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The Liz Quiz

by Melissa Snell

 

Few British monarchs command the kind of fascinated attention that Queen Elizabeth I has drawn from historians, scholars, fiction-writers and film-makers in the last four centuries. Her style, wit, perception and superb mastery of politics in one of the most treacherous arenas in history make her an irresistible subject.

She is also one of the most difficult personalities to understand: she has been depicted as impulsive, overcautious, willful, easily-influenced, generous, parsimonious, indecisive, rash -- in fact, attempts to pin down her true character are as futile as nailing smoke to the wall.

While mystery is part of Elizabeth's allure, there are some facts we do know about the queen, her reign, and the people of her times. Below is a quick quiz to test your EQ (your Elizabethan Quotient). The answers are on a separate page.

Ready? Then it's time to take --

The Quiz

1. Elizabeth's father was the famous (and infamous) Henry VIII. Which of his six wives was Elizabeth's mother?
   1. Catherine of Aragon
   2. Anne Boleyn
   3. Jane Seymour
   4. Anne of Cleves
   5. Catherine Howard
   6. Catherine Parr
      
      
2. As a teenager, Elizabeth was wooed by an opportunistic adventurer who ended up losing his head (literally). What was his name?
   1. Edward Courtenay
   2. Thomas Grey
   3. Edward Seymour
   4. Thomas Seymour
      
      
3. As soon as she took the throne, Elizabeth was urged by her advisors to marry. One of her potential husbands was her half-sister's widower. Who was he?
   1. Archduke Charles
   2. Archduke Ferdinand
   3. Eric of Sweden
   4. Philip of Spain
      
      
4. Elizabeth was extremely well educated, and her diplomatic capabilities were aided by the fact that she was fluent in several different languages. Which of the following languages was she least fluent in?
   1. French
   2. German
   3. Greek
   4. Italian
   5. Latin
   6. Spanish
      
      
5. One of Elizabeth's talents was choosing her associates with care. She was very wise in selecting her councillors, and one in particular proved to be the best possible choice and her closest and most dependable advisor. While they certainly didn't always see eye-to-eye, he served her faithfully and well for decades and was eventually bestowed the title of Lord Burghley. What was his name?
   1. William Cecil
   2. Robert Dudley
   3. Thomas Parry
   4. Francis Walsingham
      
      
6. Elizabeth had plenty of suitors both abroad and at home to choose from, and she played them off against each other brilliantly, using the possibility of marriage to form political alliances and keep potential adversaries from turning into real enemies. But one Englishman seemed to catch her fancy early in her reign, and she might have married him were it not for a scandal concerning the death of his wife. Who was he?
   1. Edward Courtenay
   2. Robert Dudley
   3. William Pickering
   4. The Earl of Arundel
      
      
7. From the beginning of her reign, the Protestant Elizabeth had a potential enemy in her Catholic cousin Mary. For some time attempts were made by both women to bridge the gap and establish a friendship, but some foolish choices by her cousin occasionally forced Elizabeth to support Mary's enemies. Eventually, a plot against Elizabeth were discovered and Mary was implicated. Elizabeth was forced to have her cousin imprisoned and, ultimately, executed. Who was this troublesome relative?
   1. Bloody Mary
   2. Mary of Guise
   3. Mary Stuart
      
      
8. Throughout her reign, Elizabeth was known, always affectionately, by several different names. Which of the names below was not applied to Elizabeth during her lifetime?
   1. Darling Liz
   2. Gloriana
   3. Good Queen Bess
   4. Sweet Bessy
   5. The Virgin Queen
      
      
9. The most glorious episode in Elizabeth's reign was the defeat of the dreaded Spanish Armada by the ingenious and determined English navy. Who commanded this stalwart force for Elizabeth?
   1. Francis Drake
   2. Walter Raleigh
   3. Robert Devereaux
   4. Francis Bacon
      
      
10. Elizabeth's reign was longer than that of any other Tudor. When she died at the age of 69 in 1603, how many years had she reigned?
    1. 35
    2. 40
    3. 45
    4. 50

 

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The Liz Quiz is copyright © 1998 Melissa Snell and About.com. Permission is granted to reproduce this quiz for personal or classroom use only, provided that the URL below is included. For reprint permission, please contact Melissa Snell.

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