Elizabeth I is considered one of the greatest Queens and monarchs that England ever had.
She was the final ruler of the Tudor dynasty for the fact that she had no heir, and following
her death in 1603, James I the King of Scotland was invited to take the throne of England
also.
Elizabeth I was the Queens who defeated the Spanish Armada and also tried very hard to
solve problems with religion in her nation.
Many people were executed, and she even sentenced to death Mary Queen of Scots.
But one of the most secretive and mysterious elements of Elizabeth’s life revolves around
her relationships.
Throughout the centuries a number of historians have investigated claims that Elizabeth I
actually was pregnant during her reign, casting doubt on her reputation as the Virgin Queen.
Some have also claimed that she married and did give birth.
It’s known that the man who came closest to marrying the Queen was Robert Dudley the
earl of Leicester, and there was significant rumour around him, some positive and some
negative.
It was said in November 1560 that Queen Elizabeth I may have looked pregnant, and one ambassador
did write that allegedly she was expecting a child with Robert Dudley.
In early 1561, it was said that Elizabeth was stuck in bed with a mysterious illness
that caused her body to swell up, and there were rumours around court that claimed there
had been a secret betrothal between the Queen and Robert Dudley.
On the 31st December 1560, the English ambassador in Paris wrote to William Cecil Elizabeth’s
advisor asking what to do if, ‘her majesty do so foully forget herself in her marriage
as the bruit runneth here,’ but there were others that debated that the Queen was not
in fact married.
Letters also reached the Queen and Dudley asking them to address the rumours of marriage,
but Cecil responded saying that, ‘“I advise you not to meddle with the matters of this
Court, otherwise than ye may be well advised from hence.
What Her Majesty will determine to do only God, I think, knoweth; and in her His Will
be fulfilled.
Writings remain, and coming into adverse hands may be sinisterly interpreted....
Servants and messengers may be reporters to whom they list, and therefore I cannot give
you so plain a counsel as I wish: But in one word I say, Contend not where victory cannot
be had."
Cecil with this did not completely shoot down the rumours and state they were untrue.
But the debate continued around the pair.
It was reported to King Phillip of Spain by an ambassador who stated that he had been
told by Robert Dudley’s sister that the rumour of marriage was spreading to everyone
at court.
The ambassador stated that, ‘“If she marry Lord Robert without his Majesty’s sanction,
your Majesty has but to give a hint to your subjects and she will lose her throne.
Without your Majesty’s sanction she will do nothing in public; And it may be when she
sees she has nothing to hope for from your Majesty, she will make a worse plunge to satisfy
her appetite.
She is infatuated to a degree which would be a notable fault in any woman, much more
in one of her exalted rank.”
Further rumours regarding the Queen continued, and there was even talk that Francis Bacon,
a son born to Nicholas and Lady Anne Bacon was actually the Queens, and that the Bacon’s
had adopted him.
On the day Francis was born the Queen was at York Place, and she had no engagements
that day and was kept in quiet.
But further courtiers commented on Robert Dudley and Elizabeth I, as Sir Henry Sidney,
Dudley’s brother in law said, ‘The Queen and Lord Robert were lovers, but they intended
honest marriage.’
The bishop he spoke to regarding this replied with, ‘Some say she is a mother already,
but I do not believed this.’
What is known for certain though is that following the death of the Earl of Leicester’s wife,
Elizabeth and Dudley became closer, and it was reported at the time that she may have
been betrothed of him.
Further rumour alleged that she may have married him in Lord Pembroke’s house, of Baynard’s
Castle.
However interesting during the Victorian times there was a rather strange discovery found
that was presented to Queen Victoria.
An anecdote recorded in 1895 stated, ‘"When Queen Victoria was staying at Wilton House,
the Earl of Pembroke told her that in the muniment room was a document which formed
written evidence that in 1560 Elizabeth I married the Earl of Leicester.
The marriage was performed in secret oath of absolute secrecy.
At the time of that marriage the Queen pregnant by Lord Leicester.
The French and Spanish ambassadors reported this and the death of Amy Robsart to their
Courts.
They also told the Queen that if this was confirmed by her marriage to Leicester, France
and Spain would jointly invade England, to remove the Protestant Queen and replace her
by a Catholic monarch.
Queen Victoria demanded that this document should be produced, and, after she had examined
it, she put it on the fire, saying, ‘one must not interfere with history.’”
With this it’s interesting to consider that Queen Victoria could have interfered with
the rightful story of Elizabeth I’s reign, and has hidden history from the modern world.
At the time, William Cecil did attract criticism and was accused of telling the King of Spain
that Elizabeth had married Dudley.
It was said that he stuck up for himself saying, ‘I wrote what I said to the Queen herself,
that it was reported all over London that the marriage had taken place.
She betrayed neither surprise nor displeasure at my words.
Had I so pleased I might have written all this to his Majesty; nor do I think I should
have done wrong had I told him the World’s belief that she was married already.’
What cannot be disputed though is that in October 1562, the Queen became very ill with
the deadly disease of smallpox.
With this many believed that she could die from the disease, and she asked the Privy
Council to make Robert Dudley her rumoured husband and lover the Protector of the Realm
and to give him a huge title and amount of wealth.
But the Queen did recover and it was not needed to carry this out, but then in 1563 the Queen
gave him Kenilworth Castle and the surrounding manor and park which he made into a huge and
colossal beautiful fortress and house, where he entertained Elizabeth regularly.
Elizabeth spent many days here compared to other castles, and she was greatly fond of
Kenilworth.
But despite these rumours being prominent at court, they were never proven and no evidence
has ever been found pointing towards marriage between Elizabeth I and Robert Dudley the
Earl of Leicester.
We know she was greatly fond of Dudley, and many believe that the pair were lovers, but
ultimately the legacy of Elizabeth I is that she claimed she was married to her kingdom
and her country.
Ultimately when Elizabeth died in 1603, she died without an heir and successor and quickly
arrangements were made, but with this the Tudor dynasty died out, just around 120 years
since it began with her grandfather’s victory at the Battle of Bosworth field.
The question of marriage would have helped Elizabeth secure the Tudor dynasty on the
throne for centuries to come.
Thanks for watching
To support our channel, please make sure to subscribe.