SECOND QUEEN REGNANT OF ENGLAND AND IRELAND.
Birth of Elizabeth at Greenwich Palace-Chamber of the Virgins-Remark of
her mother, queen Anne Boleyn-Christening-Placed first in the succession
-Marriage negotiation with France- Execution of her mother-Elizabeth
declared illegitimate-Her governess-Want of apparel-Altered fortunes-
Appears at her brother's christening-Her early promise-Education-Her
first letter-Patronised by Anne of Cleves and Katharine Howard-Residence
with her sister Mary-Offered in marriage to the heir of Arran-Her letter to
queen Katharine Parr-Proficiency in languages-Her early compositions-
Her brother's love for her-Shares his studies-Her father's death-Her grief
-Wooed by Seymour, the lord admiral-Refuses his hand-Offended at his
marriage with the queen dowager-Princess Mary invites her to live with her
-She resides with queen Katharine Parr-Her governess, Mrs. Ashley, and
Roger Ascham-Freedoms of the admiral-The queen's jealousy-Elizabeth
removes to Cheston - Her letters to the queen and admiral - Death and be-
quest of queen Katharine Parr-The admiral's clandestine courtship of
Elizabeth - Injurious reports concerning it-Elizabeth's conferences with
Parry-Her governess, Ashley, sent to the Tower-Examination of Elizabeth
-Restraint at Hatfield-Defends her governess-Letter to the protector-Her
confessions-Her governess superseded by lady Tyrwhit-Disdainful conduct
of Elizabeth-She writes again to the protector-Serious scandals on Elizabeth
-She intercedes for her governess-Execution of the admiral-Elizabeth's
regard for his memory-The ladies of her household.
We now come to the most distinguished name in the annals of female
royalty, that of the great Elizabeth, second queen regnant of England.
The romantic circumstances of her birth, the vicissitudes of her child-
hood, and the lofty spirit with which she bore herself, amidst the storms
and perils that darkened over her during her sister's reign, invested her
with almost poetic interest, as a royal heroine, before her title to the
regal succession was ratified by the voice of a generous people, and the
brilliant success of her government, during a long reign, surrounded
her maiden diadem with a blaze of glory which has rendered her the
most popular of our monarchs, and blinded succeeding generations to
her faults.
It is not, perhaps, the most gracious office in the world to perform,
with strict impartiality, the duty of a faithful biographer to a princess
so endeared to national pride as Elizabeth, and to examine, by the cold