ABSTRACT
In the prologue to Thomas Dekker's Old Fortunatos, two old men meet one another and before entering the queen's presence hold the following conversation: 76
Are you then travelling to the temple of Eliza?
Even to her temple are my feeble limbs travelling. Some call her Pandora: some Gloriana: some Cynthia: some Belphoebe: some Astraea: all by several names to express several loves: Yet all those names make but one celestial body, as all those loves meet to create but one soul.
I am of her own country, and we adore her by the name of Eliza.
The conversation suggests that Queen Elizabeth as a symbol, as a celestial object of worship, appears under various aspects to different worshippers and yet is not herself incoherent.