Sir Nicholas Knollys, titular 3rd Earl of Banbury

3rd Earl of Banbury (Titular) 3rd Viscount Wallingford (Titular) 3rd Baron Knollys of Greys (Titular)

Nicholas assumed the title of his legal father, William Knollys, following the death of his elder brother without issue.

Between June-November 1660 he sat repeatedly in the House of Lords. In May 1661, no writ to sit in Parliament was issued to him, and he petitioned Parliament. Even though the Privileges Committee found that he was legitimate, the House of Lords repeatedly tried to deprive him of his title on the grounds of illegitimacy.

There is some debate as to whether Nicholas, and his elder brother Edward, were in fact the legitimate sons of William, 1st Earl of Banbury, or were the illegitmate sons of Edward Vaux, 4th Lord Vaux.

Though William was aged 84 at his birth, Cokayne claims there are strong arguments in support of his legitimacy, even though Nicholas was born at Lord Vaux's house.

Prior to his elder brother's death, Nicholas had assumed the surname of Vaux. On 19 October 1646, the 4th Lord Vaux settled the whole of his estates on Nicholas, speaking of him as "now Earl of Banbury, heretofore called Nicholas Vaux", to the total exclusion of his own lawful heirs.

The House of Lords considers the earldom of Banbury extinct since 1632.

Nicholas was first briefly married to Isabella Blount, daughter of the 1st Earl of Newport. She died in February 1654/5 without issue.

His second wife was Anne Sherard, daughter of the 1st Baron Sherard and Abigail Cave. Nicholas and Anne were married on 4 October 1655 in Leicestershire, and several children were born of the marriage - including his heir Charles Knollys, who petitioned the House of Lords in his claim to the earldom of Banbury.

The denial of Charles Knollys' claim would begin litigation and court petitions for the next 175 years.