Biography of Susan Bertie Countess Kent 1554-

On 7th September 1533 Charles Brandon 1st Duke of Suffolk (age 49) and [her mother] Catherine Willoughby Duchess Suffolk (age 14) were married. She by marriage Duchess Suffolk. He held her wardship and had intended to marry her to his ten years old son. In the event of the death of his wife, Mary Tudor Queen Consort France, ten weeks earlier he decided to marry her himself instead. The difference in their ages was 35 years. They were fifth cousin once removed.

After 1551 [her father] Richard Bertie Baron Willoughby (age 34) and [her mother] Catherine Willoughby Duchess Suffolk (age 31) were married. He by marriage Baron Willoughby de Eresby.

In 1554 Susan Bertie Countess Kent was born to [her father] Richard Bertie Baron Willoughby (age 37) and [her mother] Catherine Willoughby Duchess Suffolk (age 34).

1567 . nmxfbdw2. Portrait of Susan Bertie Countess Kent (age 13).

Around 1570 Reginald Grey 5th Earl Kent (age 30) and Susan Bertie Countess Kent (age 16) were married. She by marriage Countess Kent. She the daughter of Richard Bertie Baron Willoughby (age 53) and Catherine Willoughby Duchess Suffolk (age 50).

On 17th May 1573 [her husband] Reginald Grey 5th Earl Kent (age 33) died. His brother Henry (age 32) succeeded 6th Earl Kent, 9th Baron Grey of Ruthyn.

Around 1579 Aemilia Bassano (age 9) was educated in the household of Susan Bertie Countess Kent (age 25).

Around 1582 John Wingfield and Susan Bertie Countess Kent (age 28) were married. The difference in their ages was 27 years; she, unusually, being older than him. She the daughter of Richard Bertie Baron Willoughby (age 65) and Catherine Willoughby Duchess Suffolk. They were sixth cousins.

In 1596 [her husband] John Wingfield (age 14) died intestate. His widow [Susan Bertie Countess Kent (age 42)] renounced the administration of his estate, which was granted to a creditor, William Browne of London. Lady Wingfield told Cecil in September 1596 that she owed tradesmen £900, as she and her husband had lived on credit for the past seven years, and when she heard the news of her husband's death she had 'not one penny in the house to buy meat... till her Majesty, most like a gracious sovereign, hearing of my misery, sent me £40'. She begged for an annuity, now 'it hath pleased the Lord to lay his heavy cross upon me in taking my husband from me, who hath not only lost all his worldly substance in her Majesty's service, but confirmed his faith and great desire he had to serve her Majesty with ending his life therein'. She got £100 p.a. for her own life, and that of her son Peregrine. History of Parliament.