Gerald FitzGerald, 14th Earl of Kildare

[1] The last decade of his life was much troubled by a long-running lawsuit brought against him by his cousin Lettice and her husband.

[2] Lettice, only child of the eldest son of Gerald FitzGerald, 11th Earl of Kildare and his countess, Mabel Browne, had expected to inherit a substantial part of her grandfather's estate, but shortly before his death in 1585 she was disinherited by deed.

Kildare filed a countersuit alleging, rather implausibly, that the action was collusive and that Mabel and Lettice were conspiring to deprive him of his property.

Kildare complained bitterly of the disgrace to his honour and impoverishment of his estate, but was unable to bring proceedings to a resolution; the case continued even after both he and Mabel were dead.

[5][6] She was still living in 1634, when she leased Kilkea Castle, County Kildare, a long-standing FitzGerald residence, to the Jesuit Order.