Laurel A. Rockefeller - Queen Elizabeth Tudor: Journey to Gloriana

Journey toGloriana

SMASHWORDSEDITION

Queen ElizabethTudor is a work of narrativehistory based on events in her life and constructed using primaryand secondary historical sources, commentary, andresearch.

Consulted sour ces appear at the end of this book. Interpretationof source material is at the authors discretion and utilizedwithin the scope of the authors imagination, including names,events, and historical details.

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Gwenllian ferch Gruffydd, the WarriorPrincess of Deheubarth (Welsh foremother)

Empress Matilda of England (Englishforemother)

Catherine de Valois (French foremother)

Mary Queen of the Scots: the Forgotten Reign(cousin)

The white sails of the Abigail shinedbrightly from its three tallest masts. As the crew readied the shipto depart Plymouth and as the ships final passengers boarded,Edward Drinker, a lad of thirteen years from Sussex looked at thewater with a mix of excitement and fear. What would life in the NewWorld be like? Were things really so bad in England so as to beworth risking so many lives on a four month voyage to MassachusettsBay Colony? What would the other passengers think of his familysQuaker values and beliefs? Would they be accepted for choosing toworship without a priest or formal clergy, praying together insilence as they waited for inspiration and wisdom from the HolySpirit?

With hisparents Philip Drinker and Elizabeth Marshall below decks with mostof the others, Edward felt alone. Taking out his recorder from hiscoat, he played a few improvised notes before putting it away.Elizabeth Epps, also thirteen years old, walked up to him, I likethat. You play well!

Not as wellas I sing, confessed Edward immodestly.

Do you singin church? she asked.

No, no ofcourse not. Why would I sing in church?

Because it isa great way to glorify God! I love to sing Dona Nobis Pacem. Doyou know that one? It is just that same Latin phrase over and overagain in the most beautiful melody.

I do notthink I know that one; my family and I dont believe in popery oranything resembling that. We certainly do not feel the king is thehead of Gods church. In fact we believe that God is capable ofspeaking to everyone; we do not need anyone to tell us what Godsays or interpret the Bible for us. So no, I do not know that song.I hope I do not offend you with that. A lot of people get reallyangry about it; they think we are against the king and hisauthority, explained Edward.

I think a lotof people are against the king now. I heard weve been without aparliament for six years! The king taxes without the content ofanyone. And of course he married that catholic Henrietta Maria ofFrance! He thinks he is god on Earth! What ever happened totraditional English liberty?

King Charlesis not the first ruler in England to believe the king isaccountable to no one but God. As a matter of fact, all the rulersof the Tudor dynasty were like that: Henry the Seventh, Henry theEighth, Edward the Sixth, Queen Mary, and of course Queen Elizabethwhose memory remains golden and ever bright in our hearts,remembered Edward. And then of course there was King James. I knowmany people really love him for commissioning the Bible that bearshis name, but in truth he really was a bad ruler who saw himselfabove the law. He could have helped England and Scotland heal fromcenturies of warfare and hate; he chose not to.

From what Ihear, the transition from two separate countries into one has notbeen easy.

Not easy atall. Not just because we used to be England and Scotland and noware one Great Britain; there is a lot more to that. As a matter offact the complex relationship between England and Scotland isresponsible for some of the most dramatic events of QueenElizabeths reign through which we came into the golden age,Gloriana.

Will you tellme the story? asked Elizabeth.

I would bedelighted! smiled Edward.

Summer isa-coming in; loudly sing cuckoo. Groweth seed and bloweth mead andsprings the wood anew. Sing cuckoo! Ewe bleateth after lamb. Lowethafter calf the cow, bullock starteth, buck farteth. Merry singcuckoo! Cuckoo, cuckoo! Well singest thou cuckoo. Nor cease thounever now! sang the seven year-old Princess Elizabeth as sheplayed the lute. Wandering the halls of Hatfield house inHertfordshire, she strolled confidently into the bright sunlit roomwhere she noticed a strange boy she had never met before, Who areyou?

The boy stoodup and bowed, his dark brown hair contrasting sharply withElizabeths red-gold locks, I am called Robert, Robert Dudley, atyour highness service!

Elizabethcurtsied politely, It is a pleasure to meet you Robert. Are youhere to learn with me?

Yes I am,affirmed Robert.

Quid libenterdiscit? asked Elizabeth in Latin fluently.

MathematicaAstronomia, replied Robert less fluently.

Et transferrenon placet in Anglicam Latina sumus? asked Elizabeth in Latin witha showy grin.

No! laughedRobert. Wow, you are good at that! How old are you?

Seven.

I am eightyears old.

Why dont youlike translating back and forth between Greek, Latin, and English?I find it funlike solving a puzzle!

And you playthe lute! observed Robert.

Yes. Did youhear me sing too?

You have abeautiful voice, Your Highness.

No one isaround; you may call me Lady Elizabeth if you like.

Thank you LadyElizabeth. May I ask you a personal question?

If youlike.

Do you hateyour sister Mary?

I do not knowMary very well, actually. She has her own house and her own court.I heard that when I was a baby and my mum was queen she was verycross at me because of my mum. Her mother and my mother hated eachotherpartly over religion and partly because of the way fathertreated them. Now that the king has his son and heir though we findwe are both the same: neither of us are princesses anymore. She issimply Lady Mary and I am simply Lady Elizabeth. As a matter offact you are probably wealthier than I am. The king does not careabout me anymore. Im a nobody!

Robert took herhand, I dont think you are a nobody.

That is verynice of you to say, smiled Elizabeth shyly.

Do you thinkwe could be friends? asked Robert.

I would likethat! smiled Princess Elizabeth.

Several monthslater a messenger battled a raging thunderstorm to arrive atHatfield house. Interrupting Lady Elizabeth and Lord Roberts danceclass, the messenger bowed respectfully, My lady, I come fromLondon with news.

What news?asked Princess Elizabeth.

I regret toinform you that your step-mother Catherine Howard was executed twodays ago on Tower Green, replied the messenger.

Elizabethsqueezed Roberts hand, allowing him to steady her, That is illnews indeed. She was kind to me and loved me as the kinswoman shewas. Why did she die?

Adultery, mylady.

That is thesame reason my mother was executedfalsely I know.