Mary Dudley [SEP] father
from court life in 1579, suffering from ill health during her last years.
Family and early years of marriage.
Mary Dudley was the eldest daughter among the 13 children of John Dudley, 1st Duke of Northumberland and his wife Jane Guildford. Mary Dudley was well-educated. Fluent in Italian, French, and Latin, she was interested in alchemy, romances, and writing poetry. Her copy of Edward Hall's "Chronicles" bears her annotations in French. She also became a friend, correspondent and frequent
Stephen Poyntz, on 12 May 1824. They had at least six children:
- William Alleyne Cecil, 3rd Marquess of Exeter (1825–1895)
- Colonel Lord Brownlow Thomas Montagu Cecil (1827–1905)
- Lady Mary Frances Cecil (1832–1917), married Dudley Ryder, 3rd Earl of Harrowby
- Commander Lord Edward Cecil (25 Dec 1834 – 12 Sep 1862)
- Lord Adelbert Percy Cecil (1841–1889), member of the Plymouth Brethren
- Lady Victoria Cecil (1843–1932), married William Charles Evans