Grave historians have debated for centuries the pretensions of Elizabeth
to the title, “The Virgin Queen,” and it is utterly impossible to
dispose of the issue in a note. However, the weight of opinion appears
to be in the negative. Many and great were the difficulties attending
the marriage of a Protestant princess in those troublous times, and
Elizabeth finally announced that she would become wedded to the English
nation, and she wore a ring in token thereof until her death. However,
more or less open liaisons with Essex and Leicester, as well as a host
of lesser courtiers, her ardent temperament, and her imperious temper,
are indications that cannot be denied in determining any estimate upon
the point in question.
Ben Jonson in his Conversations with William Drummond of Hawthornden
says,
“Queen Elizabeth never saw herself after she became old in a true glass;
they painted her, and sometymes would vermillion her nose. She had
allwayes about Christmass evens set dice that threw sixes or five,
and she knew not they were other, to make her win and esteame herself
fortunate. That she had a membrana on her, which made her uncapable
of man, though for her delight she tried many. At the coming over of
Monsieur, there was a French Chirurgion who took in hand to cut it, yett
fear stayed her, and his death.”
It was a subject which again intrigued Clemens when he was abroad with
W. H. Fisher, whom Mark employed to “nose up” everything pertaining to
Queen Elizabeth's manly character.
“'BOCCACCIO HATH A STORY”
The author does not pay any great compliment to Raleigh's memory here.
There is no such tale in all Boccaccio. The nearest related incident
forms the subject matter of Dineo's novel (the fourth) of the First day
of the Decameron.