The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-05-17
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All through the winter of l559-60 matters
thus fingered on. In the ensuing summer an
envoy was sent by Catherine de Medici and her
son, Francis H., who proposed as a husband
for Elizabeth a son OF the Duke de Nevers. 1t
may be imagined that such a match, or. indeed,
any match recommended by the consort Of her
enemy, Mary Stuart, did not meet with her ap-
proval. Shortly afterward. in September. 1860,
Cecil took the Spanish Ambassador, Bishop
Quadra. aside and complained bitterly of bud
ley. who. he said, was trying to turn him out OF
his place: then. after e~xacting many pledg es or
secrecy. he said that the Queen was conducting
herself in such q way that he, Cecil, thought Of
retiring, as he clearly foresaw the ruin of the
realm through the Queens Intimacy with
Dudley, whom she meant to marry. He begged
the Bishop to demonstrate with the Queen, and
ended by saying that Dudley was speaking Of
killing his wife, who WAS said to be i'll, al
though she was quite we'll" The next day"
writes the Bishop. las she was returning from
hunting, the Queen told me that Roberts wife
was dead, or nearly dead. and asked me not to
say anything about II. Certainly this business is
most shameful and scandalous. and .withal |
am not sure whether she will marry the man at
once. or even at all, az / do not think abe has
her mind sufficiently fixed" In a postscript of
the same letter the writer gives the news Of
Amy Robsart's death: She broke her
neck-she must have fallen down a stair
case. said tho Queen" Henceforward Dud-
ley was free, aud the marriage nego-
t~lations had another factor to be taken into ac-
count In January, 1861, only four months
after Lady Robert Dudley's death, Sir Henry
Sidney. Lord Roberts brother-in-law, who had
always belonged to the Spanish or Catholic
party, came 10 sec Bishop Quadra. After much
beating about the bush, he said that, as tho
Queens attachment TO Lord Robert and her
desire to marry him were now public, he, Sid
ney, was much surprised that some approach
was not made to Dudley on behalf of the Kingof
Spain; as, In the event of a helping hand being
extended TO him now. he would hereafter serve
and obey your Majesty like one OF your own
vassals." Tho Bishop intimated that there
was no particular reason why his mas
ter should put himself out of tho way
about 1t, as he had nothing to gain in
the matter. and really. added the Bishop. such
strange tales vera aioat that he had not dared
to write to the King about them. Sidney took
the bull by the horns and said that. II the Bishop
were satisfied about Lady Roberts death, no
saw no other reason for hesitation, "as. after
al, though It was a love AFFAIR, the object of IL
was marriage. and there Was nothing Illicit
about It," lie had. he said, inquired carefully
into Lady Roberts death, and was satisfied that
It was an accident, although no knew that pub
lie opinion held TO the contrary. The Bishop
was very dubious upon the point, and said
dryly that 1t would 10 difficult for Lord
Robert 10 make things appear as he rep
resented them. Sidney admitted that no ore
believed it was al accident and that even
preachers in tho pulpit impugned tho honor
OF tho Queen In the matter. This led him
to tho real object OF his visit. which was TO
covenant that, in return for the King OF Spsin's
help toward Dudley's marriage, no would under
.ak. 10 ~ waaNnra Falf1ion - grbs Tts - m aIf1 hald
on, reminding him Of how he had been trIcked
before by Robert and the Queen. through Sid
ney's wife. Nevertheless, In . letter TO tho
King OF Spain, the Bishop emphAticAlly urged
him 70 take advantage OF the Queens passion
for Dudley 10 bring her 10 her knees, as she