"Her perseverance is equal to that of a man, and her memory long keeps what it quickly picks up. She talks French and Italian as well as she does English. When she writes Greek and Latin, nothing is more beautiful than her handwriting. She delights as much in music as she is skillful in it."

In 1558 at 25 years of age, Elizabeth ascended the throne of England. Trying to secure her power, Elizabeth did what she could to reduce the Catholic-Protestant conflict in the country with a religious settlement act in 1559 that was very tolerant despite the fact Protestantism was made the legal religion and Catholicism outlawed. It allowed Catholics to avoid the Protestant church services by the payment of a small fine. However, the Catholic world saw her as an enemy, and in 1570, Pope Pius V announced an interdict against Elizabeth that encouraged English Catholics to revolt against her.

“The coronation ritual was a clever compromise, too. She was crowned with the Latin text and by a catholic bishop. But parts of the service were also said in English and Elizabeth absented herself from the Mass. As she left Westminster Abbey, she was almost laughing with triumph.”

After Edward's mother, Jane Seymour, died, Elizabeth and the “Crown Prince,” developed a close relationship. Elizabeth's friendship with Edward made her important in the court and Elizabeth, previously neglected as only a second daughter, now became something almost special in the eyes of most.

There also have been many rumors of the validity that the Queen did remain virgin throughout her entire life. It has been said she even father an illegitimate child who eventually became the Duke of Oxford. This claim is furthered by stating that the Duke of Oxford was also William Shakespeare and using Shakespeare as a pen name. Of course there is no proof to validate these claims however; gossip is one of the many pastimes taken upon the subjects of England and its royalty.

Some topics in this essay:
King Henry, Elizabeth Feria, England Trying, Catholicism Mary, Cromwell Elizabeth, Boleyn Ann, Referring Mary’s, Catholic Church, Duke Northumberland, Virgin Queen, king henry, male heir, anne boleyn, annul marriage catherine, naval fleet, ascended throne, catherine aragon, wife catherine, bear son, england elizabeth, wife wife,