Diana Primrose

Who is Diana Primrose?

Diana Primrose was the author of a eulogy to the deceased Queen Elizabeth published as A Chaine of Pearle, Or a Memoriall of the peerles Graces, and Heroick Vertues of Queene Elizabeth of Glorious Memory. Composed by the Noble Lady, Diana Primrose. It is thought that this piece was written not only as a tribute to the 45-year reign of Elizabeth but as a criticism of the sometimes hot-headed King James, as well as a social criticism. The Chaine itself is made up of ten "Pearles" or short poems detailing virtues found in Elizabeth; some of these Pearles however are not qualities directly attributed to Elizabeth and thus it is considered that they may present a criticism of the then current ruler.

Some have contended that the poet used an allegorical pseudonym, the concordance between the goddess Diana and the author Diana presents an interesting conflict. Upon closer observation, the author's name itself is a tribute to Elizabeth Tudor. Diana as stated above often used as a symbol of Elizabeth and her fame as the virgin queen, Primrose being the flower of England. Elizabeth was often referred to as the rose of England, and as head of state that would make her the PRIME ROSE of England. Thus the primrose became a symbol of her monarchy. The symbolic nature of the author's name calls into question its potentiality for being a nom de plume. It is possible that the author used this name to add further emphasis on the queen, and that the real author is in fact another female writer of some renown. The Primrose family however, was well established; there is, however, no record of a "Diana". In 1805 John Nichols identified Anne Clifford as the author, but while there is some circumstantial evidence, nothing definitive has come to light, considering a conflict with recorded publishing date A Chaine of Pearle takes the first part of William Camden's Annals of Queen Elizabeth as its source, as well as Spenser's Faerie Queene and listing, as it does, the virtues of Elizabeth I—the "pearles" of the title—it is generally considered to have been a pointed criticism of James I. The entire piece is constructed as though it were a chain of pearls, each separate poem another pearl on the chain that reflects Elizabeth's own beauty of character as both a woman and a ruler, devoid of gender; the pearls representing qualities such as "Chastity", "Religion", "Prudence", and "Temperance". Primrose however also uses other qualities not attributed to Elizabeth such as "Patience" opening the possibility of criticisms of either Elizabeth's predecessors or more likely her successor James I.