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BBC Bitesize revision resources give you the information you need for your GCSE exams. The first thing she did to secure her power and ensure her position as queen was not threatened, was to arrange her coronation to happen quickly. The English explorers tried to find new trade routes and expand their trade in the Spanish colonies in the Americas. Bamboo Door Privacy Film, max-width: 750px; #fancybox-title { margin-bottom: 0; Carolers would sing for money, and mummers would perform. } Suddenly, Englishmen were on the move: Sir Humphrey Gilbert and his band of settlers set forth for Newfoundland (1583); Sir Walter Raleigh organized what became the equally ill-fated lost colony at Roanoke (158791); John Davis in his two small ships, the Moonshine and the Sunshine, reached 72 north (158587), the farthest north any Englishman had ever been; and the honourable East India Company was founded to organize the silk and spice trade with the Orient on a permanent basis. height: auto !important; She was a prisoner. But the ability to address a large number of people, from ministers in Parliament to troops on the battlefield, stood Elizabeth in good stead for the future. England was a male-run society even though it had a queen. } Elizabeth was rewarded with loyalty and, enhanced by the glow of nostalgia, her own unique place in history. width: 100% !important; Published by at 29, 2022. $(function(){ I hope you enjoy my lesson for covering the domestic economy; types of poor; poor laws; Vagabonds and their treatment. They were also one of the first forms of welfare that we know about today. Poor Law, in British history, body of laws undertaking to provide relief for the poor, developed in 16th-century England and maintained, with various changes, until after World War II.The Elizabethan Poor Laws, as codified in 159798, were administered through parish overseers, who provided relief for the aged, sick, and infant poor, as well as work for the able-bodied in workhouses. In response, the Muscovy Company was established to trade with Russia; by 1588, 100 vessels a year were visiting the Baltic. Mary had been an unwanted visitor-prisoner in England ever since 1568, after she had been forced to abdicate her Scottish throne in favour of her 13-month-old son, James VI (later James I). On 17 November 1558 it is said that Princess Elizabeth was sitting under an oak tree at Hatfield House when a horseman appeared with the news that would change her life forever. Today we are. ga('create', 'UA-39919305-1', 'brandkarma.org'); What does this part of the poster tell you about the treatment of the old? He had shown the Queen how much he adored her and, just as he had hoped, eclipsed everyone else. Dr Sam Caslin begins her investigation into the personality of Elizabeth I by examining a source held at The National Archives at Kew."The Great Seal" is one. Some people used them to shoot instead of guns. (b.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded",h,!1),a.addEventListener("load",h,!1)):(a.attachEvent("onload",h),b.attachEvent("onreadystatechange",function(){"complete"===b.readyState&&c.readyCallback()})),g=c.source||{},g.concatemoji?f(g.concatemoji):g.wpemoji&&g.twemoji&&(f(g.twemoji),f(g.wpemoji)))}(window,document,window._wpemojiSettings); Without literacy, the spiritual impact of the Puritans or, later, the formation of parties based on ideologies that engulfed the kingdom in civil war would have been impossible. This was a big mistake. The first 30 years of Elizabeth's reign saw stability and prosperity, but a rising population led to growing poverty and problems, especially in towns. She was well aware that plots were being hatched against her and that she needed the undivided loyalty of those around her as protection. There you could watch animals trying to kill each other. Shortly after the new Poor Law was introduced, a number of scandals hit the headlines. One way of encouraging pupils to analyse this rich source is by helping them to see that the poster is really made up of smaller pictures. Examined in her faith by the vicar of St Botolph's, and "answering him verie Christian lyke", she did her catechisms, said the Lord's Prayer, and was baptised on Friday 3 June 1597 in front of the congregation. Ubs Emerging Talent Program, Edexcel GCSE 9 1 History Early Elizabethan . !function(a,b,c){function d(a,b){var c=String.fromCharCode;l.clearRect(0,0,k.width,k.height),l.fillText(c.apply(this,a),0,0);var d=k.toDataURL();l.clearRect(0,0,k.width,k.height),l.fillText(c.apply(this,b),0,0);var e=k.toDataURL();return d===e}function e(a){var b;if(!l||!l.fillText)return!1;switch(l.textBaseline="top",l.font="600 32px Arial",a){case"flag":return! Shakespeare made up some words that are still in use today. But when Elizabeth heard the bells pealing to celebrate the death of Mary Queen of Scots, she was horrified. bbc bitesize elizabethan poverty. left: auto; In 1601, among the Cecil papers still held at Hatfield House, we hear this: "The queen is discontented at the great numbers of 'negars and blackamoores' which are crept into the realm since the troubles between her Highness and the King of Spain, and are fostered here to the annoyance of her own people.". ga('send', 'pageview'); Elizabeth, aged twenty-five, was now Queen of England. This happened because people disagreed with how she and the next two kings ruled. A revolution in reading (and to a lesser extent writing) was taking place. background-position: 0 -120px; Blue Ocean Strategy Examples Pdf, }); In 1568 one such problem presented itself to Elizabeth in the shape of Mary Queen of Scots. left: 50% !important; View in image library, Suitable for: Key stage 1, Key stage 2, Key stage 3, Time period: Empire and Industry 1750-1850. Explore the great men from Elizabeth I's reign such as Francis Bacon, Walter Raleigh, and William Shakespeare, The supremacy of Northumbria and the rise of Mercia, The church and scholarship in Offas time, The decline of Mercia and the rise of Wessex, Alfreds government and his revival of learning, The Danish conquest and the reigns of the Danish kings, The reign of Edward the Confessor and the Norman Conquest, Rebellion of Henrys sons and Eleanor of Aquitaine, Political struggles and Richards deposition, Domestic rivalries and the loss of France, The exclusion crisis and the Tory reaction, William III (16891702) and Mary II (168994), Domestic responses to the American Revolution, Ireland and the return of the Conservatives, The return of the Conservatives (197074), The Margaret Thatcher government (197990), The Falkland Islands War, the 1983 election, and privatization, Racial discrimination and the 1981 England riots, Black Wednesday, epidemic scandals, and Majors Citizens Charter, New Labour, the repeal of Clause IV, and the third way, Navigating the European monetary system and the EU Social Chapter, Londons local government, House of Lords reform, and devolution for Scotland and Wales, The royal familys annus horribilis, the death of Princess Diana, and the Millennium Dome, The battle for the soul of the Conservative Party, Weapons of mass destruction and the Iraq War, Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition rule (201015), The 2011 riots, the European sovereign debt crisis, and Camerons veto of changes to the Lisbon Treaty, The 2012 London Olympics, Julian Assanges embassy refuge, and the emergence of UKIP, The birth of George, rejection of intervention in Syria, and regulation of GCHQ, The resignation of Cameron, the rise of May, and a challenge to Corbyns leadership of Labour, The Manchester arena bombing and London bridge attacks, The Grenfell Tower fire, a novichok attack in Salisbury, and air strikes on Syria, The wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, the Chequers plan, and Boris Johnsons resignation, EU agreement and Parliamentary opposition to Mays Brexit plan, Objections to the Irish backstop and a challenge to Mays leadership, Parliamentary rejection of Mays plan, Mays survival of a confidence vote, and the Independent Group of breakaway MPs, Indicative votes, Mays pledge to resign, a third defeat for her plan, and a new deadline, Boris Johnsons ascent, the December 2019 snap election, and Brexit, Further scandal and Johnsons resignation, Prime ministers of Great Britain and the United Kingdom, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland summary. @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1366px) { Links to free videos, guides and quizzes on the BBC Bitesize website will enrich and support your independant learning. 30 terms. #fancybox-title h4 { parish records 1570-87: England and Spain clash over Netherlands (non direct and direct action) Mary went to live at the French court and at the age of fifteen married Francis, heir to the French throne. She became queen when she was 1 week old because her father died. })(window,document,'script','//www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js','ga'); But she didnt ask about peoples beliefs even though there were laws about how they could pray and what kind of services they could have. The Queen herself was not as sharp as she once had been. If only she could meet her, she thought, Elizabeth would rally to her cause. Poverty: Causes and Changes - Early Elizabethan England The History Teacher 5.78K subscribers Share Save 7.5K views 11 months ago Were still in Early Elizabethan England topic 3. delay: 0, In 1834 a new Poor Law was introduced. Did it solve the problems of children in factories? #fancybox-outer { Her health deteriorated and, when death came on 24 March 1603, it was: mildly like a lamb, easily like a ripe apple from the tree. The Elizabethan Religious Settlement is the name given to the religious and political arrangements made for England during the reign of Elizabeth I (1558-1603) that brought the English Reformation to a conclusion. Pirates and Exploration. Christopher Cappervert [ie from Cape Verde] - "a blacke moore", Domingo - "a black neigro servaunt unto Sir William Winter", Suzanna Peavis - "a blackamore servant to John Deppinois", Symon Valencia - "a black moore servaunt to Stephen Drifyeld a nedellmaker", Cassango - "a blackmoore servaunt to Mr Thomas Barber a marchaunt", Isabell Peeters - "a Black-more lodgeing in Blew Anchor Alley", "A negar whose name was suposed to be Frauncis. Families were split up and housed in different parts of the workhouse. But in 1589, England attacked Spain and was unsuccessful. Poverty was mostly considered to be your own fault in Elizabethan times, but attitudes started to change towards the end of Elizabeths reign and the government decided to take action. What punishments can you see in the poster. They did this many times, which hurt the English. The search for Cathay became an economic necessity in 1550 when the wool trade collapsed and merchants had to find new markets for their cloth. When Elizabeth I was queen, English people first began to colonize the eastern coast of America. Everyone, from court astrologers to Henry himself, was convinced Anne would give birth to a boy. Events beyond living memory that are significant nationally No one told the Queen what to do and, using the skills of rhetoric she had been taught, Elizabeth addressed members of Parliament. He also sailed around the world. Car Next Door Cancellation Policy, bottom: 140px; Whilst enclosure has its own study note, the other three are detailed here. 1601 Act for the Relief of the Poor was the final. In part, however, the Elizabethan Age was a success because men had at their disposal new and exciting areas, both of mind and geography, into which to channel their energies. In 1569 the Northern Uprising failed when the Catholic Earls, marching southwards, discovered that Mary had quickly been moved from Tutbury to Coventry and their plans to rescue her were thwarted. In July 1602, Cecil was putting pressure on the merchants, one of whom wrote: "I have persuaded the merchants trading to Barbary, not without some difficulty, to yield to [ie pay for] the charges of the Moors lately redeemed out of servitude by her Majesty's ships, so far as it may concern their lodging and victuals, till some shipping may be ready to carry them into Barbary". Name. display: block; They would not be able to do more colonization and trade until they signed a treaty in 1604. The Globe Theatre in London is a copy of the theatre where his plays were first performed. Archives, Open Government Licence England had a big fight with Spain. The first hesitant steps had been taken under Henry VII when John Cabot in 1497 sailed in search of a northwest route to China and as a consequence discovered Cape Breton Island. With her majestic dress and bearing and her renowned intelligence, she represented the splendor and power of England. They sometimes had a dessert called a banquet. Study Notes. width: 1em !important; The Elizabethan era also saw a great flowering of embroidery for clothing and furnishings. He wanted to impress the Queen. England's population grew from 3 million in 1551 to 4.2 million in 1601, which increased demands for food and therefore drove up prices. Her mother was the ill-fated Anne Boleyn who had caught the eye of Henry VIII at court. allowParentLinks: true Marchpane, or marzipan, was one of the most popular things. m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m) Kings and lords were expected to have a lot of food in their houses. What happens to your body in extreme heat? For example, dogs and horses fought each other. It seemed to punish people who were poor through no fault of their own. Francis Walsingham, one of Elizabeths most loyal ministers, was acutely aware of this. This also included the order of society, animals and plants, and even the place minerals had in daily life. Pearl Mimic Pro Nz, 0,00 . When she came back to Scotland, it caused many arguments between people. bbc bitesize elizabethan poverty. width: 100% !important; This was called Poor Laws (BBC Bitesize, 2022). The educated Englishman was no longer a cleric but a justice of the peace or a member of Parliament, a merchant or a landed gentleman who for the first time was able to express his economic, political, and religious dreams and his grievances in terms of abstract principles that were capable of galvanizing people into religious and political parties. Unlike today, there was no Welfare State to help out those who had fallen on hard times. #fancybox-left-ico { View a sample of our GCSE content below. As the religious hysteria mounted, there was steady pressure put on Elizabeth to rid England of this dangerous threat, but the queen delayed a final decision for almost 19 years. } One plot helped to trigger the rebellion of the northern earls in 1569. Leicester was an unknown quantity. Hello and welcome, today we will be studying. His plays and poems are still performed today, even though he died long ago. https://www.buymeacoffee.com/historyteacherContact me on twitter @thehistteach or email me homeworkhelp@thehistoryteacher.netChapters:00:08 Definitions00:47 Most at risk01:15 Vagrants and Vagabonds01:37 Causes04:04 Attitudes to Poverty04:29 The impotent and idle poor05:14 How did the treatment of the poor change? In the year of Elizabeths accession (1558), it was 77; in the year of her death (1603), it was 328. Why would this statement have shocked people at this time? These early attempts were unsuccessful. This I account the glory of my crown, that I have reigned with your loves, she said in her Golden Speech of 1601. top: auto; She liked to play and do surprises. There were also strict rules and regulations to follow. By dealing with one small picture at a time, commenting on and analysing the poster can become more manageable. No more then than now, should we take a government's pronouncements on such matters at face value? There were many bows and arrows. The greenery, such as holly and ivy, was used. She did not wish to meet the woman she considered her rival, but knew that if she released Mary her own life would be in danger. Heaven Bound Gospel Song Lyrics, $(document).ready(function() { } speed: 'fast', The bears that were in London were known by their nicknames, just like modern football players. Sir Walter Raleigh made an idea to explore and colonize the New World. She learnt how to turn the tide of opinion in her favour, and this became one of her most effective weapons. 8 Sep 2022. Those accused of witchcraft were generally: Old Poor Unprotected Single women or widows (many kept pets for company - their 'familiars') During the Elizabethan era men were all-powerful. James Lancasters voyages to India led to the East India Company. bottom: auto; background-color: #eee; Given that a large proportion of the illiterate population spent at least part of their lives in service in homes with literate members and given that reading in the early modern period was frequently an aural experienceofficial documents being read aloud in market squares and parish churches and all manner of publications being read aloud to whole householdsa very high proportion of the population had direct or indirect access to the printed word. encourage poor people to work hard to support themselves The new Poor Law ensured that the poor were housed in workhouses, clothed and fed. He was servant to be [sic] Peter Miller a beare brewer dwelling at the signe of the hartes horne in the libertie of EastSmithfield. For women, the farthingale is notable. But, back in Shakespeare's day, you could have met people from west Africa and even Bengal in the same London streets. Elizabeth and the religious settlement Menu. Francis II reigned for only a few months with Mary as his Queen and, when he died in 1560, Mary was left without a role. 0. A year later Darnley himself was murdered, his residence in Edinburgh blown apart by an explosion. Elizabeth, meanwhile, was paralysed by indecision. On the contrary she thrived on the adoration of her ministers and knew that flirtation was often the easiest way to get things done. As it was said, Englishmen went forth to seek new worlds for gold, for praise, for glory. Even the dangers of the reignthe precariousness of Elizabeths throne and the struggle with Roman Catholic Spainsomehow contrived to generate a self-confidence that had been lacking under the little Tudors.. Assurity Disability Insurance, After years of complaint, a new Poor Law was introduced in 1834. This marital alliance would have been beneficial because the Duke was . What would Mary Fillis make of things today I wonder? Elizabethan England overview game Lesson 1: Who are the Tudors intro & context lesson Society and Trade in 1558 Situation on Elizabeth's accession: Initial problems: Gender, Legitimacy & Marriage Early challenges: Economy, Trade and France The Religious Settlement: Religion in England 1558: Catholics vs Protestants For more info please call 0191 338 7830 or click below. margin-bottom: 0; $('.boxheight').matchHeight(); Stories inspired by letters from the past, Subscribe now for regular news, updates and priority booking for events.Sign up, All content is available under the Open Government Licence Our pods are 3-5 min bursts of GCSE learning, rigorously quality assured and mapped to all major GCSE and IGCSE exams boards. Worse still, Elizabeth had herself been declared illegitimate in a statute which had never been formally repealed, and knew that many Catholics considered Mary to be the rightful Queen of England. Car Next Door Cancellation Policy, " /> Poverty was one of the major problems Elizabeth faced during her reign. Heaven Bound Gospel Song Lyrics, Key stage 2 UK. But there was no announcement, no wedding bells. Enclosure (Elizabethan England) Enclosure is the practice of dividing up land which was once owned by the people, that was typically large open fields into smaller 'enclosed' pieces of land that instead belonged to one person only. Study Notes. label: '', (i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o), They often cooled off by taking a bath in the Thames. BBC Bitesize Part 1. #fancybox-title h3 { There were 270 Elizabethan witch trials of 247 were women and only 23 were men. background: none !important; She did this to avoid any serious religious conflict within England. font-size: 14px; Learn about and revise what life was like in Elizabethan England with this BBC Bitesize History (Edexcel) study guide. However, with more and more people living in poverty and fear of social unrest growing, Elizabeth introduced the Poor Laws. The poor became poorer, and the sight of vagabonds and beggars was becoming alarming. Now pregnant with Darnleys child she turned for support to her secretary, David Riccio. font-weight: bold; The people who helped Elizabeth rule came together at the Privy Council. v3.0, except where otherwise stated. People who were lower on this system accepted their place in society because they did not have other options. Met criticised over Sarah Everard vigil policing1, How a woman's death sparked UK soul-searching2, Ousted Myanmar civilian leader urges 'revolution'3, Racist slur overheard as basketball players kneel5, The art dealer, the 10m bronze and the Holocaust6, Minibus carrying Argentina's president is attacked8, Actress stages naked protest at 'French Oscars'9, Former F1 commentator Walker dies at 9710. The reign of Elizabeth I saw the beginning of Britain's first black community. * The Reformation http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/scottishhistory/renaissance/features_renaissance_reformation.shtml, * Spying Game http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/tudors/launch_gms_spying.shtml Yeares xxvi [26]. Elizabethan England often conjures images of the Royal Court with splendid costumes, banquets and extravagant entertainment. To extend their work, pupils can create their own new Poor Law poster, either for or against the law. Historically the poor were dealt with at a local level, however, as time went on the Elizabethan government stepped in to help tackle the problem of the poor. He helped Queen Elizabeth I to keep her crown safe. (HO 44/27 pt 2) The "great numbers" were mainly galley slaves and servants from captured Spanish vessels, and a plan was mooted to transport them out of the country. A generous local monastery might . Some people welcomed it because they believed it would: The new Poor Law ensured that the poor were housed in workhouses, clothed and fed. Nazi and Weimar Germany dates (OCR History GCSE) 190 terms. Download our worksheets, activities, games and timelines to enhance your KS4 history lessons. Before 1834, the cost of looking after the poor was growing more expensive every year. Here the famous Lucy Negro, a former dancer in the Queen's service, ran an establishment patronised by noblemen and lawyers. font-weight: bold; A new era was dawning, the age of Elizabeth I. WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE I knew that. At the end of the reign, people gradually started to use more colors instead of just black. Begins students' understanding of race in Britain through . HistoryLearningSite. history.com/this-day-in-history/elizabethan-age-begins. Pearl Mimic Pro Nz, Queen Elizabeth was good at playing the virginals. If I followed the inclination of my nature, it is this, she said, beggar woman and single, far rather than queen and married.. A pea might be cooked in, and the Queen of the Peas chosen too. But it is at least worth noting that the authorities felt duty-bound to look after food and lodging while the freed slaves were in London. * Poverty in Elizabethan England http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/tudors/poverty_01.shtml * Elizabeth I http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/elizabeth_i_queen.shtml, * British Timeline http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/launch_tl_british.shtml, * BBC Radio 4: Womans Hour Elizabeth I http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/womanshour/30_12_02/friday/info2.shtml, * Tudor History http://www.tudorhistory.org/ But neither proposal led to marriage. The most popular style was done in tent stitch on canvas, but blackwork in silk on linen was also common. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Mary was married to Philip II of Spain. He set out to nail Mary and, in 1586, his moment came. }); In the year that Henry VIII came to the throne (1509), the number of works licensed to be published was 38. The crown passed to the Protestant King James VI of Scotland who became King James I of England. Spains forces were good at beating Englands forces. Elizabeth I succeeded in finding a balance between Catholics and Protestants. #fancybox-left-ico, #fancybox-right-ico { } The sixteenth century was also a time when the poor became poorer, books and opinions were censored, and plots to overthrow the Queen were rife. Elizabeth had an erect posture and very pale skin, which people said practically glowed. Conditions inside the workhouse were deliberately harsh, so that only those who desperately needed help would ask for it. transform: translateX(-50%); isd194 staff calendar. We'd like to use additional cookies to remember your settings and understand how you use our services. The Lord of Misrule had the biggest party on Epiphany, and this ended the Christmas season. He had the ear of the Queen and might poison her mind against them. Historically the poor were dealt with at a local level, however, as time went on the Elizabethan government stepped in to help tackle the problem of the poor. For example, she played for the French ambassador when he came to visit her. The smaller ones are like a modern violin, and the bigger ones are like double basses. BBC BItesize: Elizabeth I revision . There was very little church building in the century after the Reformation, but there was an unprecedented growth of school building, with grammar schools springing up in most boroughs and in many market towns. Many offences were punished by the pillory - the criminal stood with his head and his hands through holes in a wooden plank. height: 1em !important; This sense of well-being was embodied by Queen Elizabeth who liked to wear sumptuous costumes and jewellery, and be entertained in style at her court. Elizabeth made sure that everyone down to the lowliest beggar played a part, pausing to listen to congratulations from ordinary people on the street. The reign of Elizabeth I is often thought of as a Golden Age. So what influences had shaped the young Elizabeth? Elizabeth Tudors virginity was the cause of great international discussion, for every bachelor prince of Europe hoped to win a throne through marriage with Gloriana (the queen of the fairies, as she was sometimes portrayed), and was the source of even greater domestic concern, for everyone except the queen herself was convinced that Elizabeth should marry and produce heirs. Regular Nothing New Quizzes will be used throughout the Scheme . However, one key reason for increased poverty, homelessness and vagabondage was population growth. They even had their own taverns where they greeted defeat of the "Somersett case" and the victories of the abolitionists with raucous good humour. She wanted the Church of England, which people went to in England, to be the only church. Spanish and French styles influenced Elizabethan Court fashion. }); When did Elizabeth become Queen? Mary gave her throne to her son James VI. Don't forget your teachers too, either in lessons, revision sessions or online through stchistory.com, facebook and twitter! autoArrows: false, Henry, beside himself with disappointment, did not attend the christening.. Timed, bite-sized chunks of revision mean you can stay focused and organised. She was the Queen of England. #fancybox-title h4, In the end, Mary was executed because she could have plotted against Elizabeth I. William Shakespeare was born in England. The biggest and perhaps most loved festival of all was 12 days long. Poverty in Elizabethan times was mainly thought to be the fault of the person living in poverty. box-sizing: border-box; Queen's children hold vigil at Westminster Hall. Key stage 3 Many people think Shakespeare is the best playwright ever. img.wp-smiley, Poverty rates range from 11% to 14% across large regions of the Northeast, Southeast, Midwest, and West Many counties - mainly in the Southeast and Southwest - have poverty rates of more than. Historians often depict it as the golden age in English history. Mary I had died unpopular with her people and tormented by her own inability to produce an heir. }); Problem solved. In 1597, for example, Mary Fillis, a black woman of 20 years, had, for a long while, been the servant of Widow Barker in Mark Lane. But it cannot be, as is sometimes claimed today, that this edict applied to the many black people who, like Mary Fillis, were living as citizens in London, as they were in Bristol. The Elizabethan Age was the period when Queen Elizabeth I was in power. }); Learn and revise about the lifestyles of rich and poor people during Elizabeth I's reign WJEC GCSE History Unit 1 Elizabethan Age with BBC Bitesize. But Elizabeth thought that Mary wanted to take over the English throne, so she kept her prisoner for 20 years. The Queen asserted her virginity throughout her life, but was also an attractive woman who thrived on male attention. Elizabethan literature, body of works written during the reign of Elizabeth I of England (1558-1603), probably the most splendid age in the history of English literature, during which such writers as Sir Philip Sidney, Edmund Spenser, Roger Ascham, Richard Hooker, Christopher Marlowe, and William Shakespeare flourished.