The Life and Times of Arabella Stuart

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HT Parekh

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CHAPTER I N the autumn of the year 1574 the Countess of

Shrewsbury, accompanied by her daughter Elizabeth, travelled to one of their splendid homes, Rufford Abbey. Ostensibly the Countess went thither to receive an honoured guest, Margaret, Countess of Lennox, who, together with her son, was journeying from London to Settrington, and must thus pass within a mile or two of Rufford. .

Presumably the Earl of Shrewsbury believed in this simple plan. Had he penetrated to his wife’s real reasons he, foreseeing the complications certain to arise, would have forbidden the journey.

The Countess of Shrewsbury had some little time before attempted to negotiate unsuccessfully a marriage between Elizabeth and a son of the Duchess of Suffolk. Nothing daunted, however, she was still determined on a wedding—only the bridegroom was changed. It must be supposed that the Countess was gleeful over her former failure, for this newly proposed marriage was with no less a person than

Charles Stuart, Earl of Lennox, and it presented B

2 ‘THE LIF™ AND TIMES dazzling possibilities. It had, too, all the charm of forbidden fruit. The Countess understood the politic of her day as well as she understood her Queen, Elizabeth, and must have realized that it would suit neither.

It is possible that the Duchess of Suffolk and the Countess of Shrewsbury hatched the mischief between them. The Countess may have been angry at the refusal of her daughter’s hand, and the Duchess, to pacify her, may have suggested and to a certain extent aided in this change of bridegrooms. There seems to have been double-dealing somewhere, if the Earl of Shrewsbury’s statement in the following letter is to be believed. Probably the Countess deceived her husband as to the reason that led her to entertain the Lennox family, and only when the affair had progressed too far to admit of his interference did she allow her wishes to become known.

The Earl might, of course, have chosen to feign ignorance, hoping thus to escape the Queen’s censure. But it seems more probable that his ignorance of the commencement of the negotiations was genuine, as throughout his life he feared the consequences attendant on this marriage.

I give his first letter of explanation to Lord Burghley below.

Unfortunately the blanks occur in the original, and, in addition, the Earl of Shrewsbury’s style is nowhere remarkable for its lucidity.

‘ SHEFFIELD, /Vovember 5th, 1574.

‘*My very good lord and friend,

‘*It seemeth by your letters to me there be that seeks some doubtfulness in the Queen’s Majesty of the lord . . . and Suffolk near these parts, and therewith to rethe (? rate) me and my wife; for that my wife sought the marriage of her daughter as oft, and many times, and in sundrey places, she before hath done and that some repugnant is found betwixt my Lady... ’s writings and mine, of her being desired... to Rufford or not. These and the manner of dealing in these matters, your Lordship writes her Majesty may perhaps counsel otherwise than before she hath done. Surely, my Lord I take these Lords to be her Majesty’s faithful subjects, well thought of by her Majesty; and during their abodes at my house, I could gather no cause of misliking them. They were for her Majesty's sake the welcomer to me, as others have been and should be to me whom now her Majesty favours, and when I writ unto your Lordship of both these Lords coming to my house I received the knowledge from my wife that the Lady Suffolk told her, that the Lady . . . meant to come to her house in the north and that she would bring her to Chatsworth, if she could entreat her to; but if she could not herself would. Both I and my wife when we considered thought it would be better to have them at Rufford than Chatsworth and made that house ready. When we heard that the Lady . . . was coming to Groundsthorpe I made a full account of both their comings and took occasion of small matter to write unto your lordship. ‘My wife hearing of their being at Granton sent the next day Henry Camen to Rutrick to desire them both to come to Rufford and there found but the one: so my wife . . . The Lord was loth to come but by great desire of my wife’s messenger. And as to the notion of marriage betwixt the Duchess’s son and my daughter it was not... nor hid from the world; it hath been in talk betwixt them more than a year past and not thought of as a matter worth her Majesty’s hearing. To be plain with your Lordship I wished the match and put to my helping hand to further it: and was contented by my Lady Suffolk’s great entreat, to suffer my wife for that purpose to accompany\her

4 THE LIF™ AND TIMES to his house at Grovesthorpe, and at her return she thought it in good forwuardness and so hoped, till she saw the... not to, and then understanding the young gentleman was otherwise disposed without... her mind and this is all the dealing I know of that Lord. “Lady L.... being ... and as I hear sickly, rested her at Rufford five days and kept most her chamber and in that time the young man her son fell into likeing with my wife’s daughter before intended . and such likeing was between them, as my wife tells me she makes no doubt of a match, and hath so tied themselves upon their own liking as . . . cannot part. My wife hath sent her to Lady... and the young man is so far in love that belike he is sick without her. This taking effect I shall be well at quiet, there is few.noblemen’s sons in England that she hath not prayed me to deal for at one time or another; and now this comes unlooked for and without thanks to me. Thus have IJ at large particularly made account of these ladies, and their dealings at my house. I have for your Lordship full knowledge ; and that you may meet with whatsoever, shall be more or otherwise imagined, and preferred to her Majesty ... against me or my wife. I have been more tedious and... . in expressing the manner of every. .. that I know of concerning these ladies and their dealings, than needful to trouble _ your Lordship with; assuring myself you will as friendly satisfy her Majesty in all these things, as I have plainly writ them, and as your Lordship doth profess to me; and as my special trust is in your Lordship. I and my wife wish your. Lordship as heartily well as to ourselves.

‘© At Sheffield, the 5¢h of November 1574. ~ ‘Your Lordship’s assured friend and kinsman

‘6 SHREWSBURY.

‘*]T have here enclosed .. . returned my Lady’s... your Lordship.”

~ His second letter, written nearly 2 month later, deals more plainly with the marriage.

“. . . I understand of late your Majesty’s displeasure is sought against my wife for marriage of her _daughter to my Lady Lennox’s son. I must confess — to your Majesty as true it is it was dealt in suddenly and without my knowledge, but, as I dare undertake and insure to your Majesty, for my wife, she, finding her daughter disappointed of young Barté* where she hoped, and that the other young gentleman was inclined to love with a few days’ acquaintance did her best to further her daughter to this match; without having therein any other intent or respect than with reverent duty towards your Majesty she ought.’”?

The letter concludes with a reminder of his and his wife’s services, and a pretty speech refarding the Queen’s wisdom.

So, as we have seen, the Countess of Shrewsbury journeyed to Rufford to meet the Countess of Lennox, and it was there, in all probability, that the marriage took place of Charles Stuart and Elizabeth Cavendish

_which aroused so much angry excitement.

To understand why it did so, it will be necessary to turn for a few moments to the pedigree and position of both families in the political world of their day.

Charles Stuart, fifth Earl of Lennox, was the younger and only surviving child of Matthew, the fourth Earl, and the Lady Margaret Douglas, daughter of Archibald, Earl of Angus, and Margaret, Queen Dowager of Scotland.

Thus Charles was a great-grandson of Henry the Seventh, and great-nephew of Henry the Eighth. His elder brother was Lord Darnley, the second husband of Mary, Queen of Scots.

1 Lodge. 2 This was the Duchess of Suffolk’s son, Mr, Bertie.

By Charles’ marriage with Elizabeth Cavendish, he had one daughter, Arakella, who through her father was near kinswoman of the sovereigns of Scotland and England. Her royal descent must be borne in mind, as to it may be ascribed the many storms that troubled her life. Margaret, Countess of Lennox, must have been a woman of unusual courage to seek such a match for her son. She knew perfectly in what light Queen Elizabeth would regard it, and how she would deal with the promoters of it. One would have thought that after the miseries and sorrows life had brought her she would have been content to rest in the Queen’s favour, and not have sought to again rouse the royal anger. For Margaret Lennox had from her birth passed a life of stress and agitation;! now suffering for her own faults, now for those of others. She was born during the flight of her mother to England, and for the first eighteen months lived at her uncle Henry’s Court. From there, mother and daughter journeyed to Bedford, where Lord Angus waited to escort them back to Scotland. After many violent quarrels, her parents separated, and when Margaret was little more than three years old, Angus took her from her mother’s care and carried her away to his stronghold, Tantallon Castle. There she lived for some time, surrounded by a household suitable in its state to her close connection with the sovereigns of England and Scotland. Finally, Angus was forced to retire across the border, and then followed many years of wandering and poverty. Throughout those miserable years Angus retained possession of his daughter, taking her at last to France. It was not without many struggles that Margaret’s mother had resigned her guardianship of

+ For a further account of her see Strickland’s Margaret Douglas, the child. But as the little Margaret grew older, her © ‘attachment for the outlawed father strengthened, and that attachment brought upon her the enmity of her mother. ‘ 4

However, brighter days came at last to the girl. Henry the Eighth bestirred himself on her behalf. He needed a companion for his little daughter Mary, and Margaret her cousin was given the post; and

she was beautiful and charming, she managed eventually to obtain an annual income for her father and herself.

So for a time she prospered. She was lady-in- Waiting to Anne Boleyn, and in the household of that Queen’s child. More, she loved, and that with the royal sanction, a relative of Queen Anne’s. When, however, that lady lost her head, and scruples as to Elizabeth’s legitimacy began to trouble her father, Margaret’s position changed. She became next heir to the throne, and Henry regarded it as an insult that his heiress should love the kinsman of his righteously executed queen. Yes, it was an insult, and Henry became greatly annoyed. Impeachment of high treason followed, and Margaret and her lover were sentenced to death. The King’s mercy, however, prevented the sentence from taking effect, and the lovers languished in a prison until death released the one, and the birth of an heir to the King the other. Soon after, we find Margaret again lady-in-waiting, this time to Anne of Cleves, later to Catherine Howard. Then again imprisonment, followed by her reappointment as lady-inwaiting to Catherine Parr. Finally, her uncle decided that she would be better married, and gave her for husband Matthew, Earl of Lennox, with whom she retired to his house in Yorkshire. Then came the death of her uncle, and the succession of Edward the Sixth, which, as she and her children were devout and eager followers of the Church of Rome, did not benefit her greatly.

With Mary as Queen, however, her path became easies ; even when Elizabeth ascended the throne, her prosperity continued for a short time. Then followed more imprisonment, result of plottings on Margaret’s part which it is beyond the scope of this book to consider.

After some time her husband was liberated, and she

was left alone to bear the Queen’s displeasure, which increased on the marriage of Lord Darnley with the Queen of Scotland. Only after Darnley’s murder did Margaret obtain her release, when as grandmother to the future King of Scotland she found her position greatly improved. : _ From then onwards for several years she seems to have been convinced of the connivance of Mary of ‘Scotland in Darnley’s death, and she frequently prayed Elizabeth to bring her guilty daughter-in-law to justice. Elizabeth, steadfast in refusal to do any such thing, thought fit, however, to continue her favour to the Countess.

What changes took place in the latter’s opinion of her daughter-in-law, and induced her to risk the Queen of England’s wrath by the marriage of her son to Elizabeth Cavendish, we shall presently see.

Elizabeth’s mother, the redoubtable Countess of Shrewsbury, ‘‘Bess of Hardwicke,” was a daughter of John Hardwicke, of Hardwick House, and his wife Elizabeth. The Countess of Shrewsbury married four times: first, Robert Barlow, who has nothing to do with this history. Second, Sir William Cavendish, to whom she bore eight children, six of whom survived. Of these six, Elizabeth, Arabella’s mother, was the second child. Third, Sir William St. Loe; and fourth, George Talbot, sixth Earl of Shrewsbury, one of the greatest. gentlemen of England. At the time of his marriage he was a widower with a large fatnily, and forthwith his new wife determined on the iftermarriage of two of his children with two of her children by her second husband ; namely, Gilbert Talbot and Mary Cayendish, and Henry Cavendish and Grace Talbot.

I have felt it necessary to give a somewhat detailed account of this family, as certain members of it appear prominently throughout Arabella’s life. Her stepgrandfather, the sixth Earl, was a Knight of the Garter, Lord-Lieutenant of York, Nottingham, and Derby, and High Steward of the Kingdom. He possessed the castles and manors of Rufford, Sheffield, Tutbury, Welbeck, Bolsover, Worksop, and Wingfield. From her brother and her second husband the Countess inherited Hardwick and Chatsworth.

It will be seen from the foregoing account, that the Earl of Shrewsbury, both from his rank and wealth, held a position of great importance in the kingdom. He came, moreover, of a loyal stock, so that it was not surprising that in 1568 Queen Elizabeth appointed him to yet another position of great trust. This was none other than that of gaoler to Mary, Queen of Scots. In June, 1568, the Earl of Shrewsbury prepared, according to his orders, his residence of Tutbury for the reception of that unfortunate woman newly entered into captivity; and for the ensuing fifteen years, captive and gaoler wearily endured with each other. I have mentioned that the Countess of Lennox for many years accused Mary of cognizance of Darnley’s

10 THE LIF AND TIMES murder, but by 1574 the Countess of Lennox was willing to forgive M..ry’s supposed share in the matter. Rather, perhaps, she was willing to appear to believe Mary’s asseverations of guiltlessness. Both women were drawn together by their necessities. The ‘Countess of Lennox by her anxiety regarding her future, and Mary 'y her belief that friendship with Darnley’s mother would be the best means of refuting those accusations which caused some to withhold their help from her. Mr. Henderson says :—

‘‘If Elizabeth died, and there was a general impression that she would not live long, Mary might very possibly succeed her; and though Lady Lennox thought it prudent to assert to Elizabeth that she never could have any dealings with the Queen of Scots, since, being flesh and blood, she could not forget the murder of her child, yet she did not wish to debar herself from all further favour from the possible Queen of England, who was also the mother of her grandchild.”

Mary was strictly guarded. Communication between her and the Countess of Lennox would not be encour~ aged. Before setting out on her journey to Rufford, the Countess had sounded Elizabeth as to her views on the subject, by asking her permission to accept an invitation from Lady Shrewsbury to visit her at Chatsworth, This Elizabeth forbade, and the Countess realized that any rapprochement between herself and her captive daughter-in-law would be difficult. But Lady Shrewsbury possessed an easy, nay, an official, access to the imprisoned Queen, and so—and so my Lady Lennox journeyed to Rufford, and saw reason to propitiate her ambitious hostess by the intermarriage of their children. Had Mary of Scotland

1 Mary, Queen of Scots, by T. F, Henderson,

OF ARABELLAS STUART 11 been domiciled with someone ther than the Earl of Shrewsbury, it is probable tha. one more matrimonial negotiation must have been marked by the Countess “failure.” Certainly had Arabella been spared the wealthy, imperious, scheming Elizabeth Shrewsbury as grandmother, she had also in all probability been spared some few of the miseries tka¢ haunted her after- ‘life. The marriage was undoubtedly excellent for Elizabeth Cavendish, and her mother, that born intrigante, was eager to secure it.

Foreseeing a brilliant career for her daughter, and a great influx of importance for herself, she wedded her child in a breathless hurry, almost secretly, probably | without the consent of her husband, certainly without the knowledge of her Queen. e

Yet the immediate results of the marriage were such as to somewhat dim any future glories, even to the ardent spirit of ‘‘ Bess of Hardwicke.”

Elizabeth, the autocratic Queen, furious at the deadly affront of dispensing with her permission, fearful of the consequences which might ensue from the match, hurled wrathful menaces at all the parties concerned, when she heard of the marriage a month after it had occurred.

She next proceeded to summon both the Countesses of Lennox and Shrewsbury and Charles and Elizabeth Lennox to appear before her. The summons is dated November the 17th, and on the 3rd of December Margaret, Lady Lennox, wrote the following two letters of explanation and apology :-—

‘“* HUNTINGDON, December 3, 1574. **My very good Lord,

‘“The great unquietness and trouble that I have had with passing these dangerous waters, which hath many times enforced ne to leave my way, which hath been some hindrance 9 me that hitherto I have not answered your Lordship’s letters chiefly on that point wherein your Lordship, with other my friends (as your Lordship says) seems ignorant how to answer for me. And being forced to stay this present Friday in Huntingdon, somewhat to refresh myself, and my overlaboured mules, that are both crooked and lame with their extreme labour by the way, I thought good to lay open to your Lordship, in these few lines, what I have to say for me, touching my going to Rufford to my Lady of Shrewsbury, both being thereunto very earnestly requested, and the place not one mile distant out of my way. Yea, and a much fairer-way, as is well to be proved; and my Lady meeting me herself upon the way, I could not. refuse, it being near upon thirty miles from‘Sheffield.

‘* And as it was well known to all the country thereabouts that great provision was there made both for my Lady Suffolk and me—who friendly brought me on the way to Grantham, and so departed home again, neither she nor I knowing any such thing till the morning after I came to Newark. And so I meant simply and well, so did I least mistrust that my doings should be taken in evil part, for at my coming from her Majesty, I perceived that she misliked of my Lady of Suffolk being at Chatsworth, I asked her Majesty if I were bidden thither, for that had been my wonted way before, if I might go. She prayed me not, lest it should be thought I should agree with the Queen of Scots. And I asked her Majesty, if she could think so, for I was made of flesh and blood, and could never forget the murder of my child. And she said, ‘Marry, by her faith she could not think so that I could forget it, for if I would I were a devil.’ Now my Lord, for that hasty marriage of my son, Charles, after that he had entangled himself so that he could have none other, I refer the same to your Lordship’s good con-

OF ARABELLAy STUART 18 sideration, whether it was no| most fitly for me to marry them, he being my onl7 son and comfort that is left me. And your Lordship can bear me witness how desirous I have been to have had a match for him other than this. And the Queen’s Majesty, much to my comfort, to that end gave me good words at my departure.” }

The other runs as follows :—

‘* My very good Lord,

‘* Assuring myself of your friendship I will use but few words at this present other than to let you understand of my wearisome journey and the heavy burden of the Queen’s Majesty’s displeasure, which I know well I have not deserved, together with a letter of small comfort that I received from my Lord of Leicester, here enclosed, the copy of my letter now sent to my Lord of Leicester; and I beseech you to use your friendship towards me as you see time. Thus with my hearty commendations, I commit you to Almighty God, whom I beseech to send you long life to your heart’s desire.

‘‘Huntingdon, this third of December. ‘Your Lordship’s assured loving friend, ‘6 MARGARET LENNOX.

‘‘To the Right Honourable my very good Lord and friend, the Lord Treasurer of England.” ?

The ‘‘letter of small comfort” mentioned in the above from the Earl of Leicester cannot be found,

But any excuses entirely failed to appease the Queen, whose wrath certainly fell more upon the Countess of Lennox than upon the Countess of Shrewsbury ; possibly because she found it more difficult to fathom

1 State Papers, as quoted by Strickland. 2 State Papers, quoted from Strickland, the motive of the fofmer than of the latter. The Countess of Shrewsbury was known to be possessed of overweening pride, and the satisfaction of allying one of her children to the blood-royal must have been, as Elizabeth probably guessed, reason enough for the proceeding.

But with Margaret, Lady Lennox, the matter stood differently, and the Queen entirely disbelieved her disdainful treatment of the match as suggested in the letter quoted previously. Descended from a common ancestor, forced very probably by heredity into similar trains of thought, the two women, Elizabeth the Queen and Margaret the Countess, seem to have thoroughly distrusted each other, probably because each undetstood, and so could be prepared for the other’s wiles.

At all events, Elizabeth was furious. Mary of Scotland, writing from her prison, mentions the Queen’s extreme anger at the marriage, and her fears lest some deep intrigue should underlie it.

So Elizabeth enforced her will, and Margaret, Lady Lennox, made the weary journey to London, arriving there on December 12th. She immediately retired to her house at Hackney, where she remained with her son and daughter-in-law over Christmas. Elizabeth’s seasonable greetings arrived on the Eve of the Festival, and took the form of an order to hold communication only with those persons named by the Privy Council.

Margaret was shortly afterwards removed to the Tower. She must by this time have been fairly inured to imprisonment, but she nevertheless appealed piteously against it. It is curious that, this much-inprisoned woman suffered in each case for a connectio® with matrimonial affairs, as did Arabella, her grandchild, after her.

The Countess of Shrewsbury, however, shared the same fate, and unless confinement greatly chastened her spirit, one wonders how the imperious lady stood the trial. Her husband escaped with a severe censure from Elizabeth, and a diminution for a short time of Court favour. But the Queen was assured of his loyalty towards her, and of his great fitness for the post of gaoler to her sister-queen, so her displeasure was not of long duration. Whether, however, she believed in his assurances of ignorance regarding the marriage or no, will never now be known.

The Earl, in addition to his many other cares and anxieties, was now obliged to bestir himself to aid his Lady and the Countess of Lennox, and some little time after Christmas he wrote the following letter to Lord Burghley.

‘* My very good Lord,

‘‘Upon my Lady Lennox’s earnest request, as to your Lordship.I am sure shall appear, I have written to my Lords of the Council all I can find out of her behaviour towards this Queen and dealing when she was in these north parts ; and if some disallowed of my writing (as I look they will, because they would have it thought that I should have enough to do to answer for myself) let such ( +)! reprove, or find any (_)? respect to her Majesty in me or my wife is sought for, and then there is some cause to reprehend me, and for them to call out against me as they do. I take it that Lady Lennox be a subject in all respects worthy the-Queen’s Majesty’s favour, and for the duty I bear her Majesty I am bound, methinks, to commend her

1 Blanks in original,

16 THE LI!'E AND TIMES so as I find her. Ye}, and to entreat you, and all my Lords of the Council for her, to save her from blemish, if no offence can be found in her towards her Majesty. Ido not nor can find the marriage of that Lady’s son to my wife’s daughter can anyway be taken with indifferent judgment, be any offence or contemptuous to her Majesty; and then, methinks, that benefit any subject may by law claim might be permitted to any of mine as well. But 1 must be plain with your Lordship. It is not the marriage matter nor the hatred some bear to my Lady Lennox, my wife, or to me, that makes this great ado and occupies heads with so many devices. It is a greater matter; which I leave to conjecture, not doubting but your Lordship’s wisdom hath foreseen it, and thereof had due consideration, as always you have been most careful for it. I have’ no more to trouble your Lordship withal, but that I would not have her Majesty think, if I could see any cause to imagine any intent of liking or insinuation with this Queen the rather to grow by this marriage, or any other inconvenience might come thereby to her Majesty, that I could or would bear with it, or hide it from her Majesty, for that Lady’s sake, or for my wife or any other cause else; for besides the faith I bear her Majesty, with a singular love I look not by any means but by her Majesty only to be made better than I am; nor by any change to hold that I have. So take my leave of your Lordship.

‘‘ Sheffield Castle (where my charge is safe), the 27th of December, 1574. Your Lordship’s assured servant tom wer i eet ‘‘G, SHREWSBURY.”

Dignified as the letter is, it shows the sense of injury under which the Earl was smarting, as well, indeed, he might. Elizabeth recognized in him a faithful servant, proved by the unbetrayed trust of many years, and by .the reports of the numerous spies she had’ set about him. She knew that he had diligently obeyed her orders, though worn out by her exigent demands, he had sometimes wearily begged to be relieved of his trust; and that he had expended large sums from his private purse in her service.

She must have known that he could be spending no very agreeable festival burdened with a prisoner he dared not leave, fearing that disgrace hovered over his house, helpless to aid his imprisoned wife, to whom— at least at that period—he was deeply attached. Yet no consideration for his feelings hindered Elizabeth in the course that temper and a wounded amour-propre, quite as much as wisdom, dictated to her. Marriage at any time was sin to be glanced at askance, but marriage without the Queen’s leave wag a crime, savouring withal in this case of treason.

So Elizabeth stormed, and a long official inquiry was opened under the presidency of the Earl of Huntingdon, a man obnoxious alike to Mary of Scotland and the Earl of Shrewsbury. Eventually, however, the Countesses of Lennox and of Shrewsbury were acquitted, at any rate of ‘‘large treasons,” and retired to their respective residences, while the royal countenance still continued to frown upon them.

So Charles Stuart and his poor little wife passed the first year of their wedded life in gloom, in fear, and in poverty, for the House of Lennox at that time was ill dowered with money. They lived probably at their house in Hackney for some months, the way to the bride’s northern home being long and the journey expensive. The younger Lady Lennox seems to have been a delicate, meek-spirited girl, ever fearful of giving offence, and surely presented a curious contrast to her self-willed, imperious, high-spirited mother.