th's reign, where her control of her country'spolitical, religious, and economic forces and over her representation ofherself began to show severe strains. Bad harvests, continued inflation, and unemployment caused strain anda loss of public morale. Charge of corruption and greed led to widespreadpopular hatred of the Queen's favourite, to whom she had given large andmuch-resented monopolies. Queen Elizabeth continued to make brilliant speeches, to exercise herauthority. But she suffered from bouts of melancholy, ill health, andshowed signs of increasing debility. As Sir Walter Raleigh remarked, "alady surprised by time." On march 24, 1603, having reportedly indicated JAMES VI as hersuccessor, Queen Elizabeth died quietly. The nation accepted the new Kingquite enthusiastically. But long before her death, she had transformed herself into a powerfulimage of female authority....
