Dictionary

Good Queen Bess en · PROPN

Meanings

1. (informal) Synonym of Queen Bess (“Elizabeth I”).
   • 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. 2003 November 6, Lynne Truss, “The Tractable Apostrophe”, in Eats, Shoots & Leaves: The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation, London: Profile Books Ltd, →ISBN, pages 47–48:
   • 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:
   • 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:
   • 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:
   • 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:
   • 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:
   • 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:

Forms

Synonyms

Queen Bess