Expert: Joseph Logue - 2/17/2009

Question
Would you know of a book that princess Elizabeth would have learned basic manners and etiquette from.  Perhaps in was a standard curriculum by one of her tutors or one which royal families would have used.  Thank you.

Answer
Hello Roy,

I am a librarian and have searched all around in the hope that I might find a book of etiquette (somewhere!) from the 16th century.  No such luck, I fear.  It would be my opinion that although Princess Elizabeth was highly educated in all matters (languages, maths, science, etc.) including the social graces of etiquette.  The latter was most likely taught "live" from a tutor and not necessarily from a text.  This tutor would almost certainly have taught other "womanly" skills as well, like sewing, and the arts.

I'm sorry I could not point you to a specific volume.  If you're in England, you may have luck finding a 16th century text at a university library.  No guarantee that it would be a book introduced to the young princess, but you'd get a good idea of what she learned.

Sincerely,

Joseph Logue