Good Queen Bess

alternative good Queen Bess

1. informalSynonym of Queen Bess (“Elizabeth I”).

   In Spanish eyes, the Great Elizabeth was neither ‘Gloriana’ nor ‘Good Queen Bess’, but ‘la inglesona’.

   1990 November, Anthony Gooch, “The Falklands War and a Very Special Relationship: The Hispanic World and the Anglo-Saxon World: Part One”, in Betty Abel, editor, Contemporary Review, volume 257, number 1498, London: Contemporary Review Co., →ISSN, →OCLC, page 225

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   A Breakfast—no unsubstantial mess / But one in the style of Good Queen Bess, / Who,—hearty as hippocampus,— / Broke her fast with ale and beef, / Instead of toast and the Chinese leaf, / And in lieu of anchovy—grampus!

   1840 November, Thomas Hood, “Rhymes for the Times, and Reason for the Season. […] Part III. Miss Kilmansegg and Her Precious Leg. A Golden Legend.”, in Theodore Hook, editor, The New Monthly Magazine and Humorist, volume LX (1840, part the third), number CCXXXIX, London: Henry Colburn, […], →OCLC, page 402

   Denham and Hugo, who were standing close to Temple Bar, had the benefit of a close and prolonged inspection of the long procession, for on the eastern side a halt was ordered, while before the statue of ‘Good Queen Bess’ one of the gorgeously arrayed performers sang a patriotic song, extolling the memory of the good Queen, the Protestant religion, and the Reformation, denouncing all ‘Popish knaves,’ lamenting the unfortunate Sir Edmondsbury Godfrey, and warning all good citizens to shun the Pope and his boon companion.

   1885, Edna Lyall [pseudonym; Ada Ellen Bayly], “Hugo Meets a Patriot”, in In the Golden Days […], volume I, London: Hurst and Blackett, […], →OCLC, page 134

   She made her way to a secluded frescade in the grounds, where was a stone belvedere, and, hard by on a natural hillock, a marble statue of Good Queen Bess on a pedestal of native rock.

   1890, Paul Cushing, “The Little Gods at Work”, in The Bull i’ th’ Thorn: A Romance […], volume I, Edinburgh; London: William Blackwood and Sons, →OCLC, page 93

   I do not address those who live in full faith of the glories of “Good Queen Bess,” and of the “Galaxies of Wits” who adorned her Court, and who, without any apparent preliminary training, suddenly, simultaneously, and in wondrously harmonious chorus broke forth into song.

   1903 July, Constance M[ary] Pott, “‘How Was It Possible?’”, in Baconiana: A Quarterly Magazine, volume I (Third Series), number 3, London: Gay & Bird […], →ISSN, →OCLC, page 174

   Hot on the heels of The Plague Dogs, Richard Adams’ latest story of animal life, comes this delightful tale in verse of a ship’s cat who is captured by the Spanish, thrown into Chagres gaol, only to escape and return to England laden with booty for Good Queen Bess.

   1977 December, James Morton, “The Ship’s Cat”, in Rosalind Wade, editor, Contemporary Review, volume 231, number 1343, London: Contemporary Review Co., →ISSN, →OCLC, Literary Supplement, Shorter Reviews, page 335, column 2

   Synonyms: Queen Bess

1. Alternative letter-case form of Good Queen Bess.

   The Ladies too were carp’d at, and their Dreſs, / He wants ’em all ruff’d up like good Queen Beſs!

   1754 December 3, [David] Garrick, “Epilogue, […]”, in [John Brown], Barbarossa. A Tragedy. […], London: […] J[acob] and R[ichard] Tonson and S[omerset] Draper […], published 1755, →OCLC, page [5]

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   This Sect aroſe from [James] Nailer, as the Presbyterians and Independents from the Jeſuits: Theſe indeed may plead a greater Antiquity, as having their Riſe in the days of good Queen Beſs; but the ſhaking Congregation, not till the days of the Martyr.

   a. 1705, Thomas Brown, “The Quaker’s-Meeting”, in The Third Volume of the Works of Mr. Thomas Brown, Containing, Amusements Serious & Comical, Calculated for the Meridian of London. […], London: […] S. B. [Samuel Briscoe?] and Sold by B. Bragg, […], published 1708, →OCLC, page 19

   [T]o ſhew them their miſtake, I proteſt ſincerely, that had not the leaſt influence on my rejecting his Patronage, ſince I do not at all doubt, but that I might have ſpoke^([sic]) as much Truth on both Heads, as generally has been ſpoken by moſt of our Modern Dedicators; Who often run the Pedegree of their Patrons up to the Conqueſt, (and we are beholden to them that they ſtop there) tho’ perhaps they wou’d be puzled themſelves to tell their Forefathers in the Pious Days of good Queen Beſs; […]

   1709, the Bookseller, “The Epistle Nuncupatory, to the Author of A Tale of a Tub”, in [Charles Gildon], The Golden Spy: or, A Political Journal of the British Nights Entertainments of War and Peace, and Love and Politics: […], London: […] J[ames] Woodward […] and J[ohn] Morphew […], →OCLC, signature A4, recto

   The curious statue of good Queen Bess, of which our engraving is an exact representation, at present holds a far humbler situation than that to which it was exalted when it first came from the hands of the sculptor.

   1827 March 10, Mike Lambourne, “Statue of Queen Elizabeth”, in The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction: […], volume IX, number 243, London: […] J[ohn] Limbird, […], →OCLC, page 177, column 1

   Needlework among the Egyptians—needlework in classical times—needlework of the bible—needlework of the dark ages—needlework of the times of romance and chivalry—needlework in connexion with costume—needlework in the days of good Queen Bess—needlework of the royal ladies of all ages—the Bayeux tapestry—the field of the cloth of gold—embroidery of ancient times and of the present day, &c. &c.;—these are but a few of the headings of the twenty-five chapters of this pleasant volume, […]

   1840 November, “The Art of Needlework”, in Theodore Hook, editor, The New Monthly Magazine and Humorist, volume LX (1840, part the third), number CCXXXIX, London: Henry Colburn, […], →OCLC, page 417

   Local historian Paul Trumpeter described the dolly as 'no slim, simpering, Goddess-looking creature, but a bluff, saucy, hearty-looking hussey, with a full flaunting petticoat something in the style of good Queen Bess'.

   a. 1851, Paul Trumpeter, quotee, “Customs House Quay, wooden dolly 1”, in Sitelines – Gateway to the Tyne and Wear’s Historic Environment Record, Newcastle upon Tyne: Tyne and Wear Archaeology Officer, published 2017, archived from the original on 20 Jun 2025