Except perhaps in his final few months, Robert was also an easy-going charming companion, whose company was sought by people at every level. Elizabeth was to lose her way without him, and he would surely have stamped on the build-up of future conflict among her advisers. The latter years of her reign demonstrated her military indecisiveness in Ireland and elsewhere, which his presence would have mitigated.
Robert’s protégé, the Jesuit Edmund Campion, wrote what makes a fitting epitaph:
Thirteen years to have lived in the eye and special credit of a prince, yet never during all that space to have abused this ability to any man’s harm; to be enriched with no man’s overthrow; to be kindled neither with grudge nor emulation; to benefit an infinite resort of daily suitors; to let down your calling to the need of mean subjects; to retain a lowly stomach, with such facility, so mild a nature in so high a vocation … this is the substance which maketh you worthy of these ornaments wherewith you are attired.12
1. Henry VIII.
His death in 1547 left a huge vacuum for his children and his will greatly complicated his succession.
Holbein the Younger, Hans (1497/8–1543)/Belvoir Castle, Leicestershire/Bridgeman Images
2. Edward VI (oil on panel c. 1546).
Edward was determined, with help from Northumberland, to maintain the English Reformation by appointing his cousin, Jane Grey, to succeed him, despite the people’s desire for the dynastic heir, his sister Mary.
Scrots, Guillaume (fl. 1537–53) (attr. to)/Royal Collection Trust © Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, 2019/ Bridgeman Images
3. Mary I (oil on panel, 1554).
When the Duke of Northumberland attempted to place Jane Grey on the English throne, Mary raised the Catholic shires and marched in triumph to be crowned Queen in London.
Mor, Anthonis van Dashorst (Antonio Moro) (c. 1519–1576/77)/Prado, Madrid/Bridgeman Images
4. Queen Catherine Parr (oil on panel c. 1545).
Catherine proved a model step-mother for Prince Edward and Princess Elizabeth providing them with a caring environment and an Evangelical (Protestant) education.
Master John (fl. 1544)/National Portrait Gallery, London/Bridgeman Images
5. Sir Edward Seymour, Earl of Hertford, Duke of Somerset (panel).
Seymour had achieved great success as a military general, but he proved ineffective as Protector for his nephew, Edward VI, and was replaced by the Duke of Northumberland.
Holbein the Younger, Hans (1497/8–1543)/The Trustees of the Weston Park Foundation, UK/Bridgeman Images
6. Thomas Seymour, Lord Seymour of Sudeley (oil on panel).
Being jealous of his brother’s appointment as Protector, he was determined to outdo him. Being extremely attractive, he married the widowed Catherine Parr, but following her death his attempt to gain control of Edward VI resulted in his execution.
English School (sixteenth century)/National Portrait Gallery, London/Bridgeman Images
7. John Dudley, Earl of Warwick, Duke of Northumberland (oil on panel).
He made his name as a brilliant general and replaced Somerset as Protector for Edward VI. He was the father of Lord Robert and was central to the plan to ensure a Protestant succession by promoting Jane Grey to become Queen ahead of the Catholic Mary.
Artist Belcamp, Jan van (1605)/Sackville Collection, Knole
8. William Cecil, Lord Burghley (oil).
He was Elizabeth’s principal political adviser, determined to see her make a political marriage, rather than choose Lord Robert, who Cecil did not trust.
Sixteenth century after work by an unknown artist/Lebrecht History/Bridgeman Images
9. Amy Robsart, first wife of Lord Robert (oil on canvas).
She was childless and suffered from breast cancer. She died in mysterious circumstances after a fall down two steps.
English School (sixteenth century)/private collection/Bridgeman images
10. Elizabeth I (oil on canvas).
The sieve she is carrying demonstrated her virginity, but her relationship with Lord Robert ended Cecil’s hopes that she might make a political marriage to protect England from Continental aggression.
Massys or Metsys, the Younger, Quentin (c. 1543–89)/Pinacteca Nazionale, Siena, Tuscany/Bridgeman Images
11. Lettice Knollys, Countess of Essex and Countess of Leicester (oil on canvas).
Much to Elizabeth’s chagrin, Lettice was involved in a passionate affair with Lord Robert, whom she later married following the death of her first husband, the Earl of Essex.
Gower, George / ©Reproduced by permission of the Marquess of Bath, Longleat House, Warminster, Wiltshire
12. Ambrose Dudley, Earl of Warwick (oil on panel).
Lord Robert’s elder surviving brother, who loyally supported his more charismatic younger sibling. He suffered from a wound to his leg sustained at Le Havre (Newhaven) in 1563.
English School (sixteenth century)/photo © Philip Mould Ltd, London / Bridgeman Images
13. Thomas Howard, 4th Duke of Norfolk.
Lord Robert’s nemesis, but ‘he was a weak man, cursed with the dignity of England’s sole Dukedom’. He lost his head after conspiring to marry Mary Queen of Scots in an attempt to place her on the English throne.
English School (sixteenth century)/His Grace the Duke of Norfolk, Arundel Castle/Bridgeman Images
14. Sir Robert Dudley (oil on panel, 1590s).
Illegitimate son of Lord Robert by Douglas Sheffield née Howard, who became an expert navigator and explorer. He was unsuccessful in trying to prove his legitimacy to gain the Leicester and Warwick titles.
Artist unknown/©National Portrait Gallery, London
15. Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex (oil on panel).
The son of Lettice Knollys, who succeeded Lord Robert, his step father, in Elizabeth’s affections and strongly supported him during his campaign in the Low Countries. He later married Frances Walsingham, the widow of Sir Philip Sidney.
Gheeraerts, Marcus, the Younger (c. 1561–1635)/Private Collection/Photo © Philip Mould Ltd, London/Bridgeman Images
16. Penelope Devereux, Lady Rich (oil on canvas).
The daughter of Lettice Knollys, who might have married Sir Philip Sidney, but for the need for her to make a more financially rewarding but loveless match to Robert, Lord Rich. She later married Charles Blount, Lord Mountjoy, who became Earl of Devonshire, in recognition of his success in settling Ireland.
English School (sixteenth century)/Lambeth Palace, London/Bridgeman Images
17. Frances Walsingham, Lady Sidney and later Countess of Essex (oil on canvas).
The daughter of Sir Francis Walsingham, who married Sir Philip Sidney and nursed him until his death after being wounded at Zutphem. She later married the 2nd Earl of Essex.
Peake, Robert, the Elder, 1594/Photograph courtesy of Sotheby’s
18. Sir Henry Sidney, KG (oil on canvas, 1573).
Brother-in-law of Lord Robert and Lord Deputy in Ireland. He proved very helpful to Lord Robert in his efforts to gain Spanish support for his marriage to Elizabeth.
Bronckhorst, Arnold (fl. 1565–83)/Petworth House West Sussex/National Trust Photographic Library/Bridgeman Images
19. Lady Mary Sidney (née Dudley) (oil on panel).
Sister of Lord Robert and married to Sir Henry Sidney. She was the mother of Sir Philip Sidney and a favoured lady-in-waiting to Elizabeth.
Eworth, Hans (fl. 1520–74) (circle of)/Petworth House, West Sussex/ National Trust Photographic Library/ Bridgeman Images
20. Sir Philip Sidney (oil on canvas, c. 1576).
The son of Sir Henry and Lady Mary Sidney and heir to Lord Robert until his untimely death at the battle of Zutphen. He was perhaps the most gifted diplomat, soldier and poet of his era.
Unknown artist (sixteenth century)/National Portrait Gallery, London/De Agostini Picture Library/Bridgeman Images
About the Author
ROBERT STEDALL is an expert historian on Tudor history and i
s the curator of the popular www.maryqueenofscots.net. He is the author of Mary Queen of Scots’ Downfall and The Roots of Ireland’s Troubles, but this is his first book to be published in America. Robert lives in England.
Also by the same author
Hunting from Hampstead: The Story of Henry and Lucy Stedall and their children, Book Guild Publishing, 2002
A two-volume history of Mary Queen of Scots:
The Challenge to the Crown, Volume I: The Struggle for Influence in the Reign of Mary Queen of Scots 1542-1567, Book Guild Publishing, 2012
The Survival of the Crown, Volume II: The return to Authority of the Scottish Crown following Mary Queen of Scots’ Deposition from the Throne, Book Guild Publishing, 2014
Men of Substance: The London Livery Companies’ Reluctant Part in the Plantation of Ulster, Austin Macauley Publishers, 2016
Mary Queen of Scots’ Downfall: The Life and Murder of Henry, Lord Darnley, Pen & Sword Books Limited, 2017
The Roots of Ireland’s Troubles, Pen & Sword Books Limited, 2019
Website: www.maryqueenofscots.net
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