Vanity, thy name is (was) Elizabeth

It seems that Shakespeare was taking his very life in his own hands if he ever mentioned Elizabethss age. Apparently, her age and looks mattered a great deal to her at any rate. The French diplomat de Maisse described her attire as such

"She had a petticoat of white damask, girdled and open in the front, as was also was her chemise, in such a manner that she often opened this dress and one could see all her belly, and even to her navel... When she raises her head she has a trick of puting both hands on her gown and opening it insomuch as all her belly can be seen."

Now this is a very aged, one might say old, woman, albeit the Queen, who feels it necessary to bare herself to her audience. Watch out Shakespeare! She might take something you say personally. Shakespeare added quite a few special epilogues to plays that were performed for Elizabeth and he, very carefully, mentioned her mortality a few times. Good thing she liked him or it could have been "Off with his head!" or some other unpleasantness.