Elizabeth: The Golden Age

Why do you go

among the people, Majesty?

I tell you plainly,

you will be murdered.

Every Catholic in England

is a potential assassin!

Be warned

by the atrocities in France.

We know the Catholics take

their orders from Spain.

The Spanish speak

openly of Mary Stuart

as Queen of England

in waiting.

Their loyalty is to

the Pope in Rome!

How many Catholics

are there in England, sir?

Immense numbers,

Majesty.

Half the nation cling

to the old superstitions.

What would you have me do?

Hang half the people of

England or just imprison them?

We must act, Majesty.

Our inaction is perceived as weakness.

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...

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.

My Queen.

Our friends write

to give us hope.

Soon England's

true believers will rise up

against the bastard

usurper Elizabeth

and slit her throat.

That's enough!

Slit her throat? Please.

And when that bastard usurper

is dead, my lady will be queen.

Your bishops are preaching that

God is showing his displeasure

because the Queen

is still unmarried,

some rudely

suggesting infertile.

What nonsense.

Dangerous nonsense.

Mary Stuart has a son.

Why does everyone

torment me with Mary Stuart?

It's not her fault she's

next in line to the throne.

Don't hide your face.

So long as you

have no issue.

If you were

to produce an heir,

there'd be no more talk

of Mary, Queen of Scots.

I've heard it's customary to obtain

a husband before producing an heir.

We shall have to hunt out a

husband for you soon, Bess.

Not too soon,

my lady.

There are husbands

to be had.

You don't want

to be married?

I'll want to be married

if I want the man...

Austria. France.

Turkey. Turkey has a sultan.

China has an emperor.

I confine myself

to the possible.

That's where you and I

differ, Walsingham.

I find the impossible

far more interesting.

What kind of man

would you want?

An honest man

with friendly eyes.

And good legs.

And sweet breath.

So you can kiss him

without choking.

There must be

any amount of princes

in the undiscovered lands

across the sea.

Find me an honest one

of those.

Since when do we discuss

private matters in public spaces?

I ask Your Majesty's

forgiveness.

Have my doctors confirm that

the Queen is still fertile.

The people need

to be reassured.

I care

for your safety.

The threats to your

person are real.

You know very well

if I fall,

you'll all come

tumbling down after me.

The sea wall at Dover

is cracking, Francis.

We have no money

to rebuild our defenses.

Turn your mind

to that threat.

May we have wisdom not to

fear shadows in the night.

And courage when the day

of danger truly dawns.

My time has come,

Majesty.

Send me back to England

to begin God's work.

Your Majesty.

Guards!

Take hold of him!

A puddle in the way,

Majesty.

A puddle.

Puddle.

You'll have to see

the Lord Chamberlain, sir.

Which one is he?

He's over there.

You can't come in.

So how am I to see him

if you won't let me through?

You must wait for him

to come out.

And when will he

come out?

There's no way

of knowing that.

I had less trouble than

this boarding a Spanish ship.

What if enemy ships should sail up

the Thames, can the docks be closed?

Not closed, Majesty.

But the gun positions...

Spanish...

Ambassador.

King Eric of Sweden,

Majesty.

Not again.

Still madly in love with you.

Still mad, you mean.

Ivan, Tsar

of all the Russias.

Where's Bess?

Known as

"Ivan the Terrible," Majesty.

Late.

I beg

Your Majesty's forgiveness.

Given.

Once.

The Archduke

Charles of Austria, Majesty.

The puddle man

is outside, Majesty.

My suitors.

Younger brother to Maximilian

II, Holy Roman Emperor.

Cousin of Philip of Spain.

Wealthy.

He's rather handsome.

How old is he?

Young,

I believe, Majesty.

An Austrian alliance

would keep France quiet.

And put Philip on a leash.

I've become

almost enthusiastic.

Send for him.

Danke schon.

How much longer do you think

I can play this game, Francis?

Virginity is an asset

that holds its value well.

Walter Raleigh, Majesty.

Your Majesty, this man

is a notorious pirate.

Spanish gold stolen from Spanish

ships, attacked without provocation.

Well, sir, what do you want?

I have just returned

from the New World, Majesty.

I have claimed the

fertile coast in your name

and called it Virginia

in honor

of our Virgin Queen.

Virginia?

And when I marry, will you

change the name to Conjugia?

I ask your gracious

permission, Majesty,

to return to the New World

with your royal warrant

to found a colony under the

laws and protections of England.

He wants money.

Who are they?

Natives of the

Americas, Majesty.

Have they no ruler

of their own?

None to match

England's Queen.

These gentlemen

are welcome.

See that they

are treated well.

I also come bearing

gifts for Your Majesty.

These gifts, Majesty,

are the fruits of piracy,

the true property

of the realm of Spain.

Let's see, shall we?

What have you brought me?

Patata, Majesty.

You eat it.

Very nourishing.

Tobacco.

You breathe its smoke.

Very stimulating.

Gold.

Courtesy of a Spanish ship that found

itself unable to complete its journey.

Forgive me, Majesty.

I find the air

has become stale.

I am sensitive to the

smell of open sewers.

I cannot accept the fruits

of piracy, Mr. Raleigh.

Philip of Spain is no friend

of England, Majesty.

The more gold I take from him,

the safer you will be.

Well, well.

A political pirate.

And Your Majesty's

most loyal subject.

Welcome home, Mr. Raleigh.

Lord Howard, the docks.

Master Raleigh.

You eat it...

You traitor!

Judas!

You're Walsingham's pawn!

Don't do this!

I didn't say anything!

You're a

Protestant traitor!

Don't do it! Don't!

Don't!

Hold his head!

You Judas! You Judas!

Stop!

You Judas!

The traitor's dead.

We must act!

Why do we not strike?

What are we waiting for?

You wait for my order.

Walsingham knows too much

already. One traitor is dead.

Who can I trust now?

There's a visitor

waiting, sir.

William.

Hello, Francis.

You've always been a fellow

who delighted in surprises.

You look well,

Francis.

Well, you look dreadful.

They're not feeding you in Paris.

You can't learn the secrets of

the universe on an empty stomach.

Then she my heart beguiled

Mary. William.

Supper is ready.

William.

Have you spoken

to the Queen?

I speak

with the Queen daily.

You work too hard.

You're a sick man.

William, come over here and sit by me.

William, if we are not

allowed to sin,

maybe we could

talk theology.

You have done enough.

No man could do more.

I can't leave the court

yet, Ursula. She needs me.

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