Amy Robsart facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Amy, Lady Dudley
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Possible portrait miniature of Amy Robsart on the occasion of her wedding, 1550, by Levina Teerlinc
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| Born |
Amy Robsart
7 June 1532 |
| Died | 8 September 1560 (aged 28) Cumnor Place, Oxfordshire, England
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| Cause of death | Broken neck |
| Known for | Death under mysterious circumstances |
| Spouse(s) | Robert Dudley, 1st Earl of Leicester |
| Parent(s) | Sir John Robsart, of Syderstone Hall Elizabeth Scott |
Amy, Lady Dudley (born Amy Robsart; 7 June 1532 – 8 September 1560) was the first wife of Robert Dudley, a close friend of Queen Elizabeth I. Amy is mostly known for her mysterious death. She was found at the bottom of a staircase, and many people thought it was suspicious.
Amy Robsart was the only child of a wealthy family from Norfolk, England. She married Robert Dudley when she was almost 18 years old. His father was John Dudley, 1st Duke of Northumberland, a powerful man in England.
In 1553, Robert Dudley was sent to the Tower of London. Amy was allowed to visit him there. After he was released, they didn't have much money. But when Elizabeth I became Queen in 1558, Robert became an important official at court.
Soon, people started to say that Queen Elizabeth was in love with Robert Dudley. Rumors spread that Amy was sick, and that Elizabeth might marry Robert if Amy died. These rumors grew stronger because Elizabeth chose not to marry any of the foreign princes who wanted her hand.
Amy Dudley lived away from court, staying with friends in different parts of the country. She rarely saw her husband. On the morning of 8 September 1560, at Cumnor Place near Oxford, Amy insisted that her servants leave for a local fair. Later, she was found dead at the bottom of a staircase. She had a broken neck and two head injuries.
The official investigation (called a coroner's jury) decided that she died from an accidental fall. They called it a "misfortune."
Amy Dudley's death caused a big scandal. Even though the investigation said it was an accident, many people suspected Robert Dudley had something to do with it. Most modern historians, however, do not believe he was involved. Robert remained Queen Elizabeth's close friend, but because of the rumors, she could not marry him.
Later, a story began that a man named Sir Richard Verney, who worked for Robert Dudley, had caused Amy's death. This story was spread further by a book written in 1584. In the 1800s, interest in Amy's story grew again because of a famous novel called Kenilworth by Walter Scott. Today, many historians think Amy might have been ill, possibly with breast cancer. Medical evidence found in 2008 from the original report supports the idea that her death was an accident.
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Amy Robsart's Early Life and Marriage
Amy Robsart was born in Norfolk. Her parents were Sir John Robsart, a wealthy farmer, and Elizabeth Scott. Amy grew up in a Protestant home and received a good education. She had neat handwriting.
She married Robert Dudley on 4 June 1550. They were both the same age, almost 18. Their wedding took place at the royal palace of Sheen. King Edward VI was even there! It's believed they married for love.
Robert's father, the Earl of Warwick (who later became the Duke of Northumberland), was very powerful. He was in charge of King Edward VI's government. The marriage helped him gain more influence in Norfolk.
Life Before Queen Elizabeth
Amy and Robert often lived at court or with Robert's parents. In 1553, they lived in a large palace called Somerset House. In May 1553, Robert's sister-in-law, Lady Jane Grey, became queen for just nine days. After this, Robert Dudley was sent to the Tower of London. He stayed there from July 1553 to October 1554. Amy was allowed to visit him in prison.
After his release, Robert Dudley didn't have much money. His family and Amy's family helped them out. They had to live simply and Robert built up many debts. Amy's father died in 1554, and her mother died in 1557. This meant Amy and Robert could inherit her family's estate.
In August 1557, Robert Dudley went to fight in France. During this time, Amy wrote a business letter. She was settling some of her husband's debts while he was away. She wrote that she was "not being altogether in quiet for his sudden departing."
Robert Dudley's Rise to Power
In 1558, Robert and Amy were looking for a home in Norfolk. But then Queen Mary I died in November 1558. Elizabeth I became Queen, and Robert Dudley became her Master of the Horse. This meant he had to be at court almost all the time with the Queen.
By April 1559, people at court noticed that Queen Elizabeth seemed to be very fond of Lord Robert. Diplomats reported that some people thought the Queen would marry him if his wife died, as Amy was said to be very ill. Soon, everyone saw that Elizabeth kept Robert Dudley close by her side.
Robert visited Amy at their home for a few days in April 1559. Amy then came to London in May 1559 for about a month. During this time, a Spanish ambassador wrote that her health had improved. She also traveled to Suffolk. By September, she was living at the home of Sir Richard Verney in Warwickshire.
By late 1559, many foreign princes wanted to marry Queen Elizabeth. They were upset that Elizabeth didn't seem interested in them. Some ambassadors even spread rumors that Robert Dudley was trying to harm his wife. They said Elizabeth was just pretending to consider other marriages until Amy was gone. Some nobles also blamed Dudley for Elizabeth not marrying.
In March 1560, the Spanish ambassador wrote that Lord Robert believed he would be in a much better position within a year. He also mentioned that Robert was thinking of divorcing his wife. Amy Dudley never saw her husband again after her visit to London in 1559. Queen Elizabeth didn't really allow Robert to spend much time with his wife.
From December 1559 until her death, Amy Dudley lived at Cumnor Place. This house was in the village of Cumnor near Oxford. It was rented by a friend of the Dudleys, Sir Anthony Forster. Amy had her own household of about 10 servants. She paid for most of her expenses herself. She often ordered new dresses and fine things, as her letters show. Her husband also sent her gifts.
In 1559, an ambassador described her as "a very beautiful wife." In 2009, a historian suggested that a small portrait painting (called a miniature) might be Amy Robsart. This miniature shows a woman wearing oak leaves and flowers. The oak was a symbol Robert Dudley used when he was younger. The yellow flowers match the colors of the Robsart family's coat of arms.
Amy Robsart's Death and Investigation
On Sunday, 8 September 1560, Amy Robsart was found dead at the bottom of a staircase at Cumnor Place. Robert Dudley was at Windsor Castle with the Queen when he heard the news the next day. He immediately wrote to his assistant, Thomas Blount, who was already on his way to Cumnor. Robert desperately asked him to find out what happened and to start an investigation.
When Blount arrived, the investigation had already begun. He wrote to Robert that Amy had woken up early that day. She insisted that all her servants go to the fair in Abingdon. She became very angry with anyone who wanted to stay home.
Mrs. Picto, Amy Dudley's maid, told Blount that she believed it was an accident. She said Amy was a good and religious woman. She also said that Amy often prayed to God to "deliver her from desperation." Blount wrote to Robert that he heard "divers tales of her that maketh me judge her to be a strange woman of mind."
The investigation was carried out by a coroner and 15 local gentlemen. Blount later wrote that some of the jury members were not friends with Anthony Forster, which meant they would not hide anything. He also said that they were being very thorough. He heard that they found "no presumptions of evil." Blount himself felt that "only misfortune hath done it, and nothing else."
The jury's leader wrote to Robert Dudley, assuring him that everything they found pointed to an accident. Robert was relieved but still wanted another group of honest men to investigate further. He wanted Amy's half-brothers to be involved. However, this second investigation never happened.
Amy Dudley was buried at St. Mary's Church in Oxford. Her funeral was very grand and expensive, costing Robert Dudley a lot of money. He wore black for about six months. As was the custom, he did not attend the funeral. Amy's half-brothers and local important people attended instead. The royal court also went into mourning for over a month.
What Happened After Amy's Death
Amy Dudley's death caused a lot of talk and suspicion across the country. Robert Dudley was very upset, fearing "the malicious talk that I know the wicked world will use." William Cecil, the Queen's main secretary, felt threatened by the idea of Robert Dudley becoming king. He spread rumors against the possibility.
Cecil knew about Amy's death before it was made public. He told the Spanish ambassador that Robert and the Queen wanted to marry. He even suggested they were going to get rid of Amy by poison, saying she was sick when she wasn't. Another English ambassador in France also heard and shared scandalous gossip. However, neither Cecil nor the ambassador truly believed Robert Dudley had planned his wife's death. They used the scandal for their own political reasons.
In October, Robert Dudley returned to court. Many believed he hoped to marry the Queen. Elizabeth's affection for him remained strong. She stated that the investigation showed the matter was "contrary to which was reported." She said it did not harm Robert's honesty or her own honor.
However, the scandal damaged Elizabeth's reputation around the world. It seems to have convinced her that marrying Dudley was too risky. Robert Dudley himself knew his reputation was ruined. He said he wished he had been the poorest person on Earth if it meant this "mischance had not happened to me."
John Appleyard's Story
John Appleyard was Amy Robsart's half-brother. He had gained jobs and money from Robert Dudley's rise to power. But he was still not happy with what he had received. In 1567, he was asked to accuse Robert Dudley of murdering his wife. He was offered a large sum of money.
Appleyard refused to help with the plot. However, he said that in recent years, he had come to believe his half-sister was murdered. He had always thought Dudley was innocent but felt it would be easy to find the real killers. He claimed he had asked Robert Dudley for help to find out the truth, but Dudley always said the matter should rest since the investigation found no murder.
When Robert Dudley found out about this plot, he called Appleyard. They had an angry argument. A few weeks later, the Queen's advisors investigated the accusations. Appleyard was sent to prison for about a month. He was questioned and asked to explain why he had suggested that Amy's death was planned.
Instead of answering, Appleyard took back all his statements. He also asked to see the original investigation report. After reading it in his cell, he wrote that it fully satisfied him and cleared his concerns.
Old Stories and Ideas
From the early 1560s, a story began about Sir Richard Verney, a man who worked for Robert Dudley. Amy Dudley had stayed at his house in 1559. A chronicle from 1563, which was against the Dudley family, described the rumors. It said that Amy's neck was broken at Forster's house. Her servants had gone to a fair. But people thought she was killed. Sir Verney was there that day. The story claimed he told his servant, "Hast thou done?" and the servant replied, "Yeah, I have made it sure."
The first printed story of Amy Robsart's supposed murder appeared in a book in 1584. This book was written by Catholic exiles who were against Robert Dudley. In this story, Sir Richard Verney forces the servants to go to the market and then kills Amy. He places her at the bottom of the stairs. The book claimed the jury found it was murder. It also said Verney died horribly, and his servant was killed in prison by Dudley.
These rumors grew stronger because of this book. In the 1800s, Amy Robsart's story became very popular because of Walter Scott's famous novel, Kenilworth. In the novel, the main villain is also named Varney.
The idea that Amy Robsart was murdered gained new strength in the 1800s. This happened when a historian found Spanish letters that mentioned the rumors of poison. This historian believed Amy was murdered by people who hoped Robert Dudley would become king.
However, by 1910, another historian, A.F. Pollard, believed that the suspicion around Amy's death was natural but "incredible." He thought that even someone less smart than Elizabeth or Dudley would know that murder would make their marriage impossible.
Memorial Tile
Amy was buried in St. Mary's Church in Oxford. Her exact grave location is now unknown. However, a memorial tile in the church honors her. It reads:
In a Vault of brick at the upper end of this Quire was buried Amy Robsart Wife of Lord Robert Dudley K.G. on Sunday 22nd September AD 1560
Images for kids
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Possible portrait miniature of Amy Robsart on the occasion of her wedding, 1550, by Levina Teerlinc
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Amy Robsart – The Beaufort Miniature by Levina Teerlinc. Portrait miniature of the same woman as in the Yale Miniature above, c.1559. Lady Amy Dudley came to London in May 1559 for about a month. The miniature belonged to the descendants of Lettice Knollys, the second wife of Amy's widower Robert Dudley
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Leicester and Amy Robsart at Cumnor Hall (1866) by Edward Matthew Ward. Fantasy portrait after Walter Scott's novel Kenilworth
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Fantasy Portrait. Amy Robsart (1870) by William Frederick Yeames
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Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester and his wife Amy Robsart. Painting of the Romantic era by Richard Parkes Bonington
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Amy's last letter to her London tailor on 24 August 1560.
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Amy Robsart. 19th-century fantasy portrait by Thomas Francis Dicksee
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Fantasy Portrait of Amy Robsart by William Clarke Wontner
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Amy Robsart, looking at the portrait of Leicester by E.C. Barnes. Fantasy portrait of Amy Robsart dressed in the colours of the Robsart coat of arms, green and yellow, or Vert and Or.
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Amy Robsart walking to her death. 19th century fantasy portrait by Sir William Quiller Orchardson
See Also
- Cultural depictions of Elizabeth I of England
- List of unsolved deaths
