Queen Elizabeth I
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155 !

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#$ome have %allen %rom being &rinces o% this land to be

 prisoners in this place' I am raised %rom being prisoner in this
 place to be &rince o% this land( )hat de*ection +as a +or, o%
-od#s *ustice' this advancement is a +or, o% .is merc/(#
 Elizabeth I at the Tower of London, during her coronation ceremonies, 1559)

Contents
1( Introduction

2( &arents ! Childhood

3( Elizabeth the heir to the throne

• Church $ettlement

• ariage 4 )he irgin Queen

• -loriana and the $panish 6rmada

• )he Queens %avorits

• Late /ears

7( )he Elizabethan Era:)he -olden 6ge

• )he Elizabethan theatre

• Colonising the 8e+ 9orld

• usic in the Elizabethan era

• )he Queens +ardrobe

• $ports games and leisure

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5( Conclusion

"( ibliograph/

1( Introduction
)he reason +h/ I have chosen this this topic is because I have been impressed b/
Queen Elizabeths strong personalit/ and b/ the +a/ she managed to rule such a ,ingdom
li,e England and Ireland +ithout having to marr/( I have heared about her a lot o% things
 be%ore ta,ing up this sub*ect and I ,ne+ %or certain that I +ould li,e to ,no+ even more
about her as she is the ;ueen +ho gave a name to a +hole era the Elizabethan 6ge
+hich +as prosperous in all domains: music theatre architecture not to mention the %act
that England +on the title o% master o% the seas a%ter de%eating the $panish 6rmada(
In the second chapter I tal,ed about Elizabeths parents and the situation that changed
her status %rom a princess to a illegitimate daughter at the same time I mentioned the
,no+ledge she possessed as her education vas not neglected even i% she +as droped o%%
%rom her title she +as still a +ell educated +oman(
In the third chapter I describet in the beginning the accession to the throne o% ar/ I
her hal% sister and ho+ Elizabeth became her heir describing also some details about the
coronation o% Queen Elizabeth( In the same chapter I included %ive subsections that
illustrate the li%e o% the ;ueen %rom the beginning o% her reign to her late /ears as +ell as
the great problems concerning the ,ingdom( Church Settlement, +hich illustrates the
solution the Queen gave to the problems bet+een &rotestants and Catholics as Elizabeth
gave e;ual rights to all her sub*ects no matter their con%ession declaring England a
,ingdom that no longer is under the Church o% <ome but under the 6nglican Church(
6nother great problem during Queen Elizabeths reign +as her status as a unmarried
;ueen +ho +as e=pected to marr/ but this never happened(In this subsection I +rote
do+n all the candidates that +ere considered as eligible %or the Queen as +ell as
Elizabeths o+n vie+ about marriage( 6ll these details are included in the subsection
 bearing the title: ,,arriage!! " The #irgin $ueen ()he third subsection puts on paper the
triumph o% England over the $panish 6rmada that +as a great achievement %or England
in those da/s( )he ne=t subsection spea,s about The $ueen!s fa%orites in her court and
her attitude to+ards them( 6t the end o% this chapter I described her Late &ears  +hich
includes details about her condition and her state o% mind as +ell as her %uneral(
In the %orth chapter I described The Elizabethan era " The 'olden (ge +hich includes
in%ormation about The Elizabethan Theatre about the Colonisation of the ew *orld,
 usic in Elizabethan Era and at the same time giving some details about Queen
Elizabeths hobb/es that +ere captured in t+o capters The $ueen!s wardrobe, and
S+orts,games and leisure

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2(&arents 4 Childhood

!!-e who +laced me in this seat will .ee+ me here!! / Elizabeth

  I )

Elizabeth +as the onl/ child o%

.enr/ III and 6nne ole/n +ho did
not bear a male heir and +as e=ecuted
less than three /ears a%ter Elizabeth#s
 birth(
  Elizabeth +as born at -reen+ich
&alace and +as named a%ter both her
grandmothers Elizabeth o% >or,  and
Elizabeth .o+ard( $he +as the second
child o% .enr/ III o% England born in
+edloc, to survive in%anc/( .er mother
+as .enr/#s second +i%e 6nne ole/n(
6t birth Elizabeth +as the heiress presumptive to the throne o% England( .er older hal%!
sister ar/ had lost her position as a legitimate heir +hen .enr/ annulled his marriage to
ar/#s mother Catherine o% 6ragon in order to marr/ 6nne and sire a male heir to ensure
the )udor succession(
9hen Elizabeth +as t+o /ears and eight months old her mother +as e=ecuted on 1 th
a/ 153"( Elizabeth +as declared illegitimate and deprived o% the title o% princess( Eleven
da/s a%ter 6nne ole/n#s death .enr/ married ?ane $e/mour  +ho died shortl/ a%ter the
 birth o% their son &rince Ed+ard in 153@( Arom his birth Ed+ard +as the undisputed heir to
the throne and Elizabeth +as placed in his household(
  In +hat concerns Elizabeths education she +as taught %our languages: Arench
Alemish Italian and $panish( / the time 9illiam -rindal became her tutor in 1577
Elizabeth could +rite English Latin and Italian( Bnder -rindal a talented and s,il%ul tutor
she also progressed in Arench and -ree, and b/ the time her %ormal education ended in
1550 she +as one o% the best educated +omen o% her generation( / the end o% her li%e
Elizabeth +as also reputed to spea, 9elsh Cornish $cottish and Irish in addition to English(
6nd once the enetian ambassador stated in 1"03 that she possessed Dthese languages so
thoroughl/ that each appeared to be her native tongue(
esides reading and +ritingElizabeth also spent her time learning to pla/ musical
instruments and also learned needle+or, and art( ut she also en*o/ed pla/ing *ust li,e other 
children( Arom an earl/ age she +as taught all the re;uirements o% a classical humanist
education' histor/ philosoph/mathematics( $he also loved such activities as hunting riding
dancing and pla/ing( .er education also included non!academic sub*ects a lad/ o% her ran,
and status should ,no+ things such as: se+ing embroider/ dancing music archer/ riding
and hunting(

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3 (Elizabeth the heir to the throne

  Fn the 2Gth ?anuar/ 157@ .enr/ III Hing o% England and Ireland died at the
&alace o% 9hitehall at the age o% 55( .e +as buried ne=t to his true +i%eJ ?ane $e/mour in
$t -eorges Chapel at 9indsor Castle(
In his +ill .enr/ III named his son Ed+ard as Hing +ith his daughters ar/ and
Elizabeth %ollo+ing ne=t in line( Ed+ard I died on " ?ul/ 1553 aged 15( .is +ill s+ept
aside the $uccession to the Cro+n 6ct 1573 e=cluded both ar/ and Elizabeth %rom the
succession and instead declared as his heir Lad/ ?ane -re/ granddaughter o% .enr/ III#s
sister ar/ Kuchess o% $u%%ol, ( Lad/ ?ane +as proclaimed ;ueen b/ the &riv/ Council but
her support ;uic,l/ crumbled and she +as deposed a%ter nine da/s( ar/ rode triumphantl/
into London +ith Elizabeth at her side(
ut the sho+ o% solidarit/ bet+een the sisters did not
last long( ar/ a devout Catholic +as determined to crush
the &rotestant %aith in +hich Elizabeth had been educated
and she ordered that ever/one attend Catholic ass'
Elizabeth had to out+ardl/ con%orm( ar/#s initial
 popularit/ ebbed a+a/ in 1557 +hen she announced plans
to marr/ &rince &hilip o% $pain the son o% Emperor Charles
 and an active Catholic( Kiscontent spread rapidl/ through
the countr/ and man/ loo,ed to Elizabeth as a %ocus %or
their opposition to ar/#s religious policies( In ?anuar/ and
Aebruar/ 1557 9/att#s rebellion bro,e out' it +as soon
suppressed( Elizabeth +as brought to court and interrogated
regarding her role and on 1G arch she +as imprisoned in
the )o+er o% London( Elizabeth %erventl/ protested her
innocence( ar/#s closest con%idant Charles #s ambassador $imon <enard argued that her
throne +ould never be sa%e +hile Elizabeth lived' and the Chancellor $tephen -ardiner 
+or,ed to have Elizabeth put on trial but Elizabeth#s supporters in the government including
Lord &aget convinced ar/ to spare her sister in the absence o% hard evidence against her(
Fn 1@th 6pril 1555 Elizabeth +as recalled to court to attend the %inal stages o% ar/#s
apparent pregnanc/( I% ar/ and her child died Elizabeth
+ould become ;ueen( I% on the other hand ar/ gave
 birth to a health/ child Elizabeth#s chances o% becoming
;ueen +ould recede sharpl/( 9hen it became clear that
ar/ +as not pregnant no one believed an/ longer that
she could have a child( Elizabeth#s succession seemed
assured(
Fn " 8ovember ar/ recognised Elizabeth as her heir(
Fn 1@th  8ovember 155G ar/ died and Elizabeth
succeeded to the throne(
Elizabeth became ;ueen at the age o% 25 and declared
her intentions to her Council and other peers +ho had
come to .at%ield to s+ear allegiance(
 6s her triumphal progress +ound through the cit/ on the
eve o% the coronation ceremon/ she +as +elcomed

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+holeheartedl/ b/ the citizens and greeted b/ orations and pageants most +ith a strong
&rotestant %lavour( Elizabeth#s open and gracious responses endeared her to the spectators
+ho +ere +onder%ull/ ravished( )he %ollo+ing da/ 15 th  ?anuar/ 155 Elizabeth +as
cro+ned and anointed b/ F+en Fglethorpe the Catholic bishop o% Carlisle at 9estminster
6bbe/(

• Church $ettlement
Arom the ver/ beginning o% her reign she has treated all religious ;uestions
+ith so much caution and incredible prudence that she seems both to protect the
Catholic religion and at the same time not entirel/ to condemn or out+ardl/
re*ect the ne+ <e%ormation((((
In m/ opinion a ver/ prudent action intended to ,eep the adherents o% both
creeds in sub*ection %or the less she ru%%les them at the beginning o% her reign
the more easil/ she +ill enthrall them later on( the Im+erial en%o& Count con -elffstein,
 arch 1559

Elizabeth#s personal religious convictions have been much debated b/ scholars( $he
+as a &rotestant but ,ept Catholic s/mbols such as the cruci%i= and do+npla/ed the role
o% sermons in de%iance o% a ,e/ &rotestant belie%(
In terms o% public polic/ she %avoured pragmatism in dealing +ith religious matters(
)he ;uestion o% her legitimac/ +as a ,e/ concern: 6lthough she +as technicall/ illegitimate
under both &rotestant and Catholic la+ her retroactivel/ declared illegitimac/ under the
English church +as not a serious bar compared to having never been legitimate as the
Catholics claimed she +as(Aor this reason alone it +as never serious doubt that Elizabeth
+ould embrace &rotestantism(
Elizabeth and her advisors perceived the threat o% a Catholic crusade against heretical
England( Elizabeth there%ore sought a &rotestant solution that +ould not o%%end Catholics too
greatl/ +hile addressing the desires o% English &rotestants' she +ould not tolerate the more
radical &uritans though +ho +ere pushing %or %ar!reaching re%orms( 6s a result the
 parliament o% 155 started to legislate %or a church based on the &rotestant settlement o%
Ed+ard I +ith the monarch as its head but +ith man/ Catholic elements such as priestl/
vestments(
)he .ouse o% Commons bac,ed the proposals strongl/ but the bill o% supremac/ met
opposition in the .ouse o% Lords particularl/ %rom the bishops( Elizabeth +as %ortunate that
man/ bishoprics +ere vacant at the time including the 6rchbishopric o% Canterbur/( )his
enabled supporters amongst peers to outvote the bishops and conservative peers(
 8evertheless Elizabeth +as %orced to accept the title o% $upreme -overnor o% the Church o%
England rather than the more contentious title o% $upreme .ead +hich man/ thought
unacceptable %or a +oman to bear( )he ne+ 6ct o% $upremac/ became la+ on G a/ 155(

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• arriage 4 )he irgin Queen

#I% I +ere a mil,maid +ith a pail on m/ arm +hereb/ m/ private person might be
little set b/ I +ould not %orsa,e that poor and single state to match +ith the
greatest monarch(#  Elizabeth I to 0arliament, regarding marriage

Arom the start o% Elizabeth#s reign it +as e=pected that she +ould marr/ and the
;uestion arose to +hom( In the spring o% 155 it
 became evident that Elizabeth +as in love +ith her
childhood %riend <obert Kudle/( It +as said that
6m/ <obsart his +i%e +as su%%ering %rom an illness
and that the Queen +ould li,e to marr/ Kudle/ i% his
+i%e should die( / the autumn o% 155 several
%oreign suitors +ere v/ing %or Elizabeth#s hand' their 
impatient envo/s engaged in ever more scandalous
tal, and reported that a marriage +ith her %avourite
+as not +elcome in England( 6m/ Kudle/ died in $eptember 15"0 %rom a %all %rom a %light
o% stairs and despite the coroner#s in;uest %inding o% accident man/ people suspected Kudle/
to have arranged her death so that he could marr/ the ;ueen( Elizabeth seriousl/ considered
marr/ing Kudle/ %or some time( .o+ever 9illiam Cecil 8icholas )hroc,morton and some
conservative peers made their disapproval unmista,abl/ clear(
6mong other marriages being considered %or the ;ueen <obert Kudle/ +as regarded
as a possible candidate %or nearl/ another decade( Elizabeth +as e=tremel/ *ealous o% his
a%%ections even +hen she no longer meant to marr/ him hersel%( In 15"7 Elizabeth raised
Kudle/ to the peerage as Earl o% Leicester ( .e %inall/ remarried in 15@G to +hich the ;ueen
reacted +ith repeated scenes o% displeasure and li%elong hatred to+ards his +i%e( $till
Kudle/ al+a/s remained at the centre o% Elizabeth#s emotional li%e(
arriage negotiations constituted a ,e/ element in Elizabeth#s %oreign polic/( $he
turned do+n &hilip II#s o+n hand in 155 and negotiated %or several /ears to marr/ his
cousin 6rchdu,e Charles o% 6ustria( / 15" relations +ith the .absburgs had deteriorated
and Elizabeth considered marriage to t+o Arench alois princes in turn %irst .enr/ Ku,e o%
6n*ou and later %rom 15@2 to 15G1 his brother  Arancis Ku,e o% 6n*ou %ormerl/ Ku,e o%
6lenMon( )his last proposal +as tied to a planned alliance against $panish control o% the
$outhern 8etherlands( Elizabeth seems to have ta,en the courtship
seriousl/ %or a time and +ore a %rog!shaped earring that 6n*ou
had sent her(
Elizabeth#s seeming obliviousness to marriage her re%usal to
discuss it or her occasional +itt/ but vague comments ! all these
in%uriated her councilors( )he/ seemed incapable o% appreciating
the impact marriage +ould have upon her li%e +hile its impact
+as distressingl/ clear to Elizabeth( )he councilors +anted a ,ing
and an heir a natural enough desire since her throne could not be
completel/ secure +ithout them( ut Elizabeth ,ne+ hersel% to be
intellectuall/ superior to most men and she relished her
independence( 6nd o% course her %ather#s marital histor/ ! as +ell as her sister#s ! made her

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;uestion both the personal and political cost o% marriage( )he ne+ ;ueen al+a/s had a lo+
opinion o% marital happiness and sa+ little reason to change her mind(
6nd so out o% love o% independence and po+er and a native distrust o% marriage
Elizabeth +as determined to remain single( .er councilors %or their part pretended to
 believe other+ise %or ;uite a long time( Kespite her repeated vo+s to #live and die a virgin#
the/ embar,ed upon countless rounds o% diplomatic negotiations searching %or a husband(
It is also +orth noting the endless di%%iculties in selecting a suitable husband( 6
%oreign match +ould have dragged England into the morass o% European politics +ith
 possibl/ the same disastrous results o% ar/#s marriage( ut marriage to an Englishman
+ould have given too much po+er to one political %action or the other( 6nd so Elizabeth#s
 personal disli,e o% marriage turned out to be a shre+d political decision though it
con%ounded ever/one %or several /ears(
In other +ords the/ could discuss and debate and suggest ! but onl/ Elizabeth could
rule(
6lso Elizabeth#s unmarried status inspired a cult o% virginit/( In poetr/ and
 portraiture she +as depicted as a virgin or a goddess or both not as a normal +oman( 6t
%irst onl/ Elizabeth made a virtue o% her virginit/: in 155 she told the Commons , (nd, in
the end, this shall be for me sufficient, that a marble stone shall declare that a 2ueen, ha%ing
reigned such a time, li%ed and died a %irginLater on poets and +riters too, up the theme
and turned it into an iconograph/ that e=alted Elizabeth( &ublic tributes to the irgin b/ 15@G
acted as a coded assertion o% opposition to the ;ueen#s marriage negotiations +ith the Ku,e
o% 6lenMon(
&utting a positive spin on her marital status Elizabeth insisted she +as married to her
,ingdom and sub*ects under divine protection( In 15 she spo,e o% all m& husbands, m&
 good +eo+le

• -loriana and the $panish 6rmada

!!There is nothing about which I am more an3ious than m& countr&, and for its
 sa.e I am willing to die ten deaths, if that be +ossible!! / Elizabeth
  I )

In government Elizabeth +as more moderate than her %ather and hal%!siblings had
 been( Fne o% her mottoes +as %ideo et taceo I see and sa/ nothing( In religion she +as
relativel/ tolerant avoiding s/stematic persecution( 6%ter 15@0 +hen the pope declared her
illegitimate and released her sub*ects %rom obedience to her several conspiracies threatened
her li%e( 6ll plots +ere de%eated ho+ever +ith the help o% her ministers# secret service(
Elizabeth +as cautious in %oreign a%%airs moving bet+een the ma*or po+ers o% Arance and
$pain( $he onl/ hal%!heartedl/ supported a number o% ine%%ective poorl/ resourced militar/
campaigns in the 8etherlands Arance and Ireland( In the mid!15G0s +ar +ith $pain could
no longer be avoided and +hen $pain %inall/ decided to attempt to con;uer England in 15GG
the %ailure o% the $panish 6rmada associated her +ith one o% the greatest victories in English
histor/(
Elizabeth#s %oreign polic/ +as largel/ de%ensive( )he e=ception +as the English
occupation o% Le .avre %rom Fctober 15"2 to ?une 15"3 +hich ended in %ailure +hen
Elizabeth#s .uguenot allies *oined +ith the Catholics to reta,e the port( Elizabeth#s intention
had been to e=change Le .avre %or  Calais lost to Arance in ?anuar/ 155G( Fnl/ through the

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activities o% her %leets did Elizabeth pursue an aggressive polic/( )his paid o%% in the +ar
against $pain G0N o% +hich +as %ought at sea( $he ,nighted Arancis Kra,e a%ter his
circumnavigation o% the globe %rom 15@@ to 15G0 and he +on %ame %or his raids on $panish
 ports and %leets( 6n element o% pirac/ and sel%!enrichment drove Elizabethan sea%arers over
+hich the ;ueen had little control(
9hile .enr/ III had launched the <o/al 8av/ Ed+ard and ar/ had ignored it and
it +as little more than a s/stem o% coastal de%ense( Elizabeth made naval strength a high
 priorit/( $he ris,ed +ar +ith $pain b/ supporting the $ea Kogs such as ?ohn .a+,ins and
Arancis Kra,e +ho pre/ed on the $panish merchant ships carr/ing gold and silver %rom the
 8e+ 9orld( )he 8av/ /ards +ere leaders in technical innovation and the captains devised
ne+ tactics( &ar,er 1" argues that the %ull!rigged ship +as one o% the greatest
technological advances o% the centur/ and permanentl/ trans%ormed naval +ar%are( In 15@3
English ship+rights introduced designs %irst demonstrated in the Kreadnaught that
allo+ed the ships to sail %aster and maneuver better and permitted heavier guns( 9hereas
 be%ore +arships had tried to grapple +ith each other so that soldiers could board the enem/
ship no+ the/ stood o%% and %ired broadsides that +ould sin, the enem/ vessel( 9hen $pain
%inall/ decided to invade and con;uer England it +as a %iasco( $uperior English ships and
seamanship %oiled the invasion and led to the destruction o% the $panish 6rmada in 15GG
mar,ing the high point o% Elizabeth#s reign( )echnicall/ the 6rmada %ailed because $pain#s
over!comple= strateg/ re;uired coordination bet+een the invasion %leet and the $panish arm/
on shore( 6lso the poor design o% the $panish cannons meant the/ +ere much slo+er in
reloading in a close!range battle( $pain and Arance still had stronger %leets but England +as
catching up(
&ar,er has speculated on the dire conse;uences i% the $panish had landed their
invasion arm/ in 15GG( .e argues that the $panish arm/ +as larger more e=perienced better!
e;uipped more con%ident and had better %inancing( )he English de%enses on the other hand
+ere thin and outdated' England had too %e+ soldiers and the/ +ere at best onl/ partiall/
trained( $pain had chosen England#s +ea,est lin, and probabl/ could have captured London
in a +ee,( &ar,er adds that a Catholic uprising in the north and in Ireland could have brought
total de%eat(
$o mean+hile $ir Arancis Kra,e had underta,en a ma*or vo/age against $panish
 ports and ships to the Caribbean in 15G5 and 15G" and in 15G@ had made a success%ul raid
on Cadiz destro/ing the $panish %leet o% +ar ships intended %or the Enter+rise of England :
&hilip II had decided to ta,e the +ar to England(  
Fn 12 ?ul/ 15GG the $panish
6rmada a great %leet o% ships set sail %or
the channel planning to %err/ a $panish
invasion %orce under the Ku,e o% &arma to
the coast o% southeast England %rom the
 8etherlands( 6 combination o%
miscalculation mis%ortune and an attac, o% 
English %ire ships on 2 ?ul/ o%% -ravelines 
+hich dispersed the $panish ships to the
northeast de%eated the 6rmada( )he 6rmada
straggled home to $pain in shattered
remnants a%ter disastrous losses on the
coast o% Ireland a%ter some ships had tried


 

to struggle bac, to $pain via the 8orth $ea and then bac, south past the +est coast o%
Ireland( Bna+are o% the 6rmada#s %ate English militias mustered to de%end the countr/
under the Earl o% Leicester#s command( .e invited Elizabeth to inspect her troops at )ilbur/ 
in Esse= on G 6ugust( 9earing a silver breastplate over a +hite velvet dress she addressed
them in one o% her most %amous speeches:
’’My loving people, we have been persuaded by some that are careful of our safety,
to take heed how we commit ourself to armed multitudes for fear of treachery; but I assure
 you, I do not desire to live to distrust my faithful and loving people ... I know I have the
body but of a weak and feeble woman, but I have the heart and stomach of a king, and of a
 King of England too, and think foul scorn that arma or !pain, or any rince of Europe
should dare to invade the borders of my realm’’ 
9hen no invasion came the nation re*oiced( Elizabeth#s procession to a than,sgiving
service at $t &aul#s Cathedral rivalled that o% her coronation as a spectacle( )he de%eat o% the
6rmada +as a potent propaganda victor/ both %or Elizabeth and %or &rotestant England( )he
English too, their deliver/ as a s/mbol o% -od#s %avour and o% the nation#s inviolabilit/ under 
a virgin ;ueen( .o+ever the victor/ +as not a turning point in the +ar +hich continued and
o%ten %avoured $pain( )he $panish still controlled the 8etherlands and the threat o% invasion
remained( $ir 9alter <aleigh claimed a%ter her death that Elizabeth#s caution had impeded the
+ar against $pain: I% the late ;ueen +ould have believed her men o% +ar as she did her
scribes +e had in her time beaten that great empire in pieces and made their ,ings o% %igs
and oranges as in old times( ut her a*est/ did all b/ halves and b/ pett/ invasions taught
the $paniard ho+ to de%end himsel% and to see his o+n +ea,ness(
)hough some historians have criticised Elizabeth on similar grounds <aleigh#s verdict
has more o%ten been *udged un%air( Elizabeth had good reason not to place too much trust in
her commanders +ho once in action tended as she put it hersel% to be transported +ith an
haviour o% vainglor/(

• )he Queens %avorites

!!4ne man with a head on his shoulders is worth a dozen without!! 
 Elizabeth I

)here +ere man/ %amous Elizabethan Courtiers +ho graced the court o% Queen
Elizabeth I( )he Queen loved to surround hersel% +ith brilliant and handsome /oung men(
Elizabethan courtiers +ere +ell versed in courtl/ manners and dressed in e=pensive
Elizabethan Clothing +hich not onl/ represented their +ealth but also their status and
 position in the Elizabethan court( Queen Elizabeth I +as %amous %or the number o% /oung
men at her court +ho she %avored( )hese Elizabethan courtiers +ere generall/ %rom noble
%amilies +ere +ell educated +itt/ and understood the re;uirements o% courtl/ love and the
code o% conduct re;uired o% courtl/ ,nights o% the realm( Elizabethan Courtiers re;uired a
number o% $,ills ! music dancing and poetr/ +ere the arts +hich +ere clearl/ %avoured( )he
dashing escapades o% courageous men +ho brought +ealth to Queen Elizabeth +ere also
included in the ran,s o% Elizabethan courtiers( Queen Elizabeth +as al+a/s susceptible to
outrageous compliments and Elizabethan courtiers +ere e=pected to deliver these regularl/(
)he Elizabethan Courtiers +ho +ere the %avorites o% Queen Elizabeth I
included:<obert Kudle/<obert Kevereu= ! Earl o% Esse=$ir &hilip $/dne/$ir )homas
9/att$ir 9alter <aleigh()hese men +ere %amous Elizabethan courtiers and %avorites o%

10
 

Queen Elizabeth I( )hese men +ere all handsome +ell educated and +ell versed in courtl/
manners
)he Elizabethan Courtiers +ho +ere the e=plorers privateers and pirates o% Queen
Elizabeth I +ere:$ir Arancis Kra,e$ir .umphre/ -ilbert$ir <ichard -renville$ir ?ohn
.a+,ins$ir artin Arobisher$ir <ichard .a+,ins
)he Elizabethan Courtiers +ho +ere the &oliticians $tatesmen and 6dvisors o%
Queen Elizabeth I included the %ollo+ing:?ohn Kee$ir Arancis 9alsingham9illiam Cecil !
Lord urghle/<obert Cecil(

• Late /ears
!! There is one thing higher than o&alt&6 and that is religion, which causes us
to lea%e the world, and see. 'od!! / Elizabeth
  I) 

)he period a%ter the de%eat o% the $panish

6rmada in 15GG brought ne+ di%%iculties %or
Elizabeth that lasted the %i%teen /ears until the end
o% her reign( )he con%licts +ith $pain and in Ireland
dragged on the ta= burden gre+ heavier and the
econom/ +as hit b/ poor harvests and the cost o%
+ar( &rices rose and the standard o% living %ell(
Kuring this time repression o% Catholics
intensi%ied and Elizabeth authorised commissions
in 151 to interrogate and monitor Catholic
householders( )o maintain the illusion o% peace and
 prosperit/ she increasingl/ relied on internal spies
and propaganda( In her last /ears mounting
criticism re%lected a decline in the public#s a%%ection
%or her( 
Fne o% the causes %or this second reign o% Elizabeth
as it is sometimes called +as the di%%erent character o%
Elizabeth#s governing bod/ the priv/ council in the 150s( 6 ne+ generation +as in po+er(
9ith the e=ception o% Lord urghle/ the most important politicians had died around 150:
)he Earl o% Leicester in 15GG $ir Arancis 9alsingham in 150 $ir Christopher .atton in
151( Aactional stri%e in the government +hich had not e=isted in a note+orth/ %orm be%ore
the 150s no+ became its hallmar,(6 bitter rivalr/ bet+een the Earl o% Esse= and <obert
Cecil son o% Lord urghle/ and their respective adherents %or the most po+er%ul positions
in the state marred politics( )he ;ueen#s personal authorit/ +as lessening as is sho+n in the
a%%air o% Kr( Lopez her trusted ph/sician( 9hen he +as +rongl/ accused b/ the Earl o% Esse=
o% treason out o% personal pi;ue she could not prevent his e=ecution although she had been
angr/ about his arrest and seems not to have believed in his guilt 157(  
6s Elizabeth aged her image graduall/ changed( $he +as portra/ed as elphoebe or
6straea and a%ter the 6rmada as -loriana the eternall/ /outh%ul Aaerie Queene o%  Edmund
$penser #s poem( .er painted portraits became less realistic and more a set o% enigmatic icons 
that made her loo, much /ounger than she +as( In %act her s,in had been scarred b/
smallpo= in 15"2 leaving her hal% bald and dependent on +igs and cosmetics( $ir 9alter
<aleigh called her a lad/ +hom time had surprised( .o+ever the more Elizabeth#s beaut/

11
 

 
%aded the more her courtiers praised it( Elizabeth +as happ/ to pla/ the part but it is
 possible that in the last decade o% her li%e she began to believe her o+n per%ormance(
Elizabeth#s senior advisor urghle/ died on 7 6ugust 15G( .is political mantle
 passed to his son <obert Cecil +ho soon became the leader o% the government( Fne tas, he
addressed +as to prepare the +a/ %or a smooth succession( $ince Elizabeth +ould never
name her successor Cecil +as obliged to proceed in secret( .e there%ore entered into a coded
negotiation +ith ?ames I o% $cotland(
)he Queen#s health remained %air until the autumn o% 1"02 +hen a series o% deaths
among her %riends plunged her into a severe depression( In Aebruar/ 1"03 the death o%
Catherine .o+ard Countess o% 8ottingham the niece o% her cousin and close %riend
Catherine Lad/ Hnoll/s came as a particular blo+( In arch Elizabeth %ell sic, and
remained in a settled and unremovable melanchol/( $he died on 27 arch 1"03 at
<ichmond &alace bet+een t+o and three in the morning( 6 %e+ hours later Cecil and the
council set their plans in motion and proclaimed ?ames I o% $cotland as ,ing o% England(  
Elizabeth#s co%%in +as carried do+nriver at night to 9hitehall on a barge lit +ith
torches( 6t her %uneral on 2G 6pril
the co%%in +as ta,en to
9estminster 6bbe/ on a hearse 
dra+n b/ %our horses hung +ith
 blac, velvet( In the +ords o% the
chronicler ?ohn $to+:9estminster
+as surcharged +ith multitudes o%
all sorts o% people in their streets
houses +indo+s leads and
gutters that came out to see the
obse;u/ and +hen the/ beheld her statue l/ing upon the co%%in there +as such a general
sighing groaning and +eeping as the li,e hath not been seen or ,no+n in the memor/ o%
man(
Elizabeth +as interred in 9estminster 6bbe/ in a tomb she shares +ith her hal%!sister
ar/( )he Latin inscription on their tomb <egno consortes O urna hic obdormimus
Elizabetha et aria sorores in spe resurrectionis translates to Consorts in realm and tomb
here +e sleep Elizabeth and ar/ sisters in hope o% resurrection(

7()he Elizabethan era:)he -olden 6ge

)he Elizabethan era +as the epoch in English histor/ o% Queen Elizabeth I#s reign
155G41"03( .istorians o%ten depict it as the golden age in English histor/( )he s/mbol o%
ritannia +as %irst used in 15@2 and o%ten therea%ter to mar, the Elizabethan age as a
renaissance that inspired national pride through classical ideals international e=pansion and
naval triumph over the hated $panish %oe( In terms o% the entire centur/ the historian ?ohn
-u/ 1GG argues that England +as economicall/ healthier more e=pansive and more
optimistic under the )udors than at an/ time in a thousand /ears(
)his golden age represented the apogee o% the English <enaissance and sa+ the
%lo+ering o% poetr/ music and literature( )he era is most %amous %or  theatre as 9illiam
$ha,espeare and man/ others composed pla/s that bro,e %ree o% England#s past st/le o%
theatre( It +as an age o% e=ploration and e=pansion abroad +hile bac, at home the
&rotestant <e%ormation became more acceptable to the people most certainl/ a%ter the

12
 

$panish 6rmada +as repulsed( It +as also the end o% the period +hen England +as a separate
realm be%ore its ro/al union +ith $cotland(
England +as also +ell!o%% compared to the other nations o% Europe( )he Italian
<enaissance had come to an end under the +eight o% %oreign domination o% the peninsula(
Arance +as embroiled in its o+n religious battles that +ould onl/ be settled in 15G +ith the
Edict o% 8antes( In part because o% this but also because the English had been e=pelled %rom
their last outposts on the continent the centuries long con%lict bet+een Arance and England
+as largel/ suspended %or most o% Elizabeth#s reign(

• )he Elizabethan )heatre

England prospered in the second hal% o%

Elizabeth#s reign and man/ o% the great +or,s o%
English literature +ere produced during these /ears:
art poetr/ drama and learning in general %lourished
as the con%idence and nationalism Elizabeth inspired
spilled %rom the economic sector to cultural
achievements( Elizabeth#s reign sa+ pla/+rights
li,e Christopher arlo+e poets li,e Edmund
$penser and men o% science and letters li,e Arancis
acon( )he era also sa+ the beginning o% 9illiam
$ha,espeare#s +or,( an/ o% the +riters thin,ers
and artists o% the da/ en*o/ed the patronage o%
members o% Elizabeth#s court and their +or,s o%ten
involved or re%erred to the great Queen' indeed she
+as the s/mbol o% the da/( )he Elizabethan 6ge
generall/ considered one o% golden ages in English
literature +as thus appropriatel/ named: these cultural achievements did not *ust happen to
 be created +hile Elizabeth +as on the throne' rather Elizabeth#s speci%ic actions her image
and the court atmosphere she nurtured signi%icantl/ in%luenced!!even inspired!!great +or,s o% 
literature(
Arom the beginning o% her reign Elizabeth +as al+a/s a ma*or patron o% the stage and
drama %lourished under her support( In the 15"0s the %irst blan, verse tragedies appeared
ultimatel/ giving rise to an art %orm that remains heavil/ studied toda/( In 15"2 one o% the
earliest o% these blan, verse pla/s 'orboduc, +as per%ormed %or the Queen(
Initiall/ a certain amount o% class con%lict arose over the production o% pla/s as the
 puritanical Elizabethan middle class tried to shut do+n the London theaters on the basis o%
their immoralit/( )hus under ma*or pressure the a/or o% London attempted to close all
o% the cit/#s theaters in 15G0( )he &riv/ Council citing Elizabeth#s %ondness %or pla/s
 prevented this measure %rom ta,ing place although the/ did allo+ the cro+ded theaters to be
shut do+n in times o% epidemics( Elizabeth +ho li,ed to invite theater companies to her
 palaces +as against shutting do+n the theaters because she +anted them to have %ull/
 practiced their pla/s be%ore bringing them to her( 6s a result pla/s became more sociall/

13
 

respectable and b/ the 15@0s and 15G0s e=clusive bo/s# schools li,e $t( &aul#s and erchant
)a/lor#s integrated the per%ormance o% both English and Latin pla/s into their curriculum
initiating the custom o% the school pla/( )he Queen even +atched some o% these school pla/s
hersel%( In 155 $ha,espeare#s ( idsummer ight7s 8ream +as per%ormed at -reen+ich
 palace during the marriage celebration o% urleigh#s granddaughter( )he pla/ contained
several re%erences to Elizabeth and her court especiall/ to the +ater!pageant Leicester had
 put on %or Elizabeth at Henil+orth Castle in 15@5( )hen at Christmastime +hile Esse= +as
gone on the campaign in Ireland Elizabeth sa+ a per%ormance o% $ha,espeare#s Twelfth
 ight 
Elizabeth hersel% +as ,no+n %or being a ver/ good dancer and a particularl/ talented
musician( 6lthough she onl/ pla/ed %or her closest %riends she spent considerable time
 per%ecting her renditions o% several o% the more di%%icult pieces o% the da/(
)he structure o% an Elizabethan pla/house +as ver/ di%erent %rom +hat +e no+ mean
 b/ a theatre(It +as either round or pol/gonal in shape and the pit +here the groundlings
stood +as %enced o%% +ith iron spi,es to protect the patrons in the surrounding bo=es %rom the
+ild beasts +hich during the per%ormance +ere introduced into the pit a%ter the e=pulsion
o% the groundlings( )here +ere also galeries some o% them over the stage( )he
stage+ith its best best seats %or the noble and +ealth/ patrons *utted out into the pit so
that actors could spea, in a natural voice()here +as almost no scenar/ and bare posters gave
such indications as )his is the moon .ere is a castle etc(9omen did not act and their
 parts +ere ta,en b/ bo/s()here +as no curtain and the beginning and the end o% a pla/ +ere
announced b/ a trumpeter standing in the turret o% the theatre(
It +as in this conditions that the great pla/s o% the Elizabethan age +ere acted(
6s a matter o% %act little is ,no+n about the e=act structure o% Elizabethan
theatres($ha,espeares re%erences are scant .enr/  6 idsummer 8ights Kream etc(
)he decade o% the 150s *ust be%ore $ha,espeare started his career sa+ a radical
trans%ormation in popular drama( 6 group o% si= +ell! educated men chose to +rite %or the
 public stage ta,ing over native traditions( )he/ brought ne+ coherence in structure and real
+it and poetic po+er to the language the/ are ,no+n collectivel/ as the Bniversit/ 9its
though the/ did not al+a/s +or, as a group and indeed +rangled +ith each other at times(
)he term o% Bniversit/ 9its has not +on universal recognition/et most literar/ historians
endorse it to underline that the most o% the dramatists belonging to this trend has academic
studies F=%ord Cambridge +ere closel/ connected in li%e+ere pro%essed men o% letters
and endeavoured to  localize the cultivation o% classical models that the/ had studied in
the universit/( )he/ engra%ted vigorous actions and poetr/ on the e=tant interludes and
chronicles and innovated themes characters and atmospheres and inaugurated modern
drama(
)heir names are: ?ohn L/l/ Christopher arlo+e )homas 8ashe  -eorge &eele <obert
-reene )homas Lodge and )homas H/d(
arlo+e rose to his deserved %ame as a pla/+right +ell be%ore $ha,espeare had
 produced pla/s o% real substance( arlo+e +as rightl/ characterised b/ en ?onson as the
creator o% the might/ line!blan, verse o% great rhetorical po+er( arlo+e#s %irst pla/
 per%ormed on the regular stage in London in 15G@ +as Tamburlaine the 'reat  about the
con;ueror )imur +ho rises %rom shepherd to +arrior( It is among the %irst English pla/s in
 blan, verse and +ith )homas H/d#s The S+anish Traged& generall/ is considered the
 beginning o% the mature phase o% the Elizabethan theatre( Tamburlaine +as a success and
+as %ollo+ed +ith Tamburlaine the 'reat, 0art II (

17
 

et+een 15G5 and 152 9illiam $ha,espeare began a success%ul career in London as
an actor +riter and part o+ner o% a pla/ing compan/ called the Lord Chamberlain#s en
later ,no+n as the Hing#s en(
$ha,espeare produced most o% his ,no+n +or, bet+een 15G and 1"13( .is earl/ pla/s
+ere mainl/ comedies and histories genres he raised to the pea, o% sophistication and
artistr/ b/ the end o% the 1"th centur/( .e then +rote mainl/ tragedies until about 1"0G
including -amlet  ing Lear  4thello and acbeth considered some o% the %inest +or,s in
the English language( In his last phase he +rote tragicomedies also ,no+n as romances and
collaborated +ith other pla/+rights(
In 15G ?onson produced his %irst great success E%er& an in -is -umour  capitalising
on the vogue %or humorous pla/s +hich -eorge Chapman had begun +ith (n -umorous
 8a&7s irth( 9illiam $ha,espeare +as among the %irst actors to be cast( ?onson %ollo+ed this
in 15 +ith E%er& an out of -is -umour  a pedantic attempt to imitate 6ristophanes( It is
not ,no+n +hether this +as a success on stage but +hen published it proved popular and
+ent through several editions(
?onson#s other +or, %or the theatre in the last /ears o% Elizabeth I#s reign +as mar,ed b/
%ighting and controvers/( C&nthia7s e%els +as produced b/ the Children o% the Chapel <o/al
at lac,%riars )heatre in 1"00( It satirised both ?ohn arston +ho ?onson believed had
accused him o% lust%ulness possibl/ in -istrio:asti3 and )homas Ke,,er( ?onson attac,ed
the t+o poets again in 1"01#s 0oetaster ( Ke,,er responded +ith Satiromasti3 subtitled the
untrussing o% the humorous poet( )he %inal scene o% this pla/ +hilst certainl/ not to be ta,en
at %ace value as a portrait o% ?onson o%%ers a caricature that is recognisable %rom Krummond#s
report 4 boasting about himsel% and condemning other poets criticising per%ormances o% his
 pla/s and calling attention to himsel% in an/ available +a/(

• Colonising the New World

)he discoveries o% Christopher Columbus electri%ied all o% +estern Europe especiall/
maritime po+ers li,e England( Hing .enr/ II commissioned ?ohn Cabot to lead a vo/age
to %ind a northern route to the $pice Islands o% 6sia' this began the search %or the 8orth 9est
&assage( Cabot sailed in 17@ and reached 8e+%oundland( .e led another vo/age to the
6mericas the %ollo+ing /ear but nothing +as heard o% him or his ships again(
In 15"2 Elizabeth sent privateers .a+,ins and Kra,e to seize boot/ %rom $panish and
&ortuguese ships o%% the coast o% 9est 6%rica( 9hen the 6nglo!$panish 9ars intensi%ied a%ter 
15G5 Elizabeth approved %urther raids against $panish ports in the 6mericas and against
shipping returning to Europe +ith treasure( ean+hile the in%luential +riters <ichard
.a,lu/t and ?ohn Kee +ere beginning to press %or the establishment o% England#s o+n
overseas empire( $pain +as +ell established in the 6mericas +hile
&ortugal in union +ith $pain %rom 15G0 had an ambitious global
empire in 6%rica 6sia and $outh 6merica( Arance +as e=ploring the
 8orth 6merica( England +as stimulated to create its o+n colonies
+ith an emphasis on the 9est Indies rather than in 8orth 6merica(
artin Arobisher landed at Arobisher a/ on a%%in Island in
6ugust 15@"' .e returned in 15@@ claiming it in Queen Elizabeth#s
name and in a third vo/age tried but %ailed to %ound a settlement in
Arobisher a/(
$ir Arancis Kra,e

15
 

Arom 15@@ to 15G0 $ir Arancis Kra,e circumnavigated the globe( Combined +ith his
daring raids against the $panish and his great victor/ over them at Cadiz in 15G@ he became
a %amous hero and his e=ploits are still celebratedPbut England did not %ollo+ up on his
claims( In 15G3 .umphre/ -ilbert sailed to 8e+%oundland ta,ing possession o% the
harbour o% $t ?ohn#s together +ith all land +ithin t+o hundred leagues to the north and south
o% it(
In 15G7 the ;ueen granted $ir 9alter <aleigh a charter %or the colonisation o%
irginia' it +as named in her honour( <aleigh and Elizabeth sought both immediate riches
and a base %or privateers to raid the $panish treasure %leets( <aleigh sent others to %ound the
<oano,e Colon/' it remains a m/ster/ +h/ the settlers all disappeared( In 1"00 the ;ueen
chartered the East India Compan/( It established trading posts +hich in later centuries
evolved into ritish India on the coasts o% +hat is no+ India and angladesh( Larger scale
colonisation began shortl/ a%ter Elizabeth#s death(
• usic in the Elizabethan era
It +as a period in +hich English music +as developed to a level that commanded
respect %rom the rest o% 9estern Civilization( 6%ter Elizabeth I#s death English music
maintained its level o% accomplishment %or a short +hile and %ell o%% largel/ a%ter the
<evolution +ith the change o% st/les leading to the #earl/ baro;ue# period(
Kuring the era most noblemen emplo/ed their o+n musicians and too, lessons %rom
them in pla/ing the Lute and music literac/( )hose in the rising middle classes emplo/ed
music teachers( usic +hich had been printed since the middle o% the 1"th centur/ +as
 becoming available at boo,sellers# shops at a reasonable price' such boo,s included theor/
 boo,s collections o% music %or voice and instruments or instruments alone and instructional
 boo,s primaril/ %or the lute(
)he lute +as the most popular o% the earl/ instruments( It had a long nec, and strings
o% t+isted sheepgut( It made a s+eet melod/ that +as appealing to the ears o% man/(
Elizabethan usic +as ,no+n %or its stead/ rh/thm and its pol/phon/ +hich is a
main theme that is established then pla/ed in more comple= +a/s( $ongs sung included a
%our to %ive part harmon/ +ith multiple melodies +eaving throughout one another similar to
 baro;ue music( It +as also ,no+n %or its re%lection o% moods and emotion( 6s musicianship
during the 1"th centur/ +as popular and +idespread it +as bro,en do+n into %ive main
categories: church music court music to+n music street music and theatre music(
Queen Elizabeth I %ancied music and also ,ne+ +ell ho+ to pla/ instruments( $he
could pla/ the lute and virginals a small %orm o% a harpsichord( .er e=ample made it
essential %or courtiers and gentlemen to understand the art o% music( Queen Elizabeth
encouraged composers and musicians emplo/ing over sevent/ musicians and singers(
Kancing +as considered part o% propriet/ b/ Queen Elizabeth(
Queen Elizabeth emplo/ed at least @0 musicians and singers( )he singers included
those %rom the Chapel <o/al( .er %avorite court composers included )homas Campion
15"@!1"20 <obert ?ohnson 1500!15"0 and 9illiam /rd 1573!1"23( )he range o%
Elizabethan music pla/ed at court varied enormousl/ %rom traditional simple English ballads
to sophisticated madrigals and %rom solemn church music to livel/ dance music( )he court
musicians pla/ed to the courtiers %rom the instrels -aller/( )he instrels -alleries +ere
situated on a raised galler/ overloo,ing the -reat .all o% the castles and palaces used during
the Elizabethan era( )he musicians +ere seated on a narro+ balcon/ usuall/ having a railing
or balustrade(

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• )he Queens +ardrobe

Queen Elizabeth +as a great %ollo+er o% %ashion( 9hile in private she pre%erred to
+ear simple go+ns and +ould reputedl/ +ear the same plain go+n %or t+o or three da/s
+hen she +as in public she dressed to impress( Clothes +ere an important status s/mbol to
the Elizabethans and a person had to dress in accordance +ith their social status( It +as thus
in ,eeping that the Queen dressed more magni%icent than ever/one else( 8o one +as allo+ed
to rival the Queen#s appearance and one un%ortunate maid o% honor +as reprimanded %or
+earing a go+n that +as too sumptuous %or her( )he maids +ere meant to complement the
Queen#s appearance not to outshine her( In the later /ears o% the reign the maids +ore
go+ns o% plain colors such as +hite or silver( )he Queen had dresses o% all colors but +hite
and blac, +ere her %avorite colors as the/ s/mbolized virginit/ and purit/ and more o%ten
than not she +ore a go+n o% these colors( )he Queen#s go+ns +ould be gorgeousl/ hand
embroidered +ith all sorts o% colored thread and decorated +ith diamonds rubies sapphires
and all ,inds o% *e+els( 6 boo, entitled $ueen Elizabeth7s wardrobe unloc.ed  details some
o% the *e+els that %ell o%% the Queen#s go+ns +hen she +ore them .
Li,e all aristocratic Elizabethan +omen the Queen +ould t/picall/ +ear a chemise a
corset sti%%ened +ith +ood or iron a petticoat a %athingale stoc,ings a go+n sleeves and a
nec, ru%% and +rist ru%%s( 9ith the discover/ o% starch ru%%s became even more elaborate(
)o complete her appearance the Queen +ould +ear accessories such as a %an a
 pomander to +ard o% %oul smells and it +as thought in%ection earrings a diamond or pearl
nec,lace a brooch and a +atch( <obert Kudle/ gave her a +atch encased in a bracelet the
%irst ,no+n +rist +atch in England( Li,e other +omen she +ould also o%ten +ear a
miniature &ra/er oo, attached to her girdle(
Aor the outdoors the Queen +ould +ear rich velvet cloa,s gloves o% cloth or leather
and in +arm +eather she +ould +ear hats to shelter her pale %ace %rom the sun( Aor riding or 
hunting she +ould +ear special riding out%its that gave easier movement( $he +ould also
+ear boots such as these(
)he Queen +as never %ull/ dressed +ithout her ma,e!up( In the earl/ /ears she +ore
little but %ollo+ing her attac, o% the smallpo= in 15"2 she +ould +ear ;uite a lot to cover up
the scars le%t on her %ace( $he +ould paint her %ace +ith +hite lead and vinegar put rouge on
her lips and paint her chee,s +ith red d/e and egg +hite( )his ma,e!up +as ver/ bad %or her
health particularl/ the +hite lead as it slo+l/ poisoned the bod/( 9hile the Elizabethan tried
ver/ hard to ta,e care o% their teeth and ,ne+ that to ,eep them clean +as to ,eep them
health/ the/ did not have ver/ sophisticated dental care and teeth rotted( 6s a conse;uence
Elizabeth had to have several teeth removed as she gre+ older( )o prevent the appearance o%
hollo+ chee,s she +ould stu%% rags into her mouth( It +as ver/ %ashionable to +ear a +ig
and the Queen did so %rom a /oung age(
)he Queen had a substantial in%luence on the %ashion o% her time and encouraged her
courtiers to dress +ell(
• S+orts, 'ames and Leisure 
<ecreation during the Elizabethan Era encompassed spectator blood sports team
sports and individual amusement activities( ost o% the sports o% the Elizabethan era +ere
carried over %rom the edieval period( In re%erence to blood sports large cro+ds o% both
men and +omen o% all classes %loc,ed to see bear baiting or bull baiting( earbaiting
involved a bear tied to a sta,e b/ a long rope( )he animal +as put into a pit +here %our or
%ive large %ierce dogs or in some cases lions +ere let in %or the sole purpose o% attac,ing

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the con%ined bear( 6n/ dogs that might survive the bear#s retaliation +ere pulled o%% *ust
 be%ore the bear +as ,illed( )he dogs +ould be considered +inners i% the large animal +as
,illed but losers i% man/ o% them +ere disabled that the rest re%used to attac,( $ometimes
apes +ere used instead o% bears( ullbaiting +as much the same as bear baiting e=cept that
the bull +as let into the pit and +orried to death teased or hurt until it died( Coc,%ighting
+as another popular blood sport( <oosters +ere %itted +ith sharp blades on each %oot and put
into a pit to %ight to the death(
)eam sports gained in popularit/ during Elizabeth#s reign( )he/ too +ere rough and
violent li,e the sports involving animals( Common men pla/ed %ootball not an ancestor o%
6merican %ootball despite the similarities received its name not because the ball +as ,ic,ed
 but because all the pla/ers +ent on %oot( It +as e=tremel/ violent as there +ere %e+ rules(
.urling a combination o% hoc,e/ and polo had some pla/ers on %oot others on horsebac,(
)he ob*ect o% the game +as to stri,e a ball +ith a stic, or a club so that it +ent over the
opponents# goal( Countr/ hurling might match the entire adult male populations o% t+o
villages and the goals might be three or %our miles apart( $occer +as also pla/ed but the
government %ro+ned upon it since it +as the cause o% man/ riots and bloodshed(
.unting +as a %avorite pastime %or the +ealth/ during this time( )he hunt allo+ed the
rich nobles to sho+ o%% their %ine horses ha+,s clothing and +eapons( .orses +ere
displa/ed b/ their breeding most commonl/ b/ nobles and ran,ed b/ endurance speed
 beaut/ and strength( Arom the hunting rounds the +ealth/ +ould o%ten establish a breeding
tree o% some sort in an attempt to create the per%ect breed( 6dditionall/ man/ %ashions +ere
established or displa/ed during hunting trips( )he nobles o%ten arrived in ne+ out%its that the
+ealth/ and underclass surrounding the hunt +ould emulate thus spreading the st/le( 8e+
+eaponr/ also appeared at such events( Queen Elizabeth hersel% en*o/ed hunting' at age "@
she +as occasionall/ %ound on horsebac, loving the thrill o% the chase(
Aencing +as one o% the most popular o% sports( etting +as commonplace as one o%
the contestants might bet that he could hit his opponent a certain number o% times( In
addition much time +as spent +ith the sport o% ha+,ing ! ver/ popular +ith gentlemen(
)raining a ha+, or a %alcon began +ith the capturing o% a +ild bird then taming it b/ sealing
its e/es +ith needle and thread then t/ing the thread bac, over the head o% the bird so that
the trainer could open and close the bird#s e/es at +ill( )he temporar/ blinding made it ver/
eas/ to train the ha+, or %alcon to hunt other birds( ells +ere attached to the birds legs so
that the trainer could ,eep trac, o% its +hereabouts(

5( Conclusion

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I thin, that Queen Elizabeth has remained in histor/ as an important Queen +ho
achieved the great aspirations o% her sub*ects during her reign(  Elizabeth +as dedicated to her 
countr/ in a +a/ %e+ monarchs had been or have been since( Elizabeth had the mind o% a
 political genius and nurtured her countr/ through care%ul leadership and b/ choosing capable
men to assist her such as $ir 9illiam Cecil and $ir Arancis 9alsingham( Elizabeth +as a
determined +oman but she +as not obstinate( $he listened to the advice o% those around her
and +ould change a polic/ i% it +as unpopular( In appearance she +as e=travagant in
 behaviour sometimes %lippant and %rivolous but her approach to politics +as serious
conservative and cautious( 9hen she ascended the throne in 155G England +as an
impoverished countr/ torn apart b/ religious s;uabbles( 9hen she died at <ichmond &alace
on the 27th arch 1"03 England +as one o% the most po+er%ul and prosperous countries in
the +orld(
)here is no doubt that Elizabeth +as one o% the best Queens to ever sit on the throne
o% England(6nd as a result o% her prosperous reign that had a great impact on ritish histor/
there are man/ movies documenting her reign that continue to be made not to mention the
%act that in England there is at least one boo, abot Queen Elizabeths reign published each
/ear(
)he Queen +as o%ten called #-loriana# #-ood Queen ess# and #)he irgin Queen#(
.er 75!/ear reign is generall/ considered as one o% the most glorious in English histor/(
Kuring it a secure Church o% England +as established( Its doctrines +ere laid do+n in the 3
6rticles o% 15"3 a compromise bet+een <oman Catholicism and &rotestantism($o +e no+
can sa/ that her reign +as a success and she single handedl/ prevented religious +ars in her
countr/( 6lso remaining a virgin Queen gave her a clear advantage in the +orld arena' a
great sacri%ice she made %or her countr/(

!!  I do not so much re;oice that 'od hath made me to be a

$ueen, as to be a $ueen o%er so than.ful a +eo+le !! 
/  Elizabeth I  )

"( ibliograph/

1
 

1 urois 6ndre 1"3 ! -reat ritain .istor/

2 Kuchein ichel 2001 ! Elizabeth I
3 &onta onica 2011 ! 6 collection o% )e=ts about -reat
ritain .istor/
7 6nton/ Haterine 12 ! Queen Elizabeth
5 Elizabeth ?en,ins 15G ! Elizabeth the -reat
" ac8alt/ 6rthur $ 157 ! Elizabeth )udor the lonel/ Queen
@ 6shton <obert 1G0 ! <e%ormation and <evolution
G Che/ne/ E(&( 117 ! 6 .istor/ o% England %rom the de%eat o%
the 6rmada to the death o% Elizabeth
 Elton -(<( 1@@ ! England under the )udors
10 )enison E(( 1"0 ! Elizabethan England
11 9i,ipedia the %ree encicloped/

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