Elizabeth Amadas
Encyclopedia
Elizabeth Amadas was a lady at the royal court
of King Henry VIII of England
who was accused of treason
, and who claimed to have been the target of the King's advances.
at the court of Henry VIII. Her grandfather, Hugh Brice the Elder, had been the royal goldsmith
. Upon his death, this position was passed on to Elizabeth's husband, Robert Amadas
. His talents quickly made him the richest goldsmith in England
. She was in the ambiguous position of being a member of the gentry
but married to a man who worked for his living.
. She had described Anne Boleyn
as a harlot, and said that she should be burnt. She also said that the King, by setting aside Katherine of Aragon for a younger woman, was encouraging the men of England to do the same. Elizabeth's husband had recently left her. She described herself as a "witch and prophetess". She was released, but the couple got into debt and did not recover their position at court.
She also stated that Henry VIII had asked her many times to join her at the house of William Compton
in Thames Street
. She alleged that Compton and Dauncy had brought messages from the King to her. She does not state when this was, although Compton died in 1528 so it must have been before this. She also does not state if she gave in to the King's advances.
Royal court
Royal court, as distinguished from a court of law, may refer to:* The Royal Court , Timbaland's production company*Court , the household and entourage of a monarch or other ruler, the princely court...
of King Henry VIII of England
Henry VIII of England
Henry VIII was King of England from 21 April 1509 until his death. He was Lord, and later King, of Ireland, as well as continuing the nominal claim by the English monarchs to the Kingdom of France...
who was accused of treason
Treason
In law, treason is the crime that covers some of the more extreme acts against one's sovereign or nation. Historically, treason also covered the murder of specific social superiors, such as the murder of a husband by his wife. Treason against the king was known as high treason and treason against a...
, and who claimed to have been the target of the King's advances.
Background
Elizabeth was the daughter of Hugh Brice, a courtierCourtier
A courtier is a person who is often in attendance at the court of a king or other royal personage. Historically the court was the centre of government as well as the residence of the monarch, and social and political life were often completely mixed together...
at the court of Henry VIII. Her grandfather, Hugh Brice the Elder, had been the royal goldsmith
Goldsmith
A goldsmith is a metalworker who specializes in working with gold and other precious metals. Since ancient times the techniques of a goldsmith have evolved very little in order to produce items of jewelry of quality standards. In modern times actual goldsmiths are rare...
. Upon his death, this position was passed on to Elizabeth's husband, Robert Amadas
Robert Amadas
Robert Amadas was the court goldsmith at the time of Henry VIII. He quickly became the richest goldsmith in England, with his customers including the royal family and most of the courtiers. In 1532, his wife, Elizabeth Amadas, who described herself as a 'witch and prophetess' revealed that she had...
. His talents quickly made him the richest goldsmith in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. She was in the ambiguous position of being a member of the gentry
Gentry
Gentry denotes "well-born and well-bred people" of high social class, especially in the past....
but married to a man who worked for his living.
Arrest
In 1532, Elizabeth was arrested for treasonTreason
In law, treason is the crime that covers some of the more extreme acts against one's sovereign or nation. Historically, treason also covered the murder of specific social superiors, such as the murder of a husband by his wife. Treason against the king was known as high treason and treason against a...
. She had described Anne Boleyn
Anne Boleyn
Anne Boleyn ;c.1501/1507 – 19 May 1536) was Queen of England from 1533 to 1536 as the second wife of Henry VIII of England and Marquess of Pembroke in her own right. Henry's marriage to Anne, and her subsequent execution, made her a key figure in the political and religious upheaval that was the...
as a harlot, and said that she should be burnt. She also said that the King, by setting aside Katherine of Aragon for a younger woman, was encouraging the men of England to do the same. Elizabeth's husband had recently left her. She described herself as a "witch and prophetess". She was released, but the couple got into debt and did not recover their position at court.
She also stated that Henry VIII had asked her many times to join her at the house of William Compton
William Compton (courtier)
Sir William Compton was one of the most prominent courtiers during the reign of Henry VIII of England. Born around 1482, Compton was about nine years older than his king, but the two became close friends. Compton was the eldest son of Edmund Compton of Warwickshire and became an attendant on young...
in Thames Street
Thames Street (London)
Thames Street, divided into Lower and Upper Thames Street, is a historic road in the City of London. It is mentioned in the diary of Samuel Pepys.The first mention of the road is from AD 1013 when the Custom-house was founded on the street....
. She alleged that Compton and Dauncy had brought messages from the King to her. She does not state when this was, although Compton died in 1528 so it must have been before this. She also does not state if she gave in to the King's advances.