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QUEEN ELIZABETH THE FIRST Born Sept.7 1533-Died March 24, 1603
Princess Elizabeth's childhood was greatly troubled. Her father,King
Henry VIII, turned the world up-side down in order to marry her mother,
Anne Boleyn. He also had established the "Church of England" amd
proclaim him self "Supreme Head of the Church" putting himself even
higher that the Pope. This is why many Catholic ruler and offcials
claimed that Elizabeth wasn't a rightful heir to the throne.
One of the reasons Henry broke away from the Catholic Church was to
married Anne.King Henry hoped that she would give him a son, an heir
to the throne. The fact that Anne gave him a daughter was a bitter
disappointment and endangered the new queen's possion. King Henry
had Anne excuted for adultery, because he was angry that he had a
daughter, and not a son, which she didn't commit. Eleven days after
Anne was excuted Henry married Jane Seymmour. It was Jane who would
give him the son he had divorced one wife and excuted another for.
Jane died 12 days after her son,Edward, was born.
Elizabeth was sent away to Hatfield when she was three-years-old
and her mother had been excuted.She was sent a way because she was a reminder to King
Henry of Anne. In Hatfield she was tutored by Roger Ascham and John
Alymer, who also tutored her sister Mary and Lady Jane Grey
("the Queen for Nine Days").
Princess Elizabeth ahd a quick mind and was a fast learner. Under
Ascham's and Alymer's supervision she mastered French,Latin,Italian
and Greek and excelled in history,geography and philosophy. Elizabeth
had the best education of the time and was highly praised for her
amazing learning ability.
When King Henry maried his sixth and last Queen,Katherine Parr,she
brought both Elizabeth and Mary back in to Court.After King Henry
died, his nine-year-old son Edward became king.After Henry died the,
Dowager Queen Katrine Parr married Lord Admiral Thomas Seymour,Jane
Seymour's brother.During her brother,Edward's reign Elizabeth was a
ward of Kathrine Parr.
Because Edward VI was only nine when he became King, his uncle Edward
Seymour became Lord Proctector and was the one who really ruled
England during Edward VI's reign.
During the reign of King Henry VII the English Reformation began and
comtinued during the reign of his son Edward. Protestantism became it's
afficial religon and the Chuch of England it's affcial church. Thomas
Cranmer who had been made Achbisop during Henry's reign, wrote the
"Book of Comon Prayer" during Edward's reign.
Edward had been fail ans sickly and his life and at age 15 he died.In his will
Edward declare his sisterss(whom he hated) illegitimate, and said that
Lady Jane Grey (who was really fourth in line)would be Queen after him.
King Edward came to this decision at the urging of the Duke of
Northumberland, John Dudley who was Jane's father-in-law.
When Mary heard that Edward was dead amd Jane was queen,she was
furious.
Nine days after Jane had been crowned, Mary and her suporters rode in
to London with Elizabeth and imprisoned Jane in the Tower.Jane was
executed seven mounths later.
Mary had tried to change England back to the Catholic Fatih.Mary had
many powerful Catholic relatives including Charles the Holy Emperor
and many coutries and people supported her(even though the Engligh
never really did). Mary persecuted Protestants mercilessly and came
to earn the name "Bloodly Mary". During her reign it came illegally
to own a Book of Comon Prayer or an English Bible.King Henry VII had
cut England awy from the Catholic Church in order to divorce Catherine
of Argon(Mary's mother) and marry Anne Boleyn(Elizabeth's mother)Mary
tried to change Engalnd back.
At different times in her reign Mary saw Elizabeth as a dangerous
threat and at one time even imprisoned her in the Tower. Elizabeth
came very close to losing her head. THe reason that Mary saw
Elizabeth as a threat was that Mary wasn't a populr Monach, and many
rebellions rose in Elizabeth name(although Elizabeth probable had
nothing to do with them).Mary died in 1558. Elizabeth was Queen at
last. Quen Elizabeth was a most sought after bribe. She played off
numerous suitors and gained wealth from the possibilty of marriage.
But she never married.
The beginning of Elizabeth's reign was a time to rejoice for England.
She was seen as the icon of the "New Faith", and her becoming queen
meant that the Church of England would be trestored and the Prostants
and reformism would no longer suffer persecution.
During Queen Elizabeth's reign, the East India Company was
established.Many voyages of discovery were made during Elizabeth's
reign,including those of Francis Drake,Walter Raleigh and Humphrey
Gilbert. Elizabeth was the Monarch who colonized American.
The thing that Elizabeth is rembered most for is beheading Mary,Queen
of Scotts.Mary took refuge in England when she was dethrone in 1560.
Mary was a descendent of Henry's sister,so she was an heir to the
throne.Many Catholics and Catholic countries wanted to make Mary
queen instead of Elizabeth.Mary started many rebellions and Elizabeth
was forced to sign her dead warrant. Mary was executed February 8,1587
at Fotheringhay.
The last years of Elizabeth's reign(and life)were spent at war with
Spain. King Phillip II(Mary I's husband) sent a fleet of ship's,an
Armada to England. Spain had the best naval fleet in the world.Phillip
tried to over thrown Elizabeth.He believed he was the rightful King of
England.He had a claim to the throne because he was Mary, Elizabath
sister's, husband. Queen Elizabeth defeated the Armada, but the war
with Spain wasn't over and wouldn't be over untill she died. On
March 24, 1603 good Queen Bess died,she was succeed by James I
(James VI of Scotland) Mary, Queen of Scots son.
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