Robert bowed to the inevitable. The queen's motto, 'I see all and speak nothing." was as well chosen as any motto could be. He had almost made his old mistake of confusing what Elizabeth said with what she would do.

She had been born knowing that boldness erased fear, while cowardice invited it and earned her only more ill treatment. No matter how she shook with dread in private, she would never show fear before her questioners or her guards. In men's minds fear was a certain mark of guilt.

Sovereigns did not have the luxury of second-guessing or all future commands could be questioned. That could never be. God did not allow his anointed to be wrong.

Majesty, there is less danger in fearing too much than too little.

The Tudors hated to be wrong, and therefore never were.

Why do old men grow huge beards as if to proclaim a manhood that has long since fled?

Like her father, Bess never forgot a hurt of a service.

Like her father, Bess never forgot a hurt or a service.

Pain was the only sign to her that she was alive and could feel emotion.