Category: The Reign of Elizabeth I
General information about the reign of Queen Elizabeth I
Christopher Marlowe’s “Edward II”
Thank you to Kathryn Warner for alerting me to this news on her wonderful blog on Edward II. Christopher Marlowe,…
Sir Francis Drake
On 28th January 1596, Sir Francis Drake’s remains and those of his second cousin, Admiral Sir John Hawkins, were buried…
The Coronation of Elizabeth I – 15th January 1559
On this day in history, the 15th January 1559, at 12pm, Elizabeth I was crowned Queen. She was the third…
John Dee – A Biographical Sketch
I asked Robert Parry, author of “Virgin and the Crab” which has John Dee as one of its main characters,…
The Death of Mary I and the Accession of Elizabeth I
On the 16th November 1558, at around midnight, Mary I received the last rites. A few hours later, at 6am…
Remember Remember the 5th November!
“Remember remember the 5th November” is a rhyme that many of us were taught in school, although perhaps not the…
The Death of Philip Sidney
On this day in history, 17th October 1586, the poet, courtier and soldier, Sir Philip Sidney, died as a result…
The Trial of Mary Queen of Scots
On this day in history, 14th October 1586, the trial of Mary Queen of Scots began at Fotheringhay Castle in…
Elizabeth I – Primary Sources
While there are some excellent biographies and books out there on Elizabeth I, her reign and Elizabethan times, there’s nothing…
St Bartholomew’s Day Massacre
On this day in history, the 24th August 1572, an estimated 3,000 French Protestants (Huguenots) were massacred in Paris and…
Spanish Armada 9 – God Blew and They Were Scattered
On this day in history, the 20th August 1588, a thanksgiving service was held at St Paul’s in London to…
The Spanish Armada 8 – Elizabeth’s Tilbury Speech
On the 9th August 1588 (old calendar) Elizabeth I appeared before her troops gathered at Tilbury. In her article “The…
The Spanish Armada 7 – Elizabeth I Visits Tilbury
Even though the remaining ships of the Spanish Armada were homeward bound, England was still expecting to be threatened by…
William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley
I meant to write this article to coincide with the anniversary of William Cecil’s death, the 4th August 1598, so…
The Spanish Armada 6 – The Spanish Fleet Homeward Bound
By the first week of August 1588, the battered, defeated and demoralised Spanish Armada had started the first part of…
The Spanish Armada 5 – The Protestant Wind
On the 30th July 1588 the wind changed and the remaining ships of the Spanish Armada were forced northwards and…
Mary Queen of Scots Marries Lord Darnley
On this day in history, the 29th July 1565, Elizabeth I’s nemesis, Mary Queen of Scots, married Henry Stuart, Lord…
The Spanish Armada 4: The Battle of Gravelines
The day after the English had wrecked the crescent formation of the Spanish Armada and caused havoc, they attacked the…
The Spanish Armada 3: The Hell-burners
At midnight on this day in history, the 28th July 1588, five hell-burners were ordered to be sent amongst the…
The Spanish Armada 2 – Leicester Invites Elizabeth to Tilbury
On this day in history, the 27th July 1588, Robert Dudley, the Earl of Leicester and the Lieutenant and Captain…
