Meaning of Good Queen Bess | Babel Free

Definitions

1. Synonym of Queen Bess (“Elizabeth I”).
   informal
2. Alternative letter-case form of Good Queen Bess.
   alt-of

Examples

“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!”

“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.”

“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.”

“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.”

“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.”

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

“Meanwhile, William Hartston, who writes the “Beachcomber” column in The Express, has come up with the truly inspired story of the Apostropher Royal, an ancient and honourable post inaugurated in the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. His story goes that a humble greengrocer (in days of yore) was delivering potatoes to Good Queen Bess and happened to notice a misplaced apostrophe in a royal decree.”

“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.”

“[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; […]”

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

“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.”

“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, […]”

“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'.”

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