A few words from her majesty

0 Comments | Insight on the News, Oct 1, 2002 | by Stephen Goode

Queen Elizabeth I of England was one of history's great monarchs. She also was a woman of high intelligence and wit, and capable of uttering pithy English as the following quotations show:

"I know I have the body of a weak and feeble woman, but I have the heart and stomach of a king, and of a king of England, too; and think foul scorn that Parma or Spain, or any prince of Europe, should dare to invade the borders of my realm."

Or, again: "I am your anointed Queen. I will never be by violence constrained to do anything. I thank God that I am endued with such qualities that if I were turned out of the Realm in my petticoat, I were able to live in any place in Christendom."

Then there was this remark to those in her council who opposed her policy toward Mary, Queen of Scots: "I will make you shorter by a head."