Quenn Elizabeth I

ELIZABETH I (1533-1603)

   Among England's past rulers are two famous queens— Elizabeth I and Victoria. The earlier of these queens, Elizabeth I, reigned during a most exciting time. America had been discovered not long before, and a whole New World was waiting to be explored.
   Elizabeth I was 25 years old when she became queen. England was then poor. The people were quarreling among themselves about religion and many other things. The country had no friends among the other nations. There was even danger that France would conquer England.
   But Elizabeth I proved to be a strong ruler. She was interested in everything new. Soon her seamen were going on daring voyages to explore the New World. Sir Walter Raleigh and Sir Francis Drake were two of the most famous explorers. English ships went out to trade with countries in all parts of the Oíd World, too. Never before had the English flag been seen in so many faraway places.
   The Queen brought an end to the trouble with France. Later, in 1588, King Philip II of Spain sent his powerful fleet, the Spanish Armada, to conquer England. Elizabeth's seamen won a great victory.
   The most famous Englishman of Elizabeth's time was not an explorer or a fighter. He was a poet and writer of plays—William Shakespeare. There were many other great English writers at that time, too.
One of the first great English scientists also lived during Elizabeth's reign. He was Sir William Gilbert, who made many discoveries about magnets.
   Although she sent her seamen all over the world, Elizabeth herself did almost no traveling. One of the longest journeys she ever took was from London to another Eng­lish city, Bristol. It was only a líttle more than 100 miles, but she thought that it was long and hard. She was thankful that she came through it safely.
   Elizabeth was not always kind or fair. She imprisoned and even beheaded some of the people who did not agree with her. But she did so much to make England great that she was known as "Good Queen Bess."
   For almost 400 years this famous queen was called simply Queen Elizabeth. Today she is called Elizabeth I, for another Eliza­beth became queen of England in 1952.