Besides physical beauty — by which she set great store Elizabeth possessed clever brains, shrewd judgment and nimble wit, with considerable powers of acumen, which stood her in good stead through her long reign. Her mind, too, had been well trained, for in Tudor times education was a solid matter laid down on the same lines for men and women. Learning of all kinds had come to be held in high esteem, for knowledge — no longer shut up in the monasteries — spread its enlightening in?uence throughout the land, awaking fresh desires, and thrusting aside the baf?ing ignorance of mediaeval times. It was an age pre — eminent of romance, a world electric with portents Of fresh discoveries; new lands were being sought for, new ventures undertaken, new inventions perfected, new luxuries coming into general use. Printed books, though few at first, rapidly increased, being read with avidity by men and women alike, eager to avail themselves Of the splendid future which lay before them.