Elizabeth I

• Queen of England between 1558 - 1603.
• She had a small council of advisors. Her chief advisor was William Cecil.
• There had been many years of religious change and arguments. Elizabeth settled the unrest over religion.
• In 1599 she was made 'Supreme Governor' of the church instead of 'Supreme Head'. She hoped this would please the Catholics.
• To please the Protestants she made all the churches use Thomas Cranmer's Prayer Book.
• Elizabeth did not marry, but she did meet many men who wanted to marry her. Sir Robert Dudley was a favourite with her. She also met princes from Spain, France and Sweden. If she had married any of them it would have brought their countries closer together.
• When she became queen the country was very poor so Elizabeth did not have any wars against other countries because wars cost money.
• She made peace with France in 1564 and did not fight against Spain until 1585.
• Elizabeth did not have palaces built, she sold off some of the royal land.
• Every summer she would visit noble families and stay with them. They had to provide entertainment and food and pay for it as well. These were called her 'progresses'.
• When Elizabeth went of a 'progress' the ordinary people of England could see her.
• She was a good rider and she wore fine clothes and jewels.
• Sir Francis Walsingham was head of her secret service.
• Elizabeth had cousin Mary Stuart (Mary Queen of Scots) who would try and become queen when she died because she did not have any children.
• Elizabeth had Mary imprisoned and eventually had her executed in 1587.
• Elizabeth was queen when Drake and Howard defeated the Spanish Armada.
• When she got old she wore a red wig to cover her grey hair.
• She liked sweet foods and these had made her teeth go black.
• She died on 24th March 1603.
• During her long reign of 45 years as queen, England had become a strong country in Europe. There had been no civil wars.
• Elizabeth was the last Tudor monarch. She named King James of Scotland, son of Mary Stuart to be king.