Buy The Queen's Bastard: A Novel of Elizabeth I and Arthur Dudley by Maxwell, Robin (ISBN: 9781951627867) from Amazon's Book Store. For almost a decade after, she publicly humiliated him whenever she could, sneering in front of members of the court that Lettice was a She-wolf and Dudley a traitor and cuckold. At the same time, she still insisted on keeping Dudley near her whenever she could. After Elizabeth's own death, a note from him was found among her most personal belongings, marked "his last letter" in her handwriting. For the Michaelmas Law term of 1560, the anonymous illuminator has taken the trouble to show the Queens expression. Robert Dudleys sojourn in the Tower coincided with that of the new queens half-sister, Elizabeth (who Mary suspected of plotting against her). Queen Elizabeth I and Robert Dudley [ edit] Pair of miniatures of Elizabeth and Leicester, c. 1575, by Nicholas Hilliard. Data Protection Policy Then these courtly games hit a bizarre climax. They spent many hours together and had several common interests including dancing and hunting. Before long, their relationship was causing a scandal not just in England, but in courts across Europe. Is the black and white lace a clue as to her identity? The fact that Elizabeth would have conceived in the winter of 1560/61, when marriage to Robert Dudley would have been impossible because of the scandal surrounding his wifes death. When Dudley first met Lettice, she was already married to the Earl of Essex. While locked in the Tower, Robert Dudley had a fateful cellmate: Princess Elizabeth. During my researches into the life and work of Levina Teerlinc I researched the various Ps on the front sheet of the Coram Rege rolls which were the recording of the proceedings of the Queens Bench and always showed an image of the monarch as Gods purveyor of justice and mercy. The queens favorite suddenly collapsed and died in Cornbury Park near Oxford at the age of 56. His loyalty was rewarded when Elizabeth became queen in 1558, at the age of 25. As told by Arthur, Elizabeth had a governess, Katherine Ashley, whose servant was summoned to the court in 1561 and told to obtain a nurse for the newborn infant of someone at the palace. First, that Queen Elizabeth I had a child in July 1548 when she was fourteen, and second, that this child was raised as Edward de Vere, 17th Earl of Oxford, better known to the world by the pen name of William Shakespeare. Please reach out to us to let us know what youre interested in reading. Elizabeth was inconsolable at the loss of sweet Robin, the only man whom she had ever truly loved. And there is one more possibility. A notoriously handsome man, Robert Dudley was Elizabeth I's "special" court favorite and, some say, the Virgin Queen's one true love. [16] Three letters exist today describing the interview, detailing what Arthur proclaimed to be the story of his life, from birth in the royal palace to the time of his arrival in Spain.[16]. Elizabeth lived in constant fear for her life during her sisters time on the throne, and Robert remained loyal to her. Tracy Borman explores the complex and sometimes scandalous relationship between Elizabeth I and Robert Dudley Elizabeth I is remembered in history as the Virgin Queen. Dudley may have been pretty, but he wasnt afraid to get down and dirty. . The Queen's Bastard: A Novel of Elizabeth I and Arthur Dudley Kindle Edition by Robin Maxwell (Author) Format: Kindle Edition 424 ratings See all formats and editions Kindle Edition $17.10 Read with Our Free App Audiobook $0.00 Free with your Audible trial If it is of his lover, why is she not responding to his touch as her fingers appear to rest inert within his? Is the hand that of a married lover which is why she is hidden behind a cloud? This no doubt added to her attraction for Dudley, who had enjoyed a flirtation with Lettice for the previous 10 years. Add Person Siblings Row
"[17] The King agreed, and Arthur was never heard from again. How there is line of descendants from Queen Elizabeth and the rightful King of England should be a descendant of the Tudor line of monarchs and of William Shakespeare.. Of all the power-hungry men in Queen Elizabeth Is court, Robert Dudley knew how to play the game of thrones best. The words Attici Amoris Ergo are written between him and the unknown womans hand as if to underline the connection between him, her and Atticus and on the other side are the words Anno Domini 1588, which indicates that the date is important, but unlike other portraits there is no indication of the age of the young man. Read honest and unbiased product reviews from our users. She inscribed it His last letter, and kept it in a locked casket by her bed for the rest of her life. However, the fact that he turned up at King Philip of Spains court might have been worrying to Elizabeth, unless he was in fact an English spy. Queen Elizabeth I of England (reign: 1558-1603) famously never married and steadfastly defended her chastity, protecting her reputation and defending her crown. Today we have a guest article from author Melanie Tayor. But could Elizabeth really have had an illegitimate son by the Earl of Leicester or anyone else? Husbands hide things from wives, mothers from children, and generation from generation. She appears concerned and perhaps worried. Thanks for your help! However, when Elizabeth believed she was dying, she solemnly swore, though she loved [Robert] dearlynothing unseemly had ever passed between them., Read another story from us:Elizabeth I Files: The Conspiracy Theory Surrounding her True Gender. How Oxfords story is found in the character of Hamlet and in Shakespeares Sonnets. Elizabeth was recorded as suffering from all sorts of complaints which, for me, conflicts with other observations of her being a good and enthusiastic horsewoman who enjoyed the hunt as demonstrated in the woodcuts illustrating a book on hunting showing the queen being at a kill. If so, is it because the queen is pregnant as opposed to married? Robert Dudley led the charge for supporting Jane Grey, but he and his family barely had time to say, Oops, my royal bad before Elizabeths sister Queen Mary I swept in, won the conflict, and threw them all in the Tower of London. It got so bad that one of her advisors even had to break the door down and extract the Queen of England from her mourning so she could run the country. At the time, investigators also ruled Robsarts fall as an accidentbut Dudley was still in hot water. Count Ancestors n
Let us return to our portrait and the Latin motto Attici Amoris Ergo. Robert Dudley, 1st Earl of Leicester, KG, PC (24 June 1532 [note 1] - 4 September 1588) was an English statesman and the favourite of Elizabeth I from her accession until his death. I decided to research the story after Jennifer commented on the Bisley Boy post saying that she had read of a man turning up at the Spanish Court and claiming he was Elizabeth and Dudleys son. They did not need to be lovers to share a deep love for one another. As for Dudleys loving wife? from Darrin Lythgoe at Youtube, Googlemap with (some) TNG Users worldwide
Man, sure hope he was an extrovert. Not that this comforted Elizabeth when she found out the horrific news. Our editors are instructed to fact check thoroughly, including finding at least three references for each fact. On her deathbed, Elizabeth declared that "nothing unseemly had ever occurred" between them. Marriage of Mary I to Philip of Spain P. Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for The Queen's Bastard: A Novel of Elizabeth I and Arthur Dudley at Amazon.com. While Elizabeth showered Dudley with well-appointed chambers, she refused to entertain Amy Robsart, who spent most of her time outside of London and away from her husband. The figures in the garden may include representations of Robert and Lettice Dudley. Whoever he was, it is very unlikely that he was the son of Dudley and the Queen. We know that she locked herself in her room consumed with inconsolable grief until the door was forced. Do you question the accuracy of a fact you just read? Lawyers Reveal Their Most Jaw-Dropping Court Cases, Couldnt Pay Me To Go Back: Absolutely Wild Stories Of High School Drama, These Mortifying Mistakes Make Us Want To Hit Undo, Catherine de Medici Was Utterly RuthlessAnd She Paid A Terrible Price, Im Done: These People Quit Their Bad Jobs And Toxic Relationships In Epic Ways. As Marys half-sister, Elizabeth was a contender for the still-vulnerable crown, and Mary wasnt taking any chances. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. She was not a woman to be set aside and insisted that Dudley marry her. The scandal reverberated not just around the kingdom but across the courts of Europe, so that Elizabeth was obliged to distance herself from Dudley in order to avoid being implicated any further. But towards the end of Dudleys life, they grew close once more. First, he offed his wife, and now he must have poisoned his mistress man. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. And what about the date of 1588? Also, can we really believe that Spanish officials managed to capture Elizabeth Is illegitimate son just by chance? It did not come to fruition, however. In the aftermath of Englands famous victory over the Spanish Armada, Dudley was riding a high with Elizabeth once more, and re-entered London from the battlefield as if he were a king. For the next few weeks, he received the rare privilege (even for him) of dining with the queen almost every day. Besides his administrative duties as Master of the Horse and later as Lord Steward, Robert Dudley also had to take on ceremonial duties. Is our young man making a statement of who his parents are in an arcane and subtle way? Think you know Elizabeth I? The fact that the name Arthur was in both the Dudley and Tudor trees. Elizabeth and Dudley were actually childhood friends. Join 1000s of subscribers and receive the best Vintage News in your mailbox for FREE, Unsung Female Heroes whose Influence is Still Felt, The 8 Most Inventive Ways People Escaped the Berlin Wall, Police arrest a 72-year-old suburban grandfather suspected of being the Golden State Killer, Im not dead yet: some Buddhist monks followed self-mummification, Project Azorian: Howard Hughes secret mission, 1960s U.S. satellite that started transmitting again in 2013, The Walk of Shame in Game of Thrones historical inspiration, The only unsolved skyjacking case in U.S. history might have a break, Kurt Gdel became too paranoid to eat and died of starvation, Little Ease: One of the most feared torture devices in the Tower of London, The humble English girl who became Cora Pearl, Walt Disney softened the original Snow White story. But it all came to nothing, and Franois eventually returned to France in 1581. They were looked upon now not only by the royal household but also by the entire kingdom and beyond. Still, they both knew the score: Dudley told her point-blank that he could never marry her or give her an heir, and he even offered his services in finding her a husband. I knew that she was going to take it badly, but I had no idea about the insane lengths she would go to just to get revenge and mess with my life. Upon hearing that Dudley had suddenly passed, Queen Elizabeth I was utterly inconsolable. My mom never told me how her best friend died. Elizabeth ascended the throne in 1558, when Dudley was still a married man. Francis Bacon, Son of Queen Elizabeth I. One of the earliest was King Eric XIV of Sweden, who had started to make overtures towards Elizabeth before she was queen. Rumors began to spread at court that Dudley had murdered Amy to gain his freedom and marry the queen. He took his palace duties seriously, particularly Tudor Englands nasty plumbing problem. & TNG Colour Scheme
But Dudley had a manipulative agenda. When Elizabeth learned that her cousin had stolen the only man she had truly loved, she flew into a jealous rage, boxing Lettices ears and screaming that as but one sun lightened the earth, she would have but one queen in England. Gristwood believes that Englefield thought that Arthur was a stooge of Elizabeth I and her government, and the Venetians thought him to be a spy. Copyright 2023 by Factinate.com. The next day, Dudley became the powerful royal Master of the Horseand his illicit courtship began in earnest. Please let us know if a fact weve published is inaccurate (or even if you just suspect its inaccurate) by reaching out to us at contribute@factinate.com. Their relationship has been explored in books, films and on TV, most recently by Cate Blanchett and Joseph Fiennes in the film Elizabeth, and by Helen Mirren and Jeremy Irons in the series Elizabeth I. Born on 24th June 1532, he was the fifth son of John Dudley, Duke of Northumberland and his wife, Jane. [1] It was said that Amy Robsart, his wife, was suffering from a "malady in one of her breasts" and that the Queen would like to marry Dudley if his wife should die. If anything, she found ways to spend even more time with him. Her ladies would have certainly noticed her weight gain and swelling and such scandal would surely have got out somehow, however hushed up Elizabeth tried to keep it. When the Earl went away to Ireland in 1573, Lettice and Dudley jumped on the opportunity and likely started a full-blown affair. In this exquisite sequel to The Secret Diary of Anne Boleyn, Robin Maxwell fashions a stunning fictional account of . However, both during and since her reign the question of whether or not Elizabeth took any lovers at all has lived on, particularly in reference to Robert Dudley, the Earl of Leicester. The Queen assured Mary she was, and that if she went through with it, shed be named heir to England. This sparked endless gossip among the princesss household, particularly given that Dudley was a married man. His story included a time of conception - around 1561 - when Elizabeth was ill and bedridden, her body mysteriously swollen. To the courts great titillation, this didnt stop them. Save 70% on the shop price when you subscribe today - Get 13 issues for just $49.99 + FREE access to HistoryExtra.com, Realising that marrying a home-grown candidate was fraught with difficulty, Elizabeths ministers focused upon suitors from overseas for most of her reign. Elizabeths chief rival, Mary, Queen of Scots, was in no doubt that Elizabeth and Dudley were lovers, and later told the noblewoman Bess of Hardwick that he had visited the queens bed numerous times. He spent the entire exchange passively sulking about it, all while desperately trying to find Mary another groom. Elizabeth was incredibly controlling about where Dudley went and when he did it. Join thousands of others and start your morning with our Fact Of The Day newsletter. They maintain there wasnt foul play involved, yet it was still a strange fall that shouldnt have necessarily been fatal. Dudley even refused to complete his court duties for weeks after the tragedy, staying home to comfort my sorrowful wife for the loss of my little son. Dudley had waited years for Elizabeth to marry him, denying himself an heir for decades, and now that heir was gone. In the autumn of 1588 Walsingham is told by his spies in Madrid that this young man, Arthur, dies. 4 reviews. The Michaelmas Law term runs from October to December, which in 1560 is the term where the very monarchy is threatened by the scandal of Lady Dudleys death and the international gossip regarding Elizabeth and Dudleys scandalous behaviour. [16] After more travel between England and France, Arthur had voyaged to Spain, and in the return had been shipwrecked, he claimed. Robert Dudley to Marry Mary Queen of Scots? Despite the considerable age gap, the pair became very close, aided by the fact that the duke was the only one of the queens many suitors to court her in person. Catherine of Aragon was King Henry VIIIs first wife and longest-lasting Queen of England. On Southerns deathbed, he had told Arthur that he was not his real father but refused to tell him any more. Meanwhile, her courtiers worked overtime to keep Dudley from the crown. One of the passengers aboard this boat was a young man in his 20s who claimed to be a Catholic who had undertaken a pilgrimage to a shrine at Montserrat. And poor Amy had it even worse than that. Historian Martin Hume wondered if Arthur had actually been on a secret mission to report back to the English government on Spains preparations for war and was forced to concoct his story as a cover when he was arrested. Since Elizabeth never married why change her image on the front of these documents and why portray specific expressions on her face? Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. Their relationship had survived almost 50 years of trials and tribulations, and Elizabeth was lost without him. Dancy Mason is the Editor-in-Chief at Factinate. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. The Spanish officials arrested the man, suspecting that he was an English spy, and incarcerated him at San Sebastian. This friendship was the source of much gossip in Princess Elizabeths household, particularly as Robert was married. Queen Elizabeth was obviously the most eligible bachelorette in the country, and her courtiers and advisors did not take well to her fixation on the married Dudley. For all his desperation to marry the queen, Dudley had been secretly courting one of her ladies-in-waiting, Lettice Knollys. Elizabeth was recorded as suffering from all sorts of complaints which, for me, conflicts with other observations of her being a good and enthusiastic horsewoman who enjoyed the hunt as demonstrated in the woodcuts illustrating a book on hunting showing the queen being at a kill. This was used by Elizabeths cousin and rival, Mary, Queen of Scots, who told another noblewoman, Bess of Hardwick, that Robert had been seen visiting Elizabeths rooms many times. This was made even worse when, in 1587, a man named Arthur Dudley, while visiting the court of Philip II in Spain, claimed to be the illegitimate child of the Queen and Robert. However, William Cecil, Nicholas Throckmorton, and some conservative peers made their disapproval unmistakably clear. A letter from Leicester to Elizabeth I, written at the Armada camp and signed with his nickname, Eyes, Whether Elizabeth I and Robert Dudley were indeed lovers remains a mystery to this day; there is no hard evidence to provide confirmation one way or the other. Don't miss out on the chace to claim your copy of Tracy Borman's latest book when you subscribe today! He also told of how, at one point, he had been taken before Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, by officers named Blount and Fludd (who did exist), and that Dudley had shown him affection by tears, words, and other demonstrations and had said You are like a ship under full sail at sea, pretty to look upon but dangerous to deal with. She then banished this flouting wench from her presence, vowing never to set eyes on her again. It was in Dudley that the eight-year-old Elizabeth had confided upon the execution of her third stepmother, Catherine Howard, in 1541, vowing: I will never marry. He would always remember the conversation, and it may have been the reason he decided to marry Amy Robsart nine years later. Dudleys enemies accused him of being a Master Courtier who would stop at nothing to hold onto a shred of power. While many historians and a coroners report found in the National Archives have all pointed to an accidental death, it did not prevent nobles and politicians at the time from using it to try desperately to prevent the Queen from marrying him. There is no firm evidence to corroborate the story, but it suited King Philips interests to discredit the English queen. Atticus was a Roman citizen holding the rank of an equestrian knight. But the bigger they are, the harder they falland the courtiers spill was as spectacular as it was tragic. The silver-tongued boy also showed a way with words that helped him curry favor wherever he went. Earl of Leicester, may have led to the birth of a son, Arthur Dudley. On the surface, Dudleys childhood seemed perfect. Dudley was examined by Francis Englefield, a Catholic aristocrat exiled to Spain and secretary to King Philip II. Despite the Dudleys very rocky relationship with Queen Mary I, they eventually patched things up and returned to courtonly to have yet more tragedy strike. That servant, Robert Southern, was told to take the boy to London and raise him as one of his own children. Dudleys health had actually been failing for some time before this, and he fatigued easily. Their friendship and close companionship continued for many years. Robert Dudley, dressed partly in tilting armour, 1575. When Lettice Knollys passed years later, she too chose to be buried beside them, even though she had re-married. These Redditors spilled the beans on the things that their families have tried to keep hidden. But in private, the queen refused to give up her favourite. [13] In 1561, she was mysteriously bedridden with an illness that caused her body to swell. Robert Dudley (1532/3388), was the fifth son of John Dudley, 1st Duke of Northumberland. Listen: Nicola Cornick discusses the life and mysterious death of Tudor gentlewoman Amy Robsart, wife of Robert Dudley on this episode of the HistoryExtra podcast: Yet it is extremely unlikely that Dudley or Elizabeth had any hand in Amys death. Persisten Bookmark (Ron Krzmarzick), Bot-Trap
Historians have long whispered that "the Virgin Queen" Elizabeth's passionate, lifelong affair with Robin Dudley, Earl of Leicester, may have led to the birth of a son, Arthur Dudley. In September 1578, Dudley did the unthinkable: He married Lettice Knollys in a secret ceremony, with only a select number of friends and family in attendance. Has anyone read this book? His parents had a happy family life and 13 children to prove it. Arthur had stormed off but Smyth, a schoolmaster who was sent after Arthur by Southern, told Arthur the truth, that he was the son of Robert Dudley and the Queen. This article first appeared in BBC History Magazine's 'Royal Dynasties' bookazine, in January 2016. On Southern's deathbed, he had told Arthur that he was not his real father but refused to tell him any more. In 1563, Queen Elizabeth pulled the ultimate were totally chill move and suggested Dudley marry her cousin Mary, Queen of Scots instead. Robert and Lettice had started a flirtation back in 1565, causing Elizabeth to erupt with jealousy. People at court began to whisper that the Master Courtier was at it again. As Gristwood concludes, In the end I feel like the White Queen in Alice, asked to believe too many impossible things before breakfast! To add fuel to the already brightly burning gossip fire, Robert Dudleys wife died under mysterious circumstances in 1560. Melanie is the author of The Truth of the Line, an historical novel, and you can read my review of it over on our book review site click here. A few days later, he wrote to Elizabeth from Rycote in Oxfordshire, ending the letter: I humbly kiss your foot by Your Majestys most faithful and obedient servant. These were probably the last words ever written by Robert Dudley. He was a suitor for the queen's hand for many years. (Brian McFadyen, Jerome Liebowitz, Ken Roy, Jim Graham), Collapsible Standard
Elizabeth employed what would become her customary tactic of delaying, but eventually told Philip that she could not marry her sisters widower, and that his Catholicism would not be acceptable to her people. Elizabeths chief rival, Mary, Queen of Scots, Robert Dudleys three-week marriage proposal to Elizabeth I, Lettice Knollys, Robert Dudley and Elizabeth I. If the politically advantageous marriage went through, Liz wanted the three of them to live at the English court in an awkward mnage a trois, all so shed never have to give up her favorite. That infant, named Arthur, was to be raised as a gentleman. Family Preview
And this wasnt the only scandal. But the bigger they are, the harder they falland the courtier's . As queen, Elizabeths every move was scrutinised not just by her people, but by the whole of Europe. -- John (VI; de) SUTTON + &&&> [ 255,nWHA,RMX,&] -- John (Sir; of Hatherington) DUDLEY-- Elizabeth (of Beverstone) BERKELEY + ==&=> [ 255,WHa,Rv,&] -- Edmund (Sir . Please submit feedback to contribute@factinate.com. Uh, thanks, I guess? Queen Elizabeth at Wanstead Hall. Imprimis, he said that a man named Robert Southern, a servant of Catharine Ashley (who had been governess to the Queen in her youth, and was for ever afterwards one of her most . The Tudor era had seen many people claiming that they were heirs to the throne Perkin Warbeck, the famous pretender who claimed to be Richard Duke of York, one of the Princes in the Tower; Lambert Simnel who pretended to be Edward Plantagenet, Earl of Warwick, son of George, Duke of Clarence (Edward IVs brother) ; and the madwoman Anne Burnell who claimed to be the daughter of Mary I and Philip of Spain so there was really nothing new about Arthur Dudley and his story, particularly when there were already rumours circulating during Elizabeths reign that her summer progresses were cover-ups for her giving birth to illegitimate children! Little did they know, it would be one of their last glorious moments together. Ironically, the death of Dudleys wife in 1560, at her residence Cumnor Place, removed any hope that Elizabeth may have privately cherished of one day marrying him. However, Dudley's story failed to convince the Spanish: Englefield admitted to the King that Arthur's "claim at present amounts to nothing", but suggested that "he should not be allowed to get away, but [] kept very secure. The rumours flared up again in 1587, when a young man going by the name of Arthur Dudley arrived at Philip IIs court in Madrid, Spain, claiming to be the illegitimate child of the English queen and her favourite, Robert Dudley. Lets just, Reign (20132017), CBS Television Studios, Elizabeth: The Golden Age (2007), Universal Pictures, Mary Queen of Scots (2018), Focus Features, Elizabeth: The Golden Age, Universal Pictures, Entrancing Facts About Madame de Pompadour, France's Most Powerful Mistress, Tragic Facts About Catherine of Aragon, Henry VIIIs First Wife, Treacherous Facts About Constantine II, The Last King Of Greece, Gargantuan Facts About Robert Wadlow, The Tallest Man Who Ever Lived, Rebellious Facts About Sinad O'Connor, The Irish Scandal Maker, Wild Facts About Geraldo Rivera, The King Of Trash TV. [14], Years later in 1587, a man calling himself Arthur Dudley was detained by the Spanish[15] after rescue from a shipwreck on the Biscay Coast under suspicion of being a spy. I could then write simply and sincerely to the Earl of Leicester all that has happened to me, in order to keep in his good graces; and I could also publish a book to any effect that might be considered desirable, in which I should show myself to be everybodys friend and nobodys enemy, Gristwood writes of how Englefield made further reports back to the King after he had questioned Arthur again and Sandy Sellers, in the article Arthur Dudley, writes of how Englefield tested Arthur on his education, his knowledge of the Queens household (because he claimed to have spent his summers at one of the Queens houses in Enfield) and his knowledge of the people he had mentioned in his elaborate story. His son Robert led troops in support of the coup, but was swiftly defeated by Queen Mary I and was thrown into the Tower of London. Dr Tracy Borman is joint chief curator of Historic Royal Palaces and an expert on the Tudor period. She was the mere daughter of a local gentleman farmer, which wasnt exactly the birth rank the Dudleys were aiming for. We want our readers to trust us. Julia A Hickey has decided to examine the life of the illegitimate Robert Dudley in her book, "The Son that Elizabeth I Never Had: The Adventurous Life of Robert Dudley's Illegitimate Son." Thank you, Pen and Sword Books and Net Galley, for sending me a copy of this book. Arthur Dudley was a 16th-century man famous for the controversial claim that he was the son of Queen Elizabeth I and Robert Dudley, a man known to have had a (not necessarily consummated) long love affair with the queen. Calling him her frog, Queen Elizabeth showered the young duke with affection, and he gave every appearance of returning her love. The young man, claiming to be called Arthur Dudley, told of how he had been raised by Robert Southern, a man who had once been a servant of Kat Ashley, Elizabeth I's governess and friend, in a village around 60 miles outside of London.