IN April 1566, signs of strain appeared in the relationship between Elizabeth I and her longtime visitor, Princess Cecilia of Sweden, when, after an extended visit in England, the Swedish princess abruptly left the country to rejoin her husband. Once a favorite at the English court, Cecilia had overstayed her welcome there through her extravagant freeloading. She was unwilling to accept any blame for the rift, however, and instead presented a retaliatory list of complaints to her ...