QUEEN ELIZABETH
Pride and selfishness were characteristics of Queen Elizabeth, who ruled England for half a century, and she suffered much because of them. Her favorite courtier, the Earl of Essex, took part in a plot against his political enemies and was sentenced to die. The queen was eager to pardon him, but she said, “I would save him, but only if he humbles himself and asks me to.” No message came, and Essex was put to death. From that time on, Elizabeth’s heartbreak affected her health, for she could not forget Essex. One day, as a lady-in-waiting to the queen lay dying, she sent for Queen Elizabeth and confessed that Essex had indeed entrusted her with a message pleading for his life and had given her his ring as proof, but that she had wanted Essex dead and had therefore never delivered the message. For Elizabeth, this knowledge was a wound from which she never recovered. She did little else for the rest…
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