She had good reason: Lettice wasnt just one of the most attractive women in court, the pair also shared an uncanny family resemblance, right down to their red hair. Many carry hidden messages whose meanings are only known by the given, recipient and in some instances, the artist. In 1590 a report to England mentioned a man purporting to be Leicesters son being imprisoned in Alcantara, but Arthur is never mentioned again. Elizabeth never accepted Dudleys marriage. Unable to wait any longer for her to pass from cancer, suspicious courtiers claimed that the Lord offed his Lady quickly and simply with a fall down the stairs instead. As Marys half-sister, Elizabeth was a contender for the still-vulnerable crown, and Mary wasnt taking any chances. They had been friends since childhood, Dudley having been among her brother Edwards companions. Elizabeth I A Virago, Genetically Male or Simply a Strong woman? There is precedence for this type of image change. But their friendship probably charted a careful course between platonic and sexual. But the bigger they are, the harder they falland the courtiers spill was as spectacular as it was tragic. 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. Elizabeth I of England, The Sieve Portrait. Man who claimed to be the son of Elizabeth I. Somerset, 166167. No one around him had expected itbut the dark signs were there. In this entertaining sequel to The Secret Diary of Anne Boleyn, Robin Maxwell . 9781611452112: The Queen's Bastard: A Novel of Elizabeth I and Arthur The Queen's Bastard: a Novel of Elizabeth I and Arthur Dudley To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. Elizabeth was apoplectic when, months after the fact, she discovered Dudley was a married man. & Default not living, Ancestor map The letter written to William Cecil in 1588 about Arthur Dudley described him as being 27 which would give him a date of birth in 1561, a year where, according to Gristwood, records of Elizabeths movements are somewhat scanty. If so, is it because the queen is pregnant as opposed to married? Let us return to our portrait and the Latin motto Attici Amoris Ergo. Hilliards talent for portrait painting is more famous than his goldsmithing and he most probably designed and made the lockets for many of his portraits. Elizabeth was inconsolable at the loss of sweet Robin, the only man whom she had ever truly loved. I love mysteries and conspiracy theories so I just had to know more and I actually found some great research material a chapter in Sarah Gristwoods Elizabeth & Leicester and an article on the Dudley Genealogy website. Editor & Open Street Maps, Restrict Image Preview 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. While browsing on the internet, I found a press release about a book called Oxford, Son of Queen Elizabeth I by Paul Streitz which claims that the Edward de Vere, 17th Earl of Oxford, (AKA William Shakespeare) was the illegitimate son of Elizabeth I. The duke had wrested power during the minority of Edward VI (who became king aged nine on Henry VIIIs death), but was executed for putting his daughter-in-law, Lady Jane Grey, on the throne after the young kings death in 1553. So, are you sitting comfortably? Robert Dudley to Marry Mary Queen of Scots? Whoever he was, it is very unlikely that he was the son of Dudley and the Queen. It appears the illuminator is portraying the state of mind of the monarch at this crisis. Is the black and white lace a clue as to her identity? [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]. 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. Also, can we really believe that Spanish officials managed to capture Elizabeth Is illegitimate son just by chance? In this exquisite sequel to The Secret Diary of Anne Boleyn, Robin Maxwell fashions a stunning fictional account of the child switched at birth by a lady-in . AbeBooks.com: The Queen's Bastard: A Novel of Elizabeth I and Arthur Dudley (9781611452112) by Maxwell, Robin and a great selection of similar New, Used and Collectible Books available now at great prices. However, Amy was found dead at her residence, Cumnor Place, near Oxford on the 8th of September 1560, and Dudley became a free man. His time in the tower coincided with that of Elizabeth, herself imprisoned by Mary, who suspected Elizabeth of plotting against her. I think Elizabeth made a life choice and stuck to it period, end of story. When Arthur was about 5, Southern took him to London and placed him in the care of Katherine Ashley's husband, John Ashley, though Southern's other children remained in the village. You can follow Tracy on Twitter @BormanTracy or visit her website www.tracyborman.co.uk. This site powered by The Next Generation of Genealogy Sitebuilding v. 14.0.1, written by Darrin Lythgoe 2001-2023. 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. Robert Dudley (1532/33-88), was the fifth son of John Dudley, 1st Duke of Northumberland. There was just one problem. 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. The story of Queen Elizabeth I and Robert Dudley has fascinated people for more than 450 years. It was the most he could do; to acknowledge a child and a relationship outside of his dalliance with Elizabeth would, in his words, lead to his utter overthrow.. While a chunk of her family were locked in the tower, Roberts mother Jane Dudley worked tirelessly to get them released, even befriending people close to Queen Marys husband King Philip. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. The queens favorite suddenly collapsed and died in Cornbury Park near Oxford at the age of 56. When the day of the Earls return approached, people started gunning for a fight between the two menbut something else happened entirely. During the melee, Robert watched as his baby brother succumbed to cannon fire right in front of his eyes. Count Ancestors n He likely had a lot else of her, too: His bedroom was right beside hers, and witnesses reported that her majesty visits him in his chamber day and night. This soon attracted the wrong kind of attention. The Elizabethan Era is considered one of the greatest periods for culture, with giants like Shakespeare performing plays during her reign. At the time, investigators also ruled Robsarts fall as an accidentbut Dudley was still in hot water. 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. Join thousands of others and start your morning with our Fact Of The Day newsletter. In early September 1588 we know that Elizabeth was celebrating the defeat of the Spanish Armada when she received the news that her beloved Dudley had died on his way to Buxton. I tried to get my ex-wife served with divorce papers. When the Earl went away to Ireland in 1573, Lettice and Dudley jumped on the opportunity and likely started a full-blown affair. Read honest and unbiased product reviews from our users. And this wasnt the only scandal. The man asked to Sir Francis Englefield, a Catholic who had once been an adviser to Mary I and who was now in exile at the Spanish Court, and it was then that he told his story. The Queen's Bastard: A Novel of Elizabeth I and Arthur Dudley That servant, Robert Southern, was told to take the boy to London and raise him as one of his own children. 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. Calling him her frog, Queen Elizabeth showered the young duke with affection, and he gave every appearance of returning her love. [5] Elizabeth seriously considered marrying Dudley for some time. Is the hand that of a married lover which is why she is hidden behind a cloud? The Dramatic Love Story of Queen Elizabeth I and Her Favorite Robert Dudley Queen Elizabeth at Wanstead Hall. For years after, the queen kept tabs on any travels Lettice made, particularly if they were with her husband. He urged the new queen to consider the advantages of having the protection of Spain. 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. $11.95 $15.95 $1.35 $5.56 2 Collectible 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. Tragically, though, the Dudleys golden years were about to end. 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. Elizabeth was furious, however, and never spoke with her cousin again. According to Elizabeth, a thousand eyes see all I do. Not much has changed for the royal family. But she would never commit to any of them. Add Person Siblings Row Pedigree: Arthur DUDLEY They did not need to be lovers to share a deep love for one another. 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. Most modern historians have considered murder unlikely; breast cancer and suicide being the most widely accepted explanations (Doran, Inside the Bedchamber of the Virgin Queen, Robert Dudley: Queen Elizabeth I's great love, The Most Expensive Marriage Proposal in History, British History Online: Simancas: June 1587, 1630, "All the Queen's Children: Elizabeth I and the Meanings of Motherhood", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Arthur_Dudley&oldid=1151482019, Pages using infobox person with multiple parents, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 4.0, This page was last edited on 24 April 2023, at 10:15. 2. What do you think? [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. When he landed on Henry Stuart, Marys actual future husband, all bets were off and the deal fell through. Robert Dudley, 1st Earl of Leicester - Wikipedia 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 young man calling himself Arthur Dudley was arrested in Santander after being shipwrecked on Spains northern Coast. Making distraction rewarding since 2017. One of the last recorded sightings of the pair together was at a palace window, watching a celebratory parade staged by his stepson, the Earl of Essex. Why has her hair style changed to that of a married woman? 17 June. In 1578, with no hope of marrying Elizabeth in the future, Robert secretly wed her cousin, Lettice Knollys. Modern historians, however, have a more disturbing suggestion. Of perhaps in some other way they may be making use of him for their iniquitous ends., It also manifests that he has had much conference with the Earl of Leicester, upon whom he mainly depends for the fulfillment of his hopes. This dark reputation has followed him through the centuries, and even today Dudley is synonymous with a Machiavellian plotter. In this exquisite sequel to The Secret Diary of Anne Boleyn, Robin Maxwell fashions a stunning fictional account of . Amy Robsart, daughter of a Norfolk squire . Sellers writes of how Englefield believed that Elizabeth was planning to acknowledge Arthur as her son and nominate him as heir to the throne to obstruct the claims of James VI of Scotland and King Philip. . Nevertheless, Elizabeth made it clear that she had no intention of giving up her favourite. Catherine of Aragon is now infamous as King Henry VIIIs rejected queenbut few people know her even darker history. Elizabeth Pierrepont, Duchess of Kingston-upon-Hull - Wikipedia Its contents were heartbreaking. Is our young man making a statement of who his parents are in an arcane and subtle way? by Olaf Teige and Martin Pannier, The Next Generation of Genealogy Sitebuilding, Male and Female Descendant and Parent Ancestor Lines, Googlemap with (some) TNG Users worldwide, Geneagraphie - Families all over the world. When we do, we depend on our loyal, helpful readers to point out how we can do better. When her close friend and attendant Lady Fiennes de Clinton helped Elizabeth escape court in disguise to meet Dudley at his house for dinner, Philip II of Spains envoy heard of it and immediately reported it to his master. On September 4, 1588, Dudley finally met his fate. Apparently, Arthur passed these tests but Englefield was convinced that he was a spy and wrote to the King:-, I am of the opinion that he should not be allowed to get away, but should be kept very secure to prevent his escape., According to the Venetian ambassador in Madrid, Arthur Dudley was then sent to the castle of Lameda, proof that he was thought to be an English spy. & TextPlus Charts & Placesearch-More Info, Installation and tips Missing him, she wrote an affectionate letter, which she signed: As you know, ever the same. Estado, 839. Arthur then told Englefield of how Walsinghams manner had scared him so he escaped once again and joined a group of English soldiers who were on their way to serve in Flanders. A thousand eyes see all I do, she once complained. He further uses new historical documents that show John de Vere, 16th Earl of Oxford, was forced into He sent a statement to King Philip and included a letter from Arthur with it. 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 Tudor-era court politics were no jokeand on July 6, 1533, they became positively fatal. However, we may have Dudley to thank for this more than we do Elizabeth. They spent many hours together and had several common interests including dancing and hunting. Robert Dudley (1532/3388), was the fifth son of John Dudley, 1st Duke of Northumberland. Patricia Grimshaw is a self-professed museum nerd, with an equal interest in both medieval and military history. 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. But the bigger they are, the harder they falland the courtier's . The circumstances were suspicious. There was just one upside to the terrible situation. For one of the first times in his life, Dudley disobeyed his queen and staunchly refused to wed Mary. Though Elizabeth wouldnt marry him, she refused to consider anyone else, and Dudley himself only thought about marrying someone else with great repugnance. He also frequently sabotaged the suits of her other royal hopefuls. The Queen's Bastard, A Novel of Elizabeth I and Arthur Dudley by Robin In my opinion, it is unlikely that . Now that the scrutiny of the court was even more intense, she was obliged to go to even greater lengths to conceal their meetings. How could she have functioned having lost both her adored Robin and her child; a child the world did not know existed. The miniature portrait of an Unknown Young Man with the motto Attici Amoris Ergo, has fascinated me since childhood. 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. And poor Amy had it even worse than that. 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. A youthful attempt to run away to a life of adventure in his teens was ended when a surprisingly forceful and officious letter demanding his return arrived while he awaited a ship in Wales. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. Amazon.ca:Customer reviews: The Queen's Bastard: A Novel of Elizabeth I and Arthur Dudley By entering your details, you are agreeing to our terms and conditions and privacy policy. A summary of evidence pointing to Francis Bacon being the eldest living son of Queen Elizabeth I, but adopted by Sir Nicholas and Lady Anne Bacon. Perhaps it was a code between the youth and his lady and by inclusion of the name, the code must therefore relate to the Roman citizen, Atticus. Gristwood wonders if he was in fact an English agent. However, her health improved, and he was instead made a privy councilor. In the end, Dudley shouldnt have been so surprised that Elizabeth didnt want to lock it down with him. In 1572 Hilliard paints his first known miniature portrait of Elizabeth I. She refused him from taking far-away appointments and everyone at court feared her moods when he did happen to be out of the capital. Elizabeth kept her favourites letters, along with his portrait, in a locked desk next to her bed. She inscribed it His last letter, and kept it in a locked casket by her bed for the rest of her life. Spying Robert Dudley in a corner of the bedchamber, Melville slyly observed that she should not cling so to the portrait, since she had the original., As her reign progressed and the pressure to marry grew ever more intense, Elizabeth pretended to consider numerous potential suitors. Robert was given the title of Earl of Leicester in 1564 and a gift of Kenilworth Castle, which the queen visited regularly. However, William Cecil, Nicholas Throckmorton, and some conservative peers made their disapproval unmistakably clear. Painting by Marcus Gheeraerts the Elder. Upon his request, his family buried him alongside the noble Impe, his little son Robert who had died at the age of three. Please reach out to us to let us know what youre interested in reading. in 1587 a man claiming to be Arthur Dudley, the illegitimate child of Elizabeth and Robert turned up at Philip II's court in Madrid. By now he was gravely ill but did not hesitate to accept the post of Lieutenant and Captain-General of the Queens Armies and Companies. Persisten Bookmark (Ron Krzmarzick), Bot-Trap Buy The Queen's Bastard: A Novel of Elizabeth I and Arthur Dudley by Maxwell, Robin (ISBN: 9781951627867) from Amazon's Book Store. Now that his last-ditch attempt to persuade Elizabeth to marry him had failed, he took Lettice as his mistress. 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. Elizabeth is portrayed as Tuccia, a Vestal Virgin who proved her chastity by carrying a sieve full of water from the Tiber to the Temple of Vesta. These Redditors spilled the beans on the things that their families have tried to keep hidden. [8] Elizabeth was extremely jealous of his affections, even when she no longer meant to marry him herself. The Favorite: Tudor Edition. Gristwood goes on to write of how there are reports from the summer of 1561 of how Elizabeth looked like she had come from her childbed and how, according to the Spanish ambassador, she was swelling extraordinarily and was dropsical. This wasnt just the idle gossip of commoners or country nobility, eithereven those in Elizabeths own court believed it was possible. One of the earliest was King Eric XIV of Sweden, who had started to make overtures towards Elizabeth before she was queen. With the power of his influence (and his loins) on the queen, Dudley all but ruled England for a time. He spent the entire exchange passively sulking about it, all while desperately trying to find Mary another groom. Test your knowledge with our Elizabeth I quiz, LAST CHANCE to claim your book of choice + FREE access to HistoryExtra.com when you subscribe to BBC History Magazine or BBC History Revealed. According to Arthur, he was conceived in 1561, exactly the time that Queen Elizabeth had been bed-ridden with a mysterious swelling illness. Perhaps the young man and the lady shared a friendship in a similar way to that between Cicero and Atticus as declared in Ciceros famous writing on friendship? Written by Rebecca Larson Okay, okay, before you start throwing things at your screen hear me out a minute. Since Elizabeth never married why change her image on the front of these documents and why portray specific expressions on her face? In 1558, when Mary I died and Elizabeth I ascended to the throne, Robert was appointed as her Master of Horse. Amazon.ca:Customer reviews: The Queen's Bastard: A Novel of Another attempt at discretion was less successful. His parents had a happy family life and 13 children to prove it. It did not come to fruition, however. On Southerns deathbed, he had told Arthur that he was not his real father but refused to tell him any more. ||Wordpress installation and design by http://www.MadeGlobal.com, FREE Anne Boleyn Arthurs rather long and complicated story told of his many travels and his fear that he would be tracked down and murdered by Elizabeths agents to hush him up. Of all the power-hungry men in Queen Elizabeth Is court, Robert Dudley knew how to play the game of thrones best. then you may begin to wonder if this is more than a conspiracy theory or tall tale. 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. Everyone was struggling to back the right horse for the next monarch, with the Dudleys choosing Lady Jane Grey, AKA The Nine-Days Queen. Soneed I say this went horrifically? Nonetheless, in a court and era full of intrigue, backstabbing and scheming (she had been imprisoned by her own sister after all), it is not surprising that Elizabeth would remain so close to one of her oldest and most loyal friends, Robert. [16], Taken to Madrid, Dudley claimed to be the son of Queen Elizabeth and Robert Dudley, conceived in 1561, the timing of which would have been consistent with when she was bedridden. Dudleys next move didnt help matters. On a visit to court in 1564, the Scottish ambassador Sir James Melville spied the portrait as Elizabeth was searching for one of his own royal mistress. Throughout all this turmoilas well as his marriage to AmyRobert and Elizabeth stayed very close, and Dudley soon reaped the benefits of their friendship. In 1558, Queen Mary died childless, turning Elizabeth into Queen Elizabeth I. Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, circa 1564. In fact, when Elizabeth gave her famous speech to her troops, Dudley was walking right beside her horse. Given Robert and Elizabeths close relationship soon after, its easy to imagine the horrific experience bringing them together. He also used the party as a Love me or leave me message to Elizabeth, basically bidding for her hand for the last time. But in private, the queen refused to give up her favourite. Many of them conspired in plots against his life, so much so that Dudley took to wearing chain mail under his clothing. 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. There is no firm evidence to corroborate the story, but it suited King Philips interests to discredit the English queen. In the letters that Queen Elizabeth and Dudley exchanged, they used the symbol as code for the nickname of Eyes that she had given him. In 1559, Elizabeth had Dudley's bedchambers moved next to her own apartments. The Queen assured Mary she was, and that if she went through with it, shed be named heir to England. Modifications by, Person Map (Ken Roy) &
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