As David Starkey's sumptuous four part series draws to a close, the final chapter, like the rest of Elizabeth's life, has its fair share of drama.

After the stunning victories over the Spanish, Elizabeth was elevated almost to the status of a M: Gloriana. Unfortunately this God was mortal and getting older and more frail as every year passed. Similarly her trusty council were also getting old and dying. In the first two years of the 1590s she lost a number of court notables, including Sir Francis Walsingham, Secretary of State and spymaster extraordiiiaire, and Sir Christopher Hatton. Of the old guard only William Cocil, Lord Burieigh, remained. The gaps in court and council would have to be filled.

But the Queen had always hated change, and instead of bringing in new blood, she replaced fathers with their sons. Two of the prominent men from the new generation were Robert Devereux, Earl of Essex, who was Robert Dudley's step-son. The other new arrival was Robert Cedi's second son of Lord Burieigh. Despite Elizabeth's recent victories, Spain remained the most powerful country in Europe, and King Philip was still determined to destroy Elizabeth and her island nation. His army captured Calais and once again Elizabeth found herself in the position where there was only the channel between herself and her enemy. With a great fleet gathering at Cadiz in Spain to transport Spanish troops, the Queen set aside her doubts about military action and sent an expedition to Cadiz to destroy the new Armada in port before it had even set sail. The strategist and Commander of the expedition was the Earl of Essex, but the man who financed it and organised it was Robert Cecil.

 On June 20th, 120 English and Dutch ships attack Cadiz. Tle Spanish were taken off guard - their invasion fleet was destroyed. Spain had again been humbled by England, and Essex, had triumphed. Essex was now a popular hero - and the burning of Cadiz was built up into something to rival the defeat of the Spanish Armada itself. But the Armada only had a single heroine - Elizabeth. For Elizabeth it was a novel and disturbing development. A man whom she had created was her rival in popular affection. Unfortunately Essex didn't have the good sense to be humble and as a result seriously fell from grace in the queen's eyes.

The queen clearly wasn't going to live forever and therefore the ever-practical Robert Cecil began a secret correspondence with James VI of Scotland. He had in effect taken it upon himself to pave the way for James' succession to the English throne, thereby ensuring his own continuance in office.

By March 1603 Elizabeth was in serious decline. She was suffering from ulcers, fever, and lack of appetite. Against all advice she refused to go to bed. Within days she was dead. Starkey concludes: "When Elizabeth came to the throne, England was an insignificant country. When she died it was a great European power and it was on the threshold of a world destiny, which had already been glimpsed by some of the more irnaginative of her subjects. Elizabeth founded a national Church and she inspired a national literature. Her father Henry VIII had invented the idea of England - Elizabeth became its living embodiment. Few monarchs had been better loved by their subjects."