Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Dedication
- Contents
- List of Illustrations
- List of Abbreviations
- Acknowledgements
- Editorial Procedures
- Introduction
- Part I Roots 1548–1562
- 1 Oxford's Essex
- 2 Progenitors
- 3 Doubtful Marriage
- 4 Infancy and Childhood
- 5 The Education of Lord Bolbec
- 6 Long Live the Queen
- 7 The Earl is Dead
- Part II Youth 1562–1571
- Part III Emancipation 1571–1574
- Part IV Exploration 1574–1576
- Part V Alienation 1576–1579
- Part VI Intrigue 1579–1580
- Part VII Sedition 1580–1581
- Part VIII Release 1581–1585
- Part IX Reiteration 1586–1591
- Part X Renewal 1592–1595
- Part XI Re-engagement 1595–1599
- Part XII Decline 1600–1604
- Part XIII Aftermath 1604–1613
- Notes
- Appendix: Oxford's Letters and Libel Documents
- Bibliography
- Index
- Liverpool English texts and Studies
6 - Long Live the Queen
from Part I - Roots 1548–1562
- Frontmatter
- Dedication
- Contents
- List of Illustrations
- List of Abbreviations
- Acknowledgements
- Editorial Procedures
- Introduction
- Part I Roots 1548–1562
- 1 Oxford's Essex
- 2 Progenitors
- 3 Doubtful Marriage
- 4 Infancy and Childhood
- 5 The Education of Lord Bolbec
- 6 Long Live the Queen
- 7 The Earl is Dead
- Part II Youth 1562–1571
- Part III Emancipation 1571–1574
- Part IV Exploration 1574–1576
- Part V Alienation 1576–1579
- Part VI Intrigue 1579–1580
- Part VII Sedition 1580–1581
- Part VIII Release 1581–1585
- Part IX Reiteration 1586–1591
- Part X Renewal 1592–1595
- Part XI Re-engagement 1595–1599
- Part XII Decline 1600–1604
- Part XIII Aftermath 1604–1613
- Notes
- Appendix: Oxford's Letters and Libel Documents
- Bibliography
- Index
- Liverpool English texts and Studies
Summary
On 1 September 1558, as Queen Mary lay on her deathbed, the Privy Council required of Oxford that ‘divers villages appointed to the watching of the Blockhouse of West Tilbury … contynue to be charged with town watches and beacon watches’. Following Mary's death on 17 November, Oxford may have escorted Elizabeth from Hatfield to London on the 23rd. Like most peers, he switched loyalties with alacrity.
On 23 January 1559 the French ambassador described Elizabeth's coronation of 15 January:
The banquet being ended, the collation (la collatione) was brought by three Earls – Bedford, Oxford [‘Oxette’], and Montague. Shortly afterwards her Majesty rose, and by a covered way returned to her Palace of Whitehall by water; everybody in a like manner returning home.
Oxford successfully (though unjustly) asserted a hereditary claim to the Lord Great Chamberlainship. Sir George Howard – whom we shall meet again – jousted in celebrations held on the 17th:
They could not finish it on the first day, the challengers, viz. the Duke of Norfolk, Sir George Howard, and Lord Robert Dudley, having as many hits as the adventurers. The judges therefore could not award the prize, which, as they jousted for love, was a diamond.
A draw contributed to the harmony of the occasion. Margery served as a Queen's Maid of Honour, and, as noted by Ward (p. 12), seems to have spent the year 1559 at court. About this time the aged Countess Anne, widow of the 14th Earl, died at Lambeth.
On 22 April 1559 Oxford sat at the trial of Lord Wentworth for his surrender of Calais. That autumn he welcomed John, Duke of Friesland, broker of a marriage between his brother Prince Eric of Sweden and the Queen:
[The Prince landed at Harwich] about the end of September, and was there honorably received by the Earl of Oxford and the Lord Robert Dudley, and by them conducted from thence to London. [The Prince] had in his own train about fifty persons well mounted; the Earl of Oxford also, and the Lord Robert Dudley were followed with a fair attendance both of gentlemen and yeoman.
Oxford treated the Duke to ‘great sport’ in the valley of the Stour.
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- Monstrous AdversaryThe Life of Edward de Vere, 17th Earl of Oxford, pp. 26 - 28Publisher: Liverpool University PressPrint publication year: 2003