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

by John, Judith

  In another triumph for the Queen, here Walter Raleigh establishes the colony in Virginia in 1584, claimed in Elizabeth’s name. Despite Raleigh’s hopes, the colony never came to much. Raleigh was later stripped of privileges following his unsanctioned marriage.

  Despite falling out of Elizabeth’s favour due to his secret marriage, Raleigh was reconciled to the mercurial Queen towards the end of her life. It was not until his continued warmongering with Spain threatened the uneasy peace James I had secured that Raleigh’s luck ran out. He was executed in 1618.

  Fall from Grace

  Elizabeth was vain to the point of narcissism and expected her favoured subjects to only have eyes for her. When Raleigh secretly married his love Elizabeth Throckmorton (who, to compound matters, was a relation of Francis Throckmorton, who had been executed for plotting to depose Elizabeth), Elizabeth was incandescent with rage. She sent both Raleigh and Elizabeth to the Tower, stripping Raleigh of his prominent titles and source of wealth. He was able to buy freedom with his existing wealth, but no longer held a position at court.

  Raleigh turned this expulsion to his favour, using his new freedom to travel to the New World and Guyana. Raleigh hoped to establish settlements and was also seduced by tales of the fabled El Dorado, the legendary city of gold. He never found the city, but remained convinced of its existence and returned to the New World with his son, Walter (also known as Watt) in 1617. This voyage was a disaster and brought about Watt’s death. Raleigh himself was later executed by James I for risking a recurrence of the war with Spain after James had brokered peace on Elizabeth’s death.

  Prior to her death, Raleigh rejoined Elizabeth’s court at her side, becoming a member of parliament for Devon, Dorset and Cornwall. His adventures made him a popular public figure, although he was disliked by many nobles and council members. A hero to England, Raleigh remains a romantic gallant, whose actions never quite lived up to his great expectations.

  Raleigh hoped to establish settlements and was also seduced by tales of the fabled El Dorado, the legendary city of gold. He never found the city, but remained convinced of its existence …

  Elizabeth I is seen here with her spymaster and Secretary of State, Francis Walsingham, during one of the many discussions following the unearthing of the Babington conspiracy. Elizabeth was initially reluctant to condemn Mary to death.

  Walsingham: The Spymaster

  Elizabeth’s principal secretary and spymaster, Francis Walsingham extirpated many plots against his beloved Queen, whom he saw as the rightful monarch and saviour of England from a despotic papacy. Similarly to Cecil, we see in Walsingham fear of a Catholic ruler on Elizabeth’s throne, whose decades as Queen had brought religious uniformity to England. While Walsingham’s religious views were more Puritan than Elizabeth’s, he supported her desire to move slowly, thus avoiding the horrific bloodshed of Mary’s reign. A nobleman who first worked as an ambassador, Walsingham’s true use to Elizabeth came from his subtle and instinctive intelligence gathering, in which he was unparalleled. It was Walsingham who uncovered the Ridolfi plot in 1570, plus the later Throckmorton and Babington plots to depose Elizabeth. Walsingham would even use his network of agents to entrap Mary, Queen of Scots, providing Elizabeth and her council with irrefutable proof of Mary’s conspiracy.

  The ever-vigilant Walsingham would also use his network – which by now spread across Europe and as far as to North Africa, using nobleman, merchants and even ambassadors’ advisors – to uncover information about the Spanish Armada. His men would both inform and manipulate, seeking out and taking advantage of opportunities to plant misinformation. Walsingham was an ardent supporter of Elizabeth and England, often using his own wealth and resources to uncover information. One of his more famous recruits was the playwright Christopher Marlowe. The nature of the work meant that any spy would keep their profession hidden, but Marlowe is known to have been involved in ‘matters’ for his country. He was also wealthy for a student and was let off a charge for counterfeiting money by Cecil in 1592.

  MARLOWE’S DEATH

  CHRISTOPHER MARLOWE’S ENTIRE life was led under a veil of mystery – a possible homosexual atheist, he is even rumoured to have written several of Shakespeare’s plays – and the same can be said of his death. A warrant for Marlowe’s arrest was issued on 18 May 1593 and Marlowe handed himself in to the council two days later, where he was told to pay a daily visit to the council until he heard differently. This continued until 30 May, when Marlowe was suddenly and viciously stabbed to death in what appeared to be a drunken brawl. He had been drinking with fellow employees of Walsingham’s and one of them, Ingram Frizer, had engaged him in a quarrel over the ‘reckoning’, or the bill. Claiming it was self-defence, Frizer was tried but pardoned soon after. Rumours of his death include it being faked to enable him to disappear, as well as it being ordered by Raleigh, Cecil or even Elizabeth herself! Whatever the truth, Marlowe remains legendary for his gorgeously crafted dramas as well as his notorious private life.

  Robert Cecil, the son of Elizabeth’s trusted advisor and friend, William Cecil. Aptly managing the sometimes tricky transition from one monarch to the next, Cecil saw the end of the Tudor monarchy and the beginning of the Stuart era under James I.

  Despite years of ill health, Walsingham continued in his intelligence work up until his death in 1590, ever faithful to his Queen. His daughter, Frances, married three times, her second husband being the petulant darling of Elizabeth, Robert Devereux. Walsingham died in debt, possibly due to his outgoings during his time as spymaster, which he was owed by the Crown, and left behind a controversial legacy. Walsingham clearly saved the life of Elizabeth I several times, but many of his deeds are shrouded in mystery and Walsingham was not above using entrapment or force to get his way. However, we know little of a concrete nature on this most elusive of Elizabeth’s men.

  Walsingham clearly saved the life of Elizabeth I several times, but many of his deeds are shrouded in mystery …

  Robert Cecil: The Fixer

  Walsingham’s death left the position of secretary of state open, which was filled by a new favourite of Elizabeth’s. Robert Cecil was William Cecil, Lord Burghley’s son, who had been part of the Privy Council since 1591. His father’s death in 1598 saw Robert ascend to a position as Elizabeth’s most trusted advisor, like his father before him. The Cecils stand apart as remaining constant supports throughout the Queen’s tumultuous reign. Their steady positions within the council perhaps gave them an edge that the more adventurous and dashing courtiers lacked. Robert Cecil could also be relied upon to remain flexible in opinion – a useful tool for any politician within a Tudor court. Robert was not of the striking or handsome stature as most of Elizabeth’s favourites, who had a tendency to fill her court with fine-looking flatterers.

  Robert Devereux, the Earl of Essex, was a charming and intense character. Believing himself to be indispensible to Elizabeth, he took liberties with the Queen and was often forgiven. He was also insanely jealous and tried to cause Elizabeth to fall out with Raleigh and Cecil.

  Cecil was nicknamed ‘pygmy’ or ‘elf’ by the Queen on account of his hunchback and slight frame. Robert Devereux saw him as a rival for the Queen’s affections, and used Cecil’s physical deformities against him.

  Devereux was given the chance to redeem his many faults when he was sent to Ireland to put an end to the Nine Years’ War. He ignored orders and arranged to meet Hugh O’Neill to discuss a truce. This illustration captures their meeting in 1599.

  Robert Cecil also spent years secretly corresponding with James VI of Scotland, working with him to ensure his accession …

  However, Robert was an excellent administrator and negotiator who could bide his time far better than Devereux. Cecil would have his revenge on the arrogant Earl when he was tried for treason in 1601.

  Robert Cecil also spent years secretly corresponding with James VI of Scotland, working with him to ensure his accession on Elizabeth’s death. Sensitive to th
e Queen’s age and her thoughts for a successor, he cleverly ensured his own survival after her death with a place of privilege within the new Stuart council. James I of England made him Earl of Salisbury in 1605 and used his subtlety and patience well as a spymaster.

  Devereux: The Hothead

  Robert Devereux, Earl of Essex and great-nephew of Anne Boleyn, became the object of Elizabeth’s favours in 1587, replacing Dudley – who had married Devereux’s mother, Lettice Knollys, after the death of his father – as Master of the Horse that same year. On Dudley’s death in 1588 Devereux was also awarded Dudley’s duty levied on sweet wines, a huge source of revenue. He became a member of the Privy Council in 1593. Arrogantly believing himself to be special to Elizabeth, Devereux could be charming and affable. His youth and eloquence appealed to the aging Queen and made her feel young and beautiful, just as Dudley had once done. While he was permitted a place of honour at her side and on her council, Devereux was hotheaded and rash, making his ambitions to become a great and masterful warlord implausible, to say the least.

  The Earl was said to be furious at Elizabeth for putting other men in a position of power over him.

  While Devereux did uncover and stop a plot against Elizabeth in 1594 – when Rodrigo Lopez (thought to have inspired the Shakespearean character of Shylock), her court physician, colluded with Spain to poison her – Devereux never gained the greatness or popularity he felt he so deserved. The Earl was said to be furious at Elizabeth for putting other men in a position of power over him. After being given several chances, he was sent to Ireland to face Hugh O’Neill during the Nine Years’ War. This ended in disaster when his inexperienced handling of the troops wasted many lives. He ignored Elizabeth’s orders to attack the Irish rebels, instead discussing a truce with O’Neill. This was followed up by his untimely retreat back to London, where Elizabeth blasted his arrogance for not following her orders.

  Devereux had finally gone too far and he was placed under house arrest while Elizabeth vacillated over what to do with the upstart Earl. Unable to take punishment, even from his Queen, Devereux plotted a coup to depose her in early 1601. With 200 of his men he called for public support to join him against the Queen. None was forthcoming. The country could see what it had taken Elizabeth so long to notice and knew that Devereux in power would make a disastrous leader. Enough was enough. Devereux was beheaded on 25 February before he could do any more harm.

  Anjou: The Patient Suitor

  Elizabeth chose not to follow her sister in making an alliance with another country, although precedent had been set for any King Consort to accept restrictive terms, allowing him the title of King of England for the duration of the marriage only. In fact, the first foreign suitor she turned down was Mary’s husband, Philip II, who proposed shortly after Elizabeth’s coronation. Following her own words and the advice of her council, Elizabeth soon entered into marriage negotiations with Charles II, the Archduke of Austria. These were drawn out over nearly ten years until forming an English link with the Hapsburgs became less of an issue.

  Still able to have children – just – Elizabeth was then pressed into a suit with Henry, Duke of Anjou, followed by his brother, Francis, who became Duke of Anjou on his brother’s accession to the French throne as Henry III. The brothers were the sons of Henry II and Catherine de Medici. Francis, now Duke of Anjou, was 24 when he began his suit towards Elizabeth, then 46 years old. The fact that it was very unlikely that Elizabeth would now bear any children and had no clear successor marked out made this marriage imprudent in the eyes of her advisors, who did not want England to fall under French control. However, Elizabeth did seem to at least be fond of Henry, whom she dubbed her ‘frog’, due to a frog-shaped earring he gave her as a gift.

  Despite the age difference, Anjou’s lengthy courtship of the Queen saw him get the closest to marrying her than any of her other suitors, excepting Dudley. While it may have began as a way of strengthening the union with France, their courtship soon became one of flirtation and romance. It has interesting parallels with Mary’s marriage to Philip, both men being foreign and Catholic. It would mean Elizabeth had to suffer sharing her beloved country as well as making a final matrimonial decision that would likely put paid to many of her courtly flirtations. Last, but by no means least, it was increasingly unlikely that Elizabeth would ever bear children and heirs, rendering the whole point of the union moot.

  Despite the age difference, Anjou’s lengthy courtship of the Queen saw him get the closest to marrying her than any of her other suitors, excepting Dudley.

  Anjou was not quite what might be expected for a Queen with such high standards. He was the younger brother of a King. He suffered from smallpox as a child, which left his complexion scarred and his stature was insignificant. However, Anjou quickly delighted the Queen with his sophisticated French bearing and manners. Together, they engaged in a courtly dance of romance and flirtation that would continue on and off for three years.

  Anjou remained at the English court for months while the question of marriage was debated back and forth at the council. It might have been Elizabeth’s intention to delay matters by choosing a controversial match rather than a solid and respectable Englishman who the council would not hesitate over marrying her to. Yet she genuinely seemed to grow fond of Anjou, keeping love letters he sent her and speaking of him warmly. Anjou returned to court in November 1581 in a last attempt to secure the marriage. It seemed for a while that he was successful, with Elizabeth publically announcing that she would marry the Duke, even presenting him with a ring to bind the promise.

  Elizabeth’s ‘frog’ is shown here to be an attractive, well-dressed young man, just the type the now 46-year old Queen would find desirable. Yet even Anjou failed to win her heart.

  The coquettish Queen saw herself as the unhappy maid torn apart from her would-be suitor by circumstances beyond their control.

  However, Elizabeth’s ardour soon grew cold and she fell back on the political conditions and advice of the council. The council certainly gave her a good excuse as many were still opposed to the match and assured the Queen of the public outcry that would surely follow the union. Now running out of patience and justifiably angry, Anjou did himself no favours by expressing his anger. The coquettish Queen saw herself as the unhappy maid torn apart from her would-be suitor by circumstances beyond their control. He finally left Elizabeth and England in 1582, all hope of the union washed away by the Queen’s hesitancy and inconstancy. Ironically, on his departure, Elizabeth wrote a loving poem dedicated to him entitled ‘On Monsieur’s Departure’, which expresses her ‘true’ feelings as ones of love pushed aside in the name of duty.

  Golden Age

  Elizabeth’s own poetry is an example of the mass of plays and prose that has come to be associated with the golden age of Elizabethan England. This golden age is a well-known concept. When you consider what the country had gone through under the Tudors and in the preceding centuries, it seems apt that a renaissance period should come about. Religion was more unified, government more effective and the country had recently won a great victory over the feared and hated Spanish. A flowering of literature, art, drama, music, exploration and discovery occurred, which left behind a legacy of several of England’s most famous and well-loved characters.

  The playwright William Shakespeare wrote several plays for Elizabeth, in which the Tudors and their ancestors feature positively and prominently.

  THE GLOBE THEATRE

  WHILE ELIZABETH COULD command a whole company of players to come to her, commoners and anyone not so blessed had to make do with the Globe theatre (as imagined below by a nineteenth century artist), a modern version of which stands on the banks of the River Thames in London. The theatre was originally built in 1598, but memorably burned down in 1613 during a performance of Henry VIII. There now stands a replica based on the original amphitheatre design, which opened in 1997.

  Greenwich Palace was the illustrious backdrop to one of Shakespeare’s pla
ys on 26 December 1594, St. Stephen’s Day. This illustration shows Two Gentlemen of Verona being performed by the Lord Chamberlain’s Men for the Queen and her court.

  Shakespeare penned plays dedicated to Elizabeth, which were performed for her pleasure in special court performances …

  The most famous of her artistic acolytes is arguably the great William Shakespeare, whose plays and poetry remain adored to this day. Shakespeare penned plays dedicated to Elizabeth, which were performed for her pleasure in special court performances especially for the Queen and her favoured subjects. The Lord Chamberlain’s men, as the group of players were known, was founded by Henry Carey, who engaged entertainers for Elizabeth’s court. Elizabeth is believed to have enjoyed King Henry IV, parts 1 and 2, and Love’s Labours Lost. After expressing her delight at the character of Falstaff, Shakespeare wrote The Merry Wives of Windsor, in which Falstaff, the immensely fat and bigheaded knight, tries to land a rich wife amid a series of comic misfortunes. Shakespeare’s beautifully crafted plays cover worlds of magic, mystery and imagination, while his tragedies and histories span the whole range of human emotions, from bliss to despair. One of the most quoted men in history, rumours of Shakespeare’s life are notoriously interesting and his life and works remain a source of inspiration and national pride.