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January 10, 2004
Gloriana
His proposal rejected out of hand, Ivan the Terrible fired off a letter to Elizabeth I before he was added to her blocked-sender list.
According to a contemporary translation discovered by Mr Pryor, the tsar questioned Elizabeth's authority. "Wee had thought that you had beene ruler over your lande, and had sought honor to your self and proffitt to your Countrie, and therefore we did pretend those weightie affairs between you and us.
"But now we perceive that there be other men that doe rule, and not men but bowers [boors] and marchaunts [merchants], the wich seeke not the wealth and honnor of our majesties, but they seeke there owne proffitt of marchandize.
"And you flowe [flourish] in your maydenlike estate like a maide," he added, insultingly.
"But now we perceive that there be other men that doe rule, and not men but bowers [boors] and marchaunts [merchants], the wich seeke not the wealth and honnor of our majesties, but they seeke there owne proffitt of marchandize.
"And you flowe [flourish] in your maydenlike estate like a maide," he added, insultingly.
Posted by Ghost of a flea at January 10, 2004 11:03 AM