History of Elizabeth, Queen of England #250773

A far greater sovereign than woman was Eliza beth of England. Inheriting grave defects of charac ter, she developed commanding qualities of mind. Intriguing, lying, courting flattery, she carried on a series of amours while governing her land with rare sagacity, never allowing her chamber-maid's heart to influence her statesman's head. Ascending the throne at a time when the world was witnessing the begin nings of a terrible convulsion she dexterously piloted her own realm past threatening disaster into a period of unexampled prosperity and splendor. Ignoring her faults, grievous as they were, England calls her its Virgin Queen and renders her homage as one of its greatest rulers.