09.17.05
Elizabeth R
(Note: Originally written 6 Jan, 2004)
About a year ago in my Western Civ class, we were asked to pick a book from a reading list and write a report on it. I picked Carolly Erickson’s book about the first Elizabeth. Since then I’ve watched the History Channel’s documentary (2 discs) and 2 of the 4 discs of the BBC’s 1971 miniseries “Elizabeth R” starring Glenda Jackson.
I watch them twice, once without the commentary and again with Alison Weir’s historical commentary. The last episodes I watched concerned Elizabeth’s “betrothal” to Catherine D’Medici’s youngest son, Duc d’Alencon and the decision to behead her cousin Mary Queen of Scots for treason and plotting to overthrow the English crown.
There must have been a school these women went to in circular logic. They were so good at it, their advisers could have bought stock in aspirin companies had they existed in the 16th century.
Elizabeth asks her privy council for advice about marrying d’Alencon but gives them no clue as to what she expects their answer to be. When they ask for input from them she tells them she cannot give it because they have not given her input. And then she leaves the council room in a huff because they will not tell her what to do and because they won’t, she is not going to tell them what she wants. I’m sure there were a lot of wooden beams with dents in them from all the head banging that went on.
Mary tells her “gaoler” that she does not recognize the power of Elizabeth as queen and as such is not guilty of breaking any laws, including conspiracy to kill Elizabeth and place herself on the English throne, as rightful heir. She has conspired, but she has not broken any laws because she doesn’t not recognize the law of the land she is “guest” in.
Makes the rules of cricket seem a bit simpler I think … maybe.