Elizabeth: The Golden Age 2007 quotes

Queen Elizabeth I

Are you here to tell me I must murder a Queen?

Sir Walter Raleigh

I would never presume to tell my Queen what to do. Only you know where your duty lies.

Queen Elizabeth I

Was it my father's duty to murder my mother? She was a Queen, for a time. Oh, I would be loath to die so bloody a death.

Sir Walter Raleigh

Since when were you so afraid?

Queen Elizabeth I

I'm always afraid.

Sir Walter Raleigh

Kill a Queen and all Queens are mortal. We mortals have many weaknesses: we feel too much, hurt too much. All too soon we die, but we do have the chance of love.

Queen Elizabeth I

Do we? I have given England my life. Must she also have my soul?

Queen Elizabeth I

Go back to your rathole! Tell Philip I fear neither him, nor his priests, nor his armies. Tell him if he wants to shake his little fist at us, we're ready to give him such a bite he'll wish he'd kept his hands in his pockets!

You see a leaf fall, and you think you know which way the wind blows. Well, there is a wind coming, Madame, that will sweep away your pride. [turns to leave with his ministers]

Queen Elizabeth I

I, too, can command the wind, sir! I have a hurricane in me that will strip Spain bare if you dare to try me!

Queen Elizabeth I

How many Catholics are there in England, sir?

Immense numbers, Majesty.

Half the nation cling to the old superstitions.

Queen Elizabeth I

What would you have me do? Hang half the people in England, or just imprison them?

We must act, Majesty! Our inaction is perceived as weakness!

Queen Elizabeth I

If my people break the law, they shall be punished. Until that day, they shall be protected.

Majesty, we have proven reason to fear every Catholic in the—

Queen Elizabeth I

Fear creates fear. I am not ignorant of the dangers, sir. But I will not punish my people for their beliefs. Only for their deeds. I am assured that the people of England love their Queen. My constant endeavor is to earn that love.

Forgive me, Your Majesty, I have failed you.

Queen Elizabeth I

How have you failed me? What am I to forgive you for?

Philip of Spain is a God-fearing man who cannot declare war without a just cause. I intercepted every letter Mary Stuart secretly dispatched but failed to see Spain knew I was reading them. They waited for her to write the words that in my eyes would confirm her treason. Forgive me. I am trapped in my own web.

Queen Elizabeth I

And I ordered Mary's execution. I murdered God's anointed Queen. And now God's most dutiful son makes Holy War to punish me.

Sir Walter Raleigh

We have named it Virginia, after our Virgin Queen.

Queen Elizabeth I

"Virginia"? And when I am married, will you rename it to "Conjugia"?

You know neither who you are, nor what you do. But I know who I am; and if I die, it shall be as I have lived — as a Queen — trusting in the mercy of God, my holy father.

Queen Elizabeth I

My loving people. We see the sails of the enemy approaching. We hear the Spanish guns over the water. Soon now, we will meet them face-to-face. I am resolved, in the midst and heat of the battle, to live or die amongst you all. While we stand together, no invader shall pass. Let them come with the armies of Hell; they will not pass! And when this day of battle is ended, we meet again in heaven or on the field of victory.

King Philip II of Spain

Elizabeth is darkness. I am light.

Queen Elizabeth I

May we have wisdom not to fear shadows in the night, and courage when the day of danger truly dawns.

Sir Walter Raleigh

We mortals have many weaknesses; we feel too much, hurt too much or too soon we die, but we do have the chance of love.

Sir Walter Raleigh

Why be afraid of tomorrow when today is all we have?