Story [Virgin Queen] Regal Moves. For DDC 2024.

Summary: Based upon mini-series Virgin Quen about Elizabeth I and focusing primarily on the relationship with Leicester which I have always been fascinated by. Sprinkled amongst the plot elements will be facets from Alison Weir's biographies.

Disclaimer: I own nothing. The only thing I'm contributing are the words/dialogue.

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Entry One

There was a time when many, myself included, despaired of my ever reaching royal dignity and status. I had to balance verbal discretion with shrewdness when it came to navigating the dangerously complex machinations surrounding Queen Mary and the various plot(s) that surfaced now and then.

My name was understandably bandied about as being either a silent but knowing bystander at the very least to an active participant at worst.

Any claims of innocence on my part during those incidents would be heralded as valid by my supporters and as outright falsehoods by my detractors.

My best strategy then was to lie low and be as unobtrusive as possible, not an easy thing! This shrewdness and caution would lay the foundation for many of my later interactions and choices.

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Oooh! I love the Tudor era, and Elizabeth 1 in particular. This diary is off to a fantastic start, and I look forward to seeing it all unfold throughout the year.

 

I love it. Elizabeth 1 in that series. Now writing her diary. Perfect start

 

Thanks for the reviews. I am absolutely fascinated by this entire history focus of the Tudors.

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Entry Two

Rumors dogged me since childhood, however. Or more specifically, my teen years.

There were these vicious allegations that my Uncle Thomas Seymour and I had a less than circumspect relationship and that I was infatuated with him, which was absurd in the extreme.

Those who recalled my infamous parentage were more than eager and willing to attribute all sorts of wicked motives.

I learned early to not rise to the bait. Those who wished to believe such things would not be dettered or persuaded otherwise.

Thus it was when Mary I ascended the throne, I was more than astute at keeping my own counsel and keeping a low as possible profile.

Her betrothal and impending marriage to Philip of Spain got the nobles all stirred up and scheming.

Their plotting came to my attention by friends of mine who warned me to be careful not to be sucked into the vortex of the plot, which I did not do.

Thomas Wyatt and his cabal were summarily unmasked by one of their number, Courtney, and the Queen insisted that I appear to affirm my innocence.

I braced myself for what promised to be a difficult conversation.

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Some don't want her at all, Mary I and her scheming. But she has friends to help her.

 

Entry Three

My sister was coldly dismissive of my assertions of inocence. She favored me with a look as if to say: Do you really expect me to believe that you had no knowledge of the schemes that were plotted?

I might have heard whisperings of such and even been told of some details, but as to active involvement, that is completely separate and different.

She summarily had me taken to the Tower.

Given the complicated and undeniable associations the place has for me, I need hardly say that I felt intense trepidation.

I was feeling low naturally, but an unexpected boon felt to me.

A childhood friend, Robert Dudley, was also being held.

He and I were able to exchange messages surreptitiously and our friendship resumed and even deepened, despite the fact he was married some years prior.

I had always been more than a little captivated by him and now as it transpired, those feelings had merely lay dormant only to blossom anew.

Happily, I can report that my internment did not last too long.


In a matter of a handful of weeks, I was released, although I was to be under surveillance at Woodstock.

I felt no small measure of relief at this turn of events.


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Yes again out of the Tower. And Dudley making his appearance nice.

 

Entry Four

I was unspeakably relieved that I was soon released from the Tower. Robert Dudley rejoiced with me and was also soon released.

I was put under custody of Henry Bedingfeld of Woodstock Manor.

I learned that this clemency was due in no small measure to the intervention of Baron William Paget. I felt a surge of gratitude for this.

The Queen saw reason that there was no hard evidence of my culpability, fortunately.

As I made my way through the city, crowds cheered me. This warmed my heart profoundly.

I expect it was not just personal loyalty to me but also a statement of disapproval of my sister's religious stance and pending alliance with Philip I of Spain.

 

Yes she is free to go and loved by all

 

Entry Five

I was called to court in mid spring to attend my sister during the latter stages of apparent pregnancy.

Rumors swirled that she was indeed not pregnant and there was a clamor as to what the succession should be.

I gave her my sincere sympathy when it turned out she was not pregnant after all.

I left soon thereafter and kept a low profile for several months.

 

Her scheming sister and good to keep a low profile

 

Entry Six

Things stayed uneventful except for the fact that my sister's pregnancy turned out to be a false one.

No further plots to undermine her rule occurred.

She took seriously ill and it became critical.

She balked at naming me as her successor until the very end.

My filial affection and natural concern may have been viewed with cynical skepticism by many but those who knew me intimately knew I would not fabricate such things.

 

Now with her sister gone she can begin to rule

 

Entry Seven

Little did I know on one eventful day at Hatfield that my life would change forever!

Swift riders came to tell me as I enjoyed a balmy sunlit day under an oak that I was now Queen in fact.

At long last something I had often wondered would come to fruition had occurred.

I said softly in reverence: "This is the work of the Lord, and it is marvelous in our eyes."

Many momentous and small decisions lay before me, and I knew a crucial part of my success would lie in surrounding myself with wise, capable advisers devoid of self-interest and whose chief interest lay with the good of the people and whose candor would always steer me on the right, best path.

 

Wise decisions from her. No intrigues to bother her.

 

Entry Eight

A close confidante remained with me, Katherine Ashley, and William Cecil amongst others, were invaluable advisers.

Interestingly enough, one appointment which should not have generated much notice stirred quite a bit.

It was that of Master of the Horse, which was bestowed upon Lord Rober Dudley, whose friendship and support had bolstered me during darker times, and whom I wished to reward and to share my new fortuitous turn.

 

Yes being with Dudley is nice for her

 

Entry Nine

An interesting contest of wills ensued as various suitors put forth overtures for political gains and advantage. I never lost sight of the fact that securing a viable and undeniably legitimate successor was for the good of everyone concerned, yet I would be less than honest if I asserted that any of them stirred my emotions and I did not wish to ally myself or the nation with someone with conflicting loyalties or motivations.

So I gave answers that seemed to indicate a willingness to consider while frankly not being interested in the slightest.

I also must admit that my feelings for Robert Dudley stood in the way of anything happening in the way of forging a marriage alliance.

 

Royals and having to marry a royal. She doesn't have feelings for them and is right. But Dudley that's different

 

Entry Ten

When Robert's wife died under circumstances that lent themselves to rumors and speculations, I had to tread carefully, not to give any credence to the more unsavory conclusions being drawn.

When I eventually conveyed the title of Earl of Leicester on Robert, thankfully enough time had passed that any surmises were merely whispered and quickly quashed.

Entry 11

I suffered from a bout of smallpox. Thankfully, I did not suffer any lasting effects, although I heard that the national concern had been critically high, and the people's relief upon my recovery was gratifying.

I was also touched that Robert's concern was genuine and unceasing; we were closer than ever in the aftermath.

 

Her love for Robert is seen in these entries

 

Entry 12

I feel totally humiliated after that last affirmation of complete confidence in my closeness to Robert Dudley.

In the ensuing months, he has become increasingly captivated by the undeniably lovely Lettice Knowllys.

I cannot and do not feel even at such a juncture the compulsion to take the matrimonial plunge, although marrying a Britisher is imminently more desirable than a foreign Prince who would bring their thirst for dominance and power and separate political agendas to the union.

So I continue to maneuver and outstrategize, keeping all guessing and surmising.

I will stand alone, answer to none but the people of the realm.

Fin

 

I love how she finishes her diary by stating that she will be alone and caring for the people of the realm