Queen Elizabeth I, and the cult of Virginity

I've been watching Elizabeth R on Netflix. A BBC series, which aired in the early 70's. I'm finding it most
entertaining and educational, in terms of how Elizabeth I, has been perceived by scholars.

There are two camps:

1. She was a flawless Queen, which ushered in progress

2. She was responsible for hardship, economic strife, and poor public relations.

What I've had a particular interest in, is the allegorical value of this queen as a symbol to the people who
either embraced or rejected her wholly. You often hear the phrases the Elizabethen Era, or Golden Age -
but do people truly understand what that meant to the common people ruled by this reign? There are tons of
literary sources which romanticize it, and plenty of recent films to maintain this symbol in the modern era
but how much is fact and how much embellished exaggeration?
Why was she loved?

1. She was youthful

2. She was attractive
3. She was virtuous
4. She was Pius
5. She represented hope
6. She represented something better than the past, and possible in the future
7. Her decisions, propelled prosperity
8. Protestant Reform

Why was she hated?

1. There was scandal from the moment of her birth, attributed to her mother
2. She was considered illegitimate
3. Because of her youth and beauty, she would be a target of jealous nobility, using her as a pawn.
4. She represented an obstacle
5. Her decisions, set forth actions of suffering
6. She was perceived as apathetic towards bloodshed
7. Her punishments were perceived as cruel
8. Protestant Reform
What did she do? What were her accomplishments?

1. She became Queen, in spite of the stigma attached to her birthright and her succession to the crown.

2. She survived the accusations of Treason, while Seymour was executed.

3. She survived her imprisonment in the tower and the blood lust of Mary Tudor, (aka Bloody Mary) who
wanted her dead. She also survived the Catholic plots of Mary Queen of Scots.

4. Although she personally was not a big supporter of the arts, there was a growth spurt of sublime
literature, plays, arts, poetry, etc.

5. She was considered to be the best educated woman of her time, fluent in several languages (Latin, Greek,
French, Spanish and Welsh).

6. During her reign, explorations by England were expanded. Some of the most prominent explorers of that
time were supported in their efforts overseas.

7. An emergence of new scientific thinking (remember Dr. John Dee comes out of this era).

8. She made public relations a fine art, and her people loved her for it. She mastered rhetoric, and was
cunning in the use of catch phrases to please the people.

9. She was intelligent enough to know she should surround herself with equal intelligence, and heed their
advice.

10. The defeat of the Spanish Armada.

11. The English Navy was considered a formidable force by the year 1596

12. Any rebellion seemed to be defeated, under her reign and she is considered to be a wise and noble ruler.

13. She was in full control of policy and is considered to have reigned over a stable government.

14. To keep the Protestants and Catholics relatively happy, she adopted very moderate religious policies.
( The Acts of Supremacy and Uniformity (1559), the introduction of the Prayer Book of 1559, and the
Thirty-Nine Articles (1563) were all Protestant in doctrine, but preserved many traditionally Catholic
ceremonies), she also did not persecute Catholics, as her predecessor persecuted any non-Catholics as
heretics.

14. Protestantism, was established as the Country's main religion, and the Church of England.

15. She established 'Poor Laws' to assist the needy.

16. She lead as a woman, in man's world with intelligence, nobility and respect.

Elizabeth I, never married. There are varying views on why she remained unmarried, and there were a
couple of suitors she may have married, having carried on platonic love affairs.

She became the symbol of purity and grace and the people embraced her as the Virgin Queen. I reside in
the Commonwealth of Virginia, which was named after Elizabeth I, derived from 'Virgin Queen'.

Elizabeth I, became an allegorical symbol. She was portrayed to have been married to her kingdom, loyal
to her subjects and under the divine protection of God. She was portrayed as Belphoebe or Astraea, and
after the Armada, as Gloriana. She needed no man to rule, a strategy to ensure that there would be no
interference in her reign, once it was secured.

Her cult, was dedicated to emulating the qualities she projected to her countrymen. A virtuous and
symbolic woman, and the source of prosperity to England.

Many paintings of her, before the alligorical age were just that - portraits. Post alligorical age, they
maintained her youth, beauty and a symbol of grace and honor. Even after she aged much, and suffered
from small pox the paintings circulated about England kept her young, beautiful and the Sovereign
Goddess of the people.
She was the most popular Queen of her time.

The most famous of speeches, is referred to as the 'Golden Speech': (Elizabeth is addressing the issue of
economic strife, her last Parliament and marked the end of her reign)

"Mr Speaker, We have heard your declaration and perceive your care of our estate. I do assure you there is
no prince that loves his subjects better, or whose love can countervail our love. There is no jewel, be it of
never so rich a price, which I set before this jewel: I mean your love. For I do esteem it more than any
treasure or riches; for that we know how to prize, but love and thanks I count invaluable. And, though God
hath raised me high, yet this I count the glory of my Crown, that I have reigned with your loves. This
makes me that I do not so much rejoice that God hath made me to be a Queen, as to be a Queen over so
thankful a people. Therefore I have cause to wish nothing more than to content the subject and that is a duty
which I owe. Neither do I desire to live longer days than I may see your prosperity and that is my only
desire. And as I am that person still yet, under God, hath delivered you and so I trust by the almighty power
of God that I shall be His instrument to preserve you from every peril, dishonour, shame, tyranny and
oppression, partly by means of your intended helps which we take very acceptably because it manifesteth
the largeness of your good loves and loyalties unto your sovereign.

Of myself I must say this: I never was any greedy, scraping grasper, nor a strait fast-holding Prince, nor yet
a waster. My heart was never set on any worldly goods. What you bestow on me, I will not hoard it up, but
receive it to bestow on you again. Therefore render unto them I beseech you Mr Speaker, such thanks as
you imagine my heart yieldeth, but my tongue cannot express. Mr Speaker, I would wish you and the rest
to stand up for I shall yet trouble you with longer speech. Mr Speaker, you give me thanks but I doubt me I
have greater cause to give you thanks, than you me, and I charge you to thank them of the Lower House
from me. For had I not received a knowledge from you, I might have fallen into the lapse of an error, only
for lack of true information.

Since I was Queen, yet did I never put my pen to any grant, but that upon pretext and semblance made unto
me, it was both good and beneficial to the subject in general though a private profit to some of my ancient
servants, who had deserved well at my hands. But the contrary being found by experience, I am
exceedingly beholden to such subjects as would move the same at first. And I am not so simple to suppose
but that there be some of the Lower House whom these grievances never touched. I think they spake out of
zeal to their countries and not out of spleen or malevolent affection as being parties grieved. That my grants
should be grievous to my people and oppressions to be privileged under colour of our patents, our kingly
dignity shall not suffer it. Yea, when I heard it, I could give no rest unto my thoughts until I had reformed
it. Shall they, think you, escape unpunished that have oppressed you, and have been respectless of their
duty and regardless our honour? No, I assure you, Mr Speaker, were it not more for conscience' sake than
for any glory or increase of love that I desire, these errors, troubles, vexations and oppressions done by
these varlets and lewd persons not worthy of the name of subjects should not escape without condign
punishment. But I perceive they dealt with me like physicians who, ministering a drug, make it more
acceptable by giving it a good aromatical savour, or when they give pills do gild them all over.

I have ever used to set the Last Judgement Day before mine eyes and so to rule as I shall be judged to
answer before a higher judge, and now if my kingly bounties have been abused and my grants turned to the
hurt of my people contrary to my will and meaning, and if any in authority under me have neglected or
perverted what I have committed to them, I hope God will not lay their culps and offenses in my charge. I
know the title of a King is a glorious title, but assure yourself that the shining glory of princely authority
hath not so dazzled the eyes of our understanding, but that we well know and remember that we also are to
yield an account of our actions before the great judge. To be a king and wear a crown is a thing more
glorious to them that see it than it is pleasant to them that bear it. For myself I was never so much enticed
with the glorious name of a King or royal authority of a Queen as delighted that God hath made me his
instrument to maintain his truth and glory and to defend his kingdom as I said from peril, dishonour,
tyranny and oppression. There will never Queen sit in my seat with more zeal to my country, care to my
subjects and that will sooner with willingness venture her life for your good and safety than myself. For it
is my desire to live nor reign no longer than my life and reign shall be for your good. And though you have
had, and may have, many princes more mighty and wise sitting in this seat, yet you never had nor shall
have, any that will be more careful and loving.

'For I, oh Lord, what am I, whom practices and perils past should not fear? Or what can I do? That I should
speak for any glory, God forbid.' And turning to the Speaker and her councilors she said, 'And I pray to you
Mr Comptroller, Mr Secretary and you of my Council, that before these gentlemen go into their countries,
you bring them all to kiss my hand.' "
Cate Blanchett, as Queen Elizabeth I

Further reading:

The Life of Elizabeth I, Alison Weir

Television Series:

Elizabeth R, BBC, Netflix

The Tudors, Netflix

Recent Films:

Elizabeth
The Golden Age

Forum Discussion:
Paganspace: http://www.paganspace.net/forum/topics/queen-elizabeth-i-and-the-cult

Sin Jones
The Poison Apple
www.the-poison-apple.com
September, 2010