"Elizabeth R" Personal Review

The first post of "Elizabeth R" published on 2/26/12 was to give you an idea as to what the six part Series was all about.  "Elizabeth R" is one of the very few Series (I indicate it as a film at times too) that illustrate Elizabeth's life from her teen years until her death, and illustrate it most accurately.  For those that do not know, the R stands for Rex or Regina as appropriate, Latin for King or Queen.  BBC had six 85 minute parts for this Series:
1) The Lion's  King
2) The Marriage Game
3) The Shadow of the Sun
4) Horrible Conspiracies
5) The Enterprise of Englad
6)  Sweet England's Pride

The Lion's King (Part 1) begins with King Edward VI as ruler of England, but at his near death.  Next in line according to Henry VIII's Succession Act was Mary Tudor.  However, Edward VI and his high members in the council have the Succession Act changed so a Protestant Queen, Lady Jane Grey, can continue after Edward's death.  The Series did not concentrate on Lady Jane, however William Cecil advises Mary Tudor that she is the rightful heir to the throne and needs to act quickly.


The people of England love and adore Mary Tudor with open arms in the beginning of her reign.  Overthrowing Lady Jane was not a problem.  The people of England strongly believed Henry VIII's Succession Act was the true law of the land to follow, not Edward's.  Therefore, Mary became Queen quickly.  Lady Jane Grey is known as the Nine Day Queen.


While this is happening, Elizabeth is growing up.  Catherine Parr (Sixth Wife to Henry VIII) is a widower after Henry VIII died.  Soon after Henry VIII's death, Catherine Parr marry's Thomas Seymour (Uncle to King Edward VI).  Thomas Seymour loves Catherine Parr but at the same time has inappropriate exchanges with Elizabeth.  This all occurred while Edward VI was King of England.
Side notes:
Catherine Parr dies after child birth
Thomas Seymour is executed for high treason


As I indicated above, Mary Tudor was very popular in the beginning of her reign until her marriage to Prince Philip of Spain.  Many in England were not happy of a foreign marriage.  Additionally, Mary starts forcing the Catholic religion upon England.  At first she did not force the religion, then that changed instantly.  Mary's popularity decreases while Elizabeth's increased.
Side note: it was tolerated that Mary follow her Catholic religion during Edward's reign, however she forces the Catholic religion in England and wants Elizabeth to follow the True Religion, that being the Catholic faith.


As Mary's popularity decreases within the people, plots and rebellion are rumored for her removal.  One of the most popular rebellions during this time was orchestrated by Thomas Wyatt.  He was a strong supporter of Elizabeth and the Protestant cause.  However, his rebellion was defeated.  Mary and her counselors firmly believed that Elizabeth knew of this rebellion; not only knew but gave the order to remove her half sister, Mary.  These rumors and accusations lead Elizabeth to the Tower.  Elizabeth protests that she is innocent.  Without any evidence, Mary cannot do anything.  Eventually, Elizabeth is released from the tower and instead is put under house watch.  All of this is orchestrated by Sir Henry Bedingfeld, a true and loyal servant to Queen Mary.  Under house watch, William Cecil advises Elizabeth on how to handle the matters involving Mary.


Mary is rumored to be with child, however this is not true as she has a deathly tumor.  Philip leaves Mary but demands that Elizabeth be treated well.   According to Philip's point of view, once Mary dies, it's either Elizabeth or Mary Queen of Scots (MQOS) to succeed the throne.  He would rather have Elizabeth as Queen then an England/France alliance; which would happen if MQOS became Queen of England.


Mary does die and Elizabeth becomes Queen.  When Mary's counselors advise Elizabeth {where she was under house watch} that Mary died and that she is now Queen, Elizabeth states outside, "This is the lords doing and it's marvelous in our eyes."


When Elizabeth became Queen, there were a couple of immediate important matters that had to be addressed.  First, who would be on the Privy Counsel.  William Cecil, Lord Burghley, became Secretary of State, which was the highest ranking member in the counsel.  Also, Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, was on the council and is Elizabeth's Master of Horse.  Elizabeth and Robert knew each other since they were young and were deeply fond of each other.  Other members of the counsel were jealous of him.  The other matter to be discussed was Marriage.  The Privy Counsel believed that the only way England and Elizabeth I can be safe of foreign invasion was by her marrying and producing an heir.  The topic of marriage was extremely sensitive to Elizabeth.  The question was, who would Elizabeth marry?  a Foreigner or an Englishman?
Side note: 
When Mary died, Philip wanted to possibly marry Elizabeth. 


Elizabeth was extremely picky with who to marry.  The true subject that she wanted to marry was Robert Dudley, and vice versa.  


Robert Dudley married twice.  His first wife was ill and committed suicide (Elizabeth attended their wedding).  His second wife that he married, unbeknownst to the Queen was Lettice Knollys.  The Queen was outraged when she discovered the second marriage.  


While this was going on, there were negotiations of her marrying the Duke of Alençon (AKA Duke of Anjou), from France.  He was much younger then Elizabeth, but they grew fond of each other.  She called him her "frog".  When Elizabeth wanted to be counseled about the marriage between her and the Duke of Alençon, her privy counsel could not give an exact opinion about the marriage, as they were split.  Elizabeth was furious that they could not give her an answer but she also became very emotional.  She states that all her counselors are married and have children, but not her.  They do not know how it feels to be alone, with no partner or child of her own.  For nearly twenty years, her counselors wanted her to marry.  Now she has found someone to her liking but her counselors cannot say yes we agree to this marriage, or say no.  Elizabeth views this as her counselors stating no we do not agree with this marriage. The marriage negotiations fall apart as she realizes her counselors are against this marriage, as well as the people of England.  In the end, and as it always remained, she was married to England.  


One of the greatest threats in Elizabeth's reign was her cousin, Mary Queen of Scots (MQOS).  MQOS was a Catholic, so a lot of the Catholic followers believed she was the true & rightful Queen, not Elizabeth.  The history behind MQOS was not mentioned very much in the Series, but she was Queen of France for a short period of time, until her husband died.  At this point, she went to Scotland and Married Lord Darnley, and they had a Son, James Stuart (Became King of Scotland & After Elizabeth passed, he became King of England).  A lot occurred from the time MQOS married Darnley.  When she married Darnley, it went down hill for MQOS (this will be explained further in a  future post, this was not explained much in this series).  She was forced to flea Scotland and without any other place to go, she went to her cousin, Queen Elizabeth I.  Elizabeth knew that MQOS could cause a huge stir in England so she placed her under house watch for nearly 20 years.  


The Stir finally started to happen and Sir Francis Walsingham made sure Elizabeth & the Protestant cause were protected.  It was discovered by Walsingham's spy network that there was a plot to overthrow Elizabeth.  The plot is known as the Babbington plot.  Letters were dispatched back and forth from MQOS & her Catholic followers about the overthrow of Elizabeth & how MQOS would be made Queen.  Once MQOS confirmed the execution of Elizabeth in writing, that's when Walsingham made his move to have her tried for treason.  MQOS was tried and found guilty, ultimately this meant her death.  Elizabeth had a very hard time signing the execution warrant.  She firmly did not want the blood shed of her cousin.  MQOS, ultimately does get beheaded and in the end, the death is on Elizabeth's shoulder.  The Death of her cousin does not bring peace to Elizabeth.  
Some side notes:
Sir Amias Paulet guarded MQOS.
Gilbert Gifford was a double agent for Walsingham.

John Savage, in the Babbington plot would kill Elizabeth.

Elizabeth strongly believed in astrology, she used Dr. Dee for these methods.

Elizabeth fears death the most.

As Elizabeth gets older, the less unhappy and lonely she gets.

In the series, Elizabeth treats Walsingham pretty badly.  

During the MQOS plot, Elizabeth reigned for 28 years.

Elizabeth expected Amias Paulet to do the act of killing MQOS while guarding her.


The Death of Elizabeth's cousin, MQOS gives King Philip of Spain the ammunition to attack England.  In the Series, this is where Part 5, The Enterprise of England starts off.  Philip of Spain is back in the picture, of course much older as decades have past.  Now, it's the strongest nation on Earth, Spain against little ol' England.  Philip of Spain VS. Elizabeth.  The Spanish Armada vs. England.  
Ultimately, little ol' England prevails and becomes a powerful country, as they defeated the most powerful nation on Earth.  The defeat was a HUGE blow to Spain and a Huge Victory for England, especially Elizabeth.  After the defeat of the Spanish Armada, Elizabeth's reign is known as the Golden Age. 
Some side notes:
Elizabeth sends Sir Francis Drake to Calais to catch the Spanish fleet off guard.  The plan does work.
King Philip wants only 150 ships, his General Santa Cruz requests for 500.
Philip expects 1/3 of the Catholics in England will support the enterprise, this did not occur. 
Philip's General, Santa Cruz dies.  He has been the General for years so this was a huge loss to Spain.  Philip directs a Solder to command the seas but the soldier has absolutely no Seamanship experience.  Philip was a very stubborn and ignorant man.


At this end Part 5, Robert Dudley (Earl of Leicester) falls ill and dies after the Spanish Armada defeat.  Elizabeth was devastated when she discovers that he died.  When Elizabeth was informed of his death, she was given a letter written by him.  After reading it, she writes on the front flap "his last letter" and puts it in a sealed locked draw.  


The last part of the Series is called Sweet England's Pride (Part 6).  In this series, it is about the last five years of Elizabeth's reign, before she passes.  At this point, England is in a peaceful prosperous time, however is threatened by the Earl of Tyrone in Ireland.  Elizabeth instructs Robert Dudley's step son, Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex, to become Lord Deputy of Ireland.  His is instructed to defeat The Earl of Tyrone and not to return to England until this deed is done.  


The Earl of Essex does the complete opposite and proposes a Treaty with The Earl of Tyrone.  The Earl of Essex returns to England and forces himself in Elizabeth's bed chamber, where she is practically naked with no wig, no make up, etc.  She excuses him until the next day.  For his disobedience of the Queen's instructions, he is put under house watch.  


During his house watch, the The Earl of Essex accuses Robert Cecil (Williams Cecil's Son) and some members of the Privy Counsel for being traitors and attempts to stir a rebellion against her Majesty.  Of course, The Earl of Essex fails and subsequently is tried and found guilty for high treason.  He is beheaded in 1601.  


After this, the Queen's health deteriorates in 1603.  After standing for over 15 hours and not eating for weeks, Elizabeth eventually passes.  After her passing, all of the guards, privy council, lady's in waiting, etc. kneel after her death.


Side Notes:
Robert Cecil fills his fathers spot, as his father William Cecil passed away.
A play written by Shakespeare, Titled, King Richard the Second was performed and published late in the reign of the childless Elizabeth I of England, at a time when the queen's age made the succession an important political concern. The historical parallels in the succession of Richard II may not have been intended as political comment on the contemporary situation, with the weak Richard II analogous to Queen Elizabeth and an implicit argument in favour of her replacement by a monarch capable of creating a stable dynasty, but lawyers investigating John Hayward's historical work, The First Part of the Life and Raigne of King Henrie IV, a book partly derived from Shakespeare's Richard II, chose to make this connection. Hayward had dedicated his version to Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex and when Essex was arrested for rebellion in February 1601 Hayward had already been imprisoned, to strengthen the case against the earl for "incitement to the deposing of the Queen". That Hayward had made his dedication was fortunate for Shakespeare, otherwise he too might have lost his liberty over the affair. (wikipedi)

My opinion of the Series: A- for acting and A- for accuracy.  I never give full A's to anything as nothing is perfect.  "Elizabeth R" is one of the most accurate Series of Elizabeth's life.  Yes, it's long, but defintely worth watching.  Glenda Jackson is not my ultimate favorite portrayal of Elizabeth but she did, indeed do a great performance!!!!
* http://www.youtube.com/user/TudorWorld (Elizabeth R is one of the movies on my YouTube site)