by G E Barr

Created on: June 10, 2010

Good Queen Bess

"I may not be a lion, but I am a lion's cub and I have a lion's heart."  -Queen Elizabeth I

Declared illegitimate at age 2 1/2 years,  after the execution of her mother, Anne Boleyn, Elizabeth was cut from the succesion by her brother, Edward VI.  As fate would have it, Edward's will was set aside and Elizabeth ascended to the throne with the death of Bloody Mary, or Mary I, whom had Elizabeth imprisoned for a year due to suspicion that she was empathetic to the protestant cause of that day.

Elizabeth I had a strange life.  Though she wanted for little, she was not accepted as royalty.  Ironically, though her mother was killed and Elizabeth declared unfit, she did ascend.  Perhaps by the very knowledge that life and death were at the whims of a rather shifty group of people, Elizabeth learned a certain humility and wisdom, especially when dealing with people.  She realized young, that trust was not given out easily.

Elizabeth I was a bright woman who'd had a chance to eye the world from a perspective most usually not available to royalty.  Though she retained a royal presence, she was down to earth in her understanding of people and circumstance.  She did not take her royal position lightly as though it were a genetic program, say, like the shape of her eyebrows.  Elizabeth I was a thinker and no doubt quite intuitive.

By the time Elizabeth had made the decision to not marry, it no doubt was not a difficult choice.  She had to balance political and royal concerns, out of the castle, inside and of course internationally.  Not marrying made good sense.  Keeping her close allies within the royal household was very wise.

She was the last Tudor and when she died, that lineage died with her.  She never bore children, of course.

Elizabeth I did support the protestant cause, as she spent time in prison for and The Church of England today, is the spawn of that support.

When the English defeated the Spanish Armada in 1588, Elizabeth was given glory for that.  It is clear that Elizabeth was moderate in her dealings, however, once the gates of war opened, she stood courageously with her people.  She was a woman who considered different facets of circumstances and could do that, no doubt, due to her not so stable upbringing, which afforded her a more egalitarian view. 

It must have been very difficult for her to deal with the fact that the very system which asked her to rule, actually stood by and did nothing as her mother was basically murdered to appease pomp and tradition.  The same system which deemed her illegitimate.  Still yet, she was loyal to the crown and her country and served well, as though she'd been groomed for it all along.

The era in which she reigned is called The Golden Age.  She was only 25 when she became Queen of England and she reigned well until her death, 44 years later.

Religiously, she was not dogmatic and was rather inclusive, seeking religious peace for England, and supporting the protestant uprising against the French in Scotland, who could have, at that time caused a great rift for the island.

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