Frances Walsingham is the only surviving child of Queen Elizabeth’s ‘spymaster’ Sir Francis Walsingham. Better educated than most men, her father arranges her marriage to warrior poet Sir Philip Sidney. After Philip Sidney is killed in battle, Frances becomes Countess of Essex, and is banished from court after her husband Sir Robert Devereaux’s rebellion against the queen.

A Woman Ahead of Her Time

Born Penelope Devereux, she was the daughter of the queen’s nemesis, Lettice Knollys, and elder sister of the ill-fated Robert Devereux, Earl of Essex.

Her father died in Ireland and her mother was often absent, so Penelope had to grow up fast and look after her younger brothers and sister. Her mother’s secret marriage to the queen’s favourite, Robert Dudley, did nothing to help Penelope.

In this podcast, I’ll explore some lesser-known insights into the character of Lady Penelope.

This podcast continues my Elizabethan series looking at a new perspective on the history of Sir Walter Raleigh, the subject of my book Raleigh – Tudor Adventurer. I’d been planning an Elizabethan series for some time, as my aim was to tell the stories of the Tudors from Owen Tudor’s first meeting with Queen Catherine of Valois through to the death of Queen Elizabeth.

I decided to show the fascinating world of the Elizabethan court through the eyes of the queen’s favourite courtiers, and chose Raleigh as he had a special relationship as Captain of the queen’s guard.

In this podcast, we’re exploring the man behind the myths, the man Queen Elizabeth trusted… then betrayed? Explorer, soldier, poet—Sir Walter Raleigh lived a life of danger and ambition.

Uncover his remarkable story in Raleigh – Tudor Adventurer

https://mybook.to/Raleigh

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