81 Quotes by Alison Weir

Kat embraced her, concealing her dismay as best she could. For these few months, fraught as they were, Elizabeth had been entirely hers again.

Each man was born to his degree, and a happy man was one who did not question his place in life.

William had now to consolidate his victory and establish himself as king, but first he sent his messenger across the sea to Normandy to tell Matilda that she was now, by the grace of God, queen of England.

At six o’clok the young King’s terrible sufferings finally ended. After his eyes had closed for the last time, the tempeste raged on. Later, superstitious folk claimed that Henry himself had sent it, and had risen from his grave in anger at the subversion of his will.

She was not so forbearing when it came to bad breath. After receiving one French envoy, she exclaimed, ‘Good God! What shall I do if this man stay here, for I smell him an hour after he has gone!’ Her words were reported back to the envoy, who at once betook himself back to France in shame.

Be well advised what ye put in his head, for ye shall never pull it out again.

He was not afraid, in fact he was content to go: So much that had been pleasurable in his life was now beyond his capacity, and that he could not bear.

What she loved was being admired, being wanted, being pursued – but she did not think she wanted ever to be caught.

At Sandwich, in 1579, she paid the magistrates’ wives a great compliment when, without employing a food taster, she sampled some of the 160 dishes they had prepared for her and even ordered some to be taken to her lodgings so that she could eat them later.