Biography of Robert Sidney 2nd Earl of Leicester 1595-1677

Paternal Family Tree: Sidney

1683 Popish Plot

1685 Execution of the Duke of Monmouth

Robert Sidney 2nd Earl of Leicester educated at Christ Church College, Oxford University.

On 08 Sep 1584 [his grandfather] John Gamage of Coity Castle died.

On 23 Sep 1584 [his father] Robert Sidney 1st Earl of Leicester (age 20) and [his mother] Barbara Gamage Countess Leicester (age 21) were married. She her father's heir to his considerable fortune. He, the father, had died some twenty-five days before. The marriage took place apparently against the wishes of Queen Elizabeth I of England and Ireland (age 51).

On 05 May 1586 [his grandfather] Henry Sidney (age 57) died.

On 09 Aug 1586 [his grandmother] Mary Dudley (age 56) died.

On 01 Dec 1595 Robert Sidney 2nd Earl of Leicester was born to Robert Sidney 1st Earl of Leicester (age 32) and Barbara Gamage Countess Leicester (age 32).

In 1610 Robert Sidney 2nd Earl of Leicester (age 14) was appointed Knight of the Bath.

In 1615 Robert Sidney 2nd Earl of Leicester (age 19) and Dorothy Percy Countess Leicester (age 17) were married. She the daughter of Henry "Wizard Earl" Percy 9th Earl of Northumberland (age 50) and Dorothy Devereux Countess Northumberland (age 51). He the son of Robert Sidney 1st Earl of Leicester (age 51) and Barbara Gamage Countess Leicester (age 52).

On or before 05 Oct 1617 [his daughter] Dorothy Sidney Countess Sunderland was born to Robert Sidney 2nd Earl of Leicester (age 21) and [his wife] Dorothy Percy Countess Leicester (age 19). She was baptised on 05 Oct 1617.

On 06 Nov 1617 James Hay 1st Earl Carlisle (age 37) and [his sister-in-law] Lucy Percy Countess Carlisle (age 17) were married. See Diary of Anne Clifford. The difference in their ages was 20 years. She the daughter of [his father-in-law] Henry "Wizard Earl" Percy 9th Earl of Northumberland (age 53) and [his mother-in-law] Dorothy Devereux Countess Northumberland (age 53).

On 10 Jan 1619 [his son] Philip Sidney 3rd Earl of Leicester was born to Robert Sidney 2nd Earl of Leicester (age 23) and [his wife] Dorothy Percy Countess Leicester (age 21).

In 1622 James Hay 1st Earl Carlisle (age 42) was created 1st Earl Carlisle. [his sister-in-law] Lucy Percy Countess Carlisle (age 22) by marriage Countess Carlisle.

On 14 Jan 1623 [his son] Algernon Sidney was born to Robert Sidney 2nd Earl of Leicester (age 27) and [his wife] Dorothy Percy Countess Leicester (age 25).

On 25 Apr 1625 [his father] Robert Sidney 1st Earl of Leicester (age 61) and [his step-mother] Sarah Blount Countess Leicester (age 43) were married. She by marriage Countess of Leicester.

In 1626 [his son] Colonel Robert Sidney was born to Robert Sidney 2nd Earl of Leicester (age 30) and [his wife] Dorothy Percy Countess Leicester (age 28).

On 13 Jul 1626 [his father] Robert Sidney 1st Earl of Leicester (age 62) died. His son Robert Sidney 2nd Earl of Leicester (age 30) succeeded 2nd Earl of Leicester, 2nd Viscount Lisle. [his wife] Dorothy Percy Countess Leicester (age 28) by marriage Countess of Leicester.

In 1627 [his daughter] Lucy Sidney Baroness Pelham Laughton was born to Robert Sidney 2nd Earl of Leicester (age 31) and [his wife] Dorothy Percy Countess Leicester (age 29).

In 1629 [his brother-in-law] Algernon Percy 10th Earl of Northumberland (age 26) and Anne Cecil were married. She the daughter of William Cecil 2nd Earl Salisbury (age 37) and Catherine Howard Countess Salisbury. He the son of [his father-in-law] Henry "Wizard Earl" Percy 9th Earl of Northumberland (age 64) and [his mother-in-law] Dorothy Devereux Countess Northumberland.

On 05 Nov 1632 [his father-in-law] Henry "Wizard Earl" Percy 9th Earl of Northumberland (age 68) died. His son [his brother-in-law] Algernon Percy 10th Earl of Northumberland (age 30) succeeded 10th Earl of Northumberland, 13th Baron Percy of Alnwick, 21st Baron Percy of Topcliffe, 4th Baron Percy of Alnwick, 12th Baron Poynings.

On 20 Jul 1639, some sources say 11 Jul 1639, [his son-in-law] Henry Spencer 1st Earl of Sunderland (age 18) and [his daughter] Dorothy Sidney Countess Sunderland (age 21) were married at Penhurst Rother. She by marriage Baroness Spencer Wormleighton. Her long-term suitor, she was the 'Sacharissa' of his poems, Edmund Waller (age 33) wrote a letter to the [his daughter] bride's sister (age 12) on the occasion of the wedding. She the daughter of Robert Sidney 2nd Earl of Leicester (age 43) and [his wife] Dorothy Percy Countess Leicester (age 41).

Madam,

In this common joy at Penshurst, I know none to whom complaints may come less unseasonably than to your ladyship, the loss of a bedfellow being almost equal to that of a mistress; and therefore you ought at least to pardon, if you consent not to the imprecations of, the deserted, which just Heaven no doubt will hear. May my lady Dorothy, if we may yet call her so, suffer as much, and have the like passion for this young lord, whom she has preferred to the rest of mankind, as others have had for her; and may his love, before the year go about, make her taste of the first curse imposed upon womankind, the pains of becoming a mother. May her first born be none of her own sex, nor so like her but that he may resemble her lord as much as herself. May she that always affected silence and retirement have the house filled with the noise and number of her children, and hereafter of her grandchildren; and then may she arrive at that great curse, so much declined by fair ladies, old age; may she live to be very old and yet seem young; be told so by her glass, and have no aches to inform her of the truth; and when she shall appear to be mortal, may her lord not mourn for her, but go hand in hand with her to that place where we are told there is neither marrying nor giving in marriage, that being there divorced we may all have an equal interest in her again! My revenge being immortal, I wish all this may befall her posterity to the world's end and afterwards! To you, madam, I wish all good things, and that this loss may in good time be happily supplied with a more constant bedfellow of the other sex. Madam, I humbly kiss your hands, and beg pardon for this trouble, from

Your ladyship's

most humble servant,

E. Waller.

On 08 Apr 1641 [his son] Henry Sidney 1st Earl Romney was born to Robert Sidney 2nd Earl of Leicester (age 45) and [his wife] Dorothy Percy Countess Leicester (age 43) at Paris [Map].

On 01 Oct 1642 [his brother-in-law] Algernon Percy 10th Earl of Northumberland (age 40) and Elizabeth Howard Countess Northumberland (age 19) were married. She by marriage Countess of Northumberland. The difference in their ages was 20 years. She the daughter of Theophilus Howard 2nd Earl Suffolk and Elizabeth Home Countess Suffolk. He the son of [his father-in-law] Henry "Wizard Earl" Percy 9th Earl of Northumberland and [his mother-in-law] Dorothy Devereux Countess Northumberland.

In 1645 [his son] Philip Sidney 3rd Earl of Leicester (age 25) and [his daughter-in-law] Catherine Cecil were married. She the daughter of William Cecil 2nd Earl Salisbury (age 53) and Catherine Howard Countess Salisbury. He the son of Robert Sidney 2nd Earl of Leicester (age 49) and [his wife] Dorothy Percy Countess Leicester (age 47).

On 20 Jan 1647 [his son-in-law] John Pelham 3rd Baronet (age 24) and [his daughter] Lucy Sidney Baroness Pelham Laughton (age 20) were married. She the daughter of Robert Sidney 2nd Earl of Leicester (age 51) and [his wife] Dorothy Percy Countess Leicester (age 49).

Between 1650 and 1677. Unknown Painter. Portrait of Robert Sidney 2nd Earl of Leicester (age 54).

Evelyn's Diary. 05 Jan 1656. Came to visit me my [his son] Lord Lisle (age 36), son to the Earl of Leicester (age 60), with Sir Charles Ouseley, two of the Usurper's council; Mr. John Hervey, and John Denham (age 41), the poet.

On 22 Aug 1656 [his son-in-law] Philip Smythe 2nd Viscount Strangford (age 22) and [his daughter] Isabella Sydney were married. She the daughter of Robert Sidney 2nd Earl of Leicester (age 60) and [his wife] Dorothy Percy Countess Leicester (age 58).

On 20 Aug 1659 [his wife] Dorothy Percy Countess Leicester (age 61) died.

On 02 Nov 1677 Robert Sidney 2nd Earl of Leicester (age 81) died. His son [his son] Philip Sidney 3rd Earl of Leicester (age 58) succeeded 3rd Earl of Leicester, 3rd Viscount Lisle.

Popish Plot

Evelyn's Diary. 28 Jun 1683. After the Popish Plot, there was now a new and (as they called it) a Protestant Plot discovered, that certain Lords and others should design the assassination of the King (age 53) and the Duke (age 49) as they were to come from Newmarket, with a general rising of the nation, and especially of the city of London, disaffected to the present Government. Upon which were committed to the Tower [Map], the Lord Russell (age 43), eldest son of the Earl of Bedford (age 66), the Earl of Essex, [his son] Mr. Algernon Sidney (age 60), son to the old Earl of Leicester, Mr. Trenchard, Hampden, Lord Howard of Escrick, and others. A proclamation was issued against my Lord Grey, the Duke of Monmouth (age 34), Sir Thomas Armstrong, and one Ferguson, who had escaped beyond sea; of these some were said to be for killing the King, others for only seizing on him, and persuading him to new counsels, on the pretense of the danger of Popery, should the Duke live to succeed, who was now again admitted to the councils and cabinet secrets. The Lords Essex and Russell were much deplored, for believing they had any evil intention against the King, or the Church; some thought they were cunningly drawn in by their enemies for not approving some late counsels and management relating to France, to Popery, to the persecution of the Dissenters, etc. They were discovered by the Lord Howard of Escrick and some false brethren of the club, and the design happily broken; had it taken effect, it would, to all appearance, have exposed the Government to unknown and dangerous events; which God avert!

Execution of the Duke of Monmouth

Evelyn's Diary. 15 Jul 1685. Thus ended this quondam Duke (age 36), darling of his father and ye ladies, being extreamly handsome and adroit; an excellent souldier and dancer, a favourite of the people, of an easy nature, debauch'd by lust, seduc'd by crafty knaves who would have set him up only to make a property, and took the opportunity of the King being of another religion, to gather a party of discontented men. He fail'd, and perish'd. He was a lovely person, had a virtuous and excellent lady that brought him greate riches, and a second dukedom in Scotland. He was Master of the Horse, General of the King his father's Army, Gentleman of the Bedchamber, Knight of the Garter, Chancellor of Cambridge, in a word had accumulations without end. See what ambition and want of principles brought him to! He was beheaded on Tuesday 14th July [Note. Most sources quote 15 Jul 1685]. His mother, whose name was Barlow [Note. Lucy Walter is often spoken of incorrectly as Mrs. Walters or Waters, and during her career she seems to have adopted the alias of Mrs. Barlo or Barlow (the name of a family with which the Walters of Pembrokeshire had intermarried). From Dictionary of National Biography.], daughter of some very meane creatures, was a beautiful strumpet, whom I had often seene at Paris; she died miserably without any thing to bury her; yet this Perkin had ben made to believe that the King had married her; a monstrous and ridiculous forgerie; and to satisfy the world of the iniquity of the report, the King his father (If his father he really was, for he most resembl'd one Sidney, who was familiar with his mother) publickly and most solemnly renounc'd it, to be so enter'd in the Council Booke some yeares since, with all ye Privy Councellors at testation.

Evelyn's Diary. 15 Jul 1685. Ross, tutor to the Duke of Monmouth, proposed to Bishop Cozens to sign a certificate of the King's marriage to Mrs. Barlow, though her own name was Walters: this the Bishop refused. She was born of a gentleman's family in Wales, but having little means and less grace, came to London to make her fortune. [his son] Algernon Sidney, then a Colonel in Cromwell's army, had agreed to give her 50 broad pieces (as he told the Duke of York) but being ordered hastily away with his regiment, he missed his bargain. She went into Holland, where she fell into the hands of his brother Colonel Robert Sidney, who kept her for some time, till the King hearing of her, got her from him. On which the Colonel was heard to say, Let who will have her she is already sped and after being with the King she was so soon with child that the world had no cause to doubt whose child it was, and the rather that when he grew to be a man, he very much resembled the Colonel both in stature and countenance, even to a wort on his face. However the King owned the child. In the King's absence she behaved so loosely, that on his return from his escape at Worcester, he would have no further commerce with her, and she became a common prostitute at Paris. Life of King James II Vol I.

[his daughter] Isabella Sydney was born to Robert Sidney 2nd Earl of Leicester and Dorothy Percy Countess Leicester.

Royal Ancestors of Robert Sidney 2nd Earl of Leicester 1595-1677

Kings Wessex: Great x 16 Grand Son of King Edmund "Ironside" I of England

Kings Gwynedd: Great x 13 Grand Son of Owain "Great" King Gwynedd

Kings Seisyllwg: Great x 19 Grand Son of Hywel "Dda aka Good" King Seisyllwg King Deheubarth

Kings Powys: Great x 14 Grand Son of Maredudd ap Bleddyn King Powys

Kings England: Great x 10 Grand Son of King Edward I of England

Kings Scotland: Great x 15 Grand Son of King Duncan I of Scotland

Kings Franks: Great x 14 Grand Son of Louis VII King Franks

Kings France: Great x 16 Grand Son of Robert "Pious" II King France

Royal Descendants of Robert Sidney 2nd Earl of Leicester 1595-1677

Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom

Diana Spencer Princess Wales

Ancestors of Robert Sidney 2nd Earl of Leicester 1595-1677

Great x 3 Grandfather: William IV Sidney

Great x 2 Grandfather: Nicholas Sidney

Great x 1 Grandfather: William Sidney

Great x 4 Grandfather: Robert Brandon

Great x 3 Grandfather: William Brandon

Great x 4 Grandmother: Ada Calthorpe

Great x 2 Grandmother: Anne Brandon

GrandFather: Henry Sidney

Great x 3 Grandfather: John Pakenham

Great x 2 Grandfather: Hugh Pakenham

Great x 1 Grandmother: Anne Pakenham

Father: Robert Sidney 1st Earl of Leicester 9 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: John Sutton 1st Baron Dudley 8 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

Great x 3 Grandfather: John Dudley 6 x Great Grand Son of King John of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Elizabeth Berkeley Baroness Cherleton Baroness Dudley 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King John of England

Great x 2 Grandfather: Edmund Dudley 7 x Great Grand Son of King John of England

Great x 3 Grandmother: Elizabeth Bramshott

Great x 1 Grandfather: John Dudley 1st Duke Northumberland 7 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Edward Grey Baron Ferrers of Groby 6 x Great Grand Son of King John of England

Great x 3 Grandfather: Edward Grey 1st Viscount Lisle 5 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Elizabeth Ferrers 6th Baroness Ferrers Groby 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England

Great x 2 Grandmother: Elizabeth Grey Viscountess Lisle 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: John Talbot 1st Viscount Lisle 4 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England

Great x 3 Grandmother: Elizabeth Talbot Viscountess Lisle 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Joan Cheddar Viscountess Lisle

GrandMother: Mary Dudley 8 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: John Guildford

Great x 3 Grandfather: Richard Guildford

Great x 4 Grandmother: Alice Waller

Great x 2 Grandfather: Edward Guildford

Great x 4 Grandfather: John Pympe

Great x 3 Grandmother: Ann Pympe

Great x 4 Grandmother: Philippe Thornbury

Great x 1 Grandmother: Jane Guildford Duchess Northumberland 8 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Richard West 7th Baron De La Warr 4th Baron West 5 x Great Grand Son of King Henry III of England

Great x 3 Grandfather: Thomas West 8th Baron De La Warr 5th Baron West 6 x Great Grand Son of King Henry III of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Katherine Hungerford Baroness De La Warr Baroness West 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England

Great x 2 Grandmother: Eleanor West 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Hugh Mortimer

Great x 3 Grandmother: Elizabeth Mortimer Baroness De La Warr and West 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Eleanor Cornwall 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England

Robert Sidney 2nd Earl of Leicester 10 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England

Great x 2 Grandfather: Thomas Gamage

Great x 1 Grandfather: Robert Gamage of Coity Castle 10 x Great Grand Son of King John of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: John St John 7 x Great Grand Son of King John of England

Great x 3 Grandfather: John St John 8 x Great Grand Son of King John of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Alice Bradshaigh

Great x 2 Grandmother: Margaret St John 9 x Great Grand Daughter of King John of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Morgan ap Jenkin Lord of Langstone

Great x 3 Grandmother: Sybil of Lansgtone Manor

GrandFather: John Gamage of Coity Castle 11 x Great Grand Son of King John of England

Mother: Barbara Gamage Countess Leicester 12 x Great Grand Daughter of King John of England