LINEAGE
PARENTS:
SIR JOHN ROBSART
of Synderstone, Norfolk
d.1554
ELIZABETH SCOTT
daughter of John Scott esq
Widow of Roger Appleyard
[Appleyard/Robsart]
d.1557
HALF-SIBLINGS:
(FROM MOTHER ELIZABETH SCOTT'S FIRST MARRIAGE TO ROGER APPLEYARD d.1528):
JOHN APPLEYARD
.
1527-c.1572
ANNE APPLEYARD
[Bigot]
??
PHILIP APPLEYARD
.
c.1529-?
BRIDGET APPLEYARD
.
??
FRANCES APPLEYARD
[Flowerdew/Drury]
??
SPOUSE:
ROBERT DUDLEY
later appointed
1st Earl of Leicester
1532-1588
KEY EVENTS
07 Jun 1532 - Birth of AMY ROBSART, only child of Elizabeth Scott and second husband Sir John Robsart, in Norfolk. (?Synderstone).
Aug 1549 - JOHN DUDLEY arrives in Norfolk, at head of government army, sent by EDWARD SEYMOUR to quell local rebels led by Robert Kett ('Kett's Rebellion'). He is accompanied by sons AMBROSE and ROBERT, and they lodge at the Wymondham home of SIR JOHN ROBSART; this is likely where Robert first had contact with AMY ROBSART.
Apr 1550 - Marriage contract drawn up for union between ROBERT DUDLEY and AMY ROBSART, with agreements made by their fathers.
04 Jun 1550 - Marriage of AMY ROBSART and ROBERT DUDLEY at Richmond Palace, in presence of EDWARD VI.
19 Jul 1553 - Arrest of husband ROBERT DUDLEY at Framlingham Castle; he is taken to London and imprisoned in the Tower of London.
Sep 1553 - AMY ROBSART known to have visited husband ROBERT DUDLEY at Tower of London. Believed to have been residing with mother-in-law JANE GUILDFORD during the brothers' period of imprisonment.
11 Oct 1554 - Release of husband ROBERT DUDLEY (and his brothers) from Tower of London.
Nov 1558 - Death of Mary I and succession of Elizabeth I; husband ROBERT DUDLEY made 'Master of Horse' and starts spending prolonged periods of time at court, quickly becoming the 'favourite' of Elizabeth.
Dec 1559 - ROBERT DUDLEY takes out lease on Cumnor Place; AMY ROBSART starts residing here with her household, separate from her husband.
08 Sep 1560 - AMY ROBSART found dead at the bottom of a flight of stairs at Cumnor Place, after sending all her servants to a fair at nearby Abingdon for the day; was found with a broken neck and two head wounds. Husband ROBERT DUDLEY is with ELIZABETH I at Windsor Castle, and informed of her death by messenger.
Following her death, her body is embalmed, placed in a. coffin, and moved to Gloucester Hall (now the site of Worcester College, University of Oxford).
09 Sep 1560 - Inquest into death of AMY ROBSART is opened at Cumnor; is adjourned until 01 Aug 1561.
22 Sep 1560 - Funeral of AMY ROBSART is held at the University Church of St Mary the Virgin, Oxford.
The funeral procession begins at Gloucester Hall, and marched the 1/2 mile through the city to the church.
The procession was an extravagant and traditional one, including university staff, poor women/men, a singing choir and the Mayor of Oxford. Amy's elder half-brother John Appleyard marched ahead of the coffin, with Elizabeth I's close friend Lady Margery Norris acting as the chief mourner.
01 Aug 1561 - Coroner's Inquest is held at Cumnor; AMY ROBART's death is ruled accidental by a jury.
