The climax came when the Queen invited Monsieur Simiers to accompany her in her barge from Hampton to Greenwich. Elizabeth had been in conversation with Simiers and, as soon as the Frenchman took his leave of her, a shot rang out. It had been fired from a nearby boat.
There was great consternation, and in the confusion, the marksman, in his boat, made off. One of the Queen’s bargemen lay on the deck of the royal barge, shot through the arm.
The Queen was calmer than those about her, in spite of the fact that she believed this to have been an attempt on her life. She unwound her scarf and bound up the man’s wound herself.
“Be of good cheer,” she comforted him. “I shall see that you never want. That bullet was meant for your Queen, and you took it in her stead.”
But the bullet had passed very close to Monsieur Simiers, and he had his own ideas about the intended target.
Back in his apartments he paced up and down in angry exasperation.
“Now,” he said to the members of his suite, “they are attempting to take my life. What can I do? How can I bring about a match between Monsieur and such a woman? They are barbarians, these people. And I know who is the instigator of this plot. It is Leicester. Would to God some of his enemies would take it into their heads to kill him. If that could be done, much trouble might be saved.”
“He still hopes,” said one of Simiers’ men, “to marry the Queen himself.”
“I do not see how that can be,” said another, “for I heard news of my lord of Leicester only the other day and, if it is true, he must have lost all hope of marrying Her Majesty.”
“What story is this?”
“It is said that he has married the Countess of Essex.”
Simiers threw back his head and laughed aloud. Then he became serious. “Did not the Earl of Essex die mysteriously in Ireland some time ago?”
“That is so.”
“And there was an inquiry into his death conducted by Leicester’s brother-in-law! Come, this is the best news I have heard since I first set foot in this land. We have played Monsieur Leicester’s game too long. Now he shall play ours.”
Simiers presented himself to the Queen.
“Your Majesty blooms like a rose … and that after your mishap on the river!”
“’Twas nothing, Monsieur Monkey. A Queen must be prepared for any possibility.”
“She needs a strong arm to protect her.”
“Do not fear, Monsieur; she is strong enough to protect herself.”
“She needs the affection of a husband. Will you not sign this document which I have prepared? It is a summons to my master to appear before you. Once he sees this he will come with all speed. Then you will see for yourself how he adores you; and, Your Majesty, so handsome is he, that I doubt not you will find him the most irresistible man you have ever set eyes upon.”
She pretended to consider this. How could she send for him? Did she want trouble with France? To send for him and refuse him would be an insult they would never overlook. One did not inspect Princes as one did a horse.
“Ah, would it were in my power, dear Monkey. These ministers of mine …”
“Your Majesty should marry. Is not marriage in the air? Those about you enjoy its blessings. Will Your Majesty remain aloof from them?”
“Those about me? You mean … some of my ladies?”
“Nay, Your Majesty; I was referring to my lord of Leicester and his recent marriage to the beautiful Countess of Essex.”
She put out a hand as though to steady herself. He snatched it and put it to his lips.
She did not see his ugly face. She only saw those two together: Lettice, who was not unlike herself, but younger and more beautiful, and Robert, her favorite whom she loved as she would never love another person.
She could not doubt the words of this man. She wondered why she had not guessed what had happened. She remembered now the change in Robert and the mincing complacency of that she-wolf. There had been secret looks among her ladies and gentlemen.
Now she was possessed by such rage as she had never felt before.
“Where is this document, man?” she cried harshly.
“Here … here, Your Majesty.” Simiers turned from her to hide the triumph in his eyes. He spread the papers on a table and handed her a pen.
Even her signature was an angry one.
“Your Majesty, my master will be enraptured. This will be the happiest day of his life …”
“Leave me now,” she said.
Sly and knowledgeable, hiding his delight, he bowed low and hurried away before she could change her mind.
Now there was no longer need for restraint. “Where are my women?” she shouted. “Why do they not attend me? Kat … you sly devil, where are you? What have you been doing all these weeks?”
They came running in and stood before her, trembling.
“What news of Leicester?” she spat out at them.
They were silent, each waiting for another to speak first.
She stamped her foot. “What of that snake?” she screamed. “What of Leicester?” She took the woman nearest her and shook her until she begged for mercy.
The Queen’s hair had broken loose from her headdress; her eyes grew wilder and purple color flamed into her face.
No one dared speak until at last Kat said: “Dearest Majesty … dearest … dearest …”
“Did you not hear me?” shouted the Queen. “I said: ‘What of that snake who calls himself a man?’ So he has married that sly animal, has he? He has married that low creature, that she-wolf?”
“Majesty,” said Kat, “it is true. They married …”
“They married!” cried Elizabeth. “Did they ask my consent? Did they keep it secret? Did you? Did you … and you?” Each “you” was accompanied by a stinging blow on the cheek for all those nearest. “And you … and you and … you … knew this, and thought it meet to keep it from me?”
“Dearest, dearest!” begged Kat. And in an agonized whisper she added: “Remember … remember … do not betray your feelings thus.”
Elizabeth was swaying vertiginously with the intensity of her emotion.
“Quick!” cried Kat. “Help me unlace Her Majesty’s bodice. There, my love. Kat has you. Come, lie on your couch, darling. You’ll feel better then. Kat’s here beside you.”
With great presence of mind Kat dismissed all the women; she knelt by the couch, chafing the Queen’s hands while the tears ran down Kat’s cheeks and words babbled from her lips. “Oh, my darling, I would have given my life to spare you this. But, dearest, you would not marry him. You must not blame him …”
“Blame him!” flared Elizabeth. “By God’s Body, I’ll blame him! He shall pay for all the pleasure he has had with her.”
“Darling, it was only natural. You see, he has been so long unmarried.”
“Have I not been long unmarried?”
“But it was my darling’s royal wish.”
“They shall lose their heads for this, and I’ll see the deed done.”
“Be calm, my sweeting. Be quiet, my sweet Bess. Let me get you a little wine.”
“You know I do not like wine.”
“I’ll mix water with it. It will revive you, dearest. There … there … that’s better.”
“It is not better, Kat. It will never be better. You know how I loved him.”
“But you did not marry him, dearest.”
“Stop all this talk of marriage. You do it but to torment me.”
“Dearest Majesty, remember you are the Queen. You must not show your jealousy like this. You are above such things.”
“I am indeed. I am above them all, and I’ll have obedience. They shall go to the Tower at once … both of them.”
“Yes, yes, my love. They shall go to the Tower.”