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The Legacy of the Kett Rebellion Being a concise history of Lady Amy Robsart, Her Death and the Effects Thereof
The death of Lady Amy Dudley (nee Robsart) is a mystery that has fascinated many for centuries. Was it accident, suicide, or murder? In inspired Sir Walter Scott to write Kenilworth and has been the subject of many historical essays or books. Her manner of death possibly destroyed the chances for the only feasible marriage of Queen Elizabeth I and caused the name of Lord Robert Dudley to be written in the annals of infamy. Very little is known of the early life of Amy Dudley. She was born Amy Robsart, the only legitimate child and heiress of Sir John Robsart, a Norfolk land owner. She was country born and bred, nearly illiterate, and totally unused to so-called high-society. Robert Dudley, on the other hand, was the fifth son of John Dudley, Duke of Northumberland. Robert was tutored by Roger Ascham, who was disappointed by Robert's preference for mathematics instead of Latin. Ascham went on to find his ideal pupil in Elizabeth I. Robert also received social training, which was to prove helpful later in life. Amy's mother was an heiress in her own right, and among other properties, she inherited Stanfield house in Wymondham. It is generally assumed that this is the place where Amy and Robert met. In 1549, John Dudley led a march against Robert Kett to put down outbreaks of rebellion in Norwich, led by the latter. Dudley brought two of his sons, Ambrose and Robert, with him on the expedition (Jenkins, 1961). The Dudley party stayed for a time in Wymondham. Robert and Amy met at this time and fell in love. On June 4, 1550, Robert and Amy were married at the ages of seventeen and eighteen, respectively. Thus was the beginning of the relationship that would, ten years later, cause great scandal and destroy Robert's hopes of marrying the Queen of England. Amy proved to be a faithful wife to Robert. During his imprisonment in the Tower of London (for his part in trying to install the Lady Jane Grey on the throne of England, and act of high treason), Amy visited him quite often, bringing him presents and news of the outside world. However, once Robert was out of the Tower, he repaid Amy's faithfulness with neglect for the remainder of her short life. Elizabeth Tudor became Queen Elizabeth I on November 17, 1588, and was crowned on January 15, 1559. Robert Dudley had been among the first nobleman to reach her with the news that she was now Queen and swear himself into her service. One of the first things she did was to appoint her childhood friend Master of the Horse and let it be known officially that Lord Robert was one of her favorites. Robert was not a well-liked man. Because of his seemingly unearned power, he was courted by some, hated by most. He was described as vicious, arrogant, violent, sadistic, opportunistic, and oversexed--sometimes going so far as to pay £300 for the services of one of the women of the Queen's chamber (Smith, 1975, p. 173). With these things said about him, it is no small wonder that he loomed large in the minds of the English as a man to be feared, hated, and kept away from the crown. Rumors abounded, ranging from gossip about Robert killing his wife to Robert being murdered himself. Most believed that if Amy Dudley died, Robert would marry Elizabeth as soon as a suitable mourning passed. It was well known that Amy would not live much longer; reports of Amy's malady (cancer) of the breast had been circulating since early 1559. The Spanish ambassador, Bishop de Quadra, in his many letters to Phillip of Spain, records much of the gossip and opinion regarding Robert. Dudley was “the worst and most procrastinating young man I ever saw in my life;” that there were multiple plots to kill Dudley, “for not a man in the realm can suffer the idea of his being king (Ross, 1975, pp91-92).” Such was the tenor of the gossip—but it was just that, simple rumor and allegation. The real scandal began quietly. The courts of Europe eventually speculated that the reason Elizabeth was so very vague regarding her marriage plans was simply that she was waiting for Amy Dudley to die, leaving Robert free to marry again. Other recorded speculation suggested that Dudley was thinking of divorcing Amy, that he would poison her, that he would hire assassins, even that Elizabeth was already pregnant by Robert Dudley. While such rumors scandalized the court, Amy lived nearly alone at Cumnor Place. Although her life was isolated, rumors of her husband's doings and plannings must have filtered back to her; certainly, the situation added to whatever distress she was suffering as a result of her illness. By this time, Amy was described as “a strange woman of mind,” and her correspondence reflects her hurt at living apart from her husband; “I not,” she wrote, “being altogether quiet for (Robert's) sudden departing.” (Ross, 1975) Mentally ill or not, she was known to suffer from cancer of the breast for at least 18 months prior to her death. On Sunday, September 8, 1560, Amy Dudley sent all her servants to a nearby fair, while she stayed in the house, alone. When her servants returned, they found her at the foot of some stairs. She was dead, her neck broken. The thing that seemed to fascinate most people was the fact that although it appeared that she had died from a fall down the stairs, the headdress she wore was not disturbed (Jenkins, 1958/61). The effect of the news was incredible. Robert was hunting with the Queen when the news reached the court at Windsor. Bishop de Quadra chanced upon Elizabeth shortly after she received the news. “Robert's wife was dead, or nearly so,” she told him, and asked him not to say anything of the news (Plowden, 1977). The next day, the news was formally published, an inquest was sent to Cumnor Place, and Robert was exiled to Kew. As the inquest began, the courts of Europe began to react to the news. The reaction of Mary Queen of Scots and Queen-Consort of France, best reflects the attitude. Upon receipt of the news, she laughed and said, “The Queen of England is going to marry her horsekeeper, who has killed his wife to make room for her.” (Jenkins, 1959) In Kew, Robert did not appear to be overmuch disturbed by his wife's death, caring primarily for its effect on his reputation. Dudley's cousin, Thomas Blount, was at Cumnor Place to assist in the inquest, and Robert's letters to Thomas convey no expression of sorrow or regret, merely a concern that the very plain truth be told. Blount was to stay at Cumnor to assure that the coroner's inquest would find the correct answer. Local feeling was that Amy's death had been accident or suicide, but Robert needed the inquest to find him completely clear of responsibility for Amy's death. If he wasn't, his chances of becoming King-Consort would be null, and he quite possibly could be tried for murder. Unfortunately, Blount was not able to find out very much. He replied to Robert: The present advertisement I can give to your Lordship at this time is, too true it is that my Lady is dead and, as it seemeth, with a fall, but yet, how or which way I cannot learn. (Jenkins, 1961) Blount opted for suicide. Amy died in an empty house: she made quite a show of being angry if anyone refused to go to the fair, an anger that was quite uncharacteristic. After interviewing Pinto, Amy's favorite servant, Blount was sure that Amy was mentally unsound. Blount asked Pinto if she thought Amy might have killed herself. Pinto, shocked, said no, for her mistress was a God-fearing woman. Amy would not commit such a grave sin, and Pinto had often heard Amy “pray to God to deliver her from desperation.” Might this not have proved that Amy was mentally ill? asked Blount. “No,” replied Pinto, “and if you should so gather, I am sorry I said as much.” (Jenkins, 1961) The inquest began to lean towards accidental death. Back at court, rumors continued to persist that Elizabeth was pregnant with Robert's child, and some members of the court were openly accusing Robert of wife-murder. That Elizabeth was innocent of that murder was no question. Members of the court wondered at first, but by some vague actions, she proved herself innocent. Besides, it's safe to assume that if Elizabeth had been involved in Amy's death, she would not have been so grossly stupid as to tell de Quadra of Amy's death before the news was published. Eventually, the coroner's inquest produced a verdict of misadventure. However, at that time—and for the next 400 years—the verdict was considered a farce. Perhaps, however, the verdict was correct. Amy Robsart was known to have cancer of the breast. Not only might this explain part of her desire to be delivered from desperation, it also explains her death. In advanced stages, cancer of the breast can cause a spontaneous fractures of the spine, and this fracture can be caused by simple exercise, such as walking down stairs. If this is what happened, then the fact that Amy's headdress was still on her head would also be accounted for. After Amy's funeral—which Robert did not attend—Robert returned to court only to find that his return would not resolve anything. While Elizabeth treated him with the same favor she had always shown, he was no closer to winning the elusive crown of King-Consort. In time, Elizabeth would make Robert the Earl of Leicester, but all men were denied the consort's crown. Elizabeth became known as the Virgin Queen, and Robert became infamous, with a reputation for poisoning any who got in his way, until it seemed the tables were turned on him, and he died, supposedly poisoned by his second wife, Lettice Knollys. Bibliography Camden,W. The history of the most renowned and victorious princess Elizabeth, late queen of England. W. MacCaffery, ed. Chicago: U. Chicago Press, 1970. Latin & English transcription here. Jenkins, E. Elizabeth the great. New York:Coward-McCann, 1959. ----------. Elizabeth and Leicester. New York:Coward-McCann, 1961. Plowden, A. Marriage with my kingdom: The courtships of Queen Elizabeth I. New York: Stein & Day, 1977. Ross, J. Suitors to the queen: The men in the life of Elizabeth I of England. New York:Coward, McCann & Geoghegin, 1975. Smith, L. B. Elizabeth Tudor: Portrait of a queen. Boston:Little, Brown & Co. 1975. Trease, G. The seven queens of England. New York:Vanguard Press, 1953. Williams, N. The life and times of Elizabeth I. New York: Doubleday & Co, 1972.
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This paper written when I was 16 years
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