Oberlin, Ohio
Independent Study Project Experience: 3rd Project Description: If all goes well, my project will
speak about Queen Elizabeth's life, and the "golden web of
intrigue" surrounding it. It will explain the nature of her
parenting (or lack there of) and touch upon her father's
(Henry VIII's) relationship with his six wives. Though I
wished to delve more deeply into Mary Stewart's (you may
know her better as Mary, Queen of Scotts) life, because of
time constraints, I was not able to. Primary Product: Book Define your project: A book, at least, in this case, is
an organized compilation of facts excluding as little as
possible. It is, for me, the final product of a four-month
study. Other objectives: 1) I have compiled a group of photographs which, once
attached to my back drop, will form my "portrait gallery.
" 2) In order to evoke the period as best I can, I will be
wearing an Elizabethan silk dress, complete with ruff. 3) I am attempting to create a miniature Canopy of State,
beneath a larger one of which, a monarch might have sat. 4) I will be displaying a vase of "Tudor" roses. 5) I will display rushes, somewhat like to those used as
carpet in Elizabethan days. Monday's child is fair of face, Tuesday's child is full
of grace, Wednesday's child is full of woe, Thursday's child
has far to go, Friday's child is loving and giving,
Saturday's child must work for a living, but the child who's
born on the Sabbath day, is fair and wise and good and gay.
Elizabeth Tudor was born on Sunday. Although opinions differ, I now believe that Elizabeth
was fair and gay ruler whose wisdom and compassion shaped
England into what later became known as the "Golden Age."
She was a strong woman who put her heart into her rule and
made many sacrifices for the good of her country. By
learning more about Elizabeth's life and times we begin to
piece together the trials and triumphs that led to the
forming of modern English society. Part I Chapter I "His Brother's Wife" Elizabeth's father, Henry VIII, was, at least in his
early years, a classic example of kingship: handsome,
generous, fairly dripping with youth and masculinity.
Indeed, King Hal's court was envied by many. But let's back
up further. Henry VII decided that to end his French troubles, he
would need a solid alliance with Spain. He therefore
negotiated with Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain, and it was
agreed that their younger daughter, the Infanta Catalina,
later known as Catherine of Aragon, would marry Henry's
oldest son and heir, Arthur. Catherine was perfectly beautiful but never thought she
was. She had always lurked sadly in the shadow of her older
sister, Juana, who was classically and radiantly beautiful.
As a result, Catherine drew into her "shell," shrouded in
doubt and misery. She became deeply religious and deeply
self-hating. She arrived in England knowing not a word of English but
only Spanish and Latin. She and Arthur were married, and for
a time, it appeared that "happily-ever-after" was not out of
the question.. But not so for poor Catherine. Five months
after the wedding, Arthur, who had always been a sickly boy,
died of tuberculosis. Seven years elapsed, and young Henry and Catherine were
betrothed and un-betrothed and re-betrothed. For, when
Isabella of Spain died, Ferdinand lost title and prestige
and became merely King of Aragon. Thus he was in no mood to
pay the half of his daughter's dowery promised but yet
unpaid. But finally, after ten abominable years, Ferdinand
won victory in Italy (which renewed his prestige) and
demanded that Henry and Catherine marry at once on pain of
Spanish attack. Thus, young Henry swore to his dying father
that he would marry Catherine at once. And that he did, on
June 11 1509. The bride was 24, the groom 18. * * * Henry and Catherine were married for more than 20 years,
yet their life together was not a happy one. Catherine's
oppressingly devout personality began to wear upon her
husband; while Henry's self-infatuation and vain disinterest
in the world at large began to tell upon his wife. There was
also the problem of an heir. In this day, a ruler was highly
dependant upon his consort to produce at least one --
preferably two or even three -- healthy, male heirs.
Catherine seemed incapable of the task. She bore many
stillborn children, several of which were male. When she
finally succeeded in bearing a child (February 8, 1516), it
turned out to be a "worthless" girl, whom Catherine called
Mary. Henry was disconsolate and afraid. He harked back through
his memories and lit upon a certain phrase in the Book of
Leviticus: "…and if a man shall take his brother's
wife, it is impurity…They shall be childless." That was
it! There was curse upon his marriage, and furthermore, that
marriage was a sin! Of course the Pope would consent to
annul the marriage; continuing in said marriage would be a
further sin. He had the answer! And he would be free! Free
to marry that young sprite, Anne Boleyn, free to beget a
whole nursery of strong, royal boys! It was not so very simple. Catherine had no desire to
divorce, and the Pope, currently under siege and virtually
sitting in the pocket of Catherine's sympathetic nephew,
Phillip of Spain, refused to grant the annulment. Thus began the six-year saga, with Henry and Anne on the
one hand and Catherine and the Pope on the other. And at
last, after countless court sessions and innumerable
appeals, Henry, convinced that Anne, his "sweet bird," would
give him all the heirs he desired, pulled England out of the
Catholic church and away from Roman influence. He created
the Church of England, of which he was the supreme head.
Divorce was forced upon Catherine, and she was even
separated from Mary. Chapter II Witch and Temptress "Anne was not pretty, but she was clever enough to make
men think she was." So said Margaret Irwin in her 1945 novel
Young Bess. Anne had enormous deep brown eyes, brown
fly-away hair, and slightly protrudent front teeth. The King
found her enchanting. Unfortunately, Anne was pledged to
someone else. She had decided to marry Harry Percy, and,
being possessed of an extraordinarily vehement and forceful
will power, it was impossible to change her mind. Henry
tried, and failed to tempt her. He therefore sent his
advisor, Wolsey, to separate the young pair. This done, he
married Percy off to someone else, leaving Anne free to the
King. Now, Anne had seen her older sister, Mary, become the
King's whore and, once burdened with his seed, discarded.
Anne was therefore determined to be Queen if she must be
anything at all. She was icy towards the King, and when,
after writing her a love song, he asked her how she liked
it, she responded by asking him how his wife liked it. But
it is said, by some, that by the time the six-year battle
was won, she had come to love him. Alas, Queen Anne's reign was short. From start to finish,
"King's Whore" was hated by the public. Rumors flew like the
gulls over the river Thames. "That Nan Bullen has six fingers on 'er left hand, the
last but a stub, but it she uses to suckle her devil's imps
who hold power o'er the King." "I 'eard she's but two fingers on 'er right hand. And
that be the sign o' the evil eye." Yes, in all such rumors her power over the King figured
large. In fact, ever after her reign, Hal himself insisted
that she had bewitched him into loving her. But early in her reign, when their mutual love was true,
Anne bore Henry a child. It was not, however, the boy whom
he had wished for; there was a small, fair-haired girl
cradled in Anne's arms. "We shall call her Elizabeth!" Anne exclaimed
joyfully. Henry was not at all pleased, but he swallowed his
disappointment, and, continuing with the traditional male
festivities, made Elizabeth Princess of Wales . Though her daughter's life was just beginning, Anne's
time was drawing to a close. Henry's attentions were
elsewhere, this she knew. But - if she could only bear a
son… …She did, but he was stillborn, and this she knew
made her swift decline complete. The birth of her dead son
was the knell of her own doom… …Anne Boleyn had to go. This Henry knew - but how?
Wolsey had the perfect solution: the Queen had committed
adultery! Yes, that was good, ah, and even better -
incest!!! She had lain with her brother - a terrible
sin. And so it went. Innocent men were made to confess - under
torture - to their shameful (and non-existent) love for the
Queen her majesty. Anne was found guilty in her rigged
trial, and Henry, though he was loathe to do it, signed her
death warrant. It is said that Anne's melodious laughter rang through
the Tower. Chapter III The Seymour Girl Jane Seymour was a blushing girl in her early twenties,
delicate and serene, she had been one of "the previous
Queen's" ladies. (Anne's name was no longer spoken.) She was
exactly what King Hal, now middle aged, wanted for his third
wife. Although accounts are a trifle sketchy, it is
popularly believed that Henry proposed to Jane the day after
Anne's death! Jane accepted, though more from worship, the worship of
an awed girl for the shining king that Harry had once been,
than from love. And within a few days, they were quietly
married. For a time, Harry had found peace. Plain little unobtrusive Jane did do much towards
reuniting the King with his two daughters. Through her it
was that the King began to, at least partially, reconcile
himself with Mary. And then, on October 12, 1537, Jane gave
birth to the long-awaited boy! Small and sickly he was - but
a BOY! Edward was christened Prince of Wales. But a week after
his birth, he was left motherless. Jane, as quietly as she
had slipped in, slipped out. Hal deeply mourned her, and
since sorrow prevented him from kneeling at her graveside,
Mary was her principal visitor. Hal was getting panicky; this was further evidence of the
much-feared curse… Chapter IV A Foreign Queen Harry was growing old, this he knew - in an age when men
often died before the age of forty, at forty-six he was
positively ancient. His contemporaries were dying out, and
all the "desirable" girls were married off. If only he could
use his new lack-of-wife to create a solid alliance with
some powerful country. …France? …Spain?
…Germany? Thomas Cromwell, the King's Lord Privy Seal, did a bit of
investigating in the later area and found that William, Duke
of Cleves, was rich, influential, Catholic but not loyal to
the Pope, and possessed of an unmarried sister, she but
twenty-two. It might have been a match made in heaven, but Anne was
tall, and, by the standards of the day, ugly. Her gowns were
unbecoming, and her face pock marked, but Thomas Cromwell
thought her ideal. He met with her, and, when describing her qualities to
the King, compared her with the lovely Christine of Denmark,
saying that Anne was like the "warm, golden sun compared to
the cold silver moon." Therefore, it was a goodly shock to Henry when Anne,
arriving in England for the first time, was not only ugly
but spoke only Plattdeutsch, or low German. Henry knew this
woman could never be his wife, but what could he do? Their marriage was a brief one; several months later,
Henry proposed a very generous divorce settlement which Anne
quietly accepted. For this, she won Henry's greet esteem and
was thereafter referred to as, "Our dear sister." Chapter V Sweet Betrayal Katheryn Howard was first cousin to Anne Boleyn through
the family of Norfolk. (She was the granddaughter of the
aged Duchess of Norfolk.) At seventeen, her unbounded
exuberance and delicate bubbliness knew no ends. She
attended her grandmother's establishment for girls of the
nobility, but because the old woman was somewhat lacking in
disciplinary motivation, Kat, like the other girls in this
establishment was unruly and unrestrained. During the brief reign of Anne of Cleves, Steven
Gardiner, Bishop of Winchester, having decided that Kat,
this lovely sprite with the auburn curls, pale skin, and
delicately freckled nose, was perfect for the King his
majesty, set about making arrangements. He sent royal word
to Kat's grandmother's establishment, and a lovely, serene
girl it was who sat innocently beside the King graciously
allowing him to hold her hand. It was partly this infatuation for Kat that led Henry to
rid himself of Anne. However, Kat's self restraint and
feigned purity did not last long. But so blind was Henry in
his love for her ("a rose without thorns," he called her)
that he did not even notice these infractions until it was
too late… …Being Queen was all very well and good, Kat was
pleased with this aspect, but, Henry was an old man now, a
mountain, obese, with a festering leg and an unstoppable
temper. In short, Kat had married a dead hulk. And so this
heedless girl, this makeshift Queen, searched for
admiration, attention, and romance elsewhere. Thomas Culpepper served the King well. He was faithful
and reliable, and Katheryn fell in love. She wrote love
letters and met him by moonlight. But in her zeal for a
thrill and the youthful passion quite natural to her age,
she quickly and completely incriminated both herself and her
beloved Thomas. Thorns, thorns, they struck and pricked and tore at the
King. His pure, good, lovely wife - evil, deceitful,
unfaithful. He'd kill her by God! Kat screamed and wailed and went to the block. Henry,
betrayed and alone, was in despair. Chapter VI Last and Luckiest Henry's leg was festering badly; his spirits, however,
faired worse. He needed a wife now, more than ever. Someone
to make him young again, but more, to care for him, grow old
with him, be with him in --- death. Yes, he fancied it was
coming. He wallowed in misery, life grew monotonous. And the
Prince was sickly; Hal would need another heir. He would hold a dinner, yes, a private dinner, and invite
the good and loyal Lord Latimer and his wife Katherine.
Latimer was in ill health and did not often come to court,
but royal command - that he would, he must obey. They would
come. Katherine Latimer had once been Katherine Parr. She was
charming, lovely, and practiced in the ways of "womanly"
duties, Latimer being her second husband. The pair balked,
however, upon receiving royal invitation. In his misery,
Henry was irrational, unpredictable; an offhand comment
might lead to death. But royal command was just that, and the uneasy couple
could not refuse. * * * A glance at Katherine was enough for Henry. This was the
wife he wanted; the companion for his old age… …The dinner went smoothly enough: indeed, almost
enjoyably! The guests departed, relieved, and Henry mediated
upon how best to achieve his goal. * * * Soon after, the ever-ill Latimer died. Katherine was free
at last, free for the love of her life, the rakishly
handsome and quick-tongued Thomas Seymour, brother to the
late Queen Jane. At last Kate was happy. There marriage was
agreed upon and - Royal word! Would the widowed Lady Latimer like to stay
at Greenwich Palace? A set of apartments would be prepared
for her; she would be welcome for as long as she chose. What could be done?! Offending the Great Presence would
certainly lead to her own destruction. Then again, Henry's
intentions were crystal clear: she would have to give up her
Tom, perhaps forever! Henry would make her his sixth wife,
and she would disappear as the others had, through the misty
veils of time. * * * Queen Katherine. The third and final Queen Katherine, and
perhaps the luckiest, or at least the most repentant when
displeasing to His Royal Majesty. Yes, it was her ability to
please that kept Kate alive. Indeed, one very close shave
could easily have brought her to the block. The Queen was an acquaintance of the lady Anne Askew, the
latter being a firm believer in the "new learning," or
Reformation movement, in which Kate was at least moderately
interested. And it so happened, that the King was
exceedingly displeased with Anne for this belief, and
subsequently put her to the rack and burned her. In fact, so
upset was he, that he signed his wife's death warrant for
conspiring with Lady Anne. Kate was utterly terrified; she lay in her apartments,
awaiting her destruction. Not even Bess, Anne Boleyn's girl,
now grown so tall, could cheer her. As a last resort, she
prostrated herself before her husband, weeping, begging,
promising - and it worked! Next day, as the again-happy couple walked in their
garden, an armed escort arrived to arrest the Queen, and the
King expelled them with such violent oaths as to frighten
any dragon. * * * Henry's condition worsened; his doctors were useless.
Though none knew it at the time, the King had syphilis, the
sores spreading on his leg were ulcers, slowly deteriorating
his nerves and muscles. Now he was gladder than ever to have
his dear Kate. She nursed him in his sick room. But soon,
soon as the King rotted away, soon, his face black and
contorted, she was not allowed to see him. She had her last
visit, as did Mary and Edward. (Bess was not given a last
visit.) And then, suddenly, finally, the once-golden King
died. Edward, a boy of nine, was King of England. Part II Chapter I All in Jest The small, fair-haired girl born to Anne and Henry grew
to become one of the greatest monarchs that England has ever
known. When she was three years old, the mother whom she
loved but barely knew was taken from her and beheaded. She
was thereafter a bastard, as her older sister, Mary, had
been since the advent of Anne Boleyn. A succession of substitute mothers then pirouetted across
the stage of her life: fair Jane Seymour; ugly but kind Anne
of Cleves; exquisite Kat Howard; and at last the loveable
and motherly Kate Parr. They had all been "mother" in
different ways, but Kate she loved with a passion, Kate was
hers. When Henry died, Bess felt no pang of grief, no ache of
heart. There had been no fatherly love (at least not that
she could remember, though at one time, she had been the
favorite child). Moreover, for her, he had always been this
festering slug; the good, golden Hal she had never known. So
it can be expected that at thirteen, the loss of her father
held no pain for Bess. However, though she may not have
known it, Henry would much influence her, strengthen her,
empower her: the golden daughter of a golden king. * * * Bess was an enchanting adolescent - flaming red hair,
hazel eyes, flawless skin, and delicate white hands. She did
inherit her mother's power to bewitch. She was in love
(perhaps "crush" is a better word) with the much sought
after (and otherwise engaged) Thomas Seymour. However,
daughter of Henry VIII, she knew prudence and did not
disclose these flirtatious ideas to others. * * * Edward, though exceedingly bright, was not equipped - nor
was he permitted - to rule a country. His father's will had
left England in the care of a carefully chosen Council. That
is, until young Edward reached the ripe age of eighteen, at
which time the country would be theirs to advise but not to
control. However, all this had been molded and shaped, tweaked and
covertly disobeyed by the hand of one man. Edward Seymour
was Tom's elder brother, but far from gay and witty he was
cold and power hungry. Setting aside Harry's will, he
appointed himself Lord Protector and took complete
control. * * * Upon her father's death, Bess was at last free to live
with her darling step-mother, Kate, in whose charge she was
now placed. Since Kate as well had been freed by her
husband's death, Tom was also to be seen more, a prospect
which both delighted and vexed Bess, for, even without
knowledge of their pre-nuptial vows, she was clever enough
to notice the longing glances passed between the lovesick
pair. And then, one fateful day came the sum of all Bess'
fears: Tom and Kate were to marry. True, 'twas not so long
after Hal's death, but the little King had given his
consent; they would marry at once. It could not be! Her Tom, her Tom, would be her
step-step-father! How could it be so?! Yes, she would see him more, one could have only filial
love for one's father; the lust she had had for him, the
passion she had felt, would all be for naught. She had lost
him. Of course, there would be love of other kinds, and
merriment, and Tom even romped with her, played, jested with
her. He jested a good deal; one sometimes could not tell
fact from feint. Before his marriage, he had even asked her
to marry him. But that was certainly jest. Or was it?
Perhaps she did mean something to him. Yes, he had even
kissed her! This greatly pleased her, especially when she heard via
gossip that she had been Tom's first choice, not Kate. (Of
course, Parliament had not stood for this. A Tudor heir and
a Seymour would have been far too powerful in their view.)
But to think, he loved her; 'twas not all in jest. But all this was to change. Katherine was to have a
child! Chapter II Last Goodbyes It grew more intense. Kate was pregnant and delicate, so
Tom turned to Bess to keep him "occupied." Kissing,
flirting, this and more, and very obviously. Kate, always
certain in her husband's love, noticed and doubted. Upon one occasion, after a rambunctious romp, Bess and
Tom returned laughing to the manor, the former with sleeve
ripped from wrist to shoulder. Kate was appalled. To think
that she had been so blind! And now, she would have to send
her Bess away, away to stop the rumors that she knew would
spread. Said the butcher's wife, "Queen Katherine did catch the
pair kissing!" Said the midwife's daughter, "Yes, and even found them in
her bed!" Kate shuddered. No, Bess would have to go. The whispers
could not be abided. * * * "Only a little while pet, not long, n-n-n-ot long!" Kat
cradled Bess in her arms, fourteen and as vulnerable as a
babe, she thought. "No!" cried Bess, "No! See how you labor! See how your
child burdens you! I cannot leave you now, not so close to
the birth!" But no, Kat explained, no, there would be horrid stories
told. These must be avoided at all costs. "Don't look so,
Bess. You're not disgraced but gone away! "I've got Lady Jane here, a child, granted, but she's
good with her hands; we'll fare all right." Replaced! Replaced by little Jane Grey, four years her
junior, and - she would not be there for the birth! She left feeling, well, rather hysterical. Supposing she
were never to see Kate again? Supposing Kate died in
childbed and - and - and this was their last meeting? No,
this was madness. Yes, Kate was thirty-five, but she was
perfectly safe - Bess would return as soon as Kate bore her
son. Chapter III Kate's Last The child was a girl. Kate's hopes, Kate's dreams, had
all been based upon her male child, and now… … Tom was ecstatic. Far from Henry's rage, he first
enquired after the health of his wife and child, regardless
of the latter's sex. But several hours after the birth, Kate
became delirious. In her fever, she screamed accusations at
her husband and wailed for Bess. She soon became conscious
again and bequeathed all to her husband. Two days later,
Kate died, a mere thirty-five years of age. * * * Bess could not believe her ears, her Kate gone, dead. And
she, here at Hatfield. She had not been there in the dying
hours of her step- - nay, her mother. And now, she would
never see her again. Bess was alone; it ate at her soul. * * * Tom Seymour was completely distraught. His wife was dead,
and now he was left, like Bess, with nothing. Neither lover
nor mate was left to him. He dismissed his servants and
pondered his own end… Chapter IV The End of the Seymour Brothers Tom did not end his life. He re-hired his servants and
asked young Jane Grey back to his home. He deeply mourned
his Kate but realized that, if now he let all go, he would
be undone. He must marry Jane to the King in order to gain
ultimate control. It was imperative that he strike now in
order to beat his brother, who intended his daughter Janet
to marry the King. He must also attempt to build animosity
between the King and the Lord Protector, thus ensuring that,
had Edward to choose, it would be Tom and not Ned whom he
supported. And then there was Bess. Fifteen-year-old Bess, who
somehow held him spellbound. He could not lose her. Hell -
he'd do more than keep her, he'd marry her! He'd beget that
Tudor-Seymour child that Ned had long feared! There were so many damned people in his way! Why, it
seemed that, the moment he began to see Bess again,
suspicion, long brewing, boiled over from a hundred
different cauldrons. Even Ned, caught by a torrent of
brotherly affection, warned his brother of the price of his
deeds; surely too high a price to pay. Already the vast
scope of rumors included a ludicrous tale of Bess birthing a
child at Hatfield, which involved a blindfolded midwife,
who, after delivering Bess' child, watched it thrown on the
fire. Tom however, paid heed neither to the warnings nor the
rumors, and, as he found too late, this nonchalant attitude
would cost him his head… * * * Tom was arrested while at his mother's home. Having
always been devoted to her Tom, it was very difficult for
her, despite his cheery reassurances, to cope with this
great shock. It is said that, as Tom was led away, she
repeated over and over the words she had only thought for
thirty years: "I knew one of them would kill the other. I
knew it, I knew it." Would she ever see her Tom again? Who
knew? Now she was left with only little Jane Grey. * * * It was now that Bess faced her first real trial. With Tom
in the Tower, she was suspected of everything from a bit of
a fling to high treason - no small matter indeed. She was
kept a virtual prisoner in her own home while, day after
day, agents of the Protector quizzed her about everything
from her alleged love for Tom to her involvement in the
"murder" of Kate Parr. Bess showed no fear (or rather, as
little fear as possible) and coolly answered the accusations
put forth, careful to incriminate no one. Even her ever-faithful governess, Kat Ashley, was taken
to the Tower for questioning. Bess was frightened. She
feared that now, any second, she would break, tear in half
and tell them - all of them - everything that they wished to
hear. Then, at least, she would be free, even briefly, even
bound up river for the Tower… …Bess stood strong, but Tom… Tom was beheaded.
Soon after, the man whom the populace had once called "The
Good Duke," Ned Seymour, Duke of Somerset, followed.
'Twasn't right, cried England, to kill one's own kin! Chapter V Queen Jane Ned Seymour had been far from a wise ruler, yet he had
instituted many laws favoring the common man - he had even
passed a law ordering the Bible printed in English, which,
before this, had never occurred. This new Bible would allow
any ruffian with the slightest bit of schooling to read the
"word of God." And so, after Ned's downfall, the piece of detestable
refuse that took his place forced the people to see just how
lucky they had been with "The Good Duke." * * * John Dudley, after rising to favor with the
still-naïve Edward, created himself Duke of
Northumberland and became a far more tyrannical Protector
than Ned could ever have dreamed. He promptly recommenced the Jane Grey project, inspired,
but never finished, by the late Tom Seymour. He married poor
Jane to his own son, Guildford Dudley, and, with great
pleasure, noted that the King's health was taking a turn for
the worse… … Why, His Majesty must see reason. Yes - indeed,
the good King Hal had had no idea of Mary's unspeakable
wickedness and scandalous heresy when he wrote the will!
Surely King Edward should set Hal's will aside - after all,
the last thing England needed was a Catholic on the throne!
Why not appoint the Protestant Jane Grey? She was of The
Blood and had just married a gentleman of "good
standing"… … Edward wondered vaguely who the man at his bedside
was. He was now seventeen, had lived with this tyrant for
years - perhaps, if he agreed, Northumberland would go away!
…Yes, very good. If Northumberland thought it best,
then the will should be set aside. Another could be drawn up
at once. * * * And so it was. Jane Grey, but sixteen, was appointed
Edward's sole heir. True, 'twas not quite what Tom had
intended - his plan had counted on Edward living - but for
Northumberland it would suffice. Mary and Bess worried - this was hardly legal! * * * "The King is dead; long live Queen Jane!" So England
cried, but halfheartedly, to say the least. 'Twasn't decent
to set aside old Hal's will like that! * * * Bess and Mary were each sent false letters by those in
Northumberland's service. In a hand mimicking Edward's, the
letters begged Bess and Mary to come at once for fear of
missing their brother's dying hours. Edward, however, was
already dead. Bess saw her letter to be the trap it was, but
Mary, touched to the core, began to ride towards
Kent… … Jane Grey had never in her life had the slightest
intention nor desire to sit on a throne. In fact, since her
early childhood, she had quivered at the very mention of
"The Crown." She was an extremely beautiful girl, fair,
blushing, with golden hair and shining blue eyes. But
indeed, she positively reeled when faced with the prospect
of ruling a country. She hadn't wanted to marry Guildford Dudley. In fact, she
rather disliked the sniveling, chubby boy who was her
husband. And now, she would be Queen, the thing she had, her
whole life, most feared. And why? Not for her learning or
character but for her birth, standing, and religion. Oh
yes… she was the Protector's daughter-in-law! * * * Mary's party was not far from Edward's palace when the
winded rider accosted them and informed "Mary Tudor, the
rightful Queen," that her brother was dead and that she and
Bess were meant to be captured once they reached Greenwich
Palace. Aghast, Mary turned about and headed for safety. * * * Jane ruled for but nine days. After that time,
Northumberland's army (or that of it that did not desert)
was defeated by that of Mary Tudor, who subsequently became
Queen. Northumberland was beheaded, and Jane and Guildford
were tried for high treason and sent to the Tower, where
they were held for some time but eventually executed.
Seventeen-year-old Jane's last childlike words were
allegedly, "Father, into Thy hands…" Chapter VI The Rise of Mary Tudor Thus began the reign of Mary Tudor. Set aside by her
father at an early age, she watched her mother's slow decay
and never forgave Henry for the treachery she felt he had
committed. Alas, Mary's life was full of trials: though the
people preferred her to Jane Grey, she was a rabid Catholic,
and the general populace was Protestant. This displeased
Mary so much that she acquired her nickname, "Bloody Mary,"
for all those innocent Protestants who died at her hand. If
you stood up for your beliefs, you were burned at the stake.
It is said that Mary even ordered three small Protestant
children burned for holding to their religion. 'Twas an age of fear and darkness. Poor and wealthy,
beggar and duke were threatened alike. "Heresy," hissed the government. "Tyranny," spat the people. The country was divided. It was the makings of civil
war. But then, Mary made a far worse mistake: killing the
masses had caused panic, but this, this elevated the people
to hysteria. Mary decided to marry Philip, King of Spain.
Philip was a Catholic, and this terrified the English
populace. An alliance with a powerful Catholic country would
mean the ultimate downfall of the English Protestant faith.
The public revolted, but Mary, unchangeable in her zeal,
proceeded with the marriage preparations. Philip arrived and
the wedding took place as planned. * * * Sir Thomas Wyatte held no particular standing. He knew,
however, that the country could not survive under Spanish
control. He therefore banded together a rebel army. This
done, he planned to march into London and defeat what he
anticipated to be small opposition. He would force the Queen
to divorce Philip… it was the only way… … The rebel army lost; Mary's smaller, but more
organized ranks prevailed. But worse still, Thomas Wyatte
alluded (under torture) to Elizabeth's "involvement" in the
scandalous affair. Before his execution, he assured the
government that he had lied about any involvement on Bess'
part, that she was the picture of innocence - but the die
had been cast. Elizabeth Tudor was taken to the Tower. * * * The barge glided up river past the gardens at Hatfield,
past the palace that had once been Ned Seymour's estate of
"Seymour Place." Bess stood aboard, positively quivering with fear. With
hand on throat, she recalled her mother's light words to
those assembled at her execution: "The swordsman shall have
easy work; I have a little neck." So do I, thought Bess. The barge floated on, now the Tower was in sight, gray
and cold. They were approaching the first gate, the one
reserved for royalty. Bess prepared to exit the barge - but
the barge did not stop. Surely there had been some mistake!
But no, for the barge was slowing, stopping - stopping at
the TRAITOR'S GATE! Bess barely stifled a scream. Very few who entered by this gate left the Tower again.
Surely she - why, she had done nothing - her sister must
know - Bess silently wept as she entered the Tower's massive
stone corridor. * * * Mary was torn. If Tom Wyatte had told the truth, well,
then Bess must die. But, supposing her sister was innocent -
the people were very loyal to Bess. Would her execution
bring about civil war?? Let her prove her innocence. Yes, if, under close
examination, she proved faultless, well, then she would go
free. Mary retired satisfied. Let justice decide. * * * Bess was not, as she had feared, kept in a cell. Though
rather austere, her accommodations were spacious enough;
these were the apartments in which Anne Boleyn had stayed.
Mary's associates continually prodded her and questioned
her, threatened her and begged her, but all to no avail.
Bess did not give in. Finally, after what seemed like an
eternity, weary and empty-handed, they returned to their
mistress to report nothing. Nothing. For the second time in
her life, Bess had endured a sort of mental torture, a
complete isolation, and yet divulged nothing. Somewhat baffled, Mary allowed her sister to move to
Woodstock Manor, at which location, she was held under
slightly less rigorous confinement. Chapter VII Mary's Fall "Much suspected by me, This statement is said to have been carved, by Bess, into
a window at Woodstock Manor. It is possible that by this
statement, Bess meant something having to do with the
current royal party, possibly an allusion to the
government's corruption or Mary's. In any event, Bess was alone at Woodstock, less isolated,
but just as forlorn as the Tower had been. She fell ill, and
many feared her death… * * * Mary's bloody quest for the dominance of the Catholic
faith continued. The populace cried out for the good
princess Elizabeth, she would not burn children, she would
not discriminate against those who did not share her
religion. She would - it did not matter, she would be an
improvement upon Mary. This quasi-rebellion frightened Mary - the people must
support her! Perhaps it was for this reason that she sent a
litter, several messengers, and a doctor to Woodstock in
order to bring Bess - sick or well - to court. At least
there she could be watched. * * * Those sent to collect her knew at once that Bess'
sickness had not been feigned. She was pale and drawn and
confined to her bed. On the whole, she made a highly
pathetic picture. But, by order of the Queen, she was to be
moved unless prostrate before Death's shadowy and sinister
door. Therefore, she was carefully loaded onto the litter,
and the little procession (which included the still-faithful
Mrs. Ashley) wended its slothful way towards Queen Mary and
- was it freedom? At last, out in the fresh air, Bess dared
to think so. * * * "I am told that you have conspired against me." Bess knelt before her sister, "Why no, your grace, I'd
should never conspire against you!" "You plotted with that wretch, Tom Wyatte. Confess!" Bess stood her ground. How could she overthrow her own
kin, why, 'twould be as traitorous as the Seymour
brothers! Mary ricocheted off subject. "They tell me that the
swelling is a tumor," she all but sobbed. "When I'm gone,
won't you promise to uphold the Catholic faith?" "I promise to do as my conscience advises me, sister,"
Bess answered. * * * Mary's condition worsened. Her six-year reign was soon to
end. * * * Church bells rang. Peasants thronged the streets.
Elizabeth Tudor had risen to the throne of England! Chapter VIII Queen Bess 'Twas the 15th of January 1559. On November 17th, Bess
had succeeded to the throne. Now, standing, regal and
shining, in Westminster Abbey, she was being crowned . As a symbol of her virginity, Bess wore her hair
unornamented and unbound. She made a very impressive picture
indeed, especially, since at that moment, red hair, flaming
in the sun, she evoked the very essence of Henry VIII. * * * When Bess ascended to the throne, her country was in
shambles. The royal treasury was empty, and Catholics and
protestants were at each other's throats. In short, Queen
Bess would have to put right her sister's near ruin of an
entire nation. Many expected her to begin burning Catholics, as her
sister had Protestants, yet she began her reign in
tolerance. In an address to Parliament, she explained that
she would rule as a Protestant Queen, yet "I will not make
windows into men's souls," by which she introduced the first
real, country-wide movement for religious tolerance, without
which, our world might be much different today. But no sooner had she begun her rule, than Parliament
began to pressure her about quite another matter. When, and,
more importantly whom did the Queen expect to marry?
Perhaps, Don Carlos of Spain? No? Why not Eric of
Sweden? Elizabeth, however, knew that a royal marriage could be
highly dangerous to her current status. Thus, she stubbornly
told Parliament that, "There shall be one mistress here and
no master." Yet she used her husband-less status to coax what she
wanted abroad: she might possibly marry Don Carlos; it
certainly would help if Spain signed a certain treaty. And
so Bess worked to build up a strong England, free from
foreign control. * * * Elizabeth was also a strong patron of the arts. She
herself was an accomplished musician, playing well on both
lute and virginals, as well as being a lovely dancer. But,
as well as this, she supported art of all kinds --
including, in later years, plays of the young William
Shakespeare - in both her court and country. "The Golden Age
of England" -- or so her reign was called - would not have
been so, had it not been for Bess' love of the arts.
England, like Athens fifteen hundred years before, became
the center of the world. * * * Mary Stewart was the daughter of James V. She had become
Queen of Scotland at the age of six days, and, after three
marriages (all unhappy ones), she had but one son whom she
did not often see. Alas, poor Mary had not the stomach of a
queen. As wrote the author Reay Tannahill, "In the end, it
was her eternal optimism that was her undoing." A theory (supported by Ms. Tannahill) also states that
Mary Stewart's numerous illnesses, fainting spells, periods
of hysteria, pains in her sides, vomiting, and exceedingly
rapid recoveries were all due to a disease and cause of
madness called porphyria. (This is the same type of madness
that George III, a descendant of Mary's, suffered from.) In any event, this unhappy woman was, after an uprising
of Scottish Protestants, forced to abdicate in 1567, at
which time she fled to England in order to beg Bess for an
English army with which to regain her throne. Now, Bess was prepared to give her no such thing. It
would have been unwise, both for the sake of peace abroad
and in order to prevent an English Protestant uprising.
However, being as the two women were cousins (through Henry
VIII's sister, Margaret), Bess was not about to kill Mary,
even being as she was a potential threat to the English
throne and Bess' life. The only possible solution then, was for Bess to keep
Mary a virtual prisoner (though perhaps without all the
trappings of such), moving her from manor to manor,
throughout England. Mary, however, ill and unhappy, decided to plot with one
Antony Babbington and a small group of others to take
Elizabeth's life, then place her, Mary, on the throne. Throwing caution to the winds, Mary and Babbington wrote
all-incriminating letters back and forth by way of
water-tight hollow corks stuck in Mary's wine barrels. After
this was discovered by Sir Frances Walsingham - the rather
aggressive head of Bess' spy network - Elizabeth really had
no choice but to execute Mary as a possible threat to her
crown, and, worse yet, her life. After much pressure from
both Parliament and Privy Council, Bess signed Mary's death
warrant, but instantly regretted having done so; she had not
wished to kill her cousin. * * * For many years, Philip, King of Spain, had put up with
all manner of English harassment. English pirates - a bit
glossed over in title and dealings, mind you, but pirates
nonetheless - had been stealing from, and outright
destroying, Spanish ships for years. One of the more famous
of these "pirates" was Francis Drake, later Sir Francis
Drake, captain of the Golden Hinde. Drake had not only attacked Spanish treasure ships on the
high seas, he had plundered ports and sabotaged ships at
bay. The Spanish wanted him dead. Therefore Bess, on a visit
to the Golden Hinde, drew a sword from her belt and told
Drake, "The King of Spain wants your head. Now I have a
gilded sword to strike it off!" So saying, she knighted him
on ship deck. Though a plunderer, Drake was also instrumental in world
exploration, including that of the New World. But, on
account of his plundering, and that of other
pirate/adventurers, the Spanish were in something of a rage.
This alone would probably not have been cause for war, but,
upon the death of Mary Stewart (who had written Philip,
begging him to avenge her death), Philip decided to unleash
his ultimate weapon: the "Invincible Armada"… …Elizabeth knew of her desperate situation.
Immediately, she began work on a fleet of her own, headed by
Drake and aided by a small army of foot soldiers - would it
be enough?? In 1588, the Spanish Armada was sited off the coast of
England. Bess had proved her strength to rule. Now she must
prove her strength to lead… * * * The English undisputedly won!! Her smaller, faster ships
easily darted in and out of Spanish reach, all the while
battering the much larger galleys. It was a great day indeed
for Bess! Chapter IX Golden Age When English colonists reached the New World, they were
to name their first colony, "Virginia," after Queen Bess,
their Virgin Queen. Bess left the throne of England forty-four years and four
months after first she graced it, far from the wreck it had
been. She made it a country, a symbol of wealth and
prosperity, the golden legacy of England's ELIZABETH. Afterword Bess died in 1603, at last naming James Stuart (Mary's
son) as her successor. She was the last, and in my view,
best, of the Tudors, for, though Hal was a strong King, he
had nothing of his daughter's character nor, for that
matter, her love of the arts. Bess, served by William Cecil, Francis Walsingham, and
others, brought England out of the shadows and into such
light as all the world could see. But more, she changed the
world's view of woman rulers. Before Bess, no English woman
had ruled without a husband to "guide" her. I believe that
our society might be very different today had it not been
for Bess' proof that such a man was not necessary. Sir Francis Walsingham never minded a good fight. Perhaps
this was why he set up a sort of primitive Central
Intelligence Agency, quickly exposing anyone who opposed the
Queen. It is possible that he seduced and killed Mary
Stewart's mother, Mary de Guise, who served as regent in
Scotland during her daughter's absence in France. William Cecil, later created Lord Burghley, served as
Elizabeth's secretary of state until his gout forced him to
retire. He, like Elizabeth, disliked war and also like her,
kept an eye on Walsingham's overeager, aggressive
tendencies. He was said to be very intelligent and helped
Bess with diplomatic affairs. His son, Robert Cecil, became
secretary of state following his death. Mary Stewart deserves a book of her own. For further
reading about her, try Fatal Majesty: a Novel of Mary Queen
of Scots, by Reay Tannahill. Most Helpful Sources: Young Bess by Margaret Irwin. Six Queens by Marguerite Vance. Fatal Majesty by Reay Tannahill. Glossary Bastard - Any illegitimate child. Catholicism - A Christian religious sect headed by the
Pope of Rome. Prior to the Reformation, Catholicism was the
only Christian religion in Europe. Coronation - The crowning of a new sovereign. Heir - The relative (usually child) of a sovereign
appointed to rule after that sovereign's death. Lord Protector - A position given to the noble who
oversees an underage king or queen. Parliament - The legislative body of Great Britain. Protestantism - The version of Christianity formed during
the Reformation. Reformation - A religious movement which took place in
16th Century Europe and Britain, breaking away from the
Roman Catholic Church and the Pope's influence. Sovereign - The monarch or ruler of a country. Succession - The order in which a monarch's heirs follow
after that monarch's death. The Tower - Also known as the Tower of London. Prisoners
of the Crown were usually taken here. Monarchs also slept
here immediately preceding their coronations. Tudor - An English dynasty of the 15th and 16th
Centuries, of which Elizabeth was a part. Bibliography Buehler, E.E. http://www.tudor-portraits.com/. Encyclopedia Britannica, 11th Edition. (1911) "Mary Queen
of Scots" New York. Encyclopedia Britannica, 11th Edition. (1911) "Elizabeth,
Queen" New York. Encyclopedia Britannica, 11th Edition. (1911)
"Walsingham, Sir Francis" New York. Encyclopedia Britannica, 11th Edition. (1911) "Dudley,
Robert" New York. Encyclopedia Britannica, 11th Edition. (1911) "Cecil,
William" New York. Encyclopedia Britannica, 11th Edition. (1911) "Essex,
Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl Of" New York. Frost, Abigail. (1989). Elizabeth I. Freeport,
Long Island. Irwin, Margaret. (1945). Young Bess. New York. Lasky, Kathryn. (1999). Elizabeth I: Red Rose of the
House of Tudor. New York. Moncrieff, M.C. Scott. (1966). Kings and Queens of
England. London. National Portrait Gallery of Britain. http://www.npg.org.uk/ Tannahill, Reay. (1998). Fatal Majesty: a Novel of
Mary, Queen of Scots. New York. Thomas, Heather. http://www.elizabethi.org. Vance, Marguerite. (1954). Elizabeth Tudor: Sovereign
Lady. New York. Vance, Marguerite. (1952). Lady Jane Grey: Reluctant
Queen. New York. Vance, Marguerite. (1965). Six Queens: The Wives of
Henry VIII. New York. Winwar, Frances. (1954). Queen Elizabeth and the
Spanish Armada. New York.
Nothing proved can be."
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