Our first visit today is to Great Canfield Castle, surrendered by Aubrey, the 1st Earl of Oxford, and regained, when Robert, the 3rd Earl, bestowed the throne of England on King Louis of France. Shakespeare includes the event in ‘King John’. Edward de Vere sold the Castle in 1585. Our next port of call is Hill Hall at Theydon Mount, built by Sir Thomas Smith during the reign of Queen Mary. Edward de Vere was brought up here between the ages of 4 and 12 (when his father died). Sir Thomas (secretary to Queen Elizabeth) was Edward’s tutor. From him, Edward learnt Greek, Latin, French and Spanish, and developed a love of travel, poetry and the theatre. We visit the castle, and St Michael’s Church containing the tomb effigies of the Smiths. After a stop in a country pub for lunch (at our own expense), we drive to Hatfield House, built after Edward’s death by his brother-in-law Robert Cecil. Queen Elizabeth grew up here until she left for London for her Coronation in 1559, escorted by Edward’s father, the 16th Earl. At Hatfield House we can see a number of documents and papers, concerning Edward de Vere. Return to our hotel where we have dinner together, and reflect on the first two days of our de Vere Trail.

After breakfast, we walk to the train station near to our hotel to take the fast train to London. On arrival in London, we travel by London Underground to Westminster Station, from where we walk to Westminster Abbey. Here, we will be received by one of the Canons, and be given a guided tour to include places that are not usually accessible to the public, that have relevance to the de Vere family history and lineage. Amongst the places we will see are: The Great Altar, where Edward de Vere was married to Anne Cecil in 1571, in the presence of Queen Elizabeth I. The chapels of St John the Evangelist, St Michael and St Andrew. The chapel of St John the Baptist, where the bodies of Henry de Vere (18th Earl) and Sir Francis de Vere were placed. The Chapel of St Nicholas, containing the Burleigh Monument. You may wish to return to the Abbey for vespers. There will be the opportunity for those who wish to see a play (possibly at the Globe, or National Theatre) and return to Stansted in their own time this evening.

Our first visit is to one of the most charming and beautifully preserved small towns in the East of England, Lavenham, which flourished as a great wool trading town, when the de Veres were at the height of their fame. Edward de Vere welcomed Queen Elizabeth here on her visit in 1578. We visit the church of St Peter and Paul, and the Guildhall. We visit the Swan Hotel for morning coffee. Continue to Colchester, the oldest town in Britain (recognised as Camelot in ‘King Lear’). The castle which we visit, was owned by the de Vere family up until the time of Aubrey, the 20th Earl. Henry VIII reconfirmed the ownership to the 15th Earl of Oxford, and this passed to the 16th Earl and his son Edward, whose Cymbeline is named after Cunobeline, the British King of Colchester. Our final journey today is to the nearby port of Wyvenhoe, which was a favourite retreat for the de Vere family who had a large timber-built house here. We walk along the waterfront and visit the Parish church of St Mary where Lord William Beaumont, a companion-in-arms of the 13th Earl of Oxford at the battle of Bosworth, lies along with Elizabeth, his wife. Her family name, Scrope, was used in the plays of Henry V, Henry IV and Richard II, all ascribed to Shakespeare. Return to our hotel for dinner together.

After breakfast, we make our farewells and go on our various ways.

Add-on: 25th - 28th June

Stamford

Depart Radisson Blu Hotel, Stansted. Drive to the Georgian town of Stamford, featured in the BBC adaption of Middlemarch, and visit Burleigh House, now owned by the Marquess of Exeter, who is descended from Thomas, the oldest son of William Cecil, the first Baron Burghley, who was Queen Elizabeth’s Lord High Treasurer. Elizabeth was reputedly very impressed with Burghley’s financial acumen and skill at having built this great house, when she visited it at his invitation. Afterwards, we check into our hotel in this fascinating town, and also have the opportunity to visit Burghley’s tomb which is in St Martin’s Church in Stamford. We will have dinner at a local restaurant.

Drive north-eastward from Stamford to the site of Bosworth Battlefield, where Richard 3rd was defeated by Henry Tudor. Continue past Bilton Hall, near Rugby, originally owned by the Trussell family, whose Elizabeth married the 15th Earl of Oxford. It has been suggested that Jack of Rugby in the Merry Wives is actually John de Vere, the 15th Earl. On to Warwick Castle, a medieval castle built by William the Conqueror, and used as a fortification right up to the 17th Century. It is referred to in Shakespeare, and was the venue in 1572 for a show put on for Queen Elizabeth by the 17th Earl of Oxford. This afternoon, we drive south-westward through the beautiful countryside of the Cotswolds, to the town of Cirencester, where we overnight.

The final visit of our tour will be to Hampton Court, where we will seek permission to see the impossible, to see the portrait of Shakespeare’, or is it of Edward de Vere, the 17th Earl of Oxford? Afterwards, transport will be provided to Heathrow Airport, or to London for those wishing to spend a little more time in England.