Elizabeth ~The Golden Age of Gloriana
Elizabeth I was an intelligent, educated woman, especially for her time and gender.
She learned to speak Latin, French, German, Hebrew, Greek, English, and Spanish.
She also studied a variety of subjects that proved useful during her reign ~ such as arithmetic, philosophy, and theology
Elizabeth was extremely witty and clever – but she was also famous for her temper, something she inherited from both her father and her mother.
She was a master at the art of appearing regal and stately in public, but Elizabeth could be quite violent in a domestic setting.
When in a rage, she swore like a trooper and could apparently be heard several rooms away.
Elizabeth was not above abusing her ladies-in-waiting, either.
In 1576, when she discovered that Mary Shelton had secretly married courtier Sir John Scudamore, she flew into a rage and rained blows on the unfortunate Mary.
According to some sources, Elizabeth may have broken her finger during this fit of rage.
Elizabeth wasn’t above throwing things either.
There is a story that she once threw a slipper at her spymaster, Sir Francis Walsingham.
Elizabeth also had no toleration for lack of respect.
One day in 1598, Robert Devereux, Earl of Essex, turned his back on the queen during a heated argument.
For this unthinkable breach of court etiquette, Elizabeth promptly boxed his ears, at which point Essex placed his hand on his sword hilt.
Shocked courtiers scrambled to put themselves between him and the queen, and Essex stormed out of the room!
👑 Dame Judi Dench as Elizabeth I in ‘Shakespeare in Love’ 1998
