Queen Elizabeth was mighty lucky to survive a gun repeatedly firing at her river barge in 1579. For the man responsible, Thomas Applegate, his fate hangs by a thin thread.
The story begins on 17th July 1579 when Thomas Applegate decides to lark around with his friends along the River Thames between Greenwich and Deptford. At the same time her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth I is cruising along the river in her regal barge with the French Ambassador, Jean de Simier, the Earl of Lincoln, and her Vice Chamberlain, Christopher Hatton, discussing the prospect of her marrying the Duke of Anjou. Nothing more would have been said and this event would have passed unnoticed in history had Thomas not fire his Caliver or Harquebush pistol wildly with enjoyment around three or four times.
It’s a foolish gesture. Whilst it amuses his party it also results in a bullet that shatters the glass side of Elizabeth’s barge and hits her helmsman who is only six feet away from her. The first reaction of the Queen is to think that the bullet is meant her and fear for her life as there have been many plots recently to topple her from the throne. The bullet itself passes through both of the helmsman’s arms and causes him to cry out in anguish with great pain.
It is at this point that the Queen displays her regal airs and wonderfully myopic perspective. She comforts him with a scarf to wrap around his arms and says ‘be of good cheer, for you will never want. For the bullet was meant for me’. Small cause to celebrate when you feel you are dying in a pool of your own blood but one has to remember that royalty is treated with great deference in medieval times.
A major investigation quickly ensues as the fear of an assassination attempt gives a sense of urgency that dark forces are at work and may soon strike again. The culprit, Thomas Applegate is found soon after, sentenced to death by the Privy Council and the following Tuesday paraded through the city, out to Blackwall and finally to a gibbet beside the river. His prospects look bleak. In desperation he pleads “God is my judge, I never in my life intended to hurt to the Queen’s most excellent Majesty… I am penitent and sorry for my good master, Mr Henry Carey, who hath been so grieved for my fault, suffering rebuke for the same”.
No mercy is granted. Tears pour from his eyes and the executioner fastens a noose around his neck and the young man prepares to die a quick, painful death. The crowds who are milling around feel he has been foolish but accept that it was an accident and not deliberate so they side with him and shout ‘Stay, stay, stay!’.
Right at the last moment, Sir Christopher Hatton, the Vice Chamberlain steps forward and announces that what Thomas Applegate has done is foolish and wicked but the Queen has decided to grant mercy on his life. At this he is taken down from his ladder and at once gives praise to God and to Sir Christopher Hatton.
Quite why he is saved is open to debate. Applegate’s master, Henry Carey is a member of the Privy Council and may have used his high position to influence the Queen. Then again it might have been that the Queen only sought to know that Thomas Applegate was sorry for his behaviour and once Hatton knew this he was able to grant mercy. A further reason for the Queen’s action might have been that she sought to display her magnamity and thereby win over the crowds. Whatever the real reason it is probably of little consequence to Thomas Applegate who must have felt mightily lucky to escape death and no doubt dined out on this story for the rest of his life.