Lady Arbella Stuart facts for kids

Lady Arbella Stuart (also known as Arabella) was an English noblewoman born in 1575. She was considered a possible heir to Queen Elizabeth I of England. Later, during the reign of her cousin, King James VI and I, Arbella secretly married William Seymour, 2nd Duke of Somerset. He was also a claimant to the English throne.

King James did not approve of their marriage. He had William Seymour imprisoned and placed Arbella under house arrest. When they tried to escape England, Arbella was caught. She was then imprisoned in the Tower of London, where she died at age 39.

Arbella's Family and Royal Connections

Arbella was the only child of Charles Stuart, Earl of Lennox, and Elizabeth Cavendish. This made her a great-great-granddaughter of King Henry VII of England. Because of this, she was in the line of succession to the English throne.

Her grandparents were the Earl of Lennox and Lady Margaret Douglas. Their older son, Henry Stuart, married Mary, Queen of Scots. Their son was Arbella's cousin, James VI and I of Scotland, England, and Ireland. This shows how closely related Arbella was to the royal family.

Arbella's other grandparents were Sir William Cavendish and Elizabeth, known as "Bess of Hardwick."

Her Early Life

Arbella Stuart as a child

Arbella's father died in 1576 when she was very young. Her mother, Elizabeth Cavendish, raised her until 1582. When her mother died, seven-year-old Arbella became an orphan. She was then raised by her grandmother, Bess of Hardwick.

For most of her childhood, Arbella lived in a quiet home called Hardwick Hall in Derbyshire. She sometimes visited the royal court in London. She also continued her education into her twenties. Arbella learned several languages and could play musical instruments like the lute and viol.

Some people believe that a tutor who taught Arbella, named Morley, might have been the famous poet Christopher Marlowe.

A Possible Queen

Arbella Stuart

Before 1592, many people thought Arbella might become the next Queen of England after Queen Elizabeth I. However, powerful advisors to Queen Elizabeth, like Lord Burghley and Sir Robert Cecil, later decided that Arbella's cousin, James VI of Scotland, would be a better choice.

In 1603, James became King James I of England. Arbella then moved to the royal court. She was given a special place of honor, showing her royal status. For example, she sometimes carried the train of Queen Anne of Denmark's dress.

In November 1603, some people were accused of a plot to overthrow King James and put Arbella on the throne. However, Arbella immediately told the King about this plan. This showed her loyalty to him.

In 1607, a visitor from Venice described Arbella. He said she was not very beautiful but was very smart and polite. She was always studying and knew many languages.

Marriage Plans

Because Arbella was a possible heir to the throne, there were many discussions about who she should marry.

One idea was for her to marry Ludovic Stuart, a Scottish duke. Another idea involved the sons of a powerful Italian duke, but these plans did not work out.

In 1599, an English Catholic suggested that Queen Elizabeth might let Arbella marry an English husband. This way, she could become queen and continue England's rule by a female leader.

Near the end of Queen Elizabeth's reign, Arbella got into trouble. It was reported that she planned to marry Edward Seymour, a member of another important family. Arbella denied this, saying she would never marry without the Queen's permission. In 1604, the King of Poland also asked for Arbella's hand in marriage, but this offer was turned down.

Her Secret Marriage

William, 2nd Duke of Somerset.

Royal warrant for arrest of Arbella, Lady Beauchamp, and Lord Beauchamp, 1611

In 1610, Arbella caused trouble again. She planned to marry William Seymour, who was also related to the royal family. He was sixth in line to the throne. King James worried that this marriage might be a step towards them trying to take the crown.

Arbella and William secretly married on June 22, 1610. King James was very angry that they married without his permission. He had Arbella placed under house arrest and William imprisoned in the Tower of London.

The couple had some freedom within their prisons. Arbella even wrote letters to William and to the King. When the King found out about her letters to William, he ordered her to be moved to a stricter prison.

The Escape Attempt

Arbella used the delay in her transfer to plan an escape. She raised money by selling some beautiful embroideries made by Mary, Queen of Scots.

Arbella dressed as a man to escape. She put on men's clothes, a wig, a hat, and a cloak. She even wore a sword! She traveled by boat on the River Thames to a town called Lee. She then sailed towards France. William also disguised himself and escaped from the Tower.

Arbella's ship was caught by King James's men just before it reached France. She was brought back to England and imprisoned in the Tower of London. She never saw her husband again.

While in the Tower, Arbella continued to hope she would be released. She even bought pearls and a fancy gown for a royal wedding she expected to attend. However, she was not invited. She later had to sell most of her pearls for money.

Arbella Stuart became very sick in the Tower and died on September 25, 1615. She was buried in Westminster Abbey.

Arbella's Story in Books and Poems

More than one hundred letters written by Arbella have survived. These letters tell us a lot about her life and thoughts.

Many writers have been inspired by Arbella's story:

• The English novelist Doris Leslie wrote a book called 'Wreath for Arabella' in 1948.
• The poet Emilia Lanier dedicated a poem to Arbella, recalling their friendship.
• Felicia Hemans wrote a poem called Arabella Stuart, imagining her thoughts in prison.
• In 2005, Sarah Gristwood published a book titled Arbella: England's Lost Queen.

Family Tree

Ancestry

Images for kids

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  Lady Arbella Stuart

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  Arbella Stuart as a child

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  Arbella Stuart

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  William Seymour, 2nd Duke of Somerset

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  Royal warrant for arrest of Arbella, Lady Beauchamp, and Lord Beauchamp, 1611

See also

In Spanish: Arabella Estuardo para niños