Queen Elizabeth in her own words

The Letters of Elizabeth I

Written when the order came that she was to be sent to the Tower, on suspicion that she was implicated by Wyatt's rebellion. Wyatt's correspondence with Elizabeth was seized, and amongst the evidence produced was an alleged copy of a letter written by Elizabeth to Henri II; this was apparently a forgery.

March 16, I554. If any ever did try this old saying, 'that a king's word was more than another man's oath,' I most humbly beseech your Majesty to verify it to me, and to remember your last promise and my last demand, that I be not not condemned without answer and due proof, which it seems that I now am; for without cause proved, I am by your council from you commanded to go to the Tower, a place more wanted for a false traitor than a true subject, which though I know I desire it not, yet in the face of all this realm it appears proved. I pray to God I may die the shamefullest death that any ever died, if I may mean any such thing; and to this present hour I protest before God (Who shall judge my truth, whatsoever malice shall devise), that I never practised, counselled, nor consented to anything that might be prejudicial to your person anyway, or dangerous to the state by any means. And therefore I humbly beseech your Majesty to let me answer afore yourself, and not suffer me to trust to your Councillors, yea, and that afore I go to the Tower, if it be possible; if not, before I be further condemned. Howbeit, I trust assuredly your Highness will give me leave to do it afore I go, that thus shamefully I may not be cried out on, as I now shall be; yea, and that without cause. Let conscience move your Highness to pardon this my boldness, which innocency procures me to do, together with hope of your natural kindness, which I trust will not see me cast away without desert, which what it is I would desire no more of God but that you truly knew, but which thing I think and believe you shall never by report know, unless by yourself you hear. I have heard of many in my time cast away for want of coming to the presence of their Prince; and in late days I heard my Lord of Somerset say that if his brother had been suffered to speak with him he had never suffered; but persuasions were made to him so great that he was brought in belief that he could not live safely if the Admiral lived, and that made him give consent to his death. Though these persons are not to be compared to your Majesty, yet I pray to God the like evil persuasions persuade not one sister against the other, and all for that they have heard false report, and the truth not known. Therefore, once again, kneeling with humbleness of heart, because I am not suffered to bow the knees of my body, I humbly crave to speak with your Highness, which I would not be so bold as to desire if I knew not myself most clear, as I know myself most true. And as for the traitor Wyatt, he might peradventure write me a letter, but on my faith I never received any from him. And as for the copy of the letter sent to the French King, I pray God confound me eternally if ever I sent him word, message, token, or letter, by any means, and to this truth I will stand in till my death. Your Highness's most faithful subject, that hath been from the beginning, and will be to my end, ELIZABETH, I humbly crave but only one word of answer from yourself. Source: Harrison, G. B., ed. The Letters of Queen Elizabeth I. New York: Funk & Wagnalls, 1968. 19-21.

Queen Elizabeth I famous Quotes

If thy heart fails thee, climb not at all.	I shall lend credit to nothing against my people which parents would not believe against their own children.
Monarchs ought to put to death the authors and instigators of war, as their sworn enemies and as dangers to their states.	It is a natural virtue incident to our sex to be pitiful of those that are afflicted.
My mortal foe can no ways wish me a greater harm than England's hate; neither should death be less welcome unto me than such a mishap betide me.	Must! Is must a word to be addressed to princes? Little man, little man! Thy father, if he had been alive, durst not have used that word.
The end crowneth the work.	One man with a head on his shoulders is worth a dozen without.
The stone often recoils on the head of the thrower.	The past cannot be cured.
There is nothing about which I am more anxious than my country, and for its sake I am willing to die ten deaths, if that be possible.	The word must is not to be used to princes. <a class="external" href="http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/e/elizabethi398198.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> </a>
Those who appear the most sanctified are the worst.	There is one thing higher than Royalty: and that is religion, which causes us to leave the world, and seek God.
Though the sex to which I belong is considered weak you will nevertheless find me a rock that bends to no wind.	Though I am not imperial, and though Elizabeth may not deserve it, the Queen of England will easily deserve to have an emperor's son to marry.
Where might is mixed with wit, there is too good an accord in a government.	To be a king and wear a crown is a thing more glorious to them that see it than it is pleasant to them that bear it.
Ye may have a greater prince, but ye shall never have a more loving prince. <a class="external" href="http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/e/elizabethi399658.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> </a>	Where minds differ and opinions swerve there is scant a friend in that company.
A fool too late bewares when all the peril is past.	A clear and innocent conscience fears nothing.
All my possessions for a moment of time.	A strength to harm is perilous in the hand of an ambitious head.
God forgive you, but I never can.	Fear not, we are of the nature of the lion, and cannot descend to the destruction of mice and such small beasts.
Do not tell secrets to those whose faith and silence you have not already tested.	Brass shines as fair to the ignorant as gold to the goldsmiths.
I would rather go to any extreme than suffer anything that is unworthy of my reputation, or of that of my crown. <a class="external" href="http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/e/elizabethi396497.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> </a>	I would rather be a beggar and single than a queen and married.
I pray to God that I shall not live one hour after I have thought of using deception.	I know I have the body of a weak and feeble woman, but I have the heart and stomach of a king, and of a king of England too.
I have the heart of a man, not a woman, and I am not afraid of anything.	I find that I sent wolves not shepherds to govern Ireland, for they have left me nothing but ashes and carcasses to reign over!
I do not so much rejoice that God hath made me to be a Queen, as to be a Queen over so thankful a people.	I do not want a husband who honours me as a queen, if he does not love me as a woman. <a class="external" href="http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/e/elizabethi397460.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> </a>
God has given such brave soldiers to this Crown that, if they do not frighten our neighbours, at least they prevent us from being frightened by them.	He who placed me in this seat will keep me here. <a class="external" href="http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/e/elizabethi403505.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> </a>
I do not choose that my grave should be dug while I am still alive.	If we still advise we shall never do. <a class="external" href="http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/e/elizabethi398973.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> </a>