Elizabeth and Mary Tudor: Printed Writings 1500–1640: Series I, Part Two, Volume 5

by Elizabeth I, Mary I

The two translators whose printed works are contained in this volume were the daughters of Henry VIII. Whilst they both suffered from their father's changes of wives and faiths, after his marriage in 1543 to Katherine Parr they both benefited from their new stepmother's kindness. In different ways, she was involved in the production of the texts contained in this volume. When Princess Elizabeth was eleven she began to translate "Le Mirroir de l'ame pecheresse" (1531), a verse meditation by Marguerite of Angouleme, sister of King Francis I of France. The Princess dedicated it to Katherine Parr as a New Year's present in January 1545. It is John Bale's 1548 edition that is reproduced here. Also the c.1568 edition published by Denham which includes a set of prayers by James Cancellar designed to be said by Elizabeth and an acrostic on "Elizabeth Regina". At about the same time as Elizabeth was working on her translation, Mary (1515-1558) was likewise helping Katherine Parr reform Tudor devotional life through scripture-based scholarship, literature and translation. The Queen asked her to join a group involved in translating the influential "Paraphrases in Novum Testamentum" by Desiderius Erasmus. Whilst the true translators of this long Latin text is debated it is thought that Mary was part way through the section of the Gospel of John when illness (or possibly her disagreement Parr's Reformist sympathies) caused her to pass the rest over to her chaplain, Francis Malet. The translations, including Mary's contribution, began to see print in 1548 under the editorship of Richard Grafton. Edward VI's government required all parishes to acquire copies, so that together with various English Bibles and the Book of Common Prayer, the Paraphrases long helped to shape English religious life. It is reprinted here the entire section of John's gospel from a copy of the 1548 edition including Erasmus' preface to the Archduke Ferdinand of Austria, and a letter, which credits the translation to Mary, from Nicholas Updall to Katherine Parr.

392 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2000

About the author

Elizabeth I, succeeded Mary I, a Catholic, from 1558 as queen of England and Ireland and reestablished Protestantism; several plots to overthrow her, the execution of Mary Stuart of Scots in 1587, the defeat of the Spanish armada in 1588, and domestic prosperity and literary achievement marked her reign.

James VI, the son of Mary Queen of Scots, reigned from 1567 over Scotland and from 1603 succeeded as James I, heir of Elizabeth over England.

From 17 November 1558, people knew her simply until her death and the accession of Elizabeth II. People sometimes called this fifth and last monarch of the dynasty as the virgin, Gloriana, or good Bess. Anne Boleyn, bore this princess to Henry VIII but died two and a half years afterward, and people declared her illegitimate. Edward VI, her half-brother, bequeathed the crown to lady Jane Grey and cut out his two half-sisters in spite of statute law to the contrary. People set aside his will and Jane Grey. Reign of her half-sister imprisoned Elizabeth for nearly a year on suspicion of supporting rebels.

Elizabeth set good counsel to rule and depended heavily on a group of trusted advisers, whom William Cecil, baron Burghley, led. One of her first moves ruled as the supreme governor of the church. This Elizabethan religious settlement later evolved into Church of today. People expected Elizabeth to marry and to produce an heir to continue the line. Despite numerous courtships, she, however, never married. The portraits, pageants, and of the day celebrated a cult around famous virginity of older Elizabeth.

In the famous Elizabethan era, playwrights, such as William Shakespeare and Christopher Marlowe led the flourishing of drama amid the seafaring prowess of adventurers, such as Sir Francis Drake. Towards the end, a series of economic and military problems weakened her popularity. People acknowledge this charismatic performer and a dogged survivor in an age of ramshackle and limited government as monarchs in neighboring countries faced internal problems that jeopardized their thrones.

After the short half-siblings, 44 years of Elizabeth on the throne provided welcome stability for the kingdom and helped to forge a sense of national identity.