The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex Page #2

But Sir Thomas Egerton received a letter

from him from his manor at Wanstead.

I knew he'd come to it, Cecil.

Begging Egerton to intercede

for him, of course.

Well, perhaps I was a little harsh.

What did the letter say?

- When is he coming home?

- I have it here.

Let me see.

He says, " I owe to Her Majesty

a duty of allegiance...

...in which I never can,

never will fail."

Poor darling.

Of course he's sorry.

But a little apprehensive perhaps.

Go on. Go on.

"But I do not owe her the duty

of attendance upon her.

And had I that duty,

Her Majesty's conduct has canceled it.

As for asking her pardon, why should

I ask pardon for receiving an insult?"

Stop it!

No.

No, go on. I'll hear it.

"When the vilest of indignities is done to

me, not even religion enforces me to sue.

I have received the wrong.

Let her seek pardon of me."

"And if she refuses...

...all her power can show

no more strength in oppressing me...

...than I can summon to resist it."

Cecil, this is intolerable!

Are you sure Essex wrote this?

- Not you or your friends?

- Your Majesty...

Don't "Your Majesty" me!

You slimy toad. I know human nature.

Nothing would suit you so well as to see

Essex saying farewell to his head.

Will Your Grace examine

the letter more closely?

Rumor hath it you are not unacquainted

with Milord of Essex's writing.

And rumor hath it

I have a heavy hand for insolence.

Have you forgotten it? Now, get out.

- But, madam...

- Get out, I say!

Robert...

Robert, I don't know

which I hate the most...

...you for making me love you...

...or myself for needing you so.

There has seldom been a man

so unwise, so headstrong...

...but he could see the necessity...

...of keeping friends

and not making enemies at court.

But you quarrel with the queen because

she wanted peace and you wanted war.

War? There is a war with Spain.

And such a silly, frightened womanish

war as only a woman would wage.

Let me answer that.

You are not forthright with yourself.

You wish to complete

your record as general...

...crush Spain, make a name

like Caesar's, and climb to fame.

You won Cdiz and caught

the people's hearts.

Caught their voices until the streets

ring with your name when you pass.

Take care. You are

too popular already.

My lord, you are loved better

than the queen.

That's your danger.

She will not suffer a subject

to eclipse her, she cannot.

Make no mistake, she will not.

- So I must wait? Hold back?

- Precisely.

Why? I come of better

blood than Elizabeth.

My name is among the earls who stood

around the oak with King John.

What the nobles once taught a king,

a noble may teach a queen.

You talk treason and death.

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