Back to the Tudors calendar
As far as Parliament was concerned
one of the most important things now was for Elizabeth to find a husband, have children and so ensure a line of succession. When she came to the throne there
was a rumour that Elizabeth was in love with a friend she had known since she was a child. His name was Robert Dudley. Unfortunately he was married but, shock
of shocks, in September 1560 his wife died as a result of a fall. I’m saying nothing.
However, Elizabeth then decided not to marry Dudley although she did remain good friends with him for the rest of his life.
Elizabeth, like her grandfather Henry VII, was aware of the importance of making allies and so she entered into negotiations with several possible
husbands but nothing ever happened. It is said that Philip of Spain, who had been married to Mary and was a strong Catholic, even proposed. Again nothing happened.
In 1566, Elizabeth banned Parliament from discussing possible marriages. In the end, she never did marry often saying that she was married to her
kingdom and her subjects but, as we will see later, this made it interesting to find a successor when she died.
Forward to 1569AD
