Elizabeth I - The Death Of A Queen

In the early hours of the 24th March Queen Elizabeth I fell into a sleep and would then take her last breath. With her death would see the end to the Tudors rule in England and the start of the Stuart age. It would also be the end of the Elizabethan and Golden Age.

How it began 

Elizabeth was born on the 7th September 1533 and was the only child of Anne Boleyn and Henry VIII. She was seen as a disappointment for not being the son and heir that her father wanted. When her mother was executed on charges of treason and adultery, Elizabeth was declared ilegitimate and a bastard. She was also sent away from court, her step mother Jane Seymour tried to get her back to court and in Henry's favour. But it wasn't until her last step mother, Catherine Parr, managed to get her and her half sister Mary back in their fathers favour and to be back in the line of succession.  For a girl of her status she recieved the best education that was on offer, she could speak a handful of languages, was very musical and loved to read. 

Life under her brother 

When her father died in 1547, her younger half brother Edward took over the throne. Elizabeth loved her brother, during their childhood they received lessons together. On the day of his coronation she rode as part of the procession. She didn't spend that much time at court and only really went when she was summoned or requested. She went to live with Catherine Parr at Sudley Castle not long after her father died, it was here she spent time with her cousin Lady Jane Grey. It was also here that the scandal of her and Thomas Seymour started. She soon left under orders of Catherine and went to her own home. Elizabeth was at her home of Hatfield when she heard that her brother her passed away. 

Life under her sister 

When Elizabeth was first Mary was made to wait on her by Anne Boleyn, she also didn't see Anne as Queen and despised Elizabeth. But when Elizabeth was declared a bastard, Mary took her under her wing and at times comforted the young Elizabeth. When Edward died he didn't want Mary taking the throne, so he gave it to their cousin Lady Jane Grey. Mary imprisoned Jane and declared herself Queen, there was even a plot against Mary that she believed Elizabeth was apart of and had her placed in the Tower. There was even a time when Elizabeth's death warran was written out and just needed a signature. Most of Mary's rule Elizabeth was kept on house arrest at her home of Hatfield and was always being watched, she only went to court when her sister wanted her there. She was again at Hatfield when she got told Mary had died. 

Elizabeth takes the trone

On 17th November 1558 Elizabeth was told that her half sister had died and that she was now Queen of England. About 2 months later Elizabeth processed through London to Westminster Abbey for her coronation. With her rule saw a new dawn and a new beginning for England, she helped pull the country out of bankruptcy, helped the arts develop and fought off the Spanish. 

Her rule didn't go without scandal, there was the rumours that she would marry her Master of the Horse, Robert Darnley, yet he was already married but she mysterious died. We all know that Elizabeth never married, she had said from the age of 8 that she never would, this was due to seeing her step no Catherine Howard dragged off to be executed. She also had her cousin Mary Queen of Scots executed on ground of treason and plotting to have her killed. This made Elizabeth question who would be her heir when she died. Elizabeth ruled for 45 years and created what has become known as the Elizabethan age. 

"I am not well"

By the winter of 1602, Elizabeth was 69 years old and her heath was beginning to fail her. She had been unwell on and off since the Autumn, but by the winter she was unable to shift it. It didn't also help by the fact that everyone around her that she was close to were dying, this caused her to go into a deep depression. In the first few months of 1603 Elizabeth caught a chill while she was put walking, she also complained of a sore throat along with aches and pains.

Elizabeth stayed on the floor of her apartments on cushions and nothing could persuade her to be moved and she also refused to see her doctor. Elizabeth was at that age where she was tired, old and lonely which in some ways lead her to give up. As she got worse Archbishop Whitgrift was called to her side and she held tight to his hand. Whenever he spoke of her getting better she didn't respond, but when he spoke of the joy of Heaven she squeezed his hand.

Elizabeth was now unable to communicate through speech and could only use gestures, it was becoming clear to everyone that this great Queen was dying. At the beginning of March Elizabeth again fell sick but remained "settled and unremovable melancholy". She still sat for hours on her cushion pile motionless. Her advisor, Robert Cecil, told her to go to bed, but she replied: "Must is not a word to use to princes, little man."

Between 2 and 3 am on the morning of the 24th March 1603, Elizabeth fell into a deep sleep and died at Richmond Palace. A few hours later once the shock had passed, Cecil and the rest of the council set their plans in motion and proclaimed King James of Scotland the new King of England.

A Funeral fit for a Queen

Elizabeth's funeral was organized by the person who took over from her, King James. On the night of the 27th April her coffin was carried downriver to Whitehall on a torch lit barge. Her funeral took place the following day, the coffin was taken to Westmister Abbey on a horse drawn carriaige with four horses wearing black velvet. Many people lined the streets to see the funeral possession pass by, many were weeping as her coffin passed by them. 

Elizabeth was laid to rest on top of the tomp of her half sister Mary I, as of yet I haven't uncovered the reason as to why this was done, all I know is that is was done on King James's orders. Maybe it was a sign that even though they had trouble in life they could be together in Heaven. The inscription on the tomb is is Latin and reads "Regno consortes & urna, hic obdormimun Elizabetha et Maria sorores, in spe resurrectionis" it translates to "Consorts in realm and tomb, here we sleep, Elizabeth and Mary, sisters, in hope of resurrection".