The Essex Rebellion with Hank Whittemore at the Blue Boar Tavern

Miscommunications, misjudgments, political intrigue and treachery abound with stakes so high that the outcome will determine who succeeds to the throne of England and who will hold the power behind that throne after the aged Queen Elizabeth breathes her last. What really happened during the Essex Rebellion?
Join Blue Boar Tavern regulars Bonner Cutting, Dorothea Dickerman, Alex McNeil and bartender Jonathan Dixon as special guest Hank Whittemore returns to the Tavern for this fascinating topic. They explore the build-up to and the events of the so-called ‘Essex Rebellion’ that occurred on that fateful night - February 8th - in 1601. Trace the motivations and actions of Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex, and Henry Wriothesley, 3rd Earl of Southampton, as they stage an insurrection that leads to Essex losing his head (literally). And learn what the enigmatic Sonnets of ‘William Shakespeare’ have to do with it and how to make sense of all 154 Sonnets.
Watch Part 2 of the discussion here: • Essex "Rebellion" Part...
Visit Hank Whittemore's website at hankwhittemore.com/.
Learn more at shakespeareoxfordfellowship.org/.

[@Northcountry1926]

Hello from 🇨🇦🇺🇸

[@duncanmckeown1292]

Canadian here! Of course my country has a strange direct connection to Edward de Vere...We learn in school about the North-West Passage and the early explorers of what became the Canadian Arctic Archipelago...Martin Frobisher (the Elizabethan sea-dog ) who discovered Baffin Island and the eponymous straight and bay, I remember well...but in recent years I find that Oxford was one of the prime investors in his three explorations (or perhaps it was Prince Hamlet? LOL!) This was definitely a case of pursuing the "sunk cost fallacy" in a vain search for gold. But we Canadians benefitted from this (not entirely) futile venture. So thanks so much for the plays...and the expeditions! NOT so "mad north-north-west" after all?

[@hillbillyclassof1961]

When Dorothea says the Cecils represented a "meritocracy" it can't mean their techniques were meritorious. I'm not a fan of aristocracy, but the Cecils were absolute thugs. Really appreciate SOF assembling this panel of enthusiastic experts. I wish every Blue Boar presentation could be an all-star cast like this!

[@Short-Cipher]

Well, that was a lively one! Such a fascinating topic surrounded by so much mystery to this very day. The hour flew by, so engrossed was I. Hank Whittemore is never less than 100% engaging, whether you agree with his theories or not. The fact that there remain archeological discoveries being unearthed that are thousands of years old give me hope that in the case of the Shakespeare authorship question, evidence of a mere 400 years ago still lay in wait to see the light of day, and that in the end, truth will out.

[@benc8834]

Hank, ever since I saw and heard your take on the sonnets....you just breathe a life into them that hasn't happened before in my experience. Sure, there's speculation but you own that.... Anyway thanks to your work there will ever be a beating/feeling heart in Shakespeare's sonnets

[@EverTheTwain]

missed the live and been waiting for the upload -- Blue ribbon panel, Thanks for posting!!

[@EverTheTwain]

that was too short

[@Nope.Unknown]

Another wonderful episode! Thank you all!❤

[@betttrbeth]

I’m going through comments too, because that woman you described sounds like me. English degree, elderly parents, autistic daughter, and enjoy your conversations. Thank you!

[@tomgoff6867]

Southampton was convicted on a lesser charge than Essex, misprision of treason, alluded to in Sonnet 87's use of "misprision."

[@floatingholmes]

Liked, subscribed, big fan! But a question: Repeatedly these episodes come upon a drop-dead time limit that wraps up short what might be so much fuller with just 15 more minutes. What is the reason for enforcing this limit? I know everyone might be in a rush to leave, but I just don’t get that impression. And I sure do prefer the endings when people agree to wrap up soon, but are allowed to go a few minutes long. Anyway, there is always far more to praise than to criticize! Thank you thank you!

[@martinlivesley1069]

One thing that i cant get past is the proximity of De Veres alleged death,Southamptons arrest and the gunpowder plot the following year...the latter i dont think has been explored enough in the Oxfordian conversations

[@richardwaugaman1505]

For what it's worth, the alleged gunpowder plot may have been faked as a pretext for cracking down on the king's enemies.

[@hillbillyclassof1961]

very Cecilesque, if true@@richardwaugaman1505

[@StarShippCaptain]

February 8th. My Birthday.

[@martinlivesley1069]

Think there is another factor in all this ..which is the merchants and bankers of London...the gold and silver smiths always had money to invest.They formed a generation later the square mile in the City of London{which the monarch had to ask permission to enter}

[@janenelson3112]

Robert Dudley married Robert Devereux’s mother, Lettice. Dudley was therefore Essex’s step father. Essex married Frances Walsingham Sidney. The late Francis Walsingham would have been his father in law.

[@patricktilton5377]

In my opinion, the Sonnets are to the Shakespeare/DeVere Mystery what the Dead Sea Scrolls are to the true origins of the Christian religion. Both sets of literature were never really meant to see the light of day, I think. The drama surrounding the sparing of Southampton in the aftermath of the execution of Essex doesn't really make any sense whatsoever unless he had a Friend in high places who could sue for mercy on his behalf . . . but at a cost.