“For the face I grant I might well blush to offer, but the mind I shall never be ashamed to present” The Education of Elizabeth I, in context

The purpose of this thesis is to explore the people who contributed to the education of Elizabeth I. This includes her parents, stepmothers, Catherine of Aragon, her tutors and governess as well as how Elizabeth reacted to her education. I also explore through particular events in Elizabeth’s life how Elizabeth’s education was not just academic and learnt through the classroom but how Elizabeth was also educated in the bed chamber and other non academic settings. By learning from the events which happened both to her and around her, Elizabeth was well prepared to rule successfully for forty five years despite Elizabeth not being educated to rule as it was never thought that Elizabeth would rule until her sister Mary was on her death bed. I therefore explore how a combination of Elizabeth’s academic and non academic education combined to make her the most intelligent Queen to sit on the English throne.