Bess of Hardwick: Life Story

Bess now threw herself into the works at Hardwick. She lived in the Old Hall with Sir William and his wife, but spent many hours overseeing the works, and checking the details of the weekly accounts. The stone, the timber, the iron and the marble all came from her estates, and she even set up a glass making plant on site.

Into this busy life crept danger. Burghley wrote that he had heard of a plot by Jesuits to abduct Arbella and take her to Flanders. Bess’ suspicions immediately fell on Arbella’s tutor, Mr Morley. Morley had previously asked Arbella for lands of £40 value, claiming that he had lost money by leaving Cambridge to become her tutor. Arbella refused, and referred him to her grandmother. He then said that he would stay with Arbella without any pay at all. Bess, ever the business woman, thought this so strange that she considered he must be up to no good, although she could not honestly say she had scented ‘papistry.’

Bess now felt that Arbella needed to be carefully watched – not for any fault in her, but because she might attract treasonable behaviour. Soon, the girl was almost as closely watched as Queen Mary had been. Bess was usually with her, no unknown guests came to the house and she could only walk or ride with constant attendance. It must have driven the poor girl almost to distraction.

For Bess, these were good years. She had her family about her, they celebrated all the traditional holidays in fine style, with copious food, parties and entertainments. She gave generous presents to all of her children and grandchildren and was affectionate to them all. Nevertheless, for her family she was probably a very controlling and dominating personality.

But feuds and arguments continued in the wider family. Gilbert, supported by Charles Cavendish, quarrelled with Sir John Stanhope. Stanhope had once been Gilbert’s friend, as his father had been friend to Bess and Shrewsbury, but Gilbert accused him of betraying his trust. The matter escalated to brawls between their servants and even a duel (although not completed) between Charles and Stanhope. The Queen was displeased. She did not like her courtiers to quarrel. The Queen was inclined to blame Gilbert’s wife, Mary, whom she thought led her husband in everything – much as his father had once believed.

Gilbert and Bess were still in dispute over her dower rights, and she felt obliged to appeal to the Privy Council. Gilbert was soon reviling her as his father had done. He was also quarrelling with his brother Edward, whom he accused of trying to poison him. Mary Shrewsbury was implicated in the affair, and called before the Master of the Rolls, although no action was taken. Gilbert and Mary were estranged from Bess, and deep in debt.

Matters improved slightly when in 1596, after a visit from Elizabeth’s favourite, the Earl of Essex, Arbella was invited to court. Bess remained in Derbyshire, allowing Gilbert and Mary to chaperone their niece. Gilbert was sent on an official mission to France, which he conducted successfully, but Mary put her satin-shod foot in it by requesting Elizabeth to allow her own daughters to be appointed as ‘maids-of-honour’ to Arbella. Elizabeth responded that only royalty had maids-of-honour and Lord and Lady Shrewsbury could take themselves and their niece back to the country.

In October 1597, Bess finally moved into Hardwick Hall, accompanied by Arbella. Arbella’s life was that of a doll in a gilded cage. There was no more talk of marriage for her, her bed was in her grandmother’s room, and although she had every luxury and the house was full of companions, her life had little purpose. Bess, meanwhile, was still involving herself in business ventures, buying land (never selling) and giving mortgages in return for solid security.

As the 1590s progressed, more of Bess’ family and friends died -  including her daughter-in-law, Anne, William’s wife, three of her six children and Lord Burghley, whom she had known for forty years. Equally distressing was an attack on Charles by the Stanhopes. Charles was shot and knifed, and although he survived the attack, a bullet lodged in his thigh, which could never be removed, despite the best efforts of the Queen’s own surgeons.

In 1601, Essex, who had been a friend of Arbella’s, and might have been glad to see her as queen, was executed. Perhaps this reminder of death spurred Bess to commissioning her tomb and making her will.

Henry had had Chatsworth entailed upon him by his father, and Bess left him many of the contents. William received the vast majority of her wealth, with a bequest for Frances and Arbella. Gilbert, Mary, and rather unkindly, Charles, were completely cut out for their ‘unkindness’ to her, although she did forgive them and leave them her blessing. This will, witnessed by eighteen people, was accompanied by a detailed inventory. Bess had been somewhat premature. She continued in good health for years to come

Elizabeth (Bess) Hardwick

Family Tree

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