Queens and Power in Medieval and Early Modern England

4. Princess Elizabeth Travels across Her Kingdom: In Life, in Text, and on Stage

4 Princess Elizabeth Travels across Her Kingdom In Life, in Text, and on Stage carole levin In May 1549, the fifteen-year-old Princess Elizabeth commissioned a portrait of herself for her younger half-brother, Edward VI (see frontispiece). Several months earlier in late January, she had strongly expressed her desire to come to court to physically disprove a rumor that she was with child by Thomas Seymour, the widower of their stepmother Katherine Parr and the maternal uncle of the king. Seymour was soon to be executed, in part because of his alleged involvement with Elizabeth. Elizabeth wrote to Seymour’s older brother Edward, Duke of Somerset and Lord Protector: Master Tyrwhit and others have told me that there goeth rumors abroad which be greatly both against mine honor and honesty, which above all other things I esteem, which be these: that I am in the Tower and with child by lord admiral. My lord, these are shameful slanders, for the which, besides the great desire I have to see the king’s majesty, I shall most heartily desire your lordship that I may come to the court after your first determination, that I may show myself there as I am. ฀52 carole levin Elizabeth was not allowed at court so that she might show the powerful her innocent, unpregnant state. But this did not stop the young princess from making demands. She then demanded a proclamation of her innocence be sent out to prove that the Council refused to allow that “such rumours should be spread of any of the king’s majesty’s sisters (as I am, though unworthy).”1 Even though such a proclamation was apparently sent forth to the counties, Elizabeth did not forget her goal of being received at court. When later that year her brother requested a portrait of her, she was pleased at the opportunity. Along with the portrait, she sent a letter to let him know that she wished to come to court so that she could see him more often. “I shall most humbly beseech your majesty that when you shall look on my picture you will witsafe to think that as you have but the outward shadow of the body afore you, so my inward mind wisheth that the body itself were oftener in your presence.” Later that year, Elizabeth got her wish: she was invited to spend Christmas at court with her brother. The Spanish ambassador noted that Elizabeth “was received with great pomp and triumph, and is continually with the King.”2 Over a year later, in January 1551, Elizabeth returned to court with a great retinue of gentlemen and ladies. The young Elizabeth was very aware of the importance of controlling images of herself and of being on physical display. In the interaction with the Lord Protector and young king discussed earlier, she demonstrated that she knew how vital it was for her to be able to travel to court to show herself off as she was, and, failing that, to remind those in power and, even more important, the common people of her position as “king’s majesty’s sister.” She recognized the need to make her claim to good character and to publicly demonstrate her honor and integrity. Elizabeth was also clever enough to use the portrait to compensate, at least in part, for the Lord 53 princess elizabeth travels across her kingdom Protector’s refusal to allow her to visit court that year. She used similar strategies of self-presentation at many other times in the reigns of both her half brother and half sister. Travel presented an especially opportune occasion for self-display, and Elizabeth repeatedly used this to her advantage. After she became queen, Elizabeth’s progresses were important in inspiring loyalty in her subjects; they also brought her much pleasure. But even before she took the throne, Elizabeth had a number of occasions to travel, moving from household to household , from household to court, and back again. Elizabeth’s life during the reigns of her father, brother, and sister was difficult and dangerous, and many of these journeys were taken against her will and fraught with hazard and jeopardy. To appreciate the young Elizabeth’s ability to turn difficult situations to her advantage, it is useful to examine her travels, especially during the reign of her sister Mary, and the ways that she made use of...