She Has Reigned For Fourteen Years In Peace, And God Has Shown That In The Midst Of Troubled, Most Dangerous

“She has reigned for fourteen years in peace, and God has shown that in the midst of troubled, most dangerous times [a reference to the religious civil wars in France] he [God] knows how to rule and govern a monarchy under the authority of a princess, which is very rare, but this has made the said Lady the most famous princess who has ever ruled in the world a beautiful princess and full of majesty, whom they [her subjects] see filling this crown’s throne with dignity, [so] they have willingly obeyed her until now.”

— French ambassador Bertrand de Salignac de la Mothe Fénélon to Charles IX of France describing Elizabeth I of England, 28 August 1572. Quoted in Elizabeth I of England through Valois Eyes: Power, Representation, and Diplomacy in the Reign of the Queen, 1558–1588 by Estelle Paranque (via maximumphilosopheranchor)

Charles’ brother, James, Duke of York, had two sons and a daughter in the 1660s with his mistress, Arabella Churchill, the sister of John Churchill, Duke of Marlborough. He had other longstanding affairs, including Lady Southesk, Frances ‘La Belle Jennings’ - sister of the Duchess of Marlborough - and Catherine Sedley. Yet he was also devoted to his strong, stout wife, Anne. When Pepys saw the Yorks together in 1663, he winced at their 'impertinent and, methought, unnatural dalliances.’ They were far too physical than was decent for man and wife, 'before the whole world, such as kissing of hands and leaning on one another.’

Charles II: A Gambling Man // Jenny Uglow

‘Comparing Anne Boleyn and Katherine of Aragon in a way that is unfavorable to the latter is evil and sexist’ yeah, well, Katherine of Aragon partisans do this all the time with her elder sister so :)

ab. 1705 Francois de Troy - Princess Louisa Maria Stuart

“Elizabeth had always been popular, and though Mary had once been equally so, by the time of her death the warmth of feeling towards her had faded. She had become unpopular as a result of the religious persecution she had imposed upon her people, and for involving her realm in her husband Philip’s foreign wars. This had also resulted in the loss of Calais in 1557, England’s last remaining possession in France, which came as a devastating blow to the English. It was little wonder then that her subjects greeted Elizabeth’s succession with genuine heartfelt enthusiasm. Indeed, for the entirety of her reign Accession Day [17 November] would be enthusiastically celebrated each year.”

— Elizabeth’s Rival: The Tumultuous Life of The Countess Of Leicester, Nicola Tallis

‘Comparing Anne Boleyn and Katherine of Aragon in a way that is unfavorable to the latter is evil and sexist’ yeah, well, Katherine of Aragon partisans do this all the time with her elder sister so :)