NetGalley ARC | Royal Mysteries of the Tudor Period

I received a free digital ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐

This would be a fantastic starting point for those not as familiar with the Tudor dynasty as I am, or these events in particular. Even so, I found it to be an enjoyable read about some of my favorite mysteries from the time period. It's obvious that Dr. Venning knows the period well and the research is thorough. He covers the following people and the mystery surrounding them:

• the Pretenders, Simnel Lambert and Perkin Warbeck
• the fall of Anne Boleyn
• the death of Amy Robsart
• the death of Lord Darnley
• Mary's possible involvement in plots against Elizabeth

While discussing each of these, there is obvious overlap as the era moves from its beginning with Henry VII to its conclusion under Elizabeth I. There is plenty of additional information that provides a background for those unfamiliar with the key places and figures of the time.

First we have the Pretenders. The drastic differences in their treatment perhaps shows Henry VII's view of them as legitimate threats - not because either really was either of the Princes in the Tower, but because enough people at least believed or were intrigued by Warbeck. Given the fact that Warwick was already locked in the Tower, no one had any reason to believe Simnel's claims. It didn't help that Warbeck was still trying to claim he was the lost Plantagenet heir as he was locked in the Tower. And there could be no other end for him than execution. Henry needed to stabilize his country quickly and that was the only way for him to do it. Warbeck had been given too many chances. Warwick's execution is much harder for me to stomach however, as he was in no way a threat. He'd been a prisoner for over half his life and had little knowledge of the outside world.

I've got little to say about Anne Boleyn that I haven't already in past reviews. She is my least favorite queen, I can't stand her. She is not a feminist icon and had no inkling of what that would even mean, to be. She was gleeful in her torment of Mary and had no problem replacing the rightful queen despite very much not belonging on the throne. I don't think there is much of a mystery here though, as anyone with even miniscule knowledge of Henry VIII's mindset and behavior can attest. The charges against her were all clearly made up in order for Henry to get rid of her and I don't think anyone would argue otherwise. Despite my disdain for Anne, Henry is the real villain. After all, he requested the executioner before Anne was even found guilty, given travel distance. Once Anne fell from favor, she stood no chance. She's absolutely a victim of the regime, none of the charges were true (you'd think Cromwell would have at least made the fabricated evidence look realistic; for the majority of the locations she was said to be in when conducting the affairs, she was either pregnant or in another location, verified by court documentation of travel itineraries), but I still have little sympathy beyond this for her.

The death of Amy Robsart is perhaps the most intriguing to me. Robsart was the wife of Robert Dudley, Elizabeth's most favorite of all her favorites. Dudley was all too happy to abandon his wife for his queen. The day Robsart died she had sent all the servants away to the fair and was supposedly alone in the house. When everyone returned, she was dead at the bottom of the stairs. Dudley's enemies immediately accused him of murder and if there had ever been plans for him to divorce his wife and marry Elizabeth, it could never happen. However, it is highly unlikely Elizabeth would've ever married Dudley, no matter the circumstances. She truly was her father's daughter in every literal and figurative sense. I personally don't think she was ever 'scared' of marriage as has been suggested. I think she was a Tudor who knew the power of good PR and remained married to her country because that is what she wanted most. As for Robsart, there are plenty of theories, but again we will never know the truth. Some say she committed suicide because she was so destraught over her husband and the queen. I personally think there are far easier ways to committ suicide than by flinging oneself down the stairs and hoping for the best. Others have suggested she was ill (cancer or otherwise), and in her weakened condition she fell. Still others say Dudley hired someone, or killed her himself. This is one I would truly love an answer too. Amy Robsart deserves that much, considering her life and death were overshadowed by Elizabeth.

Mary, Queen of Scots, remains one of the most tragic figures in Stewart/Stuart and Tudor history. As a child she was sent to France, out of reach of Henry VIII. She was raised in a French court hostile to England and treated as a queen from a young age, long before actually becoming queen in 1559. She was a pawn that the French used to taunt the English. After her first husband's death, she had no choice but to return to Scotland, and it was all downhill from there. Mary had no true allies, though she did not know this. Her half brother, the Earl of Moray, played at supporting her, but this was all for show. Mary was truly alone, even after marrying Darnley. Personally I think Bothwell was as ruthless as Moray. I don't know that Mary knew of the plot to kill Darnley, but I would imagine she had to have some inkling that something was going on. As for Bothwell and that disastrous marriage, I don't believe she entered into it willingly. Perhaps she had once been enamored by Bothwell, but seeing his true face after Darnley's murder, I don't know that she would have chosen him.

As for Mary's participation in plots against Elizabeth once she was in captivity...honestly, what did she have to lose by that point? She'd been held for so long without cause. Elizabeth had no right in imprison a fellow monarch. This event alone is one that makes me absolutely abhor Elizabeth because she was such a baby about it. She talked so much of the grief and turmoil she felt in signing Mary's death warrant, but PLEASE save your fake tears and at least OWN IT. Cecil had been begging to execute Mary for YEARS. She knew that before the ink was even dry, after she had just barely finished signing it, that it would be delivered straight to him. Ugh.

One thing I absolutely hated about this book was that the author called Empress Matilda arrogant and usurper. Um, excuse me, but her Father Henry I named her as his heir. And yes, it was unlikely she could have followed him without a fight, and a fight is certainly what Stephen got. But Stephen was the usurper, NOT Matilda.

Whatever your opinion of these events, I think you will find great value in this text. Even if you already know quite a bit, having a refresher is nice. I love returning to books about the Tudors, no matter how many I have read. It's like greeting old friends, just that some of them might want to execute you for treason.

Recommended.