Queen

(regina.) A woman who holds tlie crown of a realm, singly, and by right ‘of blood. ‘The word queen is derived from the Saxon cwen, uxor, the wife of any one, but applied, by way of exeellency, to the wife of the king only; whence she was anciently called the king’s queen’; the West Saxons having no other name for a queen but the king’s wife. A er de-Ailfred. rebus, 8c. She was also called lady, in Saxon wlefdig; just as madame, or mademoiselle, are still used in France, for the wife and daughter of the duke of Orleans. The name queen is also given, by way of courtesy, to her that is married to the king; called, by way of distinction, queen consort. In respect whereof the former is called queen regnant, or regent. The widow of a king is also called queen, but with the addition of dowager. In the first sense, queen is, in all consttuction, the same with king; and has the same ate and prerogative, in all respects, that the ing has. The queen consort is inferior, and a person distinct from, and a subject of, the king. England, though she be a feme covert, yet may she sue, and be sued, in her own name; and snepl make leases, and grants, dc. as a feme sole. She has several other prerogatives. ‘Though _ an alien, she may purchase lands in fee-simple, without either naturalization, or denization; she may present to a benefice; nor is plenarty a bar against her more than against the king. She is also capable of taking a grant from the king, which no other wife can do from her husband; and she may have a separate property in goods as well as lands, and has a right to dispose of them by will. She pays no toll, and shall not be amerced, if she be non-suited in any action; and may not be impleaded till first petitioned. To conspire her death, or violate her chastity, is high treason. She has an ancient peculiar revenue, called queen-gold; besides a very large dower, with a royal court, and officers, apart. The queen dowager, as the widow of the king, enjoys most of the privileges belonging to her as queen consort. But it is not high treason to conspire her death, or to violate her chastity; because the succe ion to the crown is not thereby endangered. To Quezn.v.n. To play the queen. 49