21 SEPTEMBER 1901, Page 25

Who Killed Amy Robsart ? By Philip Sidney. (Elliot Stock.

Is. 6d. net.)—Mr. Sidney puts together all that is known about the Amy Robsart affair. That "all" does not amount to much. There are the letters that passed between Dudley and Thomas Blount, the verdict of the jury, and the popular opinion of the time. More important is the question "Cui bono?" Here the answer tells greatly against the accused. Whatever may be urged in palliation, there is the great fact that Dudley built all his hopes of advancement on the affection of the Queen, that his highest ambition was to become her husband, and that, failing this, he hoped to remain first favourite. His wife stood in the way of all these schemes, an absolute bar against marriage, and a great hindrance to favour, for Elizabeth had no liking for married courtiers. To say that he was capable of such a deed is, perhaps, to say too much. " Not incapable " might be more appropriate, unscrupulous he certainly was, and of the limited intelligence which is a conducing condition to crime. Mr. Sidney states the case for and against fairly enough, though he slims up strongly in favour of the accused.