PRIMARY SOURCES
Within this link, is a well preserved signature of Queen Elizabeth I that was attached to the death warrant of Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex who was a nobleman and, in fact, a favorite of the Queens. Elizabeth and Robert shared similar characteristics when it came to politics. Both were strongly driven, smart, and committed. Where he fell short was his commitment to the catholic church. He was charged for leading an overthrow of the English government in 1599 that was aborted last minute. In the Earls defensive, he professed that Protestants plotted against him and lied saying he was the leader. His execution was just one more example of the many quarrels Catholics and Protestants had against one another. A problem Queen Elizabeth I successfully lessened during her reign.
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In this link, an original drawing depicts the procession of Queen Elizabeth's coronation ceremony. Elizabeth Tudor was crowed on Sunday January 15th 1559 at Westminster Abbey, London. The previous day, five pageants celebrated England's new queen. The first pageant declared her genealogy. This pageant declared her as the rightful heir to the throne with her more "Englishness" than her more Spanish sister Queen Mary I. The second pageant announced Queen Elizabeth's government which was characterized by True Religion, Love of Subjects, Wisdom, and Justice opposing opposite vices. In the third pageant, the Lord Mayor of London (Sir Richard Martin) presented the Queen with gifts of gold which represented the interdependence of City and Crown. The forth pageant contrasted Queen Mary's decaying commonwealth with Elizabeth's new thriving one. The final pageant showed her commitment to the Lord Mayor and the people of England with the Word of Truth protestant bible.
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John Case was famously known for his commentaries on Aristotle's works. The face of John Cases Sphaera Civitatis (a commentary on Aristotle's Politics) is none other than Queen Elizabeth I. John Cases front page represents a government of Majesty, Prudence, Fortitude, Religion, Mercy, Eloquence, and Abundance with a core of Immovable Justice. In the image, Queen Elizabeth seems to be the God of the well coordinated world of government. During the Elizabethan Era, England flourished culturally, politically, and economically.
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