Chapter I: Preface

The author of this series has made it his special object to confine himself very strictly, even in the most minute details which he records, to historic truth. The narratives are not tales founded upon history, but history itself, without any embellishment or any deviations from the strict truth, so far as it can now be discovered by an attentive examination of the annals written at the time when the events themselves occurred. In writing the narratives, the author has endeavored to avail himself of the best sources of information which this country affords; and though, of course, there must be in these volumes, as in all historical accounts, more or less of imperfection and error, there is no intentional embellishment. Nothing is stated, not even the most minute and apparently imaginary details, without what was deemed good historical authority. The readers, therefore, may rely upon the record as the truth, and nothing but the truth, so far as an honest purpose and a careful examination have been effectual in ascertaining it.

CONTENTS.

Chapter Page

I. ELIZABETH'S MOTHER 13

II. THE CHILDHOOD OF A PRINCESS 39

III. LADY JANE GREY 57

IV. THE SPANISH MATCH 81

V. ELIZABETH IN THE TOWER 100

VI. ACCESSION TO THE THRONE 120

VII. THE WAR IN SCOTLAND 141

VIII. ELIZABETH'S LOVERS 161

IX. PERSONAL CHARACTER 187

X. THE INVINCIBLE ARMADA 208

XI. THE EARL OF ESSEX 232

XII. THE CONCLUSION 260

ENGRAVINGS.

Page

PORTRAIT OF DRAKE _Frontispiece._

PORTRAIT OF HENRY VIII 16

PORTRAIT OF ANNE BOLEYN 20

GROUP OF CHRISTENING GIFTS 25

TOWER OF LONDON 31

PORTRAIT OF EDWARD VI. 44

LADY JANE GREY AT STUDY 63

PORTRAIT OF PHILIP OF SPAIN 84

ELIZABETH IN THE TOWER 112

ELIZABETH'S PROGRESS TO LONDON 135

THE FIRTH OF FORTH, WITH LEITH AND EDINBURGH IN THE DISTANCE 156

LEICESTER 169

THE BARGES ON THE RIVER 182

PORTRAIT OF QUEEN ELIZABETH 203

THE INVINCIBLE ARMADA 229

THE HOUSE OF THE EARL OF ESSEX 242

ELIZABETH IN HER LAST HOURS 270

HEAD OF JAMES I. 275

ELIZABETH'S TOMB 279

QUEEN ELIZABETH