Great men and women make history. However, the time at which one has influence on history has a great deal to do with how the people of that period are affected by one's ideas and motives. Without such great figures of the past to direct our future, we would not have such a distinct way to live as we do now. In The Armada there are examples of men and women who positively and negatively influenced the history we study today. For example negative influences led to the war. Positive, on the other hand, aided a side in victory.

Queen Elizabeth I was a Protestant ruler of England. She was described as a princess, a queen with a gallant heart, and "a remarkable actress" (pages 22, 55). She was very loyal to her friends and subjects. She was more sensitive than most queens of her age to the economic woes...