Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The “Virgin Queen” was married only to her country, but she flirtatiously wooed op-
ponents to her side. (“I know I have the body of a weak and feeble woman,” she'd coo,
“but I have the heart and stomach of a king.”) When England's navy sank 72 ships of the
Spanish Armada in a single, power-shifting battle (1588), Britannia ruled the waves, feast-
ing on New World spoils. Elizabeth surrounded herself with intellectuals, explorers, and
poets.
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Pass through Room 3, through the stairwell, and into Room 4.
Henry VIII
(1491-1547)
The notorious king who single-handedly transformed England was a true Renais-
sance Man—six feet tall, handsome, charismatic, well-educated, and brilliant. He
spoke English, Latin, French, and Spanish. A legendary athlete, he hunted, played
tennis, and jousted with knights and kings. He played the lute and wrote folk songs;
