by Angella Gailey

Created on: July 31, 2009   Last Updated: August 30, 2010

Amy Dudley was born on June 7 1532 in Norfolk. She was the only legitimate child and heiress to Sir John Rosbert and his wife Elizabeth Scott, who was an heiress who inherited Stanfield House in Wymondham, among other properties. Amy was country born and raised. She was almost illiterate, and completely unused to high society.

In 1549, John Dudely, Duke of Northumberland, led a march against Robert Kell to put down rebellions in Norwich. John brought with him two of his sons, Ambrose and Robert, on the expedition (Jenkins, 1961). Robert was the fifth son of John Dudely and was tutored by Roger Ascham who was disappointed in his preference of mathematics to Latin. Ascham later found his ideal student in Elizabeth I. Robertalso received social training that would become useful later in his life.

It is believed that Amy and Robert met while the party stayed for a time in Wymondham. The two were married at the ages of 17 and 18 in, what is assumed, to be a love match, even though both brought advantages to the marriage. They were married on June 4, 1550, with Edward VI in attendance. It is speculated that they started to grow apart as Robert pursued his family's ambitions and she stayed at home in Norfolk. In 1553, Robert was imprisoned for 18 months for his part for his part in trying to install Lady Jane Greyon the Throne of England, and act of high treason. While he was imprisoned in the Tower of London, Amy petitioned the Privy Councilfor permission to visit him, which they granted.

Robert Dudley, who was nicknamed The Gypsy for his dark good looks, returned to court shortly after his release, where he spent most of his time. Amy did not go to court but stayed with her mother in Norfolk, or with friends and family. When Queen Elizabethwas over the court she did not allow wives to attend because of the flirtatiousness. Robert was described as vicious, arrogant , violent, sadistic and oversexed, sometimes paying 300 pounds for the services of one of the women of the Queen's chamber( Smith, 1975, pg. 173).

Robert, who was a childhood friend of the Queen's, was a favorite of the court when he arrived ahead of everyone else to tell her that her sister, Mary Tudor was dead and that she was now Queen. She immediately made him Master of the Horse. A position normally saved for the Queen's favorite. This person takes charge of all the parties, hunts, and the great ceremonial of coronation. From that moment he was never far from her side. He was the first person she

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