner and forme as is prescribed by 

 the communion booke, and did pronounce them lawfull man and wife before God 

 and the worlde according to the usuall order at solemnization of marriadges : and 

 farther this deponent sayeth, that he well remembreth S r . Francis Knowlles did 



* Robert Rich, third baron, afterwards created Earl of Warwick, was son-in-law of Lettico 

 Knollys; having married Penelope Devereux, her daughter by her first husband, Walter, Earl of 

 Essex. 



