Death and the Virgin Queen: Elizabeth I and the Dark Scandal That Rocked the Throne

This comprehensive and highly readable book analyses the evidence surrounding the mysterious death of Amy Robsart, found at the bottom of a flight of stairs with her neck broken one day in September 1560, at a time when her husband Lord Robert Dudley sought the hand in marriage of the young Queen Elizabeth. The author examines all the evidence available, which was recently (2008) embellished by the discovery in the National Archives of the original coroner's report believed lost for centuries, and slightly earlier (1978) by the discovery in the British Library of a contemporary journal. He looks at all the theories: murder by Dudley or others; plain accident; accident exacerbated by possible illness; or suicide, brought upon by despair show more caused either or both by illness or abandonment by Dudley. A reasonable case can be made for any of these theories and the author does not come down firmly in favour of any one or the other of them (though the back cover of the book, in typical overblown publisher's style, claims that the author "puts an end to centuries of speculation"). Suicide might seem the least likely option, due to the disgrace this would attract in an age where the fate of the soul after death was taken extremely seriously. Most historians have tended to shy away from believing that Dudley did away with his wife in order to marry the Queen, as he would have had to be very stupid not to foresee the consequences that transpired in fact, i.e. that the scandal created by the death made it less likely that he could marry the Queen, not more so; and also as the contemporary evidence seems to show genuine shock on his part and a seeming desire to have the matter investigated, even if only for the most part to clear his own name. This seems logical to me. Yet some of the evidence in the journal discovered in 1978 in the British Library does point towards some murky plotting, at least by Dudley's supporters, if not by the main himself (though the source is very biased) . The coroner's report concluded it was an accident and the evidence it contains about injuries from falling down the stairs fits this conclusion, but could also fit a conclusion of injuries caused by inflicted violence. We will surely never know for certain what happened, though my own view is still that murder by Dudley is unlikely for the reasons given above; sometimes, accidents really do happen.

Much of the book covers the broader background to Elizabeth's attempts to dodge marriage either with Robert Dudley, or with anyone else, which speak to the stubbornness of the Queen's character, and her enormous caution in committing herself irrevocably to any one course of action (a feature which I think also makes murder carried out at her orders an very unconvincing explanation for poor Amy's death). show less

The title is overly dramatic and rather misleading. (I guess you have to sell books.) But "Death and the Virgin Scandal" is fairly well-written, and I learned a lot. The author does discuss the death of Robert Dudley's wife, but it is really only one part of a much longer and complex story - the story of Queen Elizabeth I's relationship with Robert Dudley, both before and after her coronation. To his credit, Skidmore presents some relatively recently uncovered "evidence" in a convincing, helpful, and non-sensational matter.

What I found most helpful and interesting here was his detailed and convincing detailing of the authorship and sourcing of the so-called "Leicester's Commonwealth," the 1584 libelous pamphlet that first set forth show more publicly and scandalously the case that Dudley murdered his wife to make it possible to marry the Queen. show less

This book is centered around the suspicious death of Amy Robsart Dudley, wife of Elizabeth I's infamous favorite and suspected lover Robert Dudley. Skidmore traces the marriage and intersecting lives of Amy, Robert, and Elizabeth in the years leading up to 1560. Amy remains a shadowy figure - only a few pieces of evidence exist to illuminate her life. But her death is explored in detail, and many theories are explored, evidence examined, and I finished this book impressed with the author's historical skills (tracing the connections of several jurors was particularly interesting.) Overall, this book is essential reading for anyone interested in the death of Amy Robsart as well as the relationship between Elizabeth I and Robert Dudley.

A detailed, well-researched, well-written account of the respective careers of Robert Dudley and Elizabeth and their relationship over the years. Given what an obscure character Amy Robsart was in life, it is hardly surprising that there is very little about her in the book. This is almost entirely about the implications of a marriage between Elizabeth and Dudley, before and after Amy's death.

Whether you like this book or not will depend on how much you've read about the subject before, as it rakes over a lot of very familiar ground. The author comes up with some new documentation at the end of the book, which is very interesting, but the claim that he "is able to put an end to centuries of speculation as to the true nature of Amy's show more death" is a bit much I think.

Overall, it's a very good account of that period of Elizabeth's life and the politics of the time, especially if you haven't been there before. show less

Nothing special. I likely would have enjoyed it more if I hadn't already read umpteen gazillion accounts of Elizabeth and her myriad marriage proposals. Less emphasis on Amy Robsart than one would have expected.

There is a lot of information in this book.....

Robert Dudley married Amy Robsart when they were quite young 17-18 (most people married in their mid-twenties). Although he might have met Elizabeth I when studying with the young Edward at court, they did not meet again or form much of a relationship until after Bloody Mary came to the throne and had Elizabeth put under house arrest at Hatfield for her alleged part in Wyatt's rebellion.

There had been problems with Dudley's father attempting to usurp Bloody Mary in order to keep Jane Grey on the throne. What I did not know, that prior to his death Edward changed the line of succession from Bloody Mary (because she was a Catholic fanatic) and Elizabeth (Because she was a bastard) to Lady show more Jane Grey..... When Mary came into power she had Dudley & his 3 son's imprisoned in the tower. She executed Dudley Senior for treason and the oldest son, John, died as the brothers were about to gain their freedom.

Shortly after his release from the tower, Robert Dudley went into the service of Phillip of Spain, Mary's husband, and joined in the military.... This seems to be when Dudley & Elizabeth formed a steady friendship. For although Dudley was not a wealthy man & was still in debt, he became a financial supporter of Elizabeth, who Mary kept impoverished in consideration for one of her rank.

All this time there is little mention of Dudley's wife, Amy. Some letters & household accounts do exist as well as an unnamed miniature painted by Lavinia Teerlinc, which is thought to be of Amy from the symbolism on the sitter's brooch. In fact, once Dudley takes up his place of Master of the Horse, nothing is heard from his wife at all. Unlike other courtiers' wives, Amy never moved to Elizabeth's court and in fact was moved farther away....

Considering the subject, this is a very long book, with many details...which I suppose are necessary to pin everyone into the place that they held..... My problem is that we never learn much about Amy (except that she liked fine clothing & the such) because she was basically unknown at court. show less

Nothing special. I likely would have enjoyed it more if I hadn't already read umpteen gazillion accounts of Elizabeth and her myriad marriage proposals. Less emphasis on Amy Robsart than one would have expected.