Elizabeth quotes

View Quote Dudley: For God's sake, you are still my Elizabeth.
Elizabeth: I am not your Elizabeth! I am no man's Elizabeth. And if you think to rule here, you are mistaken. I will have one mistress here... and no master!

View Quote Dudley: It matters nothing to me. I can live without her most happily. Better than I could live with her. I have no need of her love. Have I not suffered enough already for loving her and showing it?
Anjou: I envy you, my Lord. To love a woman so deeply.
Dudley: Monseigneur... envy no man for that. Such love is hateful. It tears the soul apart. Envy a man who has never known such love.

View Quote Mary of Guise: I hear you are a wise man, Sir Francis, and a creature of the world like me.
Walsingham: Yes. I have no illusions. I know it is only a matter of time before my Queen is overthrown. Her Majesty rules with the heart, not with the head.
Mary of Guise: I understand. It is hard for a woman to forget her heart. But, er...what of you, Walsingham?
Walsingham: A wise man would be careful not to put himself in the way of harm.
Mary of Guise: And how would a wise man do that?
Walsingham: He would, as I said, change allegiance.
Mary of Guise: Allegiance?
Walsingham: There are but two choices. He would get into bed with either Spain or France.
Mary of Guise: [laughs] And whose bed would you prefer?

View Quote Dudley: You are in the greatest danger. You must believe me. But you have a friend. Someone who can guarantee your safety and your throne.
Elizabeth: A friend?
Dudley: The King of Spain.
Elizabeth: [to her servants] Leave us. [to Dudley] How would he guarantee it?
Dudley: He would marry you.
Elizabeth: Only to make an alliance. Nothing more. He would not expect to...
Dudley: He would live in Spain.
Elizabeth: Why do you do this, Robert?
Dudley: Because I love you. And though you will not see me, I am the only one who would care for you.
Elizabeth: You love me so much you would have me be your whore?
Dudley: For God's sake, I do this for us. I ask you to save some part of us!
Elizabeth: Lord Robert, you may make whores of my Ladies but you shall not make one of me.

View Quote Cecil: Your Majesty must publicly dissociate herself from this most bloody act.
Elizabeth: I never ordered it.
Cecil: Of course, Madam, of course. You must also make conciliatory gestures towards the Spanish. Your dependence upon their goodwill is greater than ever.
Elizabeth: I must... The word "must" is not used to princes. I have followed your advice in all the affairs of my kingdom, but your policies would make England nothing but part of France or Spain. From this moment I am going to follow my own opinion.
Cecil: Forgive me, Madam, but you are only a woman.
Elizabeth: I may be a woman, Sir William, but if I choose I have the heart of a man! I am my father's daughter. I am not afraid of anything.
Cecil: I... I deeply regret, Madam, if I have caused you such offence, though God knows all my advice has only ever been to secure Your Majesty's throne.
Elizabeth: And I am grateful for it. I have decided to create you Lord Burghley, so you may enjoy your retirement in greater ease.

View Quote Walsingham: Your Grace is arrested. You must go with these men to the Tower.
Norfolk: I must do nothing by your orders. I am Norfolk.
Walsingham: You were Norfolk. The dead have no titles. You were the most powerful man in England and could have been greater still but you had not the courage to be loyal. Only the conviction of your own vanity.
Norfolk: I think, Walsingham, a man's courage is in the manner of his death. I am content to die for my beliefs. So cut off my head and make me a martyr. The people will always remember it.
Walsingham: No...they will forget.

View Quote Dudley: Your Majesty...
Elizabeth: They are all gone to the Tower. Your friends. Tell me, how should I serve thee, Robert?
Dudley: My course is run.
Elizabeth: Just tell me why.
Dudley: Why? Madam, is it not plain enough to you? It is no easy thing to be loved by the Queen. It would corrupt the soul of any man. Now, for God's sake, kill me.
Elizabeth: No...I think rather to let you live.
Walsingham: Madam, that is not wise. Lord Robert has committed treason. He must be made example of.
Elizabeth: And I will make an example of him. He shall be kept alive to always remind me of how close I came to danger.

View Quote Elizabeth: I have rid England of her enemies. What do I do now? Am I to be made of stone? Must I be touched by nothing?
Walsingham: Aye, Madam, to reign supreme. All men need something greater than themselves to look up to and worship. They must be able to touch the divine here on earth.