History

Arbella Stuart - part I

Bess of Hardwick wanted her family famous for at least a thousand years, so she carefully arranged all her children's' marriages.

Her eldest daughter Elizabeth she paired with Charles Stuart, younger brother of Lord Darnley, husband of Mary, Queen of Scots.  He also was related to the English throne.

In one marriage she had arranged connections with two royal families.

Consumptive Charles died within 18 months of the marriage, but left a child - Arbella Elizabeth.  In 1582, when the child was only 7, her mother also died, leaving the powerful Bess to oversee her upbringing.

Arbella was educated in Latin, French and Italian, as well as musical instruments such as the lute.  In addition she danced, embroidered, hunted and hawked.  Later in life her love of learning led her to study Hebrew so that she could read the original sources of the Bible, as well as studying Homer in Greek.

Everything was geared for a very prestigious marriage.

At the age of 12 she was presented at Court and Sir Walter Raleigh 'wished she were fifteen years old'.

In August 1591 an agent working in Europe sent the following request

'touching the Lady Arbella, I pray you send me her picture for there is someone very desirous to see it.'

It was to be a miniature so that it could be carried abroad easily.  Nicholas Hilliard, the Court painter, was to be the artist, so it must have been with the full knowledge of Queen Elizabeth I.

Bess and Arbella set off for London, together with Bess' sons William and Charles Cavendish, and their wives.  So many servants were required, that altogether they were a party of 40.  The journey to London took 7 days, and church bells rang out from market towns along the route to welcome the travellers.  Once in London they stayed in Chelsea for 8 months, with sheep and oxen being driven up from one of Bess' estates to feed the large household.

Whilst in London Bess used the opportunity to purchase items for her latest building, Hardwick Hall.  The seventeen tapestries showing the story of Gideon still hang in the Long Gallery.  She also bought four hangings for the state bedchamber in addition to spending over £1,200 on gold and silver plate.

Although the portrait was completed, and Mr Hilliard was paid in July 1592, upon the family's return to Derbyshire news reached them that the Duke of Parma had died.  It is thought that it was for his son that the painting was commissioned, but with the father's death, Cardinal Rainutio was no longer considered of any significance, and the marriage proposal was dropped.

Arbella was growing increasingly restless with rural Derbyshire.  She herself was not ambitious, mostly just wanting to get away from her dominating grandmother, who controlled every aspect of her life.

In part II - Arbella plans her escape.

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