E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
Queen’s Day.
November 17th, the day of the aecession of Queen Elizabeth. first publicly celebrated in 1570, and still kept as a holiday at the Exchequer, as it was at Westminster school.
1
Nov. 17 at Merchant Taylors’ school is a holiday also, now called Sir Thomas White’s Founder’s Day.
2
“A rumour is spread in the court, and hath come to the eares of some of the most honourable counsell, how that I on the Queen’s day last past did forbidd in our college an oration to bee made in praise of Her Majesty’s government, etc.”—Dr. Whittaker to Lord Burghley (May 14th, 1590).
