Evening Capital And Maryland Gazette

"Good Queen Bess" of England.

Elizabeth, the "Good Queen Bess" of England, whose reign from 1558 to 1603 was one of the most glorious periods in the history of her country, was the daughter of Henry VIII and his second wife, the famous Anne Boleyn. When Anne fell from favor and was beheaded, the young princess was declared illegitimate and for a time had an unhappy life. Finally, however, she was given her place in the succession, after Edward and Mary, and during Edward's reign she lived a peaceful life. While Mary was on the throne Elizabeth was more or less an object of suspicion, for it was well known that she had been brought up a Protestant, but at Mary's death in 1558 her right to the throne was unquestioned. The great issue confronting her was that of religion. She restored Protestantism, reinstated the English Book of Common Prayer and asserted the royal supremacy over the church, but she avoided fanaticism and showed herself willing to call to her aid Catholic as well as Protestant ministers. - Kansas City Star.