Dark History of the Tudors: Murder, Adultery, Incest, Witchcraft, Wars, Religious Persection, Piracy (Dark Histories)

by John, Judith

  With the rebellion quashed, Elizabeth again became the focus of interrogation. The roots of Mary’s distrust perhaps lay in deep affection for her mother, who was so viciously pushed aside by Anne Boleyn, Elizabeth’s mother. Mary also found it hard to forget how Anne had favoured her beloved Elizabeth, the result of which saw Mary tossed aside by her father. Mary’s suspicions were deep-rooted, despite there being no proof that Elizabeth had taken any part in the rebellion or had even been aware of Courtenay’s plans. On 18 March 1554, Elizabeth was taken to the Tower of London, where she would remain for two months. Only when she had been repeatedly interrogated and questioned – during which time she never wavered from the protestations of innocence and love for her sister – did Elizabeth leave her prison for Woodstock, where she was placed under house arrest for nearly a year.

  Support for Elizabeth flourished during this time, as Mary’s religious intolerance grew and grew. Elizabeth may well have remained under house arrest until Mary came up with a way to remove the threat she posed, had it not been for Mary’s pregnancy in 1555. Practicalities had to be dealt with, even if personal opinion was clouded. If Mary had a healthy child, Elizabeth was unlikely to ever become Queen. However, the precarious nature of childhood meant that Mary needed to have her sister in place for the succession if she were to die in childbirth. In the end, the plans were unnecessary. Mary would never carry a child to term, her only pregnancies being figments of her damaged imagination.

  Mary’s health declined and, on 17 November 1558, she died leaving Elizabeth as her heir under the terms of Henry VIII’s original will.

  Under Elizabeth, the Tudor line would continue for nearly 45 years. She had learned much from her parents, brother and sister. From her father she acquired the right to rule above all her subjects and the charisma to do so successfully. Her mother’s memory embedded Elizabeth with a caution that meant she rarely made rash decisions. Having seen how religious swings could result in rebellion, these were treated with moderation. Keeping her public as well as powerful allies on side would be a challenge, but Elizabeth had already escaped two charges of treason and was more than capable of using her skills of manipulation when necessary. At the age of 25, with the blood of her parents coursing through her veins and the mistakes of her siblings as stepping stones, Elizabeth I would shape her image into one that inspired an almost cult-like following.

  This striking illustration shows Elizabeth on her coronation procession along the River Thames in London. Already the Queen had proven that she needed no one to help put her on the throne.

  Becoming Elizabeth I

  While there were issues with Elizabeth becoming ruler – namely her being a woman and not sticking to the Catholic faith that Mary had reintroduced – by and large the country was happy that Elizabeth was to become Queen. Her coronation took place on 15 January 1559 and was met with cheers, dancing, music and celebrations, the dark days of Bloody Mary’s reign quickly fading in the brilliance of the dazzling young Queen.

  Elizabeth assured her council that she would heed their advice and look to them and her people for guidance. She sought to reduce religious turmoil by uniting the country under a Protestant religion with elements of traditional Catholicism still present, not making the same mistakes as her siblings in pushing reforms too far, too fast. While this decision was generally well received in England, it left the realm open to attack from traditional Catholic countries, which might be tempted to try their luck against a heretical England. As Elizabeth seems to have been so flexible in her religious beliefs, a strong argument in favour of Protestantism was her illegitimacy in the eyes of the Catholic faith, the marriage between her parents not being seen as valid by the Catholic Church. If she had chosen Catholicism, Elizabeth would have left herself open to opposition from legitimate heirs to the throne, such as Mary, Queen of Scots. This would still be an obstacle for Elizabeth later in her reign.

  Elizabeth is pictured here in her coronation robes, which bear a pattern of Tudor roses. Her hair is loose in the traditional style for a Queen on her coronation, which also highlights her innocence.

  LOYAL SECRETARY: WILLIAM CECIL, BARON BURGHLEY

  WILLIAM CECIL HAD successfully navigated his way through English Parliament under Henry VIII, Edward VI and Mary I, despite occasionally falling from grace. Ever loyal to Tudor monarchs, Cecil became Elizabeth’s secretary soon after her accession. He was a master of diplomacy and could take a hard line. Cecil enforced some decisions that Elizabeth was unsure about, including the execution of Mary, Queen of Scots. A constant support to his Queen throughout his life, Cecil’s politics on Elizabeth’s behalf saw the creation of an intelligence service and the beginning of financial security for the crown. His son, Robert, would later act for Elizabeth in a similar capacity and two of Cecil’s descendants became British Prime Ministers.

  Elizabeth took the popular route of renouncing the Heresy laws, under which so much harm had been done in Mary’s name. She did pass the Act of Uniformity in 1559, making it mandatory to attend church and follow the Book of Common Prayer, but sanctions for not doing so were far less severe than under Edward or Mary’s reign. Elizabeth became Supreme Governor of the Church of England (it was a step too far to make a woman Head of the Church, no matter who she was) and a new Act of Supremacy was passed on 8 May to this effect.

  Elizabeth took the popular route of renouncing the Heresy laws, under which so much harm had been done …

  With the Queen of childbearing and marriageable age, there was soon huge debate over who would become Elizabeth’s husband. But here, Elizabeth would follow her own heart and spend the next 25 years toying with her council and many potential suitors.

  ‘Rather a Beggar and Single than a Queen and Married’

  Elizabeth’s attitude to marriage has been well documented and is a constant source of fascination. Having seen the destructive nature of love in her parents’ relationship as well as the political consequences of her sister’s marriage, it is no wonder that Elizabeth was wary when it came to taking a husband. What is more surprising is her lack of interest in securing the Tudor line with her own descendants.

  There are many explanations as to why Elizabeth never bent to the council’s often overwhelming influence and also why she never married to secure the Tudor line through her heirs. Some suggest a physical reason, such as infertility. Elizabeth herself made reference to this when she referred to herself as ‘barren stock’ after hearing that Mary, Queen of Scots gave birth to her son James. Others look to her early relationship with the sinister Seymour, which put her off men. In Elizabeth’s own words, she intended to be married to her country and live by her motto semper eadem (‘always the same’). The queen of beguilement then used her virginity as an extremely clever propaganda tool to elevate herself above her equals. On the other hand, Elizabeth was notoriously bad at making her mind up! Perhaps she just couldn’t make a decision.

  This dramatic illustration shows the death of Amy Robsart, Robert Dudley’s wife. Dudley would certainly have a lot to gain from being able to marry Elizabeth, but the Queen was not prepared to have her reputation sullied or her position usurped by a man.

  While Elizabeth seemed determined never to marry, she did have a number of suitors, some of whom she encouraged and even seemed to care for deeply. The intrigue surrounding her private life remains to this day, as ever more films and books devoted to the subject appear. This intelligent, striking, vulnerable yet powerful young woman who controlled a kingdom attracted much attention and remains an enigma to this day.

  On 8 September, Amy was found dead in her home, lying at the bottom of a flight of stairs with her neck snapped.

  Dudley: The Constant Favourite

  One man stands head and shoulders above the others as Elizabeth’s potential husband. Robert Dudley had been a friend of the Queen’s since childhood. He lost his favoured family position due to his father, John Dudley’s, actions in supporting Lady Jane Grey as monarch after Edward. The enti
re Dudley family fell under suspicion and Robert spent time in the Tower of London. Under Elizabeth, Dudley became Master of the Horse in 1558, then a member of her Privy Council and Lord Steward of the household soon after. Dudley was always a favourite of the Queen’s. A married man, it was long suspected that he would marry Elizabeth on the death of his wife, Amy. Amy had been ill for some time, meaning that she did not live at court with her husband. This made it easier for Dudley and Elizabeth to form an attachment. Had Amy died naturally of her illness, who knows how their relationship might have progressed? However, Amy was to die under far more suspicious circumstances.

  Rumours of an attachment between the married Dudley and the unmarried Queen were rife at court, especially as Elizabeth refused several other marriage proposals. It was in 1560 that these rumours turned ugly. On 8 September, Amy was found dead in her home, lying at the bottom of a flight of stairs with her neck snapped.

  It was the day of a local fair and Amy had insisted that all of her servants be away from the household. Dudley was at Windsor Castle with Elizabeth at the time, so direct suspicion of involvement could not be levied against him. An investigation was carried out, which found the cause of death to be accidental; however, Dudley had caused many to turn against him by his conceit and lack of scruples. William Cecil – whom Dudley was desperate to get rid of – spread rumours of a plot to poison Amy and the gossip was spread gleefully by Dudley’s many enemies. While Elizabeth supported her lover, such was the controversy that she would have been risking mass rebellion if she had then wed Dudley. Having seen where such folly and misery led her sister, Elizabeth was not prepared to risk her reign, even for the man she loved.

  … the knowledge of her worsening health could have prompted a frightened, miserable woman to take desperate action.

  It is impossible to say whether Amy’s cause of death was malicious. Perhaps Amy had wanted it to look deliberately suspicious, trying to land doubt and accusation on her unfaithful husband. Equally, the knowledge of her worsening health could have prompted a frightened, miserable woman to take desperate action. The scandal her death caused meant that Dudley could never marry Elizabeth.

  Dudley remained unmarried for 18 years after his wife’s death. He refused to wed Mary, Queen of Scots, even though she agreed to the proposal, believing it was the only way she would succeed Elizabeth. When he did remarry, Elizabeth was still jealous enough to ban his new wife, Lettice Knollys, from court. Despite these intrigues, they remained close friends until his death in 1588. Many believed that if Elizabeth ever did take a husband, it would have been Robert. But their love was never to be.

  His personal relationship with Elizabeth overshadowing his political career, Dudley was one of the council who implemented the execution of Mary, Queen of Scots, which Elizabeth was reluctant to do. Dudley was also a confirmed patron of the arts, being one of the founders of the original Oxford University Press. He had his own company of players and supported Edmund Spenser in writing his poetry. On his death, Elizabeth is thought to have locked herself inside her rooms for days. His final letter to her was found in her personal possessions after her death 15 years later.

  ROBERT DUDLEY

  DUDLEY AND ELIZABETH had their ups and downs, but they remained loyal to each other and in many respects acted like a married couple. She was deeply hurt when he married another woman, yet he proved his undying loyalty to Elizabeth many times over.

  It was Dudley who led her horse during the mesmerizing speech at Tilbury, when the warrior Queen donned armour and met her forces in the midst of the Spanish Armada.

  Mary, Queen of Scots, is pictured here with her husband, Francis II of France. They were married for less than three years before Francis’ death in December 1560.

  Elizabeth would discard many more suitors during her reign, as well as pick her favourites from the most dashing, alluring and intriguing men of her court. Equally generous and forgiving, or ruthless and discriminating, Elizabeth revelled in their chivalric attentions while remaining aloof. As always, the Virgin Queen used her feminine wiles and sexuality to get exactly what she wanted. Her additional power as sovereign meant she could easily rid herself of bothersome men when they bored her.

  Quarrels with Scotland

  With no surviving (legitimate) siblings, Elizabeth still had to fear the usurpation of her crown. Her relative, Mary, Queen of Scots, held the Scottish throne and fears were rife that the French would invade England through Scotland, using the auld alliance to finally bring an end to warring and reinstate a Catholic ruler in England. Mary, who had married Francis II of France in 1558 after spending most of her life in the French court, returned to Scotland in 1561 as Queen Regnant.

  To avoid any demands on her throne, Elizabeth tried to force a union between Mary and Robert Dudley. Through this marriage, Elizabeth envisaged that she would be able to keep a close eye on Mary and avoid war with Scotland. However, this union did not go ahead. Mary was also cause for concern as she refused to ratify a treaty put in place to avoid war with France. She was not a fan of the Protestant church that had been established in Scotland in her absence. Mary also had her own claim to the English throne through Margaret Tudor, Henry VIII’s sister and her grandmother. To Catholic opinion, Mary had a stronger claim to the English throne than Elizabeth. Despite all Elizabeth’s best efforts, her reign was not as secure as she would have liked. Luckily, Mary’s choice of husbands would soon make her very unpopular.

  Mary, Queen of Scots, held the Scottish throne and fears were rife that the French would invade England through Scotland, using the auld alliance to … reinstate a Catholic ruler in England.

  GOLF: THE SPORT OF QUEENS

  MARY WAS KNOWN for her love of golf, being one of the first women in Scotland to take up and regularly play the sport. She learned the game during her childhood at the French court and continued to play when she returned to Scotland. While this healthy outdoor pursuit was acceptable for a Queen, Mary was slated for enjoying a game only days after the vicious murder of her second husband, Henry Stuart. Her uncaring attitude and shunning of the traditional mourning made her look guilty.

  Darnley: Murderous Intentions

  Mary, Queen of Scots, married Henry, Lord Darnley, in 1565. Henry was a Stuart with his own claim to the English throne through his grandmother, Margaret Tudor’s marriage to Archibald Douglas, whom she married less than a year after James V’s death in 1513. Henry Stuart was a vain, foolish and selfish man, with few scruples.

  Mary, Queen of Scots’ second husband, the dashing Lord Darnley, is pictured here. An aggressive and arrogant man, Henry expected Mary to submit her authority to him completely and was not above using violence to get his way.

  The murder of David Rizzio is depicted in this striking image. Rizzio is shown being viciously and repeatedly stabbed in what is clearly the Queen’s bedchamber. Darnley was integral to the plot although he did not bloody his own hands by stabbing Rizzio himself.

  Mary refused to grant Stuart the Crown Matrimonial – the right to rule equally – which would have meant the throne would pass to him if Mary died without issue. Stuart reacted badly to this, as he had expected his dutiful wife to pas her authority straight to him. The couple also disagreed on religion, with Mary a devout Catholic. Despite his bad attitude, narcissism and a worsening drinking problem, Mary fell pregnant soon after their marriage. However, rumours came to light that Stuart was not the father of Mary’s unborn child. The man in question was believed to be David Rizzio, Mary’s Italian secretary with whom she was thought to have had an affair. Mary thought highly of Rizzio, but he was Catholic and a foreigner who had gained a prized position in Mary’s court, so he quickly became unpopular. Many were jealous of his relationship with the Queen and this was used to inspire Protestant rebels to turn against him. Henry Stuart is believed to have been deeply involved in the plot, even hoping that Mary would miscarry her baby through the shock of Rizzio’s murder.

  TUDOR DRESS

  FROM
ELIZABETH’S EXQUISITE dresses, lavishly designed to outshine every woman near her, to the dashing men of court clad top to toe in finery, Tudor nobles knew how to dress. Henry VIII’s famously boxy appearance was due to a short, voluminous coat, which left much of the legs on show, encased in only tight hose. In comparison, the women favoured a more structured silhouette. Stiff corsets were worn – sometimes made from steel – which gave woman a triangular shape, contrasted by a full skirt.

  Commoners would wear much more practical clothing in muted colours, as the luxurious silks and velvets in rich shades were far more expensive to buy. Clothing would also be made from cheaper, warmer materials such as wool. Portraits of Elizabeth (and many nobleman of the period) show her wearing a ruff, the pleated fabric ruffle at her neck. Ruffs could be up to a foot wide and had a practical use, in that they could be changed easily, allowing the wearer to remain in the rest of their clothing for longer!

  Bursting into Mary’s private chambers, where the Queen – then seven months pregnant – was entertaining Rizzio, the rebels demanded that he was handed over to them. Rizzio reputedly shielded himself behind his pregnant lover’s body, begging for his life. Mary refused at first, but was herself held at gunpoint. Rizzio was viciously stabbed over 50 times until his pleas were silenced. His body was then thrown down the stairs, stripped of all valuables and finally tossed into a grave in Holyrood cemetery, Edinburgh.