Robert Dudley: Life Story

With a verdict exonerating him, Elizabeth was free to welcome Robert back to court. She continued her open flirtation with him, but Amy dead was an even greater barrier to any marriage between them, than Amy living. Elizabeth, although she may have loved Robert, loved her life and her crown more. Robert himself does not seem to have realised that marriage to the queen was impossible. He continued to court favour with as many of Elizabeth’s nobles as he could, even the Earl of Sussex began to wonder whether the need for an heir should overcome hostility to Robert, if he were the queen’s choice – but he was in a minority.

Cecil, and another of Elizabeth’s favoured councillors, Sir Nicholas Throckmorton (her ambassador to France), were certain that such a marriage would end in Elizabeth losing her throne, and did everything they could to prevent it. They made sure the queen was aware of every malicious scrap of gossip.

Elizabeth’s reaction to hearing how her name was being linked with Robert’s was to tear up the patent of nobility that had been drawn up for him – she had planned to confer the earldom of Leicester on him, but, faced with the knowledge that she might be considered an accessory to murder, when it was brought to her for signature, she rent it with a knife.

Robert did not despair – he even managed to persuade de la Quadra to request Philip of Spain to put in a good word for him with Elizabeth – on the understanding that, in return, Robert would promote the idea of Elizabeth sending representatives to the Council of Trent. It should be borne in mind that in 1560 – 61, Elizabeth’s largely Protestant religious settlement was still new, and many hoped for reconciliation with the old faith. Whilst Robert was certainly not amongst them, being a firm Protestant, he was obviously able to square it with his conscience to promote dialogue amongst Christians.

Philip, probably remembering Robert’s good service at St Quentin, was, according to de la Quadra, willing to support the marriage, but Elizabeth retreated into her usual declarations that, although she might marry, she did not plan to do so yet.  Cecil, horrified at the thought of Robert as King of England, ensured that the story presented was one of Robert being willing to support the reintroduction of Catholicism in England in return for his marriage to Elizabeth.

A couple of high-profile Catholics were arrested (former councillors under Mary I) and the Privy Council refused a passport to the papal envoy bringing the invitation. Any accommodation with the Council of Trent was to be seen as a betrayal of Protestantism – despite the fact that the German Lutheran princes had also been invited to take part. 

Elizabeth continued her favour to Robert, restoring the earldom of Warwick to his brother, Ambrose, although he himself remained without a title. By April 1562, he had persuaded more councillors that they should support his marriage to the queen: even Norfolk was willing to petition on his behalf.  

But her councillors were not in agreement – Arundel and the Marquis of Northampton (brother to the late Queen Katherine Parr) rejected the idea. Simultaneously, Cecil broke the news that de la Quadra was alleging that Elizabeth and Robert were already married – and describing the relationship in an offensive sonnet. The outraged queen had the Spanish ambassador recalled in disgrace, and Robert’s hopes suffered another blow.

In October 1562, Elizabeth fell ill with small-pox. Believing herself to be dying, she swore that nothing improper had occurred between her and Robert, and requested that he be made Lord Protector in the event of her death, with an income of £20,000 per annum. Fortunately, the queen recovered. Shortly after, she appointed both Robert and the Duke of Norfolk to the Privy Council. 

The Parliament of 1563 urged Elizabeth to marry. The Lords made it clear that they would accept her choice, no matter who – a clear indication that Robert had persuaded enough of them to support him as a suitable candidate. But still Elizabeth hesitated. She informed Parliament that whilst as a private individual, she did not wish to marry, yet, she thought it better for ‘princes’ to marry, and, as soon as she could frame her mind to it, she would marry for the benefit of the country.

Parliament’s concern was, of course, the succession. Mary, Queen of Scots was now back in her own kingdom, and looking for a husband. Elizabeth came up with astonishing suggestion that a suitable match for the Scottish queen, might be none other than Robert.

It is hard to determine who was more shocked or surprised, Mary, being offered Elizabeth’s cast-offs (a man who had been condemned to death for treason, and was under suspicion of murdering his wife), or Robert.