Robert Dudley dies, 4th September 1588
plus meet your favourite historians!
Hello fellow history lover!
This week:
It’s the anniversary of Robert Dudley, 1st earl of Leicester’s death this week. In the latest paid blog (details to follow) I tell you about a piece of their history hiding in plain sight at Kenilworth Castle!
Join me tomorrow for ‘Tea Time History Chat Live’ when I’ll be talking about my recent private tour of Hatfield House and the stunning ‘Rainbow Portrait’ which was recently returned to hang in its Great Hall. Click here to set a reminder
Join me tomorrow evening with the History After Dark girls as we discuss William Shakespeare! Click here to set a reminder
Meet your favourite historians on next May’s ‘The Anne Boleyn Tour’ and a reminder about the sharing opportunity.
Last Week:
I visited Bosworth Battlefield for the annual medieval festival and battle reenactment. There I interviewed Nathen Amin and you can hear that on the latest Tea Time History Chat!
Watch Tracy Borman’s talk ‘Anne Boleyn and Elizabeth I. The Mother and Daughter who changed history’ as delivered on The Anne Boleyn Tour, May 2023 at Hampton Court Palace, in the room in which Jane Seymour gave birth to the future Edward VI, sadly dying a few days later, in my Patreon.
There’s still time to join Book Club for our discussion on Helen Carr’s biography of John of Gaunt, ‘The Red Prince’, a must read for anyone wishing to understand the roots of the Wars of the Roses.
Sharing opportunity on The Anne Boleyn Tour, May 2025.
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Tea Time History Chat live | 4th September 2024 3pm UK time
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Robert Dudley dies
4th September 1588
Robert Dudley, 1st earl of Leicester and a favourite (if not the favourite) of Elizabeth I died on 4th September 1588. Just a few short weeks before, he had been by Elizabeth I’s side as she delivered her famous speech to the troops gathered at Tilbury ahead of the possible Spanish invasion threatened by the ‘Spanish Armada’. (My blog on the Armada Maps is available to Patreon members here).
Robert had been periodically struck down with an illness, some historians suggest malaria which was present in England at this time, which would require him to take rest but from which he had always seemed to make a good recovery.
Not long after the much celebrated defeat of the Spanish by ‘protestant winds’ (although my blog on the maps which charted the English and Spanish engagement at sea shows rather much more skill than that on the part of the English sailors) Robert planned to travel to Buxton in Derbyshire to ‘take the waters’. There are natural springs at Buxton (indeed you can still buy Buxton water today) regarded as having medicinal properties from at least the Roman period. His first stop on the journey was the home of Sir Henry Norris at Rycote. While here he wrote to the Queen assuring her that the medicine she had sent him was providing him some relief and that after taking the waters at Buxton he would feel better and shortly be back to her side.
Robert then rode to Cornbury for what should have been an overnight stop, intending to leave at first light. However, he woke with a fever that did not abate and from which he would not, this time, recover. He was 56 years old.
The letter he wrote from Rycote was forever treasured by Elizabeth I. She wrote on it ‘his last letter’ and kept it in a box by her bed. In his first line he uses his little sign to her, the two lines above the double-o of ‘poor’ as little eyebrows, a gesture to his being “her eyes.”
For a thorough and enjoyable account of Robert Dudley’s life I recommend ‘The House of Dudley’ by Dr Joanne Paul. You can watch my interview with Joanne at YouTube.com/BritishHistory and see and extended edit in Patreon.com/BritishHistory.
The Anne Boleyn Tour May 2025
Meet you favourite historians!
Gareth Russell, historian, author and broadcaster travels with The Anne Boleyn Tour for the entire duration so as well as enjoying a number of talks from Gareth, he is also on hand to answer any questions.
Tracy Borman will be joining us a Hampton Court Palace where she will give us a private talk in the room in which Jane Seymour gave birth to the future Edward VI (a room not accessible to the public).
Kate McCaffrey, assistant curator at Hever Castle will be joining us in our private suite at Hever Castle to give us a talk about her fascinating ongoing research into Anne’s life through her possessions focussing on her Books of Hours.
Sharing Opportunity
If you are a single female traveller who wishes to share a room on The Anne Boleyn Tour, we have an opportunity for you to buddy up!
If you would be interested in sharing a room, which would mean that there would be no single person supplement due, please contact us at office@britishhistorytours.com.
Tour Overview
Dates: 16th - 20th May 2025
4 nights at Hever Castle with exclusive use of the Astor Wing
All accommodation
All Breakfasts and Dinners Included
Luxury Coach Travel
Access to Eminent Historians including Tracy Borman, Gareth Russell and Kate McCaffrey.
Can’t be on a tour but interested in listening to the talks delivered by historians on the tours? You can by joining my Patreon for just £5 per month at Patreon.com/BritishHistory
Here is a selection of talks, with more being added!
Last week’s Tea Time History Chat was on a very interesting, and somehow controversial topic!
Until next week!
Philippa x