Queen Elizabeth I
Name Given at Birth: Elizabeth, Princess of England
Nicknames: Bess, only used by Walter Raleigh, Leopold Bloom and my closest Lady "Kat" Ashley
Hometown or where you were born: I was born in Greenwich Palace near London on September 7th.
Current Residence: Of the many Royal Residences, I love Hampton Court Palace above all others.
Age: I will be celebrating my 43rd birthday during the harvest festival this year.
Class: Royalty.
What do you do, your main function in life/society: To rule England, with God’s help, as a Monarch whom men trust, women admire and children adore.
Have you ever gone skinny-dipping / do you know how to swim:
I do know how to swim; however, I have never had the opportunity to swim in the privacy that would allow me to swim "au naturel".
Do you make fun of people: Not regularly, it would be beneath our station. However, I have been known to poke fun at those with whom I am closest, in their presence of course . . . including Leopold Bloom, my florist. I also enjoy laughing at Lady Margaret and Lady Annie when they are trying to keep my humors calm. And of course, my jesters are such easy targets – when they use their pet names guacamole and forgetsio!
Favorite Color: All manner of purple, the color of Royalty!
Have you ever committed or been convicted of a crime: We lived for years under the shadow of suspicion of treason to my late sister, Queen Mary. It was of great sadness to have my integrity questioned. I am greatly relieved that God did prevail and I was not punished for that which I had no part in.
Closest friends/How did you meet: My closest friends are those in my circle of Ladies, including Lady n, even though she forgets her place in this world, Lady Margaret and Lady Annie. They have been with me for many years and do provide both service and companionship. I have appreciated their constancy and loyalty in the years before I became Queen. It is thrilling to have them with me now, in these years of peace and plenty. I do enjoy the wit of Lady Lettice, the charm of Lady Throckmorton and the clever tongue of Lady Radcliffe. Of course, Lady Ashley, my Kat, is my source of strength and love. She has been as a mother to me, even though we are much closer in age. During my early years before ascending to the throne, Kat has been ever honest and direct with me, even in times when others would have lied to please me. I am also coming to love the presence of Mary Sidney, known in my presence as Sidney. She is a joyful, loving maid and I look forward to they cheerful smile she greets me with each day. I am also grateful for the service of my Godson, Harry, or John Harrington. And, in truth, I could not make it through the day without the constancy of my Captain of the Guard, James MacGregor. Jamie protects my person, but also knows when my heart is aching and my confidence perhaps is shaking in the weight of the crown. With a sarcastic smile or witty comment, in can turn my humors on a pence.
One Pillow or two: We do enjoy a mountain of goose down pillows.
Pets: Whilst they are not pets, I do have a soft spot in my heart for the horses we ride each day during the hunt or on a pleasant outing with Walter, or John Hawkins. This new upstart in court, Lord Devereaux might prove to be a good riding companion as well. He might be my new pet.
Favorite Type of Music: All music light of tune and written for dancing!!
Hobbies/Pastimes: We love to ride and hunt daily. In the afternoons, we can be found enjoying the music of our court musicians and I also love to hear well written verse. Of course the evening is for dancing whenever possible and good theater. I am quite fond of reading and enjoy a rousing debate in philosophy of the early Greek philosophers. When the weather is agreeable, I enjoy long walks in one of our many palace gardens. In the winter, I enjoy evenings playing backgammon or chess. I In the summertime I do love to travel throughout the kingdom, visiting with my beloved subjects.
Personal Hygiene: I do bathe frequently, and much to the dismay of Lady Kat, I do insist on having my own bathing tub travel with us wherever we go! I cannot tolerate any unpleasantry in smells and do insist on good hygiene of those in our presence. I do love the smell of Lavender as well as Amber.
Favorite Food: We are not as interested in food, unless it is in the form of chocolate.
Are your parents alive, do you get along with them: As most are aware, my parents are not living. I have only faint memories of my mother, Anne Boleyn. I was three when she met her untimely death. My father, King Henry VIII, was at times loving and kind or harsh and distant. My disposition was always cautious with father, never forgetting how my mother’s fate was sealed by his anger.
If your parents are dead, when and how did they die: Our father did die of old age, after reigning as King of England for over fifty years. My mother died by execution, a subject which we prefer NEVER to be discussed in our presence.
Favorite place to relax: Along the banks of the winding river along the countryside near Windsor Palace.
Favorite Holy Day / Why: The Christmas season or Christmastide which runs the twelve days from 24 December to 6 January; that is, Christmas Eve to Twelfth Day. I especially enjoy New Year’s Day, with the gifting of presents to my Courtiers and relations. Greenwich Palace is always so beautifully decorated and adorned. I love the music and dancing and the lighthearted nature of court when times of love and peace prevail.
Favorite Drink: Cool Light Ale.
What's your bedtime: I have been known to watch the sunrise on occasion, but usually without having slept! I am at my best in the evening hours and prefer to sleep later than most.
What, if anything, do you usually wear on your feet: Riding or Hunting boots whenever possible, or Golden Slippers, adorned with jewels for those times when more formal dress is required.
Are you married or single: I am married . . . To England!
Do you have a family / who are they: All who are English are my children and kinsmen.
Favorite Entertainment: The Queen’s Players, drama, comedy or tragedy. I especially like those plays written to honor the virtues of the queen.
Favorite Subject in School or Chore growing up: Philosophy, Latin and Religion.
Least Favorite Subject in School or Chore growing up: I loved all of my educational opportunities. Lord Ascham was the best educator a women could ever ask for.
Favorite Sport: Hunting and horseback riding. I love to ride like the wind, even though it does give the Privy Councilors heart palpitations over worrying about my safety.
Most Humiliating Moment: Being taken to the Tower of London and made to enter through the Traitor’s Gate.
Proudest Moment: The day of my ascension and coronation.
Craziest Person or silliest you know: Certainly, my jester, Giacomo, who I can rely upon to provide me with reasons to smile.
What do you look for in the opposite sex: A well turned calf, and deep blue eyes.
In our Hierarchical Society everybody has somebody "over" them, Who is your immediate "overlord" GOD.
Favorite Sport to watch: Jousting! Especially my Champion, Lord William of Whitehall.
Do you remember your first kiss: That remains confidential, between myself and the recipient.
Do you keep in touch with your childhood friends: I did not have the luxury of childhood friends. My brother was close to me in the brief times we lived together and I did mourn his early passing. Lady Kat would be the closest to a childhood friend.
Where is your favorite "Vacation" spot: All throughout the realm, during my summer progress. I am also fond of the harvest time spent in Canterbury.
Have you ever been overseas: NO. I have never left the soil of my true love, England.
Do you have Dirt/Mud floors or Stone: Richly woven rugs do cover the slate and limestone floors of most of my palaces.
What is your bed made of: Deep mahogany carved with the Tudor Rose. This is the bed in which I was born and was a gift from my father to my mother in the happiest of times. It has four large posters with the sheerest of linens to wrap me safely to bed each night.
How many people sleep in your bed: Occasionally, one of my ladies or my maid sleeps at the foot of my bed if there appears to be any reason for concern for my safety, it does calm my nerves.
10 Things Everybody Should Know About Me:
1. My first and foremost love is for the people of England
2. I have a weakness for jewels, especially amethysts.
3. I love White Roses, the symbol of my Tudor family, even though Master Leopold believes roses to be too common.
4. Lord Dudley is not to be spoken of in my presence. His indiscretions were heartbreaking to me and he is banished to Scotland. Do not ask me to relive this pain by asking about him. However, I am a woman known to have a fickle heart, so be ware when speaking ill of someone who has known the depths of my heart . . .
5. I believe bribery comes best in the form of CHOCOLATE!
6. I have the highest regard for the men of my court. I admire Raleigh, Essex and Hawkins as true gentlemen, bringing back chivalry to our beloved land. It would not be wise to speak ill of them in my company. I do smile to see them struggle to compete for a prize none of them hope to win. However, as true competitors, it is not in their nature to lose. What a delightful conundrum.
7. I am highly competitive, even over a simple game of cards or backgammon. You may have this fact verified by Raleigh, who I once played backgammon with until dawn, neither of us yielding to the other when we traded wins, game after game. I admired that he did not yield to the woman with the Crown.
8. It warms my heart when children are near me. One of my few regrets in life is not having birthed my own child. This might be why other’s children are so precious. I will stop whatever affairs of state I am attending to if a child is in need of my attention.
9. I detest war. I prefer peaceable negotiations in all matters. I truly believe the mind can be sharper than the sword, so certainly can the tongue.
10. I adore the comment "You are your father’s daughter". While some memories of my father are less than pleasant, I still hold him in high regard as a father and Monarch. He reigned as King of the People for over 50 years, and I pray God will bless me with the same destiny.