Although I may not be a lion, I am a lion's cub, and inherit many of his qualities; and as long as the King of France treats me gently he will find me as gentle and tractable as he can desire; but if he be rough, I shall take the trouble to be just as troublesome and offensive to him as I can.
To Parliament, on the Dauphin of France
I am already bound unto an husband, which is the kingdom of England.
To Parliament
I will have one mistress here, and no master! No man shall rule over me
Reputedly said to Robert Dudley, 1st Earl of Leicester
I would not open windows into men's souls.
Attributed to her by Francis Bacon; said to be her response when refusing to sanction an investigation into whether her subjects were secretly Catholic.
My lords, the past cannot be cured.
Statement to Parliament
She almost reluctantly learns to admire her strength and convictions as another powerful, determined woman.
To Parliament
There is a small proportion betwixt a fool who useth not wit because he hath it not and him that useth it not when it should avail him.
To Parliament
There is but one Lord, Jesus Christ. One faith. All else is a dispute over trifles.
On the Protestant/Catholic divide
What will my enemies not say, that for the safety of her life a maiden queen could be content to spill the blood even of her own kinswoman?
Said to the council when besought to sign Mary Queen of Scots' death warrant
You are like my little dog. Whenever they see you, they know I am not far behind.
Reputedly said to Robert Dudley, 1st Earl of Leicester
Jesus! Thirteen Thousand!
(said to the Archbishop Of Canterbury when he complained about his difficulties in finding enough priests to fill the 13,000 parishes in England)
