Death

Elizabeth, before the arrival of  the Armada, met the Earl of Essex, Dudley’s stepson. He became in a short time Elizabeth’s new favourite, and her constant companion: they played cards, went hunting, riding and danced together. But actually, Essex was very ambitious and greedy: he tried to condition the Queen about his position and decisions favouring himself. But when he attempted to make the queen give an enemy of his the post of Lord Protector of Ireland, an office that was one of failure and destruction, Elizabeth refused and, during an argument between the two, she slapped him in the face. He reached his sword but he was subdued by the council members; in fact drawing arms in the presence of  the queen or king, was considered treason.

Elizabeth sent him in Ireland to the post of Lord Protector. After a short time, he wrote to her for permission to return to England; she refused but he returned anyway and when he went to her without invitation, she had him placed under house arrest.

He escaped and led a rebellion against Elizabeth to gain control of her, but the uprising failed because of lack of supporters. He was captured and executed for treason in 1601.

Now, all her enemies, suitors, friends had died: in fact the major enemy, Philip of Spain, had died a few years before, the last suitor had died in Netherlands fighting for her, and Dudley had been dead for years. Elizabeth, arrived now at the end of her life, had to name an heir and the only option was James of Scotland. She named him in a letters but she didn’t designate him formally because she didn’t want to create a rival court around her heir.

Elizabeth spent her final days on a bed and died on March 23, 1603, after ruling England for 45 years.