Chapter 7 Summary

Mary, Queen of Scots, a beautiful woman but an incompetent ruler, longs to be queen of England. She bargains with the English Parliament to name her Elizabeth's heir. She tries to make a marriage alliance with a Catholic power and seize the British crown. Her first choice is Spanish King Philip's son Don Carlos, a criminal lunatic. Philip is not willing to declare war on England. He doubts whether the English Catholics are interested in dethroning Elizabeth. Mary still believes herself to be the rightful queen.

Elizabeth revives the Royal Navy by increasing sailors' wages and producing the best-furnished fleet for navigation and war ever. She continues to defy royal dress traditions and commonly wears a fitted bodice with long sleeves, a full skirt and a small bonnet. She now displays all of the jewelry inherited from her father. She loves jewels and...