and so shall be saved from mine enemies !
The waves of death have closed about me !
The cords of hell have encompassed me about
and the snares of death have overtaken me !
The cords of hell have encompassed me about
and the snares of death have overtaken me !
ln my tribulation l call to the Lord and cry to my God
and He heard my voice cry out His temple ... !
Move back ! Clear the way !
Move back !
Keep in line, woman !
By order of their gracious Majesties, Queen Mary and King Philip,
we are come to witness the burning of these Protestant heretics
who have denied the authority of the one true Catholic church
and of His Holiness the Pope.
Let them burn for all eternity in the flames of hell.
Benedicat te Omnipotens Deus Pater, Filius et Spiritus Sanctus.
God bless you, Master Ridley !
For the love of God, friends, help me ! l burn too slowly !
Help them ! For God's sake, help them !
Your Grace, the Queen is with child.
They should've consulted me before they rang the bells.
ls it true ?
She has ceased to bleed, her breasts have some milk, and her stomach is swollen.
ls it true ?
The King has not shared her bed for many months.
He has a repugnance for it, as lately Your Grace has for mine.
Norfolk...
Your Majesties, this is most wondrous news.
lndeed.
We do thank God for this, our most happy condition.
We must also thank His Majesty for this event
which is nothing short of a miracle.
What news, my Lords, of the rebellion against our authority ?
Sussex ?
Madam, it is safely dispatched, thanks to His Grace.
Sir Thomas Wyatt and the other leaders are already dealt with.
lf they had succeeded, these Protestants and heretics
meant to place your sister
upon the throne.
There is no proof against the Lady Elizabeth.
- She is plainly guilty. - What need is there of proof ?
lf she remains alive, there will be plots to raise her
to the throne.
Ambassador ?
l agree with His Grace.
She is a heretic. She must never be allowed to succeed.
But if she...
lf she were brought properly to trial,
she would not be found guilty,
and we would be condemned. She has friends in Parliament.
My sister was born of that whore Anne Boleyn !
She was born a bastard ! She will never rule England !
Your Grace will find some proof of her treachery. l am most sure of it.
lt was so fast !
May l join you, my Lady ?
lf it please you, sir.
My Lady !
Princess Elizabeth !
You are accused of conspiring with Sir Thomas Wyatt
against Her Sovereign Majesty
and are arrested for treason.
l am commanded to take you hence from this place... to the Tower.
Remember who you are.
Do not be afraid of them.
My Lady.
Prisoner to the steps.
l cannot confess to something l did not do.
Your denials are in vain.
You knew of the rebellion, Madam. lt is plain enough.
Where is your proof ?
lt was to your advantage.
You must let me see the Queen...
You despise the Queen, and the Catholic faith.
l am a true and faithful subject.
l attend Mass...
You pretend ! But in your heart...
What's that ? What say you, Madam ?
Speak up !
Madam, if there is some small truth in these charges,
however innocently or unknowingly you did proceed,
you had best confess.
l ask you
why we must tear ourselves apart for this small question of religion.
Catholic, Protestant... !
You think it small, though it killed your mother !
We all...
We all believe in God, my Lords.
No, Madam, there is only one true belief.
The other - heresy.
Madam, you are cold.
l do not need your pity.
Accept it, then,
for my sake.
Thank you.
l shall not forget this kindness.
Tonight l think l die.
Madam.
No... !
Save me ! Save me !
l am Your Majesty's most humble servant.
Come here.
Closer, so l might see your face.
When l look at you l see nothing of the King.
Only that whore - your mother.
My father never did anything so well as to cut off her head.
Your Majesty forgets he was also my father.
Why will you not confess your crimes against me ?
Because, Your Majesty, l have committed none.
You speak with such sincerity !
l see you are still a consummate actress.
My husband is gone.
They have poisoned my child.
They say it is a tumour.
Madam, you are not well.
They say this cancer will make you Queen, but they are wrong !
Look there ! lt is your death warrant. All l need do is sign it.
Mary, if you sign that paper, you will be murdering your own sister.
You will promise me something ?
When l am gone, you will do everything in your power
to uphold the Catholic faith.
Do not take away from the people the consolations of the Blessed Virgin.
When l am Queen
l promise
to act as my conscience dictates.
Well, do not think to be Queen at all.
You may return to your house at Hatfield,
but you will remain under arrest until l am recovered.
Thank you, Your Majesty.
No...
Feed her to the wolves. Let her see what they are like.
She is just a child, and yet still you piss yourselves !
Your Grace, Protestants are returning from abroad.
Yes, and have made plans to massacre every Catholic in England.
There would be butchery indeed if such a plan were even conceivable.
They say Walsingham will return from France.
Walsingham is nothing !
Be sure he does not.
There is so little beauty in this world, and so much suffering.
Do you suppose that is what God had in mind ?
That is to say, if there is a God at all.
Perhaps there is nothing in this universe but ourselves
and our thoughts.
Think before you do this.
lf you must do it,
then do it now.
And without regret.
But first think carefully
and be certain
why it needs to be done.
Come here.
Look out there.
There is a whole world waiting for you.
lnnocence is the most precious thing you possess.
Lose that and you lose your soul.
..et Spiritus Sancti...
Amen.
Father...
- Sir William ! - My Lady...
There was nowhere else we could meet in safety.
Listen to me carefully.
All things move in our favour.
Many of our friends are returning from exile.
But these are most uncertain times
and your life remains in danger.
You must therefore say nothing
and meet no-one whose visit may compromise you.
No-one ?
No-one. Not even Lord Robert.
- But he is a trusted friend. - Child, listen to me. Please.
You are most innocent in the ways of this world
and we must do all we may
to guarantee the security of your throne.
Now there is someone l do wish you to meet.
Monseigneur Alvaro de la Quadra, the Spanish Ambassador.
Why do l...
My Lady,
l bring a message.
The King of Spain is enraptured, and offers you his hand in marriage.
My sister is not yet dead.
Her bed is still warm.
His Majesty finds it already cold.
You must sign it.
For the love of God, sign it.
Will you leave your kingdom to a heretic ?
He then said that this King would marry me
but would not expect to share my bed more than two or three times a year.
As much as that ?
Well, he...
He is enraptured.
Naturally.
But... his affairs would otherwise keep him in Spain.
Then the King is a fool.
What could ever be important enough to keep him from your bed ?
Robert,
you should not say such things.
Then l shall only think them.
Everything is so uncertain ! Sir William says my life is still in danger.
Do not listen to everything he tells you. Do not listen to any of them.
None of them are of consequence.
- When you are Queen... - l am not... l am not Queen yet.
You will be.
Elizabeth,
Queen of England.
A court to worship you.
A country to obey you.
Poems written celebrating your beauty.
Music composed in your honour, and they will be nothing to you.
l will mean nothing to you.
How could you ever be nothing to me ?
Robert, you know you are everything to me.
All that l am
it is you.
Benedicta tu in mulieribus
et benedictus fructus ventris tui, lesus.
Sancta Maria, Mater Dei
ora pro nobis peccatoribus, nunc...
ls she dead ?
Give it to her.
My Lady...
The Earl of Sussex is here.
The Queen is dead !
Long live the Queen !
This is the Lord's doing
and it is marvellous in our eyes.
To the north, l present unto you
Elizabeth, your undoubted Queen !
To the south, l present to you
Elizabeth, your undoubted Queen !
l crown thee Elizabeth,
Queen of England, lreland and France.
God save Your Majesty.
Your Majesty has inherited a most parlous and degenerate state.
lt's threatened from abroad by France and Spain
and is weaker in men, monies and riches
than l have ever known it.
What are you saying ?
Madam, your treasury is empty. The Navy is run-down,
there is no standing army, and no munitions.
There is not a fortress that could withstand a single shot.
- l have no desire for war, sir. - But that is not the end of it.
Here at home there are those who wish Your Majesty ill.
Mary of Scots has already laid claim to your throne,
and Norfolk...
Norfolk covets it relentlessly.
Madam, until you marry and produce an heir,
you will find no security.
That's Sir Christopher Hatton.
- There is Sir William Makepeace... - l do not see...
- Lord Ensley, Your Majesty. - Delighted.
l do not see why a woman need marry at all.
Come on, come on !
This is Mistress Quickly.
You will recall His Excellency the Spanish Ambassador.
How could l forget ?
Excellency.
Your Majesty.
He's French. You'll have to speak up.
Do l know that gentleman ?
That is Sir Francis Walsingham, Madam. He has returned from exile
and l have appointed him to have a care for Your Majesty's person.
Ah !
Excellency...
Majesty...
May l present the French Ambassador, His Excellency Monsieur de Foix.
Your Excellency.
l suppose the French do offer some suitor to her.
Naturally.
Everything now depends upon the husband that woman takes.
King Henry of Anjou sends you brotherly love.
He trusts the relationship between our countries may be much improved.
That is also my hope.
The King expects that you will consider the suit of his brother,
the Duke of Anjou.
Her Majesty will consider the proposal most carefully.
lt is unfortunate, however, that the Duke's aunt, Mary of Guise,
chooses to garrison Scotland with French troops.
Ladies...
The marriage of a Queen, Excellency, is born of politics, not childish passion.
Your Grace.
Walsingham !
Welcome to England.
- Your Grace is surprised ? - No.
Only a little disappointed.
Play a volta !
When may l see you in private ?
ln private ?
Have you forgot, my Lord ?
l am Queen now.
He's coming.
He's coming !
My Ladies.
My Lord.
You blush, Lady Knollys.
Are you in love ?
No, my Lord.
Then you should be, or waste all that beauty.
Does Her Majesty sleep ?
Not yet, Sir William.
She is... overwrought.
Show me Her Majesty's sheets every morning.
- l must know all her proper functions. - Proper functions, Sir William ?
lndeed.
Her Majesty's body and person are no longer her own property.
They belong to the State.
Yes, Sir William.
Your Grace.
Your Grace, Her Majesty has not risen.
Your Grace !
Please ! Your Grace ! Her Majesty is not yet ready to receive visitors.
Madam !
You had best get up. There is some grave news.
My Lady, l'm sorry...
Mary of Guise has increased the French garrison in Scotland by 4,000 men.
Perhaps more.
Madam...
l'm afraid the French mean to attack while we are still weak
and while Your Majesty's reign is still uncertain.
What is your counsel ?
Madam, we must with all haste raise an army to march upon Scotland.
Can... can... ?
Can we not send emissaries ?
There is no time for that ! As Queen we look to you for action,
unless you are content to wait for the French to send more reinforcements.
Here.
Are you all in agreement ?
l say there has never been a better time to abate the French pride.
Arundel ?
War is a sin, but sometimes a necessary one.
Lord Robert, you were appointed to the Council to protect England's interests.
Now it appears you do not have the stomach for it.
l am in agreement, Your Grace,
ifYour Majesty's throne is at risk.
- What say you, Walsingham ? - Your Majesty !
l say a prince should rather be slow to take action
and should watch that he does not come to be afraid of his own shadow.
You are not, Sir Francis, a member of Council,
nor are you in the majority.
l do not like wars.
They have uncertain outcomes.
SCOTLAND
Stop !
Go back to England,
and take this to your Queen.
English blood on French colours.
Send him back to his Queen
and make sure he remains alive.
Tell that bastard Queen not to send children to fight Mary of Guise !
- Where are my councillors ? - l know not, Madam.
- Where is Lord Robert ? - Lord Robert, Madam, has gone hunting.
Leave me.
Go ! Go !
l regret to inform Your Majesty of our miserable defeat in Scotland.
The Bishops still demand Your Majesty's removal.
They find support in every quarter.
Alas, Madam, we are come already to catastrophe.
How dare you come into my presence !
Why do you follow me here ?
lt is my business to protect Your Majesty
against all things.
l do not need protection. l need to be left alone !
Majesty...
They should never have been sent to Scotland.
My father would not have made such a mistake.
l have been proved unfit to rule.
That is what you all think, is it not, Walsingham ?
lt is not for me to judge you.
Why did they send children ! Why did they not send proper reinforcements !
The Bishops would not let them.
They spoke against it in the pulpits.
Then... they are speaking against their Queen.
Madam, the Bishops are against you and have no fear of you.
They do not expect you to survive.
My Lord ! The Queen !
Where have you been ?
You were not at Court.
Majesty, Monsieur de Foix.
Mary of Guise, Ma'am,
promises to make no further threat against Your Majesty, but
on one condition.
What condition ?
That Your Majesty considers the proposal of her nephew the Duke of Anjou.
The Duke is most eager to meet Your Majesty.
He has heard a great deal of your beauty.
For the love of God, Madam, let not the care of your diseased estate
hang in the balance any longer.
ln marriage, and in the production of an heir,
lies your only surety.
The Duke is also most... handsome.
Very well.
lnvite the Duke of Anjou.
We shall see him in the flesh.
Robert !
The Duke will not take kindly to a rival for his suit.
He is a traitor, and his father before him.
Lord Robert's head will end up on a spike,
not on the pillow of a Queen.
Must you leave ?
l would not miss this for the world.
Today l shall watch the fall of that heretic girl.
l have been placed here as your sov...
l am your sovereign. l have been placed here...
l...
God has... God has placed me here...
l am your anointed sovereign...
l am your Queen... And like my father l mean to rule.
There is one thing higher than royalty, my Lords, and that
is religion.
l pass this... l pass this Act of...
l ask you to pa... l...
l ask you to pass this Act of Uniformity.
Not for myself. For my people.
They're my people...
There is one God. We have a common... There is one God.
This is for my people. My people are my care.
The only care.
My Lords, your votes are nothing without my consent.
lf there is no uniformity of religious belief here
then there can only be fragmentation.
Disputes and quarrels.
Surely, my Lords, it is better to have a single Church of England.
A single Church of England !
With a common prayer book.
And... and a...
And... a common purpose.
l ask you to pass this Act of Uniformity
not... not for myself
but for my people
who are my only care.
Madam, by this Act,
you force us to relinquish our allegiance to the Holy Father.
Hear, hear !
How can l force you, Your Grace ?
l am a woman.
l have no desire to make windows into men's souls.
l simply ask
can any man, in truth,
serve two masters
and be faithful to both ?
Madam, this is heresy !
No, Your Grace, this is
common sense.
Which is a most English virtue.
Where is Gardiner ? Where are the others ?
Let us out !
Open the door !
This is Walsingham's doing.
lt is the devil's work.
lt will not serve her in any case.
The Bishops will pass no measure which severs us from Rome.
Your Majesty would improve all these matters
if you would agree to marry.
Aye. Marry, Madam.
Aye. But marry who, Your Grace ?
Will you give me some suggestion ?
For some say France, and others Spain, and
and some cannot abide foreigners at all.
So l'm not sure how best to please you unless l married one of each.
Now Your Majesty does make fun of the sanctity of marriage.
l do not think you should lecture me on that, my Lord,
since you yourself have been twice divorced.
And are now upon your third wife !
Each of you must vote according to your conscience.
But remember this.
ln your hands,
upon this moment,
lies the future happiness of my people,
and the peace
of this realm.
Let that be upon your conscience also.
My Lords, the House will divide.
Walsingham... !
l would know on what authority you have kept us locked up here.
Your Graces must forgive me, but you are now free to go.
l am sure this infernal work has not saved your bastard Queen.
Her Majesty... has won the argument.
By what count ?
By five, Your Grace.
Five.
You will be damned for this !
And l pray God your wretched soul will burn in hell !
Report back to me at break of day.
Enchanté.
No !
Because... l am Anjou !
Yes, l am Anjou, yes ! l am Anjou.
My God ! She loves it !
And l can't wait...
l dream of the moment when we are naked together in bed
where l can stroke your thigh and perhaps even
your quinny ?
Would you like that ?
Remove your hand.
Perhaps, Your Grace, we shall think on it, but...