Meg Harper - Elizabeth I

For Judith Palka, passionate librarian and Tudor enthusiast,
and for all the other school librarians who do such fine work for young people

With special thanks to Professor Eric Ives

Beneath her stiff, rich skirts, Elizabeths legs were trembling. But she would not give way and sit down. She knew that Sir Robert Tyrwhitts aim was to break her, to make her admit to some treasonous misdoing. If he succeeded, she might never see the familiar, cosy red-brick walls of Hatfield Palace again. Her very next words could be the ones to end her freedom or even her life.

Listen, said Sir Robert. Your servants Astley and Parry are in the Tower. They have been interrogated.

He raised an eyebrow and Elizabeth barely suppressed a gasp of alarm. Kate Astley had been her nurse since childhood and she could feel tears starting to her eyes at the thought that she was under arrest. But anger came to her aid. How dare they treat her servants like this? Or her, for that matter! She was the daughter of King Henry VIII! What right had anyone to try to intimidate her?

Her dark eyes flashed. And have they confessed to plotting against the Lord Protector? she demanded. Because if they have, you have a duty to tell me. I think I should know if my servants are traitors!

Sir Robert looked taken aback and Elizabeth felt a wave of satisfaction at his discomfort.

No, your highness, they have confessed nothing, he blustered. But they have told tales of how shall I put it? Flirtation between you and Thomas Seymour. Now, what have you to say to that?

Elizabeth made a dismissive gesture. Flirtation, Sir Robert? she said. Have you never flirted yourself? Flirtation is no proof of a desire to marry, let alone to plot against the government! If that is all you have to accuse me of, then kindly stop wasting my time. I have told you already but I will say it again, I will never marry, either within England or out of England, without the consent of my brother, the Kings majesty, and of the Lord Protector and the Council. Now please let that be enough!

Sir Roberts face was tight with frustration but he could not think what else to say to shake her. Elizabeth was only sixteen years old and yet she reminded him of her father utterly self-possessed and determined. He knew when he was beaten.

Elizabeth flung herself back in her chair and watched the door close behind him with relief. What a very determined and crafty man he was! She hoped she had finally got rid of him he had been sent by the Lord Protector to interrogate her, but she had given him nothing to report back. Was she safe at last? Had she managed to convince him that she had nothing to do with any plotting against her younger half-brother, the new boy king, Edward VI?

She sighed. What she would give for the company of her dear nurse but Kate was locked in the Tower of London. And all because of the reckless, devious behaviour of Thomas Seymour, the younger brother of the very Lord Protector who demanded all this interrogation!

What an eventful time it had been since her fathers death! She could scarcely believe all that had happened. At first, it had been peaceful enough. Elizabeth had gone to live with her fathers widow, Katherine Parr. She loved Katherine, a woman still only in her thirties, intelligent and with similar interests to her own. As step-mothers went, she was as good as it got.

But then, events had helter-skeltered out of control. First Thomas Seymour had wanted to marry her or her sister Mary, but the Council had refused permission. Then, with King Henry barely dead, Thomas had married Katherine Parr. She had been in love with him before her marriage to Henry and was ready and willing so Elizabeth found herself with a step-father who, just two months previously, had wanted to marry her! Worse, he still liked to flirt and tease her in front of his new wife.

At first Katherine humoured his outrageous behaviour but finally she sent Elizabeth away. Elizabeth wasnt sure if she was relieved or disappointed but, as she had no choice, she tried to put the disturbing Thomas Seymour out of her mind.

And then, tragedy. Katherine died of childbed fever. Suddenly, to Elizabeths astonishment, Thomas was back, proposing that she married him!

Elizabeth closed her eyes, her face flushed and her hands clammy. This part of her memories always upset her. There was no denying it, she had considered marrying Thomas. Though he was so much older than her, she felt very drawn to him. But she knew that he had made full enquiries about her finances, and she wasnt truly convinced of his love, or the virtue of his interest in her. When asked point blank if she intended to marry him, she was wary. She insisted that she would only do as the Kings Council wished.

And how wise she had been! It made her stomach churn to think what might have happened otherwise. Along with plotting to marry her, it turned out that Thomas was also plotting to overthrow his older brother as Lord Protector.

When Thomas Seymour was arrested, suspicion of course fell on Elizabeth. What had been going on? Was she planning to marry Thomas and overthrow not just the Lord Protector but her half-brother, the King?

But Elizabeth was strong. No matter how Sir Robert Tyrwhitt tried to catch her out, she had insisted on her innocence. Even so, she wasnt safe. Thomas Seymour and her servants were still in the Tower. Tongues could still talk. And while she trusted Kate and Parry, she was not so certain of what Thomas Seymour would say about her.

She blinked hard. She must not crumple, however alone she felt. She had lost her father, a loved step-mother, and now all contact with her brother. Her half-sister Mary had never liked her. Their father, King Henry VIII, had divorced Marys mother to marry Elizabeths, Anne Boleyn whom he had later had executed. Her two most trusted servants were in prison. There was no one to whom she could turn for comfort or help.

So she must rely on herself. She mustnt give way to weakness. She had got through this crisis. If there were to be more, she must get through those too. She was the daughter of the most magnificent of English kings. She must survive.

Elizabeth took up her pen. King though he was and loyal subject though she remained, she intended Edward to know that she was seriously put out. He was still her little half-brother, four years younger than she, and she didnt enjoy being treated so carelessly.

Really, it was too much! She had been looking forward to a short visit to court to brighten up the dull days of February, and now here she was, back at home! She had gone to all the trouble of having her servants pack everything up and set out, and then he had sent a messenger to meet them on the road to tell them her visit wasnt convenient after all. How rude! How inconsiderate! This was no way to treat an older sister, even if you were the King!

Elizabeth put down her pen again and considered. Something was going on, that was clear enough. Edward didnt want her at court right now. What was he trying to hide? What was he up to? She didnt like the influence the Duke of Northumberland and the Council had over her half-brother he was still only fifteen, so couldnt rule entirely alone. Had they persuaded him to send her home? Or was he plotting something himself?

She knew he had very strong views of his own, not least about religion. The three of them, she, Edward and Mary, couldnt see eye to eye on this. Mary was profoundly Catholic whilst both Elizabeth and Edward were Protestants, but as far as Elizabeth was concerned, a persons religion should be a private matter. Her main concern was political stability and so long as the peoples beliefs didnt threaten peace she was happy. Mary and Edward, however, both wanted everyones religious practices to follow their own. Could Edward be planning some new religious law that he knew she wouldnt approve of?