author
Sir Robert Naunton
1563–1635
A court insider in the age of Elizabeth I and James I, this lawyer, politician, and writer is best remembered for his sharp, memorable portraits of Tudor power. His work opens a lively window onto the people and politics behind the English court.
1 Audiobook
Travels in England during the reign of Queen Elizabeth; with Fragmenta regalia or, Observations on Queen Elizabeth, her times and favourites
by Paul Hentzner, Sir Robert Naunton
About the author
Educated at Trinity College, Cambridge, he became a fellow there and later served as the university’s public orator. He went on to build a career in public life, sitting in Parliament several times and rising high at court under James I, including service as secretary of state.
His political career was marked by both advancement and setbacks, reflecting the tensions of Jacobean government. Even so, he remained closely connected to the world of power and diplomacy, which gave him firsthand knowledge of the leading figures of his time.
Today he is especially remembered for Fragmenta Regalia, a short but influential account of Queen Elizabeth I, her court, and her favorites. Written with the eye of someone who understood how politics worked in practice, it has long attracted readers interested in Tudor and early Stuart history.