ABSTRACT
The Sidneys’ involvement in Continental affairs during the seventeenth century through diplomacy, administrative appointments, and personal travel is central to an understanding of their public prestige and family lives. The new reign began promisingly for Robert Sidney as he had personally known King James VI of Scotland since 1588. On 4 May 1603 he was raised to the rank of Viscount Lisle, followed by his appointment on 13 May as Queen Anne’s Lord Chamberlain. Robert Sidney’s dealings with the Continent took an unexpected turn of events in 1606 with the escalation of his ongoing disputes with Sir Robert Dudley, the illegitimate son of his uncle, the Earl of Leicester, by Lady Douglas Sheffield. In April 1637, as plague spread rapidly through London, Dorothy informed Robert that she had been in discussions with Henrietta Maria over how Robert could best cultivate the political trust of her husband.
