queen of England, daughter of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn, was born at Greenwich, on the 7th of September 1533. According to the custom of the times, she was early instructed in the learned languages, first by Grindal, who died when she was about seventeen, and afterwards by the celebrated Roger Ascham. She likewise acquired considerable knowledge of the Italian, Spanish, and French languages. Dr Grindal was also her preceptor in divinity, which she is said to have studied with uncommon application and industry. That Elizabeth became a Protestant and her sister Mary a Catholic, was the effect of that cause which determines the religion of the greater part of mankind, namely, the opinion of those by whom they were educated; and this difference of opinion in their tutors is not at all surprising, when we recollect that their father Harry was of both religions, or of neither.

But the studies of Elizabeth were not confined merely to languages and theology; she was also instructed in the political history of the ancients; and was so well skilled in music as to sing and play "artfully and sweetly."

After the short reign of her brother Edward, her sister Mary succeeding to the crown, Elizabeth experienced a considerable degree of persecution, so as to be not a little apprehensive of a violent death. She was accused, imprisoned, and, we are told, inhumanly treated. At last, by the intercession of King Philip of Spain, she was set at liberty; which she continued to enjoy, till, on the death of her sister, she, on the 17th of November 1558, ascended the throne of England. Her history as a queen is detailed in the article ENGLAND. The cares of government did not wholly suspend her pursuit of learning. Ascham, in his Schoolmaster, tell us that about the year 1568, five years after her accession, she read more Greek in one