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Tuesday, March 23, 2021

Sir Robert Carey’s Account of the Death of Queen Elizabeth; March 23 & 24, 1603 [1602 O.S.].


Robert Carey had been appointed Warden of the Middle Scottish Marches, by his cousin Queen Elizabeth, and remained employed on the various Marches, in one capacity or another, when he returned to visit the English Royal Court in late 1602. Upon his return he found a Queen more challenged with age. By mid-March he looked on as she began rapidly to decline.

When I came to court I found the Queen ill disposed, and she kept her inner lodging; yet she, hearing of my arrival, sent for me. I found her in one of her withdrawing chambers, sitting low upon her cushions.[1]

The crisis seemed to have come on the 23rd. He was there in her presence as much as any but her most intimate attendants. His following is the standard account of the Queen’s final hours.

As the Queen lingered, Carey withdrew with the intent to proceed immediately upon hearing of the Queen’s death to inform the Scottish King. He rose again in the early morning hours and returned to the Court where he “found all the ladies weeping bitterly” but could not receive word of the Queen’s condition. He was well known by the cautious James and the first person to bring the news was likely to receive a considerable reward.

Once allowed into the Court, he was forbidden to leave again without permission of Sir Robert Cecil and the Privy Council. They had been very careful to plan every aspect of the transfer of the crown from Elizabeth to James and had no intention of letting any opportunist take any of the control of the situation from them.

He led me from thence to the privy chamber, where all the Council was assembled ; there I was caught hold of, and assured I should not go for Scotland, till their pleasures were farther known.[2]

A failure to take the proper care could result in truly serious repercussions. There could be riots of disaffected groups. Even a struggle for power.

Like any good opportunist, Robert thought on his feet and woke his brother to assist him getting free.

My brother said angrily to the porter, " Let him out, I will answer for him." Whereupon I was suffered to pass, which I was not a little glad of.[3]

He was soon on his way. It was always a hard ride to reach the Scottish Court. Especially at speed. But, even having received a serious head injury along the way, he arrived three days later. He was awarded the position of Gentleman of the Bedchamber for his troubles — a position he promptly lost.

All the comfort that I had was the King's assurance that I should shortly be admitted to his bedchamber again. And whereas I was promised one hundred pounds per annum in fee farm, it was cut short to one hundred marks.[4]

Still, he was well rewarded by King James and Charles in the years ahead.

The Queen grew worse and worse, because she would be so, none about her being able to persuade her to go to bed. My Lord Admiral was sent for (who by reason of my sister's death, that was his wife, had absented himself some fortnight from court); what by fair means, what by force, he got her to bed. There was no hope of her recovery, because she refused all remedies.

On Wednesday, the twenty-third of March, she grew speechless. That afternoon, by signs, she called for her Council, and by putting her hand to her head, when the King of Scots was named to succeed her, they all knew he was the man she desired should reign after her.

About six at night she made signs for the Archbishop and her Chaplains to come to her, at which time I went in with them, and sat upon my knees full of tears to see that heavy sight. Her Majesty lay upon her back, with one hand in the bed, and the other without. The Bishop kneeled down by her, and examined her first of her faith, and she so punctually answered all his several questions, by lifting up her eyes and holding up her hand, as it was a comfort to all the beholders. Then the good man told her plainly what she was, and what she was to come to; and though she had been long a great Queen here upon earth, yet shortly she was to yield an account of her stewardship to the King of Kings. After this he began to pray, and all that were by did answer him. After he had continued long in prayer, till the old man's knees were weary, he blessed her, and meant to rise and leave her. The Queen made a sign with her hand.  My sister Scroope, knowing her meaning, told the Bishop the Queen desired he would pray still. He did so for a long half-hour after, and then thought to leave her. The second time she made sign to have him continue in prayer. He did so for half an hour more, with earnest cries to God for her soul's health, which he uttered with that fervency of spirit as the Queen to all our sight much rejoiced thereat, and gave testimony to us all of her Christian and comfortable end. By this time it grew late, and every one departed, all but her women that attended her.

This that I heard with my ears, and did see with my eyes, I thought it my duty to set down, and to affirm it for a truth, upon the faith of a Christian, because I know there have been many false lies reported of the end and death of that good lady.[5]


[1] The Memoirs of Robert Carey, the Earl of Monmouth (1905). 70.

[2] Ibid. 75.

[3] Ibid. 76.

[4] Ibid. 81.

[5] Ibid. 73-4.


Also at Virtual Grub Street:

  • William Camden to Sir Robert Cotton. March 15, 1603 [1602 O.S.]. October 11, 2020. “Here their topic is the dying Queen Elizabeth. The Royal Court had developed a checklist of activities to be accomplished before a dying monarch should expire.”
  • A Most Curious Account of the Funeral of Queen Elizabeth I: April 28, 1603.  April 28, 2019.  “Once it was clear that James I would face no serious challenges, Cecil and the others could begin to give attention to the matter of the Queen’s funeral.”
  • Queen Elizabeth I’s Heart and the French Ambassador.  April 3, 2019.  “…the Queen of England, with the permission of her physicians, has been able to come out of her private chamber, she has permitted me… to see her…”
  • Lady Southwell on the Final Days of Queen Elizabeth I.  March 24, 2019.  “her majesty told [Lady Scrope] (commanding her to conceal the same ) that she saw, one night, in her bed, her body exceeding lean, and fearful in a light of fire.”
  • Check out the English Renaissance Article Index for many more articles and reviews about this fascinating time and about the Shakespeare Authorship Question.
  • Check out the English Renaissance Letter Index for many letters from this fascinating time, some related to the Shakespeare Authorship Question.

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    1 comment:

    P. Buchan said...

    I've always thought that Carey's ride was a brilliant political move. His family's position was entirely due to their connection to Queen Elizabeth. His father was first cousin to the Queen, since his mother, Mary Boleyn, was the sister of Anne Boleyn. But they may well have been even closer: Mary had been the mistress of King Henry VIII, and may have been Henry Carey's biological father. Elizabeth evidently thought these blood ties would guarantee Carey's loyalty and commitment to her, and she elevated him as a baron and made him her Lord Chamberlain.

    It would have been hard for Robert to predict how James would feel about a family with such strong ties to Elizabeth, last of the Tudor monarchs. Would they be seen as part of the former regime, out of power and possibly soon to have their lands and honors stripped in favor of favorites of the new king? Robert's ride allowed him to be the first to proclaim his loyalty to the new king. It's always good to be the first bearer of good news, and for James there could be no better news than his accession as the King of England. Though Robert was chastised for violating the direction of the council, he was made the governor of the young prince Charles when he came to England a year after his parents. That paid off when Charles became king, and created Robert the Earl of Monmouth.

    6:50 PM

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