ILLUSTRATIONS TO THE FOURTH VOLUME. ELIZABETH WHEN PRINCESS, from the family group at Hampton Court, by HOLBEIN ELIZABETH AND THE FLOWER CHILD.. .....Frontispiece. Vignette Title. (Described page 95.) ELIZABETH WHEN QUEEN, from an original Portrait in the posses sion of the EARL OF STRADBROKE, at Henham Hall. (Described pages 785-6.) AUTOGRAPH OF QUEEN ELIZABETH The page 136 790 LIVES OF THE QUEENS OF ENGLAND. ELIZABETH, SECOND QUEEN-REGNANT OF ENGLAND AND IRELAND. CHAPTER I. Birth of Elizabeth at Greenwich-palace-Her christening-Placed first in the succession-Marriage-negotiation with France-Execution of her motherElizabeth declared illegitimate-Her want of apparel-Altered fortunesEarly promise-Education-Her first letter-Residence with her sister Mary -Offered in marriage to the heir of Arran-Her letter to queen Katharine Parr-Proficiency in languages-Her brother's love-Shares his studies— Her father's death-Her grief-Is wooed by Seymour the lord admiralRefuses his hand-Resides with queen Katharine Parr-Her governess Mrs. Ashley, and Roger Ascham-Freedoms of the admiral-The queen's jealousy -Elizabeth removes to Cheston-Death of queen Katharine Parr-The lord admiral's clandestine courtship-Elizabeth's conferences with Parry—Her restraint at Hatfield-Letter to the protector-Her confessions-Lady Tyrwhitt-Elizabeth's disdain-Serious scandals on Elizabeth-Execution of the admiral-Elizabeth's regard for his memory. THE most distinguished name in the annals of female royalty is that of the great Elizabeth, second queen-regnant of England. The romantic circumstances of her birth, the vicissitudes of her childhood, and the lofty spirit with which she bore herself amidst the storms and perils that darkened over her during her sister's reign, invested her with almost poetic interest as a royal heroine, before her title to the regal succession was ratified by the voice of a generous people, and the brilliant success of her government, |