|
Dromo's Den
|
|
[Up] [Dromo's Den] Queen Elizabeth Biography ELIZABETH, queen of England, daughter of Henry VIII, and Anne Boleyn, born at Greenwich, Sept. 7, 1533; died March 24, 1603. She was declared heiress to the crown shortly after her birth. However, in her third year her mother was beheaded and both she and her sister Mary were declared bastards, but she was finally placed in the order of succession after Prince Edward and the Lady Mary. When Edward VI. ascended the throne, she was placed in care of Catharine Parr, the queen dowager, and later taken to Hatfield, where she obtained a classical education under such eminent teachers as William Grindal and Roger Ascham. Besides learning the arts of music and attaining high skill in science, she learned to converse freely in German, French, Latin, and Greek. As a matter of self defense she manifested zealous adherence to the Roman Catholic faith, though her inclination to Protestantism was generally suspected. Immediately after the death of Mary, Nov. 17, 1558, she was recognized queen by parliament amid much rejoicing of the Protestants and with the approval of moderate Catholics. Her ascent was followed by the re-establishment of the ecclesiastical system devised during her father's reign, and the act of uniformity enforced the revised prayerbook. She declared her intention to live and die a virgin, though she was approached by parliament on the serious question of the succession to the crown, and had numerous suitors, among them Eric, king of Sweden, Philip of Spain, Henry III of France, and Archduke Charles of Austria. The reign of Elizabeth ranks among the shrewdest and most important in England history. To the wisdom she exercised in engaging as her advisers the ablest men of the kingdom, is due largely the growth of Great Britain into a world power. Among the unfortunate events may be named the jealousy that existed between her and Mary Queen of Scots, which resulted in the beheading of the latter, and the many persecutions to which the Catholics were subjected. On the other hand are numerous facts of history that make her a most distinguished character for influence and power. Among them may be named the destruction of the Spanish Armada in 1588; extensive influence at the courts of France, Holland, and other countries, making her a potent factor in the political affairs of Europe, anal vast strides of advancement in architectural arts and commercial relations. The Elizabethan architecture was an outgrowth of the inferior Gothic and Italian. Though not particularly preferable, it met the wants of an advancing civilization and was far superior to the styles formerly used in Britain. In her youth she was described as a maid of auburn hair and delicate white hands, but with manners and face almost masculine. A description made of her at sixty-five years related that she wore false red hair, a white silk dress bordered with pearls, ear-rings of large pearls, and profuse decorations of gold end diamonds. In the affairs of government abroad and at home, she was supported by such men as Bacon, Burleigh, and Walsingham. The Teachers' and Pupils' Cyclopædia, Vol. II (Kansas City: Bufton Book Co., 1909) 572-573. |