476

was educated at Wartburg, in all the elegance of the court of Hermann, the abode of music and the arts. Louis began to govern in 1215, and the marriage was completed in 1221. While the husband devoted himself to knightly exploits, the wife was distinguished by the mild virtues of her sex. When Germany, and especially Thuringia, was oppressed with fainine and pestilence, she caused many hospitals to be erected, fed a multitude of the poor from her own table, and supplied their wants with money and clothing. She wandered about, in an humble dress, relieving the sorrows of the wretched. Louis died on a crusade, and her own life terminated Nov. 19, 1231, in an hospital which she had herself established. She was regarded as a saint by her admiring contemporaries, and, four years after her death, this canonization was approved by pope Gregory IX. A beautiful church and a costly monument were erected over her tomb. The latter is now one of the most splendid remains of Gothic architecture in Germany.

ELIZABETH, queen of England, and one of its most celebrated sovereigns, was the daughter of Henry VIII, by his queen, Anne Boleyn. She was born in 1533, and educated in the principles of the reformation, and also in those classical studies into which it had then become customary to initiate females of distinction in England. In her father's testament, she was placed the third in the order of succession; but the duke of Northumberland induced her brother, Edward VI, to set her aside, as well as her sister Mary, to make room for Jane Grey. In the reign of Mary, she was placed under circumstances of great difficulty, from her known attachment to Protestantism; and notwithstanding her great prudence, but for the politic interference of her brother-in-law, Philip of Spain, she might have been in great personal danger. On the death of Mary, in 1558, she was immediately proclaimed queen, and received in the metropolis with the loudest acclamations. She consigned to oblivion all the affronts she had received during the late reign, and prudently assumed the gracious demeanor of the common sovereign of all her subjects. Philip of Spain soon made her proposals of marriage, but she knew the aversion borne him by the nation too well to think of accepting them. She proceeded with considerable prudence and moderation to the arduous task of settling religion, which was, in a great degree, effected by the first parliament she sum

moned. It was not long before Elizabeth began that interference in the affairs of Scotland, which produced some of the most singular events of her reign. Mary, the young queen of Scots, was not only the next heir in blood to the English crown, but was regarded by the Romanists, who deemed Elizabeth illegitimate, as the true sovereign of England. By the marriage of that princess with the dauphin, and her relationship to the Guises, Scotland was also drawn into a closer union with France than ever. Thus great political causes of enmity abounded, in addition to the female rivalry, which was the most conspicuous foible of Elizabeth. The first step she took in Scottish affairs was to send a fleet and an army to aid the party which supported the refor mation; and this interference, in 1560, effected a treaty, by which the French were obliged to quit Scotland. On the return of Mary from France, after the death of her husband, attempts were made to procure Elizabeth's recognition of her title as presumptive successor to the crown of England; but, although unattended to, and very disagreeable to the latter, the two queens lived for some time in apparent amity. In the mean time, Elizabeth acquired great reputation by her vigorous conduct and political sagacity, and had many suitors among the princes of Europe, whom, consistent with her early resolution to live single, she constantly refused. Being regarded as the head of the Protestant party in Europe, she made a treaty of alliance with the French Huguenots in that capacity, and gave them aids in men and money. Her government at home also gradually grew more rigorous against the Catholics—one of the mischievous consequences of the incessant intrigue of the popish party, both at home and abroad, to overthrow her government. She did all in her power to thwart the attempts to unite Mary in a second marriage, and, besides a weak jealousy of the personal charms of the queen of Scotland, she discovered another weakness in a propensity to adopt court favorites, with a view to exterior accomplishments rather than to merit, as in the well known instance of Dudley, earl of Leicester. The political dissensions in Scotland, which gave Mary so much disquiet, were fomented by Elizabeth and her ministers, but it was her own misconduct that threw her into the hands of her rival. The manner in which Elizabeth detained the unhappy queen in captivity, the secret negotiations of the latter with

the duke of Norfolk, the rebellions in the north, and the treasonable engagements made by the earls of Northumberland and Westmoreland with the duke of Orleans, in the Low Countries, are affairs rather of history than biography. In the midst of these events, the Puritanical party gave much uneasiness to the queen, who was warmly attached to the ceremonials of religion, and to the hierarchy of which she had become the head. Inheriting, too, all the maxims of royal authority maintained by her father, the spirit of civil liberty, by which the Puritans became early distinguished, was very offensive to her. Elizabeth, however, understood the art of making practical concessions, while she maintained her dignity in language; and such was the general prudence and frugality of her administration, that she retained the affections even of those whom she governed with a rigorous hand. Almost the only cause of complaint, in regard to pecuniary matters, in this reign, arose from the injurious grant of monopolies, which formed a frequent subject of parliamentary complaint, and were often, in consequence, revoked. The assistance given by Elizabeth to the Protestants of the Low Countries induced Spain, in 1572, to promote a conspiracy, which was chiefly conducted by a Florentine merchant and the bishop of Ross, the Scottish resident in England. The duke of Norfolk, allowing himself to be drawn into a participation of this plot, on its discovery, was tried and executed. The massacre of St. Bartholomew, in the same year, alarmed all Protestant rulers, and especially Elizabeth, who put herself and court into mourning on the occasion, and received in silence the French ambassador sent over to apologize for that execrable deed. She, however, maintained external amity with the French court, and even suffered negotiations to be commenced for her marriage with the duke of Alençon, the king's brother, which brought that prince to England. An expectation that the union would take place now became general. In 1575, she received the offer of the sovereignty of the revolted Dutch provinces; but, from prudential reasons, she declined to accept it; and it was not until 1578 that she signed with them a treaty of alliance. In 1585, Elizabeth ventured openly to defy the hostility of Spain, by entering into a treaty with the revolted provinces, by which she bound herself to assist them with a considerable force, the command of which she intrusted to Leicester, who did little

477

honor to her choice. She also sent an armament, under Drake, against the Spanish settlements in the West Indies, and made a league of mutual defence with James, king of Scotland, whose friendship she courted, while she detained his mother in prison. In 1586, that conspiracy took place, the object of which was her assassination by Anthony Babington. As Elizabeth's principal counsellors, as well as the nation at large, were of opinion that the safety of the state demanded the life of Mary, whatever may be thought of the injustice of her treatment, it was clearly the result of strong political circumstances. Elizabeth, however, conscious of the invidious light in which the execution of a queen and relation would appear to Europe, practised all the arts of dissimulation to remove as much of the odium from herself as possible. She even wished Mary to be taken off privately; and it was only on the refusal of sir Amias Paulet and sir Drue Drury, her keepers, to be concerned in so odious an affair, that the curious transaction of furthering the warrant by secretary Davison took place, the consequence of which was the execution of Mary on Feb. 8, 1587. The dissembled grief of Elizabeth, when informed of this catastrophe, deceived no one, although the imputed mistake of Davison, and the sacrifice of him to her assumed resentment, afforded the king of Scotland a pretext for resuming an amicable correspondence with the English court. The year 1588 was rendered memorable by the defeat of the Spanish armada, on which meditated invasion Elizabeth displayed all the confidence and energy of her character. Soon after this event, Elizabeth became the ally of Henry IV of France, in order to vindicate his title to that throne; and, for some years, English auxiliaries served in France, and naval expeditions were undertaken, in which none more distinguished themselves than the celebrated earl of Essex, who, on the death of Leicester, succeeded to his place in the queen's favor. In 1601, she held a conference with the marquis de Rosni (afterwards the celebrated Sully), who came over, on the part of Henry IV, to concert, in concurrence with England, a new balance of European power, to control the preponderance of the house of Austria. Elizabeth readily gave in to the project, and the minister quitted England in admiration of the solidity and enlargement of her political views. Having suppressed an insurrection in Ireland, and obliged all the

478

Spanish troops, sent to aid in it, to quit the island, she turned her thoughts towards relieving the burdens of her subjects, and gained much additional popularity by suppressing a great number of unpopular monopolies. The execution of the earl of Essex (see Devereux, Robert), however, gave a fatal blow to her happiness; and, on learning from the dying countess of Nottingham, that he had really transmitted the ring, which implied his request of pardon, she became furious with rage, and, when her anger subsided, fell into an incurable melancholy. At length nature began to sink, and, as her end manifestly approached, she was urged by her council to declare her successor. She answered, "Who but her kinsman, the king of Scots?" and soon after, sinking into a lethargy, she expired, without further struggle or convulsion, on March 24, 1602, in the 70th year of her age, and 45th of her reign.-Estimating the character and conduct of Elizabeth from the events of her reign, she will justly rank high among sovereigns. Under her auspices, the Protestant religion, as opposed to popery, was firmly established. Factions were restrained, government strengthened, the vast power of Spain nobly opposed, oppressed neighbors supported, a navy created, commerce rendered flourishing, and the national character aggrandized. She did not merely lend a name to a conspicuous period of history; her own prudence, judgment, fortitude, firmness, vigor and industry materially contributed to the prosperity of her administration. She was frugal to the borders of avarice; but, being as economical of the people's money as of her own, her prudent attention to national expenditure contributed materially to the public good. The severity of Elizabeth to Catholic emissaries, Jesuits, and others, whether native or foreign, has latterly been deemed scarcely defensible, nor, on a religious ground, is it so; but it is never to be forgotten, that most of those who suffered really sought the overthrow of the state, and, in addition, acted under the direction of a foreign influence of the most baleful description. The treatment of the queen of Scots can never be defended, but will always remain one of those cases which neither policy, nor even personal danger, can sufficiently justify. It may be questioned, however, if the dissimulation of Elizabeth has not injured her memory in respect to this transaction, more than the deed itself, which was certainly deemed necessary both by her ministers and a vast

majority of the people. Her principal defects were violence and haughtiness of temper, impatience of contradiction, and insatiable fondness for admiration and flattery. It is to be remarked, however, that, capricious as she was in her affections, and petty in her feminine jealousies, she always made even her favorites feel that she was their sovereign, when they were disposed to forget it. Although fond of literature, and substantially learned, she was no very munificent patroness, and made very poor returns for the excess of incense so lavishly bestowed upon her. She was skilled in the Greek, and spoke the Latin language with considerable fluency. She translated from the former into Latin a dialogue of Xenophon, two orations of Isocrates, and a play of Euripides, and also wrote a commentary on Plato. From the Latin she translated Boethius's Consolations of Philosophy, Sallust's Jugurthine War, and a part of Horace's Art of Poetry. In the Royal and Noble Authors of lord Orford, may also be found a catalogue of translations from the French, prayers, meditations, speeches in parliament, letters, &c.

ELIZABETH CHARLOTTE, duchess of Orleans, only daughter of the elector Charles Louis, of the Palatinate, was born at Heidelberg, 1652. She was a princess of distinguished talents and character, and lived half a century in the court of Louis XIV without changing her German habits for French manners. She was educated with the greatest care, at the court of her aunt, afterwards the electoress Sophia of Hanover, and, at the age of 19, she married duke Philip of Orleans, from reasons of state policy. She was without personal charms, but her understanding was strong, and her character unaffected, and she was characterized by liveliness and wit. It is to be regretted, that she exercised no more influence on the education of her children. Her second son was afterwards known as regent. Madame de Maintenon was her implacable enemy, but Louis XIV was attracted by her integrity and frankness, her vivacity and wit. She often attended him to the chase. She preserved the highest respect for the literary men of Germany, particularly for Leibnitz, whose correspondence with the French literati she promoted. She died at St. Cloud, in 1722." She has described herself and her situation with a natural humor, perfectly original, in her German letters, which form an interesting addition to the accounts of the cout of Louis XIV. The most valuable of her

letters are contained in the Life and Character of the Duchess Elizabeth Charlotte of Orleans, by professor Schütz, Leipsic, 1820.

ELIZABETH PETROWNA, empress of Russia, daughter of Peter the Great and Catharine I, was born 1709, at the time of her father's greatest prosperity and glory. After her accession to the throne, in 1741, it was asserted, that Catharine I had, by her will, appointed her eldest daughter, Anne (wife of the duke of Holstein), successor of Peter II, and, after Anne, her younger sister, Elizabeth; but this is not proved, and it is not probable that prince Menzikoff would have permitted such a will. The nobles and the senate, after the death of Peter II, chose Anne, duchess dowager of Courland, daughter of Ivan, and niece of Peter I. She settled the succession to the throne in favor of the young prince Ivan, son of her niece, Anne, who was married to Antony Ulrich, duke of Brunswick, and who, after the death of the empress, caused herself to be proclaimed regent, during the minority of her son. Elizabeth, naturally inactive, and more prone to pleasure than ambition, appeared alike indifferent to all political projects. She endeavored, however, to conciliate the guards, and chose her favorites among their officers. Neither the regent nor her husband, who had the command of the troops, took measures against a revolution. A party was, therefore, formed for Elizabeth, daughter of Peter the Great, to whose name so many glorious recollections were attached. The princess did not oppose the attempt made to place her on the throne, and submitted to the advice of Lestocq, a surgeon, who was eager to distinguish himself. The marquis of Chétardie, the French ambassador, whose person and manners had prepossessed Elizabeth in his favor, saw in the proposed revolution only an opportunity of securing to France an ally. Sweden, dissatisfied with the cabinet of Petersburg, was persuaded to declare war against Russia. The conspiracy, however, might easily have been discovered. Lestocq was incautious. The regent was warned of the plot; but the natural goodness of her disposition gave admission to no suspicion. Elizabeth easily succeeded in quieting her with protestations and tears. The conspirators, however, were not without anxiety, and Lestocq urged the immediate execution of the project. Observing a card on Elizabeth's table, he drew upon it a wheel and a crown, saying to the princess, "This

479

or that, madame; one for you, or the other for me!" This decided Elizabeth; the conspirators were immediately informed of it, and in a few hours the conspiracy was ready to break out. The husband of the regent, being informed of the danger, urged her to take measures for their safety; but Anne would not credit the reports. They were both seized while asleep, December 6, 1741, and, with their son, were carried to the palace of Elizabeth; at the same time Munich, father and son, Ostermann, Golofkin and others were thrown into prison. Anne and the prince Antony Ulrich were afterwards transferred to an island in the Dwina, near the White sea, and Ivan to the castle of Schlusselburg. Elizabeth caused herself to be proclaimed empress. Munich, Ostermann and others were condemned to death; but Elizabeth made a display of her clemency, by commuting their punishment for exile to Siberia. Lestocq was made first physician of the court, and president of the medical college, with the title of privy counsellor; but he afterwards fell under her displeasure. Bestuscheff, who had been minister under Anne, and whom Lestocq had caused to be appointed chancellor, enjoyed great influence. Peace was concluded with Sweden, at Abo, in 1743, by the interposition of France. In 1748, Elizabeth sent aid to Maria Theresa, in Germany, by which she hastened the conclusion of the peace of Aix-la-Chapelle. In the mean time, a conspiracy was formed against her, in which, among others, Lapoukin and his wife (distinguished for her wit and beauty) were engaged; but the plot was discovered, and the wife of Lapoukin, in whom the empress saw a dangerous rival, with her husband and son, and the wife of Bestuscheff received the punishment of the knout; the ends of their tongues were cut off, and they themselves were exiled to Siberia. Elizabeth took part in the seven years' war, on account of some raillery of Frederic the Great respecting her person. The grand prince Peter, duke of Holstein-Gottorp, nephew of the empress, and her acknowledged successor, was, on the other hand, much attached to Frederic. The war was not, therefore, prosecuted with much vigor by the Russian generals, who desired to secure the favor of the heir to the throne. But this was soon perceived; the general, Apraxin, was removed, and his place supplied by Fermor, and the chanceller Bestuscheff was exiled to Siberia. The Russians now advanced into Germany. Sol