Virtual Grub Street Queen Elizabeth I Biography Page

The Virtual Grub Street family of blogs is dedicated to showing Medieval and Tudor history in greater detail than generally is the case. These short essays are packed with those details. Taken together here they form a precise and unique picture of the daily life of Elizabeth as lady, princess and queen — a picture that will grow more complete with each new essay linked from this page.

I. 1532 to 1558

• Queen Anne Boleyn to Squire Josselin, September 7, 1533. August 30, 2020. “Here we have the Queen sending out an announcement of Elizabeth’s birth.”
• The Christening of Princess Elizabeth: September 10, 1533. September 11, 2021. “then the Byshop of Canterbury gave unto the Princesse a standing cup of golde”
• Eustace Chapuys to Emperor Charles V., September 10, 1533. September 1, 2020. “On Sunday last, on the eve of Lady Day, about 3 o'clock in the afternoon, the King's mistress was delivered of a girl, to the great disappointment and sorrow of the King, of the Lady herself, and of others of her party,…”

• Lady Bryan to Lord Cromwell, 1536, on the state of the Princess Elizabeth. October 24, 2022. “Now it is so, my Lady Elizabeth is put from that degree she was afore, and what degree she is of now, I know not but by hearsay.”

• Robert Tyrwhytt, to the Lord Protector. January 22, 1548. October, 24, 2020. “that boyth Mestrys Ashlay and her Cofferer was put into the Towre, she was marvelous abashede, and ded weype very tenderly a long Tyme”.
• Princess Elizabeth to the Duke of Somerset. January 28, 1548. September 19, 2020. ‘And after the Quene was departed, whan I asked of her what Newes she harde from London, she answered merilye, “The[y] say ther that your Grace shal have my Lord Admiral, and that he wil come shortly to woue you.”’
• Robert Tyrwhyt to the Duke of Somerset, February 19, 1548. September 15, 2020. “She took the Matter so hevely, that she wepte all that Nyght, and lowred all the next Day,…”
• Princess Elizabeth to King Edward VI, May 15, 1547. July 21, 2020. "My pictur I mene, in wiche if the inward good mynde towarde your grace might as wel be declared as the outwarde face and countenance shal be seen,..."
• Princesses Elizabeth and Mary Commiserate on their Menstrual Woes. June 25, 2022. “Good Sistar as to [hear] of your siknes is unpleasant to me,...”
• Queen Mary I to Princess Elizabeth, January 26, 1553 [1554 N.S.] February 1, 2021. “Right dear and entirely beloved Sister, We greet you well: And where certain evil-disposed persons…”
• Antoine de Noailles to the King of France. September 22, 1553. November 20, 2020. “Here the French ambassador, Noailles, takes a moment out from other matters to describe Mary’s progress in forcing her sister Elizabeth to adopt the Catholic practice of her Monarch.”
• Why Did Princess Elizabeth Swell So Severely for Months in 1554? May 28, 2022. “The Queen and her friends were in great fear, that the ill-affected towards her should seize the Lady Elizabeth, and, it may be, set her up for Queen.”
• Sir Henry Bedingfeld’s Notes Regarding Princess Elizabeth in The Tower. February 7, 2021. “Itm, hir grace to have lib'tee to walke in the Gardeyn when so ever she doth comaunde, forenoone and afternoone,…”
• Bedingfield’s Remembrances of Princess Elizabeth’s Journey to Woodstock, May 1554. February 21, 2021. "As a consequence, her servants were discharged by the Queen. Elizabeth feared this might indicate that she was about to be executed."
• Queen Mary I to Henry Bedingfeld, 21 May 1554. Instructions for care of Princess Elizabeth at Woodstock. February 28, 2021. “On the morning of May 21, 1554, Princess Elizabeth embarked from the royal palace at Richmond,...”

 

II. 1558 to 1570

• Queen Mary I's Star Fades, Lady Elizabeth's Kindles, Europe Jockeys for Position. November 2, 2023. “A few days ago, his Majesty received news from England that the Queen was grievously ill,...”

• When Will Mary Die? Who Will Elizabeth Marry? November 6, 2023. '... many personages of the kingdom flocked to the house of "Miladi" Elizabeth, the crowd constantly increasing...'

• The Queen is Dead! Long live the Queen! November 17, 2021. “Sir Nicholas Throckmorton was the first to acquaint Elizabeth with the news of her accession.”
• The New Queen Elizabeth I Gets Right to Work. November 18, 2023. “Elizabeth's favorite, Robert Dudley, was not on the Council but was always close to her person as Master of the Horse.”

• Queen Elizabeth Emerges from the Tower for Her Grand Procession, January14, 1559. January 14, 2023. “On the morning of Saturday the 14th, as in the afternoon her Majesty was to make her state entry into London,...”

• The Coronation of Queen Elizabeth I. January 15, 1558 [O.S.] January 15, 2022. “On the morning of Saturday the 14th, as in the afternoon her Majesty was to make her state entry into London, the whole Court so sparkled with jewels and gold collars that they cleared the air, though it snowed a little.”

• Eyewitness Account of the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth I: January 15, 1559. January 14, 2023. “The Queen was received under the canopy by the Archbishop and another Bishop, they having previously perfumed her with incense,...”

• Queen Elizabeth I’s First Parliament, 1559. March 8, 2021. “…the wickedness which is being planned in this Parliament which consists of persons chosen throughout the country as being the most perverse and heretical.”
• Robert & Elizabeth: the Royal Soap Opera. October 27, 2022. “They charge me with a good many things in my own country and elsewhere, and, amongst others, that I show more favour to Robert than is fitting...”
• Elizabeth I’s Progress to Cambridge University, 1564: The host is notified. March 15, 2021. “We learn from one Matthew Stokys, a beddle for the University, who kept a running record relating to matters of the progress,…”
• Elizabeth I’s Progress to Cambridge University, 1564: Preparations at Greenwich. March 21, 2021. “The higher up in the Court hierarchy the lord or attendant was positioned the more space they would be allotted for their own clothing and furniture.”
• Elizabeth I’s Progress to Cambridge University, 1564: Final Inspections. April 11, 2021. “the said Sir William Cecyl sent for the vice-chancellor & all the heads and shewed them, that the Lord Robert, lord high steward of that university, had sent him word,…”
• Elizabeth I’s Progress to Cambridge University, 1564: The Host Makes Ready. April 4, 2021. “A special traveling staff called the “harbingers” arrived a day or two before the Queen trailed by drovers and carts.”
• Elizabeth I’s Progress to Cambridge University, 1564: Her Arrival. June 20, 2021. “The Queen would be the only woman riding a charger. It was a statement that she could rule as well as any king, including the rule of a war horse.”
• To Where Did Queen Elizabeth I Disappear in August 1564? July 18, 2021. “Leicestershire was in the opposite direction from London. Nichols could discover no more.”
• Elizabeth the Queen goes hunting. July 25, 2021. “Already we’ve mentioned that Elizabeth stopped at her palace at Enfield, earlier in her journey, to hunt in the toils there.”
• Queen Elizabeth Flirts with Guzman. March 6, 2022. “Queen Elizabeth truly loved a well-turned leg.”

• Ambassador Fenelon Describes the Rebellion of Queen Elizabeth's Parliament of 1566. March 11, 2023. "The queen returned no softer answer... What they asked was nothing less than wishing her to dig her grave before she was dead.”

• Queen Elizabeth to Mary Queen of Scots, December 21, 1568. August 18, 2020. “as we have bene very sory of long tyme, for your mishappes and great troubles, so find we our sorrowes now doubled”.
• Elizabeth I: the great tabloid story of 1559. February 20,2022. “…they say she is in love with Lord Robert and never lets him leave her.”

III. 1571 to 1580

• Livin’ Real at Windsor Castle with Queen Elizabeth. June 4, 2022. “Being fans of the Queen and the times, we watch television miniseries and movies draped with intrigue, lust and tapestries.”
• Ledger of Queen Elizabeth’s Jewel House, New Year’s 1571-2. January 2, 2022. “In this booke are contained all suche Juells as are delyvered to Maistres Katherine Howarde, one of the Gentlewomen of her Majestie's Privy Chamber, from time to time to her Highnes use.”
• What in the World Happened to Queen Elizabeth in the Autumn of 1572??? May 14, 2022. ‘“…she had a bad stomach owing to her having taken a little mithridate.”’
• Queen Elizabeth Orders Nightgowns for Herself and Leicester. November 7, 2021. “Some people may perhaps feel inclined to draw large conclusions from it. For ourselves, we do not think it warrants anything of the kind.”
• The Gossip from Queen Elizabeth's Court, May 11, 1573. November 5, 2022. “My Lord of Oxford is lately grown into great credit; for the Queen's Majesty delighteth more in his personage, and his dancing, and valiantness, than any other.”
• Queen Elizabeth at Kenilworth Castle: Sunday, July 17, 1575. July 16, 2022. “History has been particularly generous and has preserved an eyewitness letter describing the events…”.
• Tending to Mad Richard During the Queen’s Visit. July 31, 2022. “Upon leaving Kenilworth the Queen and her entourage next visited the town of Lichfield.”
• Seeing Queen Elizabeth I a bit closer: Worcester, 1575. August 8, 2021. “He pays attention to small details most accounts do not.”
• Gossip as History: Figure Flingers, Poisoners and Shrovetide Plays. January 30, 2022. “[T]hree waxen images were framed; whereof one was of the queen, and the two other of two persons nearest her...”

IV. 1581 to 1590

• The Ballad of Queen Elizabeth at Tilbury (1588). August 15, 2021. “It was obviously written by an eyewitness and is filled with lots of sights, sounds and curious facts not generally known.” 
• Queen Elizabeth’s Greatest Love, Robert Dudley, died on September 4, 1588. September 3, 2022. “Even after matters had settled down, Robert’s special treatment was the source of smoldering jealousy.”
• Elizabeth Celebrates the Victory Over the Armada. November 24, 1588. November 23, 2021. “…the Banners taken from the Enemy were hung up to be seen…”
• Sultan Amurath III to Queen Elizabeth I, September 1589. June 14, 2018. “Most Honourable Matron of the Christian Religion, Mirror of Chastity, adorned with the Brightness of Sovereignty and Power amongst the most chast Women of the People which serve Jesu, Mistress of great Kingdoms, reputed of greatest Majesty and Praise among the Nazarites, Elizabeth, Queen of England, to whom we wish a happy and prosperous reign.”

V. 1591 to 1600

• Paul Hentzner in the Presence of Queen Elizabeth I: September 1598. January 3, 2024. “ Hentzner kept a now famous dairy...”

VI. 1601 to 1603

• Gossip as History: All of London abuzz with Mistress Anne’s big wedding. April 22, 2022. “Mrs. Anne Russel went from Court upon Monday last, with 18 Coaches, the like hath not bene seen  amongest the Maydes.”
• Queen Elizabeth I’s Heart and the French Ambassador.  April 3, 2019.  “…the Queen of England, with the permission of her physicians, has been able to come out of her private chamber, she has permitted me… to see her…”

• Queen Elizabeth I Rallies for One Last Progress. March 4, 2023. "Her Majesty, being on horsebacke, stayed under a tree (because it rayned) to heare it."

• Rumors of the Queen's Sad Decline: Winter 1602. March 3, 2024. “I herewith send thee what I would God none did know,...”

• Lady Southwell on the Final Days of Queen Elizabeth I.  March 24, 2019.  “her majesty told [Lady Scrope] (commanding her to conceal the same ) that she saw, one night, in her bed, her body exceeding lean, and fearful in a light of fire.”
• William Camden to Sir Robert Cotton. March 15, 1603 [1602 O.S.]. October 11, 2020. “Here their topic is the dying Queen Elizabeth. The Royal Court had developed a checklist of activities to be accomplished before a dying monarch should expire.”

• Opportunity Hovers Around A Dying Queen: 1602-3. “Perhaps the Carey brothers were the first to move into position...”

• Sir Robert Carey’s Account of the Death of Queen Elizabeth. March 23, 2021. “When I came to court I found the Queen ill disposed, and she kept her inner lodging; yet she, hearing of my arrival, sent for me.”

• The Day After Queen Elizabeth I Died. March 25, 2023. “...he that I left in the Cofferer's chamber brought me word the Queen was dead.”

• John Chamberlaine to Dudley Carleton, April, 12, 1603. April 18, 2021. “In London, the Privy Council had scheduled the funeral of Queen Elizabeth for the 28th of the month. Especially  wise for a monarch, James would proceed slowly surely for a number of reasons, but, most particularly, in order to arrive after the funeral.”
• The Queen is Dead! Long Live the King! May 2, 2021. “After making his appearance, Cecil returned to London to oversee the funeral of the Queen who had overseen these changes for over 40 years, who his family patriarchs had served with such dedication even longer still.”
• A Most Curious Account of the Funeral of Queen Elizabeth I: April 28, 1603.  April 28, 2019.  “Once it was clear that James I would face no serious challenges, Cecil and the others could begin to give attention to the matter of the Queen’s funeral.”

VII. General

• Blanche Parry at Queen Elizabeth’s Court. August 27, 2022. “Somewhat above the doctors and apothecaries were entered the gifts from Elizabeth’s attendant Gentlewomen.”
• Michele and Hayward: Word Portraits of Queens Mary and Elizabeth. August 20, 2022. “She is thin and delicate, and altogether unlike her father,…”.
• Queen Elizabeth I Truly Loved a Good Play. August 6, 2022. “The Queen, for her part, was surely looking forward to an entertaining evening watching a play.”
• Queen Elizabeth’s Jealousy could be frightening to mere mortals. February 6, 2022. “I adventured to say, as far as discretion did go, in defence of our friende; and did urge muche in behalfe of youthe and enticinge love,…”
• Why Did Queen Elizabeth Fear Richard II So? September 10, 2018.  ‘Interestingly, the infamous “deposition scene” in the play, in which Richard concedes his unfitness for the crown, did not appear in the 1597 first quarto.  It did not appear until after Queen Elizabeth’s  death when the third quarto was published in 1608.’