amy robsart murder pushed stairs kill death dead woman murderer artist William Frederick Yeames
Amy Dudley Robsart; 7 June 1532 – 8 September 1560 was the 1st Countess of Leicester and the wife of Robert Dudley, 1st Earl of Leicester who is mainly known for her death under controversial and somewhat mysterious circumstances, which remains a subject of historical speculation and research her death, which occurred at Cumnor Place on Sunday, September 8, 1560, the day of the "Our Lady's Fair" at Abingdon. Amy gave all her servants permission to go to the fair and even insisted so when several refused, believing it was unfit to attend a fair on Sunday. However her companion, Mrs. Oddingsell, refused to leave, believing it unfit for her to mingle with servants. Thus remaining at the house were Amy and Mrs. Oddingsell, as well as Mrs. Owens, the elderly mother of the house’s previous owner, and Mrs. Forster, the wife of the current owner of the house; additionally, Mrs. Oddingsell and Mrs. Forster would also both have had servants with them at the time. When the rest returned from the fair, they found Amy lying dead at the foot of a shallow flight of stairs, leading from her room to the hall, her neck broken. The death was announced to Robert Dudley and Queen Elizabeth at the same time, who both seemed genuinely shocked at the news. Dudley sent a friend to the country estate to check on the circumstances and did not attend the funeral as was proper and expected of the widowed husband in those days Due to these suspicious circumstances, many believed Dudley had ordered the murder, which would rather conveniently open the way for him to marry the Queen. However, as he must have understood that the controversy created by his wife's death could potentially ruin any chance he had of marrying Elizabeth, it is unlikely that he would have orchestrated her demise. Some alleged that the Queen was privy to the plan, and perhaps even ordered it; it is known that she had mentioned to the Spanish ambassador de Quadra that Dudley's wife was near death.
Size: 3404px × 5254px
Photo credit: © 19th era / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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