Elizabeth and Leicester

by Frederick Carleton Chamberlin

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Not only have historians neglected Leicester but they have carried the premise that Leicester was a stupid, evil man. Using first-hand accounts, Frederick Chamberlin documents how this opinion came about, pointing the finger of blame at Catholic critics who alleged that, among many defects of moral and character, he had murdered fifteen people.

This book was the first attempt to replace Leicester, more commonly known as Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, in the position he occupied at Elizabeth’s Court for the first thirty years of her reign, from 1558 to 1588, as the most prominent, most powerful and most famous man in all England.

He was the main supporter of Lady Jane Grey, and became the leader of the Puritans who funded the voyages of Sir Francis Drake, cajoling Queen Elizabeth to wage war on Spain. He also helped Mary Queen of Scots marry Lord Darnley.

Using a methodical approach, Chamberlin raises the unsolved questions of Leicester's life and acts. He places Leicester in the context of his time, an era full of plots to overthrow the Queen and to affect the fortunes of a great nation.

The appendices at the back of the book document the tens of authors whose words Chamberlin draws on, or dismisses, to come to his conclusions about the life of this forgotten figure of Elizabethan history.

Frederick Chamberlin (1870 – 1943) was a playwright, archaeologist, biographer and lawyer. He published his biography, The Private Character of Queen Elizabeth, in 1921, and wrote many other books on Elizabethan England.

Genres: Tudor Period

625 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1939

Reviews

[Juliew. · Rating 3 out of 5]

This account consisted mainly of letters of all the main players at Elizabeth I's court as well as her own letters to and from them.It covers most topics of Leicester's long career in her service.After reading the letters the author gives his opinions on the situations as they progress through the book.I thought he did a reasonable job proving his point that some historians and authors have given Leicester a hard time over the years commenting that basically he was Elizabeth's plaything and not really a man with brains and talents who deserved his position.These letters show otherwise and the author sucessfully gets that across.Interestingly, there is also a chapter which relates belated opinions on Leicester by his acquaintances,diplomats,friends and other courtiers.As a bonus the author delves into Elizabeth and Leicester's relationship briefly.As for the writing it was difficult to read all the Tudor language and I can't say I was too engaged with it but if you feel like challenging yourself to plow through the letters it could be worth a read for Tudor fans.