Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Dedication
- Contents
- List of Illustrations
- List of Abbreviations
- Acknowledgements
- Editorial Procedures
- Introduction
- Part I Roots 1548–1562
- 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
- 37 Oxford vs. Sidney
- 38 Oxford vs. Leicester
- 39 Table, Gallery, Garden
- 40 Atheist
- 41 Sodomite
- 42 Prophet
- 43 A Passing Singular Odd Man
- 44 Oxford's Folly
- 45 Literary Patronage (1)
- 46 Oxford's Players (1)
- 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
38 - Oxford vs. Leicester
from Part VI - Intrigue 1579–1580
- Frontmatter
- Dedication
- Contents
- List of Illustrations
- List of Abbreviations
- Acknowledgements
- Editorial Procedures
- Introduction
- Part I Roots 1548–1562
- 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
- 37 Oxford vs. Sidney
- 38 Oxford vs. Leicester
- 39 Table, Gallery, Garden
- 40 Atheist
- 41 Sodomite
- 42 Prophet
- 43 A Passing Singular Odd Man
- 44 Oxford's Folly
- 45 Literary Patronage (1)
- 46 Oxford's Players (1)
- 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
In the course of 1579, Oxford precipitated a quarrel with Sidney's uncle Leicester, who remained in Elizabeth's bad books over his unauthorized marriage on 21 September 1578 to Lettice Knollys, widow of the 1st Earl of Essex and mother of Robert Devereux, now 2nd Earl of Essex and Burghley's ward. Henry Howard reveals that Oxford, citing Rowland York as witness, complained to Walsingham that Leicester had been engaged in sedition if not treason. Howard situates the event after Oxford's attack on Worcester (LIB-3.1/4):
This owtrage could not be forgotten when he [=Oxford] falles to Mr Secretary Walsingham, his constante and approuid frend, aduertising [=accusing] my Lord of Lester of a certayne practise which himselfe forsoth had founde out against him by Roland York, whearin the said Mr Secretary, my Lords of Huntingdon, and Essex, wear consorted; but when uppon the deniall of Roland Yorke my Lord of Oxford was put to bed for wante of proufe, he wold haue wrestid me by flattery ore any meane to iustifie the knowledge of suche practisis from Rowland York, of whom I neuer h[e]ard any suche word nor syllable.
An independent memorandum, headed ‘Articles wherof Oxford wold have accusid Lester’ (LIB-1/1), contains two major accusations: first, that Leicester had stockpiled weapons, powder, and food at Kenilworth Castle, as well as a large cache of money, in preparation for a rebellion; second, that Leicester had been complicit in the death of Walter Devereux, the ‘old’ Earl of Essex, on 22 September 1576. Oxford's principal informant is named as Edward York.
Charles Arundel, under the heading ‘Mercenarye faythe’, declared of Oxford (LIB-4.2/3):
He willed me to saye to one in Ingeland [?] that what soever he wold have him affirme as sayd to him by my Lord of Lester he wold affirme it to his face at Greenwich he proferrid my Lord Harrye and my selfe five hundrid powndes to affirme vppon owre one [=own] knoledge the wordes vtterid by Rowland Yorke of Mr secretorie Walsingham.
Again, under the charge of ‘Dangerous practice’ (LIB-4.2/5.1):
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- Monstrous AdversaryThe Life of Edward de Vere, 17th Earl of Oxford, pp. 200 - 202Publisher: Liverpool University PressPrint publication year: 2003