Extract from a letter from Elizabeth I to Mary (SP 52/13/71)
Transcript
Madame, to be plain with you, our grief has not been small that in this your marriage so slender consideration has been had that, as we perceive manifestly, no good friend you have in the whole world can like thereof, and if we should otherwise write or say we should abuse you. For how could a worse choice be made for your honour that in such haste to marry such a subject, who besides other and notorious lacks, public fame has charged with the murder of your late husband
6. This is a letter from Elizabeth I to Mary.
- do you think Elizabeth was happy with Mary’s marriage to Bothwell?
- what do you think was the Queen’s mood when she wrote this?
- why do you think the letter has been crossed out and changed so much?
- who do you think might have made the changes?
- do you think Elizabeth herself would have written this letter, or would someone have done it for her?