Ferdinando Stanley, 5th Earl of Derby facts for kids

Quick facts for kids The Right Honourable The Earl of Derby
Ferdinando Stanley, the 5th Earl of Derby
Born	1559
Died	16 April 1594
Tenure	1593–1594
Nationality	English
Locality	Lancashire, Cheshire
Spouse(s)	Alice Spencer
Issue	Anne Stanley, Countess of Castlehaven Frances Egerton, Countess of Bridgewater Elizabeth Stanley, Countess of Huntingdon

Ferdinando Stanley, the 5th Earl of Derby (born 1559, died 16 April 1594), was an important English nobleman and politician. He was the son of Henry Stanley, 4th Earl of Derby, and Lady Margaret Clifford. Ferdinando was even in line to become king or queen after Elizabeth I. This was because of a special rule made by Henry VIII. Sadly, Ferdinando died suddenly before his mother. His unexpected death made many people suspect he was poisoned. There were worries about secret plans to remove Queen Elizabeth from power.

Becoming Lord Strange

Around 1572, when Ferdinando was about 13, he started studying at the University of Oxford. A year later, Queen Elizabeth herself asked him to join her royal court. She wanted him "to be shaped in good manners."

Later, he was called to the English Parliament. He took on his father's title, Barony of Strange (of Knokyn). From then on, he was known as "Ferdinando, Lord Strange." In 1579, he married Alice Spencer. She was the youngest daughter of Sir John Spencer.

A Friend of the Arts

Ferdinando loved the arts. He enjoyed music, dance, poetry, and singing. Most of all, he truly loved the theatre. He supported many famous writers of his time. These included Robert Greene, Christopher Marlowe, Edmund Spenser, and William Shakespeare.

Shakespeare might have worked for Lord Strange early in his career. Strange had a group of performers called Lord Strange's Men. This group used to do acrobatics and tumbling. But Ferdinando helped them become more focused on performing plays. By 1590, Lord Strange's Men worked with another group called the Admiral's Men. They performed at a famous theatre called The Theatre.

Religious Beliefs and Royal Succession

During this time, Ferdinando was careful about sharing his true thoughts on religion. Some people found it hard to know what he truly believed. A writer named Robert Parsons was frustrated. He said that many people were not happy with Ferdinando's actions so far.

Parsons hoped that if the Stanley family became rulers of England, it would help the Roman Catholic faith. But he also noted that "the Earl of Derby's religion is held to be doubtful." Some people thought Ferdinando followed all three main religions of the time: Roman Catholic, Church of England, and Puritan. Others thought he believed in none of them. Parsons added that "no side will esteem or trust him" because of this.

Despite this, Queen Elizabeth's main advisor, Lord Burghley, received several reports. These reports said that "Papists" (a term for Roman Catholics) were trying to gain support for Ferdinando. They hoped he might become king.

Becoming Earl of Derby

Ferdinando's father passed away on September 25, 1593. Ferdinando then became the new Earl of Derby. His theatre group, Lord Strange's Men, changed their name. They were now called "Derby's Men."

Many experts believe that Shakespeare was part of this group. He worked as both an actor and a playwright. The troupe put on several plays. These included Titus Andronicus and the three Henry VI, Part 1, Henry VI, Part 2, and Henry VI, Part 3 plays. Some people think these plays might have hinted at the Stanley family's political situation at the time.

Ferdinando was seen as very smart and important. When his father was away on royal duties, Ferdinando capably took over his roles. He served as the Lord Lieutenant for Lancashire and Cheshire. He was also a poet and writer. He enjoyed spending time with famous writers of the Elizabethan era. The poet Edmund Spenser even wrote about Ferdinando as "Amyntas" and his wife as "Amaryllis."

The Hesketh Plot

After Ferdinando became the Earl of Derby, more reports of Catholic plots reached Lord Burghley. These plots were about putting Ferdinando on the throne. One report mentioned a priest in Rome. This priest said that even if Ferdinando had no strong religious beliefs, he would find friends to help him become king.

English rebels who had fled overseas sent a man named Richard Hesketh. Hesketh was sent to tell Ferdinando that he had a claim to the English crown. This claim came from his ancestor, Mary, Queen Dowager of France. She was a younger sister of Henry VIII. The Hesketh family had once worked for the Stanleys and were also family friends. This is why Richard Hesketh was chosen to talk to Ferdinando. This event became known as "the Hesketh Plot."

Ferdinando met with Hesketh privately twice. Then, he took Hesketh to London. They had more talks with Ferdinando's mother. She had previously been kept away from the Queen's court. This was because she was suspected of plotting against Elizabeth. However, Ferdinando finally rejected Hesketh's idea very strongly. He showed great anger and scorn. He even turned Hesketh over to Lord Burghley.

Hesketh was questioned and later executed. Ferdinando had hoped that showing his loyalty to Queen Elizabeth would be rewarded. But instead, he was left out of the case and pushed aside. He was upset when the important job of Lord Chamberlain of Chester was given to Thomas Egerton instead of him. He complained that he was "crossed in court and crossed in his country."

Mysterious Death

Ferdinando's death was very mysterious. A few months after the Hesketh affair, he suddenly became very ill. His sickness was severe and violent. Many people suspected he had been poisoned. It was even claimed that Hesketh had threatened him. Hesketh supposedly said Ferdinando would die soon if he did not agree to his plans.

Some believed he was poisoned by the Jesuits. His personal assistant who looked after his horses was suspected of giving him the poison. The historian John Stow wrote down many details about his illness. It has been suggested that poisonous mushrooms were used.

There is a note from that time describing the Earl's symptoms. It also lists the remedies he took and why people suspected witchcraft. He first fell sick at Knowsley Hall. But he traveled to Lathom House. There, he took bezoar stone and, supposedly, powdered unicorn's horn as medicine. He died on April 16, 1594.

Succession and Family

Ferdinando and Alice Spencer had three daughters. Their eldest daughter was Anne Stanley, Countess of Castlehaven, born in 1580. According to Henry VIII's will, Anne would have been queen in 1603. This was because she was an heir through Henry's younger sister, Mary Tudor. However, Elizabeth was actually succeeded by James VI of Scotland. He was the heir through Henry's older sister, Margaret Tudor.

Ferdinando's other two daughters were Lady Frances Stanley (1583–1636) and Lady Elizabeth Stanley (1588–1633). Lady Frances married John Egerton, 1st Earl of Bridgewater. Lady Elizabeth married Henry Hastings, 5th Earl of Huntingdon. Their son, Ferdinando Hastings, 6th Earl of Huntingdon, was named after his grandfather.

Ferdinando was succeeded as Earl of Derby by his younger brother, William. However, some of his other titles, like Baron Strange, were shared among his daughters.

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  Ferdinando Stanley, the 5th Earl of Derby