Category: Elizabeth I - Meandering Through Time

The Mystery of the Blue Ring

25/2/2024

Robert and Philadelphia Carey were two of the many children of Henry Carey, the son of Mary Boleyn and Anne Morgan. This family connection made them cousins to Elizabeth I. Robert was an ambassador and courier, and Philadelphia had risen through the ranks of the Tudor court, and by 1590 she held the important position of Lady of the Bedchamber.

Tradition has that this brother and sister were tasked with informing James VI of Scotland of the death of Elizabeth I.

The story goes that James VI of Scotland had given Philadelphia a 'blue ring' with the instructions that it was to be sent to him as a notification of Elizabeth's death. On the 24th of March 1603, the queen died, and waiting under the window of the royal bed chamber was Robert. As soon as the queen had died, Philadelphia dropped the ring to Carey so he could take it to the Scottish king.

A great story but was it true?

We know that Philadelphia was with the queen, and Robert Carey is known to have been in Elizabeth's court in the days before her death, but he made nothing of the ring in his memoirs, he only states

* 'that I heard with my ears, and saw with my eyes I thought it my duty to set down, and affirm it for the through, on the faith of a Christian, because I know there have been many false lies reported of the ed and death of that good lady'

Robert Carey, Ist Earl of Monmouth

Robert Cecil, Ist Earl of Salisbury

I always thought Robert Cecil sent word to the king, perhaps he sent it via Carey. Cecil had, about three years before the queen's death, begun secret correspondence with James continually assuring him that he favoured his claims to the English throne. So, how did James VI hear of Elizabeth's death?

* The Memoirs of Robert Carey - https://archive.org/details/memoirsrobertca00orregoog/page/n11/mode/2up

Essex's Rebellion

5/2/2023

In 1587 Elizabeth I made Robert Deveraux the Earl of Essex, Master of the Horse, six years later in 1593 she made him a Privy Councillor. That year he led a successful attack on the Spanish port of Cadiz. Three years later he returned home a hero.
Deveraux was intelligent and charming and he thought by flattering the aging queen he could get away with anything, the events of this day in 1601 would prove him wrong.

Deveraux by Marcus Gheeraerts the Younger

While Deveraux was away changes within Elizabeth's court affected his standing, his major problem was the promotion of Robert Cecil who Deveraux regarded as an enemy, in fact, Robert Deveraux was his own worst enemy - for making peace in Ireland against the order of the queen he was banned from court and thus financially ruined, was this the reason behind his rebellion?

On the morning of the 8th February in 1601, Deveraux and his followers, notably the Henry Wriothesley, the 3rd Earl of Southampton, made their way through the city of London in, it is thought, to plead with the queen, Robert Cecil however thought otherwise and sent a message to the London's mayor. Deveraux was publicly denounced as a traitor and eventually captured, he would be tried for treason before the month was out.

So, was Robert Devereaux a real threat to the monarchy? Was the queen in real danger and what really motivated William Cecil to see off the Earl of Essex?

This rebellion is nicely played out in the 2011 film Anonymous, and here you can see Robert Deveraux (Sam Reed) persuading Henry Wriothesley (Xavier Samuel) that the plot couldn't fail!

Anthony Babington

20/9/2019

On 19th of September 1586, Anthony Babington, a one-time page in the household of George Talbot, wrote to Queen Elizabeth begging her for mercy despite the fact that he and his fellow conspirators had attempted to assassinate her and place her cousin, Mary Queen of Scots on the English throne.

When his plea fell on deaf ears he offered to pay for his release. All this was to no avail, and it was on this day that Babington was drawn on a hurdle from Tower Hill to St Giles in the Fields where he was to suffer the barbaric execution of hanging and quartering.

In the plot that now bears his name should we consider Babington as naive, an idealistic young man caught in the slip-stream of insurrection and dazzled by the thought of the rewards that would be lavished upon him when the deed was done or did he enter into this dangerous game with malice aforethought? Either way, Anthony Babington had been approached by John Ballard, a Catholic priest, who told him that the plot was supported by Spain, but what Babington didn't know was that Elizabeth's spymaster had already uncovered the plot.

Birth of Elizabeth I

8/9/2019

Anne Boleyn may have died on the scaffold, blamed by Henry VIII for failing to produce the male heir he wanted and what, everyone thought, the country needed.

How wrong they all were. Anne did succeed, she gave birth to one of our country greatest monarchs, Elizabeth I, born this day in 1533.

Elizabeth arrived at 3 o’clock in the afternoon, but the birth of a daughter was not what the Tudor dynasty needed or what it was expecting, and this can be seen clearly in the announcement of Elizabeth's birth.

The letter had already been written (as seen in the one that survives addressed to Lord Cobham) and on Elizabeth's birth, the word prince had had the letter S added.

"Right trustie and welbiloved, we grete you well. And where as it hath pleased the goodnes of Almightie God, of his infynite marcie and grace, to sende unto us, at this tyme, good spede, in the delyveraunce and bringing furthe of a Princes, to the great joye, rejoyce, and inward comforte of my Lorde, us, and all his good and loving subjectes of this his realme....."

Not the male heir Henry desired but Elizabeth turned out to be spirited, feisty and intelligent and showed all the signs of the great queen she would later be.

As Elizabeth grew into a young woman she came to understand the power struggle behind the throne, and by the time old age had crept up on her, she knew all too well the personal cost of kingship.

Elizabeth I: What did she look like?

16/7/2018

Here are some quotes from visitors to her court that give us some idea.

When she was aged 22.

"Her figure and face are very handsome; she has such an air of dignified majesty that no-one could ever doubt that she is a queen"

When she was aged 24

"Although her face is comely rather than handsome, she is tall and well-formed, with a good skin, although swarthy; she has fine eyes and above all, a beautiful hand with which she makes a display."

When she was aged 32

"Her hair was more reddish than yellow, curled naturally in appearance."

When she was 64

"When anyone speaks of her beauty she says she was never beautiful. Nevertheless, she speaks of her beauty as often as she can."

When she was 65

"Her face is oblong, fair but wrinkled; her eyes small, yet black and pleasant; her nose a little hooked; her teeth black (a fault the English seem to suffer from because of their great use of sugar); she wore false hair and that red."

Death of Robert Dudley

2/9/2017

On the 4th of September, 1588, Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, died at his lodge at Cornbury, near Woodstock in Oxfordshire.

He was 56 years old.

Leicester had been suffering from a recurring stomach ailment and was on his way to Buxton in Derbyshire. Leicester was taken ill at Cornbury and it was there he died. Leicester left his wife, Lettice and an illegitimate son,Robert, whose mother was Lady Douglas Sheffield.

Leicester wrote his final letter to Elizabeth I, who he’d been close to since childhood, on 28th August. It was a letter which Elizabeth kept at her bedside for the rest of her life and which she marked “His last letter”

“I most humbly beseech your Majesty to pardon your poor old servant to be thus bold in sending to know how my gracious lady doth, and what ease ofher late pains she finds, being the chiefest thing in this world I do pray for, for her to have good health and long life. For my own poor case, I continue still your medicine and find that (it) amends much better than with any otherthing that hath been given me. Thus hoping to find perfect cure at the bath, with the continuance of my wonted prayer for your Majesty’s most happy preservation, I humbly kiss your foot. From your old lodging at Rycote, this Thursday morning, ready to take on my Journey, by your Majesty’s most faithful and obedient servant,
R Leicester
Even as I had writ thus much, I received Your Majesty’s token by Young Tracey.”

Elizabeth I was devastated by the death of the man she referred to as her “Eyes”, or as “Sweet Robin”. It was reported that she shut herself in her chamber for days and refused to speak to anyone, eventually the room had to be broken into. Leicester was buried in the Beauchamp Chapel of the Collegiate Church of St Mary’s in Warwick, the same place as his son by Lettice.

Religious Executions

14/7/2017

It was pointed out to me on a post of mine on my Facebook page regarding the execution of Protestants under Mary I reign, that as many Catholics were put to death in Elizabeth I reign too.

It is said approximately the same amount of Catholics died when Elizabeth was queen, but the difference is that they took place over her forty four year reign, obviously there were people of note such as Mary Queen of Scots, Anthony Babbington and Robert Devereux.

Mary punished those who were not of the same religion as herself, where as Elizabeth executed those who plotted against her. Many Catholic held important positions throughout Elizabeth's kingdom and if these people were loyal to her and discreet, they were left alone.

I found this among my notes.

The number of executions carried out by Henry VIII range from 57,000 to the 72,000 (so says Raphael Holinshed’s Chronicles) this takes into account the mass murder following the Catholic rising known as the Pilgrimage of Grace. In Henry's son Edward VI reign there was the massacre of more than 5,500 Cornish Catholics after the Prayer Book Rebellion.

Mary Queen of Scot's Death Warrant

1/2/2017

A warrant ordering her death of Mary Queen of Scots was signed by Elizabeth I on the 1st February 1587.

Sandor Liezen-Mayer's depicts Elizabeth 's hatred quite brilliantly.

Mary would be executed a week later and despite her famous reaction on finding out her cousin was dead, it is clear from the warrant what Elizabeth's wishes were:

“repaire to our Castle of Fotheringhaye where the said Queene of Scottes is in custodie of our right trustie servant and Counsellor Sir Amyas Poulet Knight, and then taking her into your charge to cause by your commandment execution to be done upon her person”.

Mary, on hearing of her fate, wrote to Henry III of France, the younger brother of her first husband Frances II stating

"Tonight, after dinner, I have been advised of my sentence: I am to be executed like a criminal at eight in the morning. I have not had time to give you a full account of everything that has happened, but if you will listen to my doctor and my other unfortunate servants, you will learn the truth, and how, thanks be to God, I scorn death and vow.... "

Mary Queen of Scots is one of a number of persons in history that I am known to dither about, do I like her or not? My gut feeling however is yes I do.

Below is a copy of the original warrant that disappeared following Mary execution.

More information about this is available on Lambeth Palace website.

www.lambethpalacelibrary.org/content/executionwarrant

Death of Mary Queen of Scots

1/2/2017

Mary, Queen of Scots was executed on the 8th February 1587.

Seven day earlier, William Davison, Elizabeth I's secretary, was asked by the queen to bring Mary's death warrant in order that she could sign it. Elizabeth handed it back to Davison for safe keeping. However, contrary to her order the warrant found its way into the hands of William Cecil. Cecil was quick to act upon Elizabeth's wishes stated within the warrant....

“repaire to our Castle of Fotheringhaye where the said Queene of Scottes is in custodie of our right trustie servant and Counsellor Sir Amyas Poulet Knight, and then taking her into your charge to cause by your commandment execution to be done upon her person”.

It is clear that Elizabeth certainly had some doubts about Mary's execution. Although there is no evidence, it is probable that William Cecil and Francis Walsingham used their positions to influence the Privy Council to convince the queen Mary's death was necessary, and her Parliament to get the warrant approved.

By the 7th February, Elizabeth's representatives had arrived at Fotheringhay Castle, and in the presence of Poulet, Mary was informed that they would proceed with her execution the next morning before eight o'clock.

According to French nobleman Pierre de Bourdeille, who had been with Mary during her imprisonment, the Scottish queen welcomed the news of her demise, stating that she 'longed for an end to her miseries, and had been prepared for death ever since she had been sent as a prisoner to England.' She asked for time to prepare herself, but this was not granted, Mary was told in no uncertain terms

'No, no, Madam you must die, you must die! Be ready between seven and eight in the morning. It cannot be delayed a moment beyond that time.'

Later that evening Mary would write to Henry III of France, the younger brother of her first husband Frances II stating

Tonight, after dinner, I have been advised of my sentence: I am to be executed like a criminal at eight in the morning. I have not had time to give you a full account of everything that has happened, but if you will listen to my doctor and my other unfortunate servants, you will learn the truth, and how, thanks be to God, I scorn death and vow."

As arranged, Mary arrived at the scaffold the next morning accompanied by her ladies in waiting. Mary rejected the offer of a Protestant minister to pray for her soul, but asked that Elizabeth spare her companions. Those who gathered around the scaffold gave an audible gasp as Mary removed her black dress to reveal a red petticoat that symbolised Catholic martyrdom. Mary was dying for her faith, and in doing so she kissed her crucifix and stated

Even as Thy arms, O Jesus, were spread here upon the cross, so receive me into Thy arms of mercy and forgive me all my sins.'

Mary knelt, and as a cloth was tied across her eyes she felt for the block and laying her head down she repeated

‘In manus tuas, Domine’ - ‘Into thy hands, Lord’

With more than one stroke of the axe Elizabeth's nemesis was dead.

Mary's executioner is said to have picked up her severed head and, showing it to those present shouted

"God save Queen Elizabeth! May all the enemies of the true Evangel thus perish!'

Despite her famous reaction on finding out her cousin was dead, it is clear from the death warrant what Elizabeth's wishes were. Cecil, Walsingham and Davison, all staunch Protestants, had their reasons to rid of the country of the Catholic heir to the English throne. They knew that Elizabeth's hesitation could prove problematic, and they acted fast. However, Cecil and Walsingham would not feel the wrath of a distraught and guilt racked queen, but Davison would.

Mary was buried in a Protestant service at Peterborough Cathedral, her body would later be exhumed and reinterred in Westminster Abbey. Her crucifix and cover of her prayer book were quickly taken from the scene, no doubt by her loyal ladies for safe keeping, but you can see in the above image that most of Mary's belongings were burnt to prevent them becoming Catholic icons.

The Golden Speech

29/11/2016

On the 30th November 1601, Queen Elizabeth, at the age of sixty-eight gave what has come to be known as The
Farewell Speech or Golden Speech to Parliament.

Mr Speaker,

We have heard your declaration and perceive your care of our estate. I do assure you there is no prince that loves his subjects better, or whose love can countervail our love. There is no jewel, be it of never so rich a price, which I set before this jewel: I mean your love. For I do esteem it more than any treasure or riches; for that we know how to prize, but love and thanks I count invaluable. And, though God hath raised me high, yet this I count the glory of my Crown, that I have reigned with your loves. This makes me that I do not so much rejoice that God hath made me to be a Queen, as to be a Queen over so thankful a people. Therefore I have cause to wish nothing more than to content the subject and that is a duty which I owe. Neither do I desire to live longer days than I may see your prosperity and that is my only desire. And as I am that person still yet, under
God, hath delivered you and so I trust by the almighty power of God that I shall be his instrument to preserve you from every peril, dishonour, shame, tyranny and oppression, partly by means of your intended helps which we take very acceptably because it manifesteth the largeness of your good loves and loyalties unto your sovereign.

Of myself I must say this: I never was any greedy, scraping grasper, nor a strait fast-holding Prince, nor yet a waster. My
heart was never set on any worldly goods. What you bestow on me, I will not hoard it up, but receive it to bestow on you again. Therefore render unto them I beseech you Mr Speaker, such thanks as you imagine my heart yieldeth, but my tongue cannot express. Mr Speaker, I would wish you and the rest to stand up for I shall yet trouble you with longer speech. Mr Speaker, you give me thanks but I doubt me I have greater cause to give you thanks, than you me, and I charge you to thank them of the Lower House from me. For had I not received a knowledge from you, I might have fallen into the lapse of an error, only for
lack of true information.

Since I was Queen, yet did I never put my pen to any grant, but that upon pretext and semblance made unto me, it was both good and beneficial to the subject in general though a private profit to some of my ancient servants, who had deserved well at my hands. But the contrary being found by experience, I am exceedingly beholden to such subjects as would move the same
at first. And I am not so simple to suppose but that there be some of the Lower House whom these grievances never touched.
I think they spake out of zeal to their countries and not out of spleen or malevolent affection as being parties grieved. That my grants should be grievous to my people and oppressions to be privileged under colour of our patents, our kingly dignity shall
not suffer it. Yea, when I heard it, I could give no rest unto my thoughts until I had reformed it. Shall they, think you, escape unpunished that have oppressed you, and have been respectless of their duty and regardless our honour? No, I assure you,
Mr Speaker, were it not more for conscience' sake than for any glory or increase of love that I desire, these errors, troubles, vexations and oppressions done by these varlets and lewd persons not worthy of the name of subjects should not escape without condign punishment. But I perceive they dealt with me like physicians who, ministering a drug, make it more
acceptable by giving it a good aromatical savour, or when they give pills do gild them all over.

I have ever used to set the Last Judgement Day before mine eyes and so to rule as I shall be judged to answer before a higher judge, and now if my kingly bounties have been abused and my grants turned to the hurt of my people contrary to my will and meaning, and if any in authority under me have neglected or perverted what I have committed to them, I hope God will not lay their culps and offenses in my charge. I know the title of a King is a glorious title, but assure yourself that the shining glory of princely authority hath not so dazzled the eyes of our understanding, but that we well know and remember that we also are to yield an account of our actions before the great judge. To be a king and wear a crown is a thing more glorious to them that see
it than it is pleasant to them that bear it. For myself I was never so much enticed with the glorious name of a King or royal authority of a Queen as delighted that God hath made me his instrument to maintain his truth and glory and to defend his kingdom as I said from peril, dishonour, tyranny and oppression. There will never Queen sit in my seat with more zeal to my country, care to my subjects and that will sooner with willingness venture her life for your good and safety than myself. For it is my desire to live nor reign no longer than my life and reign shall be for your good. And though you have had, and may have, many princes more mighty and wise sitting in this seat, yet you never had nor shall have, any that will be more careful and loving.

'For I, oh Lord, what am I, whom practices and perils past should not fear? Or what can I do? That I should speak for any glory, God forbid.' And turning to the Speaker and her councilors she said, 'And I pray to you Mr Comptroller, Mr Secretary and you
of my Council, that before these gentlemen go into their countries, you bring them all to kiss my hand.'

It has been said that those who listened to those words in person never forgot them, copies of Elizabeth's speech were
printed and delivered to all parts of her realm.