What I do know about Lettice Knollys was that she had a few marriages and one was with Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester. She had similar features like a younger Queen Elizabeth I so she could have been Elizabeth’s double gagger. She was the daughter of Catherine Knollys, daughter of Mary Boleyn so Elizabeth and Letticia were actually cousins. She was banned from court when Elizabeth found out that she married Elizabeth’s favorite. She also had a wantonness behavior that attracted the men at court (other than her beauty).
When I noticed that Carolly Erickson wrote a historical fiction about Lettice, I couldn’t help ordering the book. In my previous blog, I read ‘I, Elizabeth’ so I guess it was fitting that my next book for the Tudor challenge would be about Lettice Knollys.
I do wonder if Lettice thought herself to be part of the royal family. In the early chapter, Lettice mentions that her mother told her that Catherine may have been rumored to be a child of King Henry VIII. It was definitely rumored that Catherine Carey could have been King Henry VIII’s natural daughter. Too bad we can’t do DNA testing to put that rumor to rest.
Some of the early chapters place Lettice in Flanders during the reign of Queen Mary I. You don’t have too many chapters specifically during this part of her life and you’ll be back in Tudor England when Queen Elizabeth I is on the throne. In this book, it seems that Catherine Knollys and Queen Elizabeth I were not exactly friends while in other books I’ve read, it seems that they were. True to Elizabeth’s character, Carolly Erickson displays that famous Tudor temper at the maids of honor. It was interesting to read from Lettice’s point of view of being a maid of honor for Elizabeth. I don’t think I could be able to handle the abuse that Elizabeth would bring when she’s upset. Lettice’s description of Elizabeth is more of a woman with a temper, changes her mind too often and in love with Robert Dudley. After reading ‘I, Elizabeth’, I have a different view of Elizabeth as a lady and a Queen.
In the early days, she admires Robert Dudley especially when she was being courted by her first husband, Walter Devereux. Walter seemed more like a bore compared to Robert any day. Her admiring Robert would eventually become friends in the book.
There are some things that seem farfetched to me such as the story about Elizabeth not really having monthly bleedings and only using other people’s blood to disguise her barrenness. Especially during this timeframe, Elizabeth would have been in her late twenties. Still, with Elizabeth refusing to marry anyone, it would be an interesting rumor. Another farfetched scene was Elizabeth wanting bed curtains that once belonged to Amy Robsart to decorate Elizabeth’s room. Again, an interesting rumor to spread since it was widely known that Elizabeth favored Robert and there were already rumors that he would marry the queen or already has married Elizabeth.
An interesting view that I’ve never read so far is about the inquest about the sudden death of Amy Robsart. Lettice tells about the witness’s accounts up to that deadly afternoon from the doctor to Amy’s servant Pirto. It gives the reader an idea of the inquest and how they came to their conclusion. Also her account during the time Elizabeth was feared to die from the pox and leaving England in the hands of Robert Dudley. As to him having a priest to marry them at her so called death bed seems farfetched as well but a good reason for her to claim him as Lord Protector if she passed away. It’s these types of historical fiction I like to read when it’s in another person’s view point at court, even though the author places the character in their story when historically, that character may not have been there. Through all these places that the author places Lettice, Lettice continues to grow fond of Robert Dudley while despising Walter Devereux. There is also her account of the bear baiting, which was very barbaric. However for people that loved blood sports back in those days, this was their entertainment.
Carolly Erickson gives the impression that Lettice wasn’t as forward as other historical fiction books depict her. In her version, it’s only through a despised younger sister that her reputation is ruined. Even at the Tudor court, rumors are very powerful tools.
During her marriage, Lettice proved to be fertile (even though it was only daughters early in their marriage) and learned how to manage her husband’s estates. However, eventually Lord Robert would take notice of Lettice even if it was just to make the queen jealous. Still, this short love affair was wonderful for Lettice since her marriage to Walter made her very unhappy and her secret dreams revolved around Robert Dudley. Undoubtedly, she would love Robert but there is always that nagging feeling that there was more to him then she already knew. Eventually, Lettice will bring Robert Devereux into the world. Remember his name later because he will become one of Elizabeth’s favorite in the later years of her reign.
The passage of time goes quickly in this book. One minute, the queen is in her late twenties and the next, the queen is in her forties. By the time that Elizabeth is nearing forty, Lettice and Robert have grown fond of one another, which as Lettice saw it, loved one another. It’s interesting to see a different side of Robert like how he referred Elizabeth as a ‘sour, hateful old thing’ to Lettice. You would think that Robert Dudley truly loved the queen since historically those two are linked.
After her first husband died, not sure of how much time had passed before Robert and Lettice were married. I assumed it’s after a year or two of mourning since that was the tradition. It’s at this time that Lettice acknowledges that she was Elizabeth’s rival and begins her banishment from Elizabeth’s court. Lettice will get the nickname She-Wolf. Still, Lettice doesn’t cower at Elizabeth’s fury because by this time she understood why Elizabeth hated her.
It seems that Lettice had a good marriage with Robert Dudley (much to my surprise). By this time, Lettice is in her forties and has given Robert the son he looked for. Robert no longer in disgrace is back at court with Queen Elizabeth I while Lettice is still out in the country. Still, Elizabeth would make sure that Robert was still at her side but Lettice, being a good wife, tried not to complain. Despite his love for his queen, it seemed like Robert was actually a very devoted husband (another surprise since he wasn’t as devoted with his first wife Amy Robsart).
This is the second book that I encountered None Such Palace. Not enough description as in ‘I, Elizabeth’ but just a brief mention. I was grief stricken at the lost of Lettice’s son with Robert Dudley who was only three years old. As a mother, I don’t know how I would be able to go on if I lost my little guy. Dashed are Robert’s dreams of having a son to carry the Dudley name.
The later chapters told about Elizabeth’s later years of her reign with the war against Spain, Robert Dudley in the Dutch provinces and famine. You are also introduced to Christopher Blount, who in time would be Lettice’s third and last husband. What a scandal that might have been since Chris was a much younger husband. Her son, Robert Devereux, is an interesting character and a big upstart. He seemed to truly believe as Elizabeth’s favorite and ‘royalty’ (thanks to Lettice’s blood), he was the ideal choice to rule England. As to why Elizabeth favored him, only she would know. Lettice was right to worry about her son. Thanks to her son, Lettice returns to court as Mother of the Maids but an underlying reason from Elizabeth is the true reason Lettice is able to return to court.
The story ends when Lettice says good-bye to her only son, Robert Devereux. At the epilogue, Lettice is in her nineties. She had an extraordinary life, full of dreams, love and heartache. Thanks to Carolly Erickson, I have a different view of Lettice Knollys. To me, she was just an ordinary girl (possibly had royal blood), trying to make her way at the Tudor court. Lettice was a good daughter to her parents Francis and Catherine Knollys even though she was overly criticized by her father. Despite rumors of her wantonness, she married first by her father’s match then married for love twice. She was just as hot headed as her cousin Elizabeth but she was also cautious. Lettice is a much more relatable character than what other historical fiction books portray her.
