Her education

The title page of Ascham's book about the pleasures of archery, Toxophilus. Reproduced in Social England, ed. H.D.Traill. University of Victoria Library.

Elizabeth received a broad, humanist education under the tutelage of Cambridge scholars, John Cheke (Edward VI's tutor) and Roger Ascham. She became proficient in French, Italian, Latin, and Greek*.

Elizabeth's love of literature, music, drama and dancing stayed with her until her death, and she left behind several poems* as well as translations of Greek and Latin works (such as Boethius's The Consolation of Philosophy). Most of the plays Shakespeare wrote in her lifetime were acted before her, and there is a long tradition that Shakespeare wrote The Merry Wives of Windsor at her request*.

"A masculine power of application"

Visitors to the court remarked upon her sharp intellect and lively wit, seeing her as a hopeful prospect for the throne. Ascham boasted of his pupil's excellence (though his highest compliment is that she thinks almost like a man):

. . .so much solidity of understanding, such courtesy united with dignity, have never been observed at so early an age. She has the most ardent love of true religion and of the best kind of literature. The constitution of her mind is exempt from female weakness, and she is endued with a masculine power of application.
(From a letter to John Sturmius, 1550, quoted in Mumby, Girlhood, 69-72.)

Ascham also praised Elizabeth for her preference of plain attire over customary female adornments, likening her to Hippolyta, the Amazon Queen of Greek legend who was loved by Theseus*. She purposefully cultivated an image of studiousness and piety in order to live down the effects of the earlier scandal with Thomas Seymour.

Selected Poems (Representative Poetry, Toronto). Selected Works of Queen Elizabeth (Luminarium).