Elizabeth Page #5

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You must also make conciliatory gestures

towards the Spanish.

Your dependence upon their goodwill

is greater than ever.

- 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.

Forgive me, Madam,

but you are only a woman.

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.

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.

And I am grateful for it.

I have decided to create you

Lord Burghley,

so you may enjoy your retirement

in greater ease.

- Madam...

- That will be all, Lord Burghley.

Majesty...

Madam, if I may?

A prince should never flinch

from being blamed

for acts of ruthlessness which are

necessary for safeguarding the State

and their own person.

You must take these things so much

to heart that you do not fear to strike

even the very nearest that you have

if they be implicated.

It has been made known to me

there is a priest abroad in the land,

carrying letters from Rome

to those who mean to harm you.

Norfolk's power in Court is growing.

It is said that he and his foreign allies

are raising an army

to outnumber your own.

If Your Majesty does not act soon

then he will.

Find the priest,

and those who harbour him.

Right, search every room!

You two, upstairs!

Where is Lord Arundel?

He's not here, sir.

Do you know where your father is?

You were carrying letters from the Pope.

To whom were you told to give them?

Tell me,

what is God to you?

Has He abandoned you?

Is He such a worldly God that

He must play at politics and conspiracy?

Is He not divine?

Tell me the truth, as if you were

face to face with Him now.

I am a patient man, Father.

Sussex,

Gardiner,

Arundel.

A man will confess to anything

under torture.

And Lord Robert Dudley,

Earl of Leicester.

Madam, this document was also found

among the priest's possessions.

From His Holiness the Pope

to His Grace the Duke of Norfolk.

"To legitimise your claim to the throne

of England, His Holiness proposes

"Your Grace should take as your bride

Mary, Queen of Scots,

and overthrow Elizabeth..."

The illegitimate and heretical whore

who now sits upon the throne.

All Norfolk need do is sign this paper,

and treason will have been committed.

Then let him sign it.

And let it all be done.

In the future,

when England is safe again and faithful,

they will thank me for this act

and forget the manner of it.

Is it not true?

Deliver this most carefully.

What is the meaning of this?

Your Grace is arrested.

You must go with these men to the Tower.

I must do nothing by your orders.

I am Norfolk.

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.

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.

No...

They will forget.

Your Majesty

knows that

I did it only for my faith.

Nothing more.

All your many kindnesses

are remembered.

You must not think

we care not for your children.

Your Majesty is merciful and forgiving.

What kept you, Walsingham?

I have been waiting.

Your Majesty...

They are all gone to the Tower.

Your friends.

Tell me,

how should I serve thee, Robert?

My course is run.

Just tell me why.

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.

No...

I think rather to let you live.

Madam, that is not wise.

Lord Robert has committed treason.

- He must be made example of.

- And I will make an example of him.

He shall be kept alive

to always remind me

of how close I came to danger.

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?

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.

She had such power over men's hearts.

They died for her.

They have found nothing to replace her.

You will be damned for this!

Tonight I think I die.

Speak up!

Kat...

I have become a virgin.

Observe, Lord Burghley.

I am married

to England.

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