The life of Elizabeth encompassed the turbulent reigns of her brother Edward VI and sister Mary as well as her own reign of nearly 45 years. She ascended to the throne amid great controversy between Catholics and Protestants, yet she successfully navigated through these treacherous times and achieved a great deal of stability and prosperity for England. Her reign was populated with very colorful characters including Drake, Raleigh, and the Earl of Leicester. The Spanish Armada, which occurred late in her reign, was one of the most important battles in history. Show All     Download:     PDF       EPUB

SIR FRANCIS DRAKE.

Preface

The author of this series has made it his special object to confine himself very strictly, even in the most minute details which he records, to historic truth. The narratives are not tales founded upon history, but history itself, without any embellishment or any deviations from the strict truth, so far as it can now be discovered by an attentive examination of the annals written at the time when the events themselves occurred. In writing the narratives, the author has endeavored to avail himself of the best sources of information which this country affords; and though, of course, there must be in these volumes, as in all historical accounts, more or less of imperfection and error, there is no intentional embellishment. Nothing is stated, not even the most minute and apparently imaginary details, without what was deemed good historical authority. The readers, therefore, may rely upon the record as the truth, and nothing but the truth, so far as an honest purpose and a careful examination have been effectual in ascertaining it.