Private Correspondance to Elizabeth R

My Dearest Friend

I know I have not been long from your court but I wished to convey that I hath arrived safely in my new home. I miss my beloved England but it is tolerable here as any place. I know no one here but my beloved Marie and her young son James who I adore and am coming to see as my own son. I hope that he shud come to see me as a father as well one day or something of the like at least. I think I am doing well here, though I am affraid I do find myself lonely at times.

It wudst ease my heart greatly if I were permitted to visit you on occassion. As you know I can travel most easily between realms. I do understand if you wish not to see me of course.

I shall not keep you from your affairs any longer. Know only that I think of you daily and remain now, and always shall ...

Your Loyal Subject and Friend,

Nicholas

Tis always my greatest wish to have you near.

Eliz R.

I hath heard rumors that thou are again entertaining suitors and thoughts of marriage. Tis a shame thou had not decided this earlier. But whats done is done, I have found my happiness and I truly hope thou wildst find yours.

Choose well my friend ... I would hate to have to travel to England to kickth some undeserving suitors arse.

Your friend and protector always,

Nicholas

My lord, alas I have more intelligence than thine future wife and know full well that the Queen of England cannot take a vampire as a husband.

I find the situation most vexing but hath no control over it.

Hadst thou not had insane thoughts of settling down I wudst have seen fit to... make more fitting arrangements for you. Somehow.

However, I wilt not share a man with Marie of Scotland. I'd sooner punch the lady in the nose!

Yours,
Bess. x

Perhaps I shud have inquired about these ... "other arangements" then. I do seem to recall offering not to wed and remain there even if only in friendship. My offer was recieved with .... well lets just say it was not well recieved. *laughs*

But that is the firey spirit you posscess and I do adore.

I speak some what playfully about it but I do understand why our union could never be. And I do wish you the happiness you hath granted me.

But your friend and protector I shall always be wether you like it or not.

Yours,

Nicholas

Dearest Nicholas,

Walsingham's spies tell me that your betrothed ist flirting mercilessly with your brother.

...if you change your mind I canst always have her head chopped off afore your marriage is blessed before God. Alas, now that Lady Woodville has witnessed your intent of betrothal thou art legally bound to marry her by the laws of our lands.

Bess. x

My Dearest Bess,

It warms my heart to know you look after me. Have no fears for me my friend, for it is a ruse that I am well aware of. My brother's appearance is not by accident and given his vile nature the most effienct way to learn his true intent is by the charms of a woman. I have not the talent for trickery such as his but he has met his match in my Marie. We hope ot be rid of him soon so we can be properly wed afor God.

We shud like to see you attend but if it is not possible I do understand.

Nicholas

Nicholas,

even though Marie and I hath a facade of being on better terms I doth not trust her an inch. Your wedding wudst be full of murderous Catholics and I value my head too much to allow 'Queen Elizabeth of England' to attend.

Besides which, you already hath the reputation for conducting the most vile court Europe hath seen in a long while. As 'The Virgin Queen' I must object to such nauseating behaviour being conducted in public and cannot be associated with it!

Love doth confuseth me greatly. It hath turned a gentleman of court with delicate sensibilities and fine taste such as yourself into a man with a taste for vile women. Despite my deep love for sea fairing men I doth always insist they are at the very least excellent poets and artists and are house trained.

Bess. x

*Marie wonders if Elizabeth owns any mirrors, and if so, why she hasn't started using better wrinkle cream*.

*Bess ist slightly envious of Marie never having to use wrinkle cream... but laughs heartily that Marie wilt loose her head long before tis neccesary*

Bess,

Your words cut me deeply. I am the same man I have always been. If our court doth have some vile reputation it is through no fault of mine and probally more so to do with the appearance of my brother. Until his arrival no scandal hath shamed our household. The Queen, my wife, has conducted herself most appropriately.

If she has used unsavory methods dealing with my brother it was to protect me.

Nicholas

Dearest Nicholas,

I apologise if mine words didst hurt thee. I had hopes the pain of thine absence wudst be softened by knowledge that thou hadst taught Marie better ways and persuaded her to endeth her lust for the crown. Walsingham brings me none such information as yet and it doth worry me so that if thou art declared King Consort thine secret wilt be revelaed and I wudst loose thee forever.

Bess. x

P.S. If thine betrothed doth say anything else against my little Frog, so help me God, I shall have her head! Please keep her in check.

Bess,

I do try to keep her in check but you can not begin to understand the difficulty in the task. And though I doth not abide trickery or deciept there is something in her firery, overly bold nature that I do adore.

As for the Crown, you know well I have no desire to be King, in truth I dread it. It was my hopes that Marie would let her son rule but alas I shud have known better.

What am I to do? By my marriage to her I also make myself a King. Am I the only man who ever lived who doth not see that as a good thing?

Nicholas

Dearest Nicholas,

I do truly understand more than any other the difficulty of keeping Marie of Scotland in check.

I do still worry about your future as King of Scotland and hear your newly blossoming court ist currently filled with drunkards and mad women. Come home to England where thou dost belong. I have made most comfortable home for thou at Kenilworth and hath freed up the taxes that come from wine imports to provide thee with constant funds.

Alternatively there ist a position available at court of Master of Horse, though as I fear the Spaniards are mounting an army of great ships against us I may have to surrendor you to captain a fleet of our ships in defence of our great land.

...and when it comes to royal duties, only those wise among us doth see such things as a burden rather than a richness of power and wealth. For me they are also a neccesary calling until the day comes when I must surrendor the task to one younger and more able.

with my love,
Bess. x

My Dearest Bess,

Your offer could not have come at a more ironic time. I miss England now more than ever.
When I arrived in Scotland in Marie's court I felt welcome, happy. But I see now it is not my home, it is hers, I am only there because she allows it to be so.

My brother I am sure is up to no good yet Marie insists that it is I who am at fault . We have had to most unpleasant quarrel and she has hurt me greatly. Ah but I love her still.

My dear dear Bess, always you have looked after me and had faith in me. Why can my wife to be not do the same.

I shall think over your generous offer very carefully. Oh to be home again ....

With love,

Nicholas

Dearest Nicholas,

how it doth pain me to hear you so unwelcome in your new home.

I fear Marie knows not how to look after people, only how to demand to be looked after herself. Tis something that cannot be alterred, it ist all she hath ever known. Take care my lord for the moment she finds others to take better care of her or senses you lacking she wilt turn on you. I think it may be a reflex used to save herself so I cannot blame her for it, I can only wish she wilt not use it upon you.

...if I hadst the trouble of thine brother I wudst consider sending him to a loyal fellow monarch who cudst take him down a peg or two. There must be some quest he cudst be sent upon to earn back your trust? Of course I doth not expect he could ever earn your trust, but once under control of a less forgiving rule with no family loyalty I believe he cudst be somehow dealt with.

Think upon mine offers carefully.

Yours,
Bess. x

Dearest Bess,

My greatest fear is that she has already begun. I want to trust her, but she still defends my vile brother even while she offers to send him away.

She hath already admitted she finds him more malscule than I. If he remains in our court he will work his way between us, and I fear she shant have to work to hard to do it.

WE have yet to be married properly and already I feel I am losing her. Perhaps I shud come home now and escape the enevidable.

Your Grateful friend,

Nicholas

Whatever thou wishest dear Nicholas.

You know you have my support as your dear friend even when I cannot openly give my support as monarch.

I cannot give advice as regards Marie and your brother, knowing not what goes on betwixt them... and I cannot say that Marie has a 'type' other than... well... male. I fear she chooses whoever canst offer her the most at the time.

Darnley offered her a way to anger me and a further claim to my throne. Bothwell offered her a way to get rid of Darnley and - she thought - protection from her murderous infuriated Scottish Lords.

I hope she doth see something greater within thee and loves thee as ardently ast thou doth love her. Though I admit my suspicious nature has me lean towards thoughts she didst pursue you merely to anger me and then kept you for your unworldly powers.

I find myself curious how she wudst react if thine brother if circumstances were different, but I wudst not test thine betrothed's loyalty to thee.

As it is I already live to test her loyalty to her realm and her subjects in case she wudst have my throne after me. I like not what I find there and if she were lacking as regards you I wudst surely have her head for it!

I wish I cudst give better advice. I liketh not to see you in this position at all!

Yours
Bess. x

Bess,

You have already given me that which I need even more than advice, a kind ear to which I can describe my plight.

I have always been sensitive, perhaps overly so. And this curse with which I live only increases my rageing emotions. It seems I am too quick to take offense of late, perhaps I imagine things are worse than they are. Perhaps I jump at shadows.

My betrohed and I have spoken at great length about my brother and she had offered to ask your permission, as he is an Englishman, to exile him to France. But as we continued to speak of our upcoming wedding it seemed that he would be required to remain due to some duty of court. I know not these traditions but it would seem I can not be rid of him just yet.

I wudst loathe to test my Marie's love, I wudst take her in trust. But now it seems she will be tested with out my control or consent so long as my Brother remains in ou ... her court.

I hope more than anything my doubts are unjustified but I hold your offer close to my heart.

Yours always,

Nicholas

My Dear Bess

My dear Marie hath given thou the answer thee sought concerning the Spanish invasion. I think thou will be pleased. I wudst have you to know that her choice was wholey her own with no advice of mine at all.

It pleases me much to see that you both shall work together for a common good.


Yours,

Nicholas

My lord,

such news ist happy indeed, and I hope our alliance will remain strong and fortuitous to both nations. However, thou wilt of course understand if mine calculating nature doth require me to invite my lord of leicester to accompany me to the battle field. Though Marie professes her sisterly alliance, I canst not trust all of her supporters to think fo me so kindly.

I would warn thee my lord to take nothing in trust where Princes are concerned for more weighs upon their heads than thou canst begin to imagine. One day Marie may be called to make a choice for the future of her realm over that of the future of her love. Guard thineself well Sir and give Marie the freedom and support to do what must be done.

As regards your brother Marie canst of course exile him from Scotland but 'twould be my job to exile him from my own realm. Such a move cannot be taken lightly and I wudst not wish any subject undue harm or to seperate him from our great land. If it pleases her highness Marie of Scots I woudst have him sent to mine court so I may test his loyalty myself.

I wudst welcome news of the health and happiness of yourself and your betrothed upon your next correspondance. Your happiness and wellbeing are still most dear to me.

Bess.

My Dear Bess,

I do understandth your lack of trust and bid thee to take great care always as I know you do. As always your council is most wise. I do know that one day Marie shall have to make choices that may not bode well for me or our love. But I love her enough to support her no matter what it means for me. If or when the times comes I shall grant her the room she needs.

Of a more personal nature, things in the North are well. I am finding myself more at home than I once had. Marie has taken some measures to make me feel more as if our court is truly OURs and that I have some level of importance here.

Your Dear Mother has been at our court lately. I fear she liketh me not at all and Catherine of Par doth think even less of me. In fact, now that I think on it, be it friend or foe, anyone who doth come to call on Marie liketh me not. I had an aweful row today with some Princess from Wales, after which she fled from our court. To be honest I found it rather amuseing. And do not dare tell my sweet Marie, but I am finding much humor in your Mother's sharp tounge as well. I am rather sorry she and I got off on a bad start.

I realize I have lost much respect I once had in your court. Love hath blinded me Bess, and I have been a love sick fool. I shall be no longer. If Marie means to place me on a throne it shall not be as a puppet. I shall do all in my power to protect this land and yours. And I should also like to bring some class to our court, it is in dire need of it.

I should give you news of my brother, we have decided to allow him to remain in our realm and give him a place in court. Marie hath suggested I am too harsh and shud allow him a chance to win back mt favor. It sounds close to advise you would give me doth it not? You two do have more in common than you know. But your offer to deal with him is moat appreciated.

I fear I have carried on too long and kept you from important affairs so I shall not keep you longer. I think of you daily my dear friend and wish to see you seen with my own eyes.

Your devoted friend,

Nicholas

My lord,

it pleases me well to hear you are feeling more at home in your own court and that Marie ist beginning to behave more like a Regent... ie more like myself! I do jest a little of course, but tis great news indeed that she ist beginning to take an interest in the future of her realm and her subjects.

I fear Cat Parr and my dear maman may be rather harsh upon you on account of myself. I do not wish it so but I am considered beloved daughter to both and they wudst defy any man who wudst choose a Stuart over a place at my own court. As mother's do they probably realise how fondly I thought of you which also would not help thine case.

I myself find it much easier - as I assume does Marie - not sharing a roof. However I will admit that I do miss your company, that you are most welcome to visit at any time and that I delight in the arrival of your letters. Twud please me to to behold thee with mine own eyes, though I know I never have to wonder upon how you will have changed since I last saw thee for thine image doth never alter.

Now Nicholas, please do not tell me it was the Dowager Princess of Wales (Catherine of Aragon) that you upset? That would be mighty folly indeed. Though twould immediately raise you in my mother's estimation I admit!

Yours,
Bess. x

Dearest Nicholas,

I am most pleased as your friend to hear you wilt not let Marie rule you, but as a Queen it doth worry me. Remember she ist royal by birth and you can influence her only. If you take up the behaviour and powers of a true King you may find yourself the figurehead of rebellions against your own love.

I too wish to bring some class to my court and find myself entertaining mad thoughts of eloping to Italy with anyone fit to take me there!

I seem surrounded by ex Queen Consorts screaming and swearing at each other daily, and often calling me along with my mother in their fits of anger. It does not make for a pleasant court that wast once filled with music, literature, art and dance. I think that is why I am so very pleased with the presance of my new visitor who giveth me the chance for proper council and conversation.

In case you hath not heard, I am presently hosting his Majesty Charles the Holy Roman Emperor at my court which is a great honour indeed. Though I realise that maman doth like him not for reasons of his relation to Cat Aragon I find his company most charming and he ist helping me to work my way through the vast collection of suitors who doth seek my hand in marriage.

Tis great pity he himself ist not a little younger and more to mine taste for 'twould be mighty fine to see the face of his son Philip were I announced his new mother! Oh that my sister Mary could see my announced Queen above her too! I feel I would laugh myself to my own death I wud find it such great amusement!

Anyway, tis but a silly game within mine head. He tells me of late he hath sired a son by a lady other than his wife by the name of Don Juan. The name ist most enticing indeed and I hear his ist a fine sailor. Perhaps he wud elope with me to the land of culture and decadence?

Wistfully,
Bess. x