Anecdote of a Female Regicide ; in the reign of Queen Elizabeth.

Summary

Margaret Lamburn wanted to "revenge herself" for the deaths of Mary Queen of Scots, and her husband who died of grief, by assassinating Queen Elizabeth. "For this purpose she dressed herself in men's cloaths, and assumed the name of Anthony Sparks." At court, one day, "she chanced to drop one of her pistols" and was seized by the guards and examined by the Queen, revealing her sex: "'Madam, though I appear in this dress, I am a woman. . . '." They debate, after which the Queen pardoned her "against the opinion of the President of her Council" and "Margaret immediately shipped herself for the French coast" where she is "in health and in spirits".

Full Title

26 Aug 1786. Anecdote of a Female Regicide ; in the reign of Queen Elizabeth. Times p. 4 c. B.

Publication

Full Record

Date

26 August 1786

Cross-dressing activity

Politics

Primary source topic

Dressed as a man; Protest in disguise

Item format

History; Anecdote

Motive

Revenge

Discovery of cross-dressing

Voluntary

Attire

Male garb

Social rank

Noble; Gentry

Gender Manifestation

"assumed the name of Anthony Sparks"

Stated Motive (Protagonist)

Yes

Stated Sex

Female

Sex Perceived by Others

Female; Male

Sex Perceived by Recorder

Female

Venue

Court (his/her majesty's)

Report Scope

Central

Report Size

Long

People Mentioned in This Record

• Margaret Lamburn(Subject of study)Mentions— Scotch-woman