Elizabeth I

The Tudor Royal Court | Birth of a Princess | Perils of Youth | Forms of Identity

Robert Cooke
"Armorial bearings of the kings and noble families of Great Britain from the reign of William the Conqueror to that of James I" (1572)
Newberry Library (Case MS F 0745 .1915)

View armorial bearings of Elizabeth and Henry VIII

In his manuscript book of heraldry, Robert Cooke (1550-1615) explains Elizabeth's identity through family genealogy. Her elaborate coat of arms includes the lions that stand for England and the fleurs-de-lys that represent her claim to the title "Queen of France." The Tudor Roses recall the union of the houses of Lancaster (red rose) and York (white rose). The words "Honi Soit Qui Mal y Pense" ("Evil to him who thinks evil") surrounding the shield are the motto of the English Order of the Garter. The crown indicates her royal status.

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