On This Day in Elizabethan History: The Death of Elizabeth's Love, The Earl of Leicester

"His last letter", in the National Archives in England. Picture acquired through Wikimedia Commons. Image public domain.

On this day in 1588, Queen Elizabeth I's longtime love and confidante, the man she called a "personage so dear unto us" in a letter to the Earl of Shrewsbury, Robert Dudley, the Earl of Leicester, died. Leicester had been ill for quite some time, and probably had been suffering from stomach cancer. Elizabeth was, by all accounts, devastated by his death, and kept the final letter he sent to her by her bed until her own death, where it was discovered in 1603. On it she had written, "His Last Letter". To learn more about how Elizabeth dealt with the passing of her favorite, please read our feature-length BeingBess article on the topic of Leicester's death. Also, for further reading on the complex relationship of Elizabeth and Leicester, we recommend the definitive dual biography 'Elizabeth & Leicester: Power, Passion, Politics', by historian Sarah Gristwood.

On This Day in Elizabethan History: The Death of Elizabeth's "Eyes"

"His Last Letter"

  

"A personage so dear unto us."

-Queen Elizabeth describing the Earl of Leicester in a letter to the Earl of Shrewsbury in 1588, the year that he died.

 

 
On this day in Elizabethan history in 1588, Robert Dudley, the Earl of Leicester died. Queen Elizabeth I was inconsolable at the loss of her lifelong friend, the man whom she affectionatley called her "eyes". Whether their relationship was ever physically consummated or not is irrelevant; Leicester was the love of her life.

To learn about the Earl's last months with Queen Elizabeth, his final illness, and "His Last Letter", treasured by Queen Elizabeth until her own death in 1603, please view our feature-length article.

On This Day in Elizabethan History: Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester dies.

A close-up photograph of the Earl of Leicester's tomb effigy at Warwick Church. Picture by Peternilleon and shared for public use via Wikimedia Commons.

 

 "A personage so dear unto us."

-Queen Elizabeth describing the Earl of Leicester in a letter to the Earl of Shrewsbury, 1588.

 

On this day in Elizabethan history in 1588, Robert Dudley, the Earl of Leicester died. While the Earl of Leicester had been unwell for quite some time, nobody expected his illness to be fatal, least of all Queen Elizabeth I (ODNB). 

To learn about the Earl's last months with Queen Elizabeth, his final illness, and "His Last Letter", treasured by Queen Elizabeth until her own death in 1603, please view our feature-length article HERE.

Elizabethan Fact of the Day: Mendoza is Dismissed from Court

An engraving of Bernardino de Mendoza, c. 1595. By an artist from the Spanish School. Image public domain.

In 1583, Queen Elizabeth I hosted her last Spanish Ambassador. When it became known to Elizabeth's intelligence network that Bernardino de Mendoza was conspiring with the Jesuits and negotiating with the French on Philip II of Spain's behalf, he was ordered to leave England. Mendoza was told that his dismissal due to his involvement in the Throckmorton Plot "disturbed the realm of England". Directly before his departure, Mendoza ordered the English officials seeing him off to go and, "tell your mistress that Bernardino de Mendoza was born not to disturb kingdoms, but to conquer them."

This threat was never to materialize, however; all of Mendoza's secret plots came to nothing, a few years later, as the Spanish invasion of England failed when Queen Elizabeth I and her navy defeated Philip II's Armada in 1588.

A 16th century painting of the Spanish Armada and the English Navy. By an artist from the English School. Picture acquired through Wikimedia Commons. Image public domain.

Mendoza was involved in at least two plots against Queen Elizabeth I; to learn more about the Babington Plot, which was supported by de Mendoza, please view our article.

Elizabethan Fact of the Day: The Earl of Leicester's Clothing

A portrait of the Earl of Leicester by an unknown artist, circa 1575-80. Picture acquired through Wikimedia Commons. Image public domain.

Among his many other possessions, two cloaks and seven doublets belonging to the Earl of Leicester were appraised upon his death by the executors of his estate in 1588. These items of clothing were valued at a total of 545 pounds!