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It's the early hours of the morning on March 24th, 1603. An English nobleman gallops through the dark streets of London, his spurs digging into his horse's flanks.

Perspiration glistens on the steed's muscular body,

but the nobleman doesn't dare slow down.

His future, and the future of England, depends on it.

The turrets of Richmond Palace loom up ahead,

black against an inky blue sky.

The nobleman approaches the gates and announces himself

as Sir Robert Carey, one of Queen Elizabeth's closest

advisors. The guard lets him through. Inside the palace, Carrie rushes through candlelit corridors

until he arrives outside the royal bedchamber. The Queen's ladies in waiting huddle near the door,

their cheeks streaked with tears.

Seeing their grief-stricken faces, Carrie realizes the reports he received are true.

Queen Elizabeth I is dead.

Carrie knows her closest living relative, and heir, James VI of Scotland, is 400 miles away in Edinburgh.

Carrie also knows that the first person to bring James the news of Elizabeth's death

will likely receive a considerable reward.

So Carrie turns and hurries back the way he came.

But just as he reaches the palace doors,

...