The Rest Is History – Episode 617: Elizabeth I: Anne Boleyn's Bastard (Part 2)

Hosts: Tom Holland & Dominic Sandbrook
Date: November 13, 2025

Overview

In this gripping episode, Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook continue their exploration of the turbulent early life of Elizabeth I in the aftermath of her mother Anne Boleyn’s execution. The hosts chart Elizabeth's precarious position at Henry VIII's court, the psychological and political impacts of her loss of status, her formative relationships, and the dangers posed by the machinations of those around her—including the predatory ambitions of Thomas Seymour. Through expert storytelling and lively banter, the episode reveals how these traumas and court intrigues shaped Elizabeth’s character and prepared her for her eventual rise to the throne.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Immediate Aftermath of Anne Boleyn’s Death

• Elizabeth’s Downgrading: With Anne Boleyn executed, Elizabeth, not yet three, is stripped of her royal status and named a bastard (03:55).
  • Quote: “She’s no longer the heir to the throne... now officially proclaimed a bastard... Henry VIII has ordered that she be kept from his sight.” —Tom Holland (05:10)
• Lady Bryan’s Lament: Elizabeth’s caretaker pleads for basic necessities, highlighting her sudden fall from royal privilege (02:43).
  • Quote: “She has neither gown nor kirtle, nor petticoat, nor linen for smocks...”—Letter read by Dominic Sandbrook (02:43)

2. Henry VIII’s Focus Moves Elsewhere

• Jane Seymour’s Favoritism: Jane Seymour, Henry’s new queen, shows kindness to Mary but largely ignores Elizabeth, exacerbating Elizabeth’s isolation (07:32, 12:00).
• Mary’s Reconciliation: Mary, now also declared illegitimate, surprisingly forms a close, empathetic bond with Elizabeth (08:56).
  • Quote: “From this point on, I shall never call her by other name than sister.” —Mary, via Tom Holland (09:24)
  • Mary even prays for Anne Boleyn’s soul—an act of immense generosity (09:40).

3. Elizabeth’s Early Psychological Wounds & Precocity

• Profound Childhood Trauma: Elizabeth is conscious of her altered status and the absence of her mother, Anne (11:30).
  • Quote: “Why, Governor, how happit yesterday Lady Princess and today but Lady Elizabeth?” —Elizabeth, as related by Tom (10:03)
• Formation of Close Attendant Bonds: After losing Lady Bryan and her mother, Elizabeth clings to her governesses and closest servants, such as Kate Champernown (13:44).

4. Elizabeth’s Intellectual and Emotional Development

• Education under Kate Champernown (Ashley) and Roger Ascham:
  • Kate is depicted not as a “dimwit” but as a formidable scholar and humanist (14:46).
  • Quote: “She hath taken great labor and pain in bringing of me up in love and honesty.” —Elizabeth on Kate (14:46)
  • By six, Elizabeth astonishes courtiers with her intellect and grace (16:45).
• Influence of Catherine Parr:
  • Catherine Parr, Henry’s final wife, becomes a model of female governance and offers Elizabeth a nurturing, intellectually rich environment (20:32).

5. Tudor Politics and Upheaval

• Complex Succession: Henry’s Act of Succession reinstates Elizabeth in line after Edward and Mary, despite her remaining legally a bastard (19:03).
• Education alongside Edward VI: Catherine Parr arranges for Elizabeth to share tutors with Edward, accelerating her intellectual prowess (22:53, 24:34).

6. Elizabeth and the Protestant Cause

• Protestant Leanings: Elizabeth's gifts to Catherine Parr and Henry display not just intellect but also religious alignment with the Protestant cause (25:43).
  • Example: Translations and embroidery at age 12 as New Year gifts (26:54).

7. The Seymour Scandal and Teenage Trial by Fire

• Thomas Seymour’s Predatory Behavior: Thomas Seymour, Catherine Parr’s new husband and Elizabeth’s guardian, behaves inappropriately with the teenage Elizabeth—morning bedroom visits, physical familiarity, culminating in an ambiguous incident witnessed by Catherine (35:47–38:05).
  • Quote: “He would come up and strike her upon the back or on the buttocks.” —Tom Holland (35:47)
  • Quote: “There’s one very bizarre occasion when Catherine and Elizabeth are out walking... and Thomas surprises them and he cuts Elizabeth’s gown—in a hundred pieces.” —Tom Holland (36:20)
• Catherine Parr’s Death: Catherine dies shortly after childbirth, leaving Elizabeth once again bereaved (39:45–39:52).
• Seymour’s Ambition and Intrigue: Thomas Seymour further schemes to win Elizabeth’s hand and influence Edward VI, encouraged by complicit attendants—but Elizabeth maintains strategic ambiguity and refuses to commit (43:44–47:29).
  • Quote: “She is very, very good at playing a dead bat, at not being histrionic, in her refusals, at being studiedly ambiguous.” —Tom Holland (47:29)
  • Quote: “It is, as your majesty is not unaware, rather characteristic of my nature not to say in words as much as I think in my mind.” —Elizabeth to Edward VI, read by Dominic (52:11)

8. Surviving the Seymour Scandal

• Tower of London Interrogations:
  • When Seymour is arrested for treason, Elizabeth and her closest attendants are interrogated. Elizabeth skillfully avoids incriminating herself, demonstrating early political shrewdness (49:26–50:58).
  • Quote: “Her interrogators cannot pin anything on her. They can’t show that she was plotting behind Edward’s back...” —Tom Holland (50:58)
• Reputation Cleansed, Power Consolidated: By September 1550, Elizabeth is a major landowner and has recovered her reputation, admired by Protestants and positioned, once again, as an heir (53:57).

9. Dynastic Tensions and the Queen Jane Crisis

• Edward VI’s Death and Succession Manipulation:
  • Edward’s attempt to exclude both Mary and Elizabeth from succession in favor of Protestant Lady Jane Grey—ultimately unsuccessful due to Mary’s popularity (55:23–57:59).
• Elizabeth’s Tactical Caution: Elizabeth keeps a low profile during the crisis, neither embracing nor resisting, helped by her studied ambiguity (57:59).
  • Quote: “She has been keeping a very low profile... She doesn’t want to kind of, you know, stake all her chips until she knows exactly how things are going to play out.” —Dominic Sandbrook (57:59–58:17)
• Placed Back in the Line of Succession: With Mary’s triumph, Elizabeth is restored as the heir, but her Protestant faith and popularity make her a target in Mary’s Catholic regime (58:34).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Elizabeth’s resilience and ambiguity:

  • “She is very, very good at playing a dead bat... at being studiedly ambiguous. And it’s just as well, because early in 1549, it all goes tits up for Thomas Seymour.” —Tom Holland (47:29–48:22)

• On the contrast between Elizabeth and Mary, Queen of Scots:

  • “The thing that marks [Elizabeth] out is that she always has that kind of sliver of ice and that very political brain... which means she doesn’t make mistakes.” —Dominic Sandbrook (46:45–47:29)

• On the trauma of Elizabeth’s childhood:

  • “A child who’s had a very disruptive and traumatic beginning to their life is bound to want to find maternal figures to whom they can cling for affection.” —Dominic Sandbrook (13:44)

• On the relentless deaths in Elizabeth’s life:

  • “Mother, father and lost two stepmothers to childbirth.” —Tom Holland (40:39–40:42)

Important Segment Timestamps

• Lady Bryan’s letter and Elizabeth’s loss of status: 02:43–06:15
• Mary and Elizabeth’s relationship after Anne’s execution: 08:56–09:43
• Precocious Elizabeth’s famous retort about her change in status: 10:03
• Introduction and significance of Kate Champernown: 13:44–16:45
• Catherine Parr’s influence and stepmother role: 20:32–24:34
• Elizabeth’s translation gifts and humanist education: 25:43–26:54
• The Seymour household and scandal: 35:47–39:22
• Catherine Parr’s death: 39:45–39:52
• Thomas Seymour’s arrest, interrogations, and Elizabeth’s evasion: 48:22–51:48
• Elizabeth consolidates property and power: 53:57–55:23
• Edward VI’s death, Jane Grey’s brief reign, and Mary’s triumph: 55:23–58:34
• Elizabeth’s return to proximity of succession (foreshadowing trouble with Mary): 58:34–end

Conclusion

This episode powerfully illustrates how the turbulence, betrayals, and losses of Elizabeth’s youth forged a survivor deeply wary of trust and skilled in political self-preservation. Tom and Dominic highlight both the stark dangers of Tudor court life and Elizabeth’s remarkable adaptability—a blend of trauma, intellect, and calculated ambiguity that would inform her legendary rule. Their lively and insightful storytelling continues in the next part, promising more drama as Elizabeth faces the deadly courts of her half-sister, Mary.

For further exploration:

• Previous related episodes: Lady Jane Grey (Ep 293, 294), Mary, Queen of Scots series
• Next episode: Elizabeth and the Tower—her perilous years during Mary’s reign