Speech Thirteen: "I would rather be a beggar and single than a queen and married."

[someday_a_queen]

 [She'd been hesitant to open another package from the town, but curiosity wins out and soon Elizabeth is smiling again, spreading out her books on the table. Housemates feel free to notice her looking them over.

/Filtered away from Spain]

I know this may sound like an odd request. However the town does not supply many books on the history of other

Comments

[cramschoolgod]

[Hmm, a good enough reason as any to review some of her studies...]

I've studied European history to some extent. By all accounts, the reign of Elizabeth was a stable and lengthy one. How much do you want to know?

[someday_a_queen]

[Oh, that sounded promising.]

Anything you'd be able to tell me.

fff european history memories

[cramschoolgod]

Ah... okay. The Elizabethan era put an end to the religious battling of the previous decades and the seesawing between Catholic and Protestant rulers. Elizabeth adopted a neutral, state-serving system of moderate Protestantism, the Church of England or Anglican Church. She ruled for nearly fifty years. During this time, the other ascendant European power was Spain under King Philip II, who alternately wished to form an alliance by marriage and tried to seize power by force. Elziabeth's Royal Navy, however, defeated the Spanish Armada. Ah, it was also a great period of literature, which saw playwrights as Marlowe, Jonson, and of course, Shakespeare himself.

[someday_a_queen]

[Listening intently.]

......that's...quite of bit of information.

Thank you.

[cramschoolgod]

It's no problem. I think that's the major events. May I ask why you're inquiring?

[someday_a_queen]

Yes of course.

I am Elizabeth Tudor.

[cramschoolgod]

[Hoo boy. As if the nations weren't enough. Though at least this is possible. There was Hitler's clone...]

A clone? Or the original? Ah, I suppose only the original would really need to ask about this. You wanted to know about your own reign? That's rather daring of you. Many people wouldn't want to know their own future, particularly if it were fated to come true.

[someday_a_queen]

No, my clone is here though.

Well I've already been told that I will become Queen someday, and considering some of the things I have seen here in terms of what happens in the future, I didn't believe it would really matter.

[cramschoolgod]

I suppose not, though it's rather damaging either to our concept of free will, the nature of time, or some other foundational aspect of our outlook.

May I ask what year are you from, Your Highness?

[someday_a_queen]

I shall just have to face that time when it comes.

1549.

[cramschoolgod]

That's really remarkable. [And yet she's adapted well enough to this environment, and her language is understandable. Yet another sign that Mayfield is picky or chaotic with its linguistic update patterns... but anyway.]

What do you think of the modern world, Your Highness? Not that the world is entirely like this place, but it's a good approximation of one part of it. Have you studied some other aspects of its history?

[someday_a_queen]

I've read some of the books I've been able to find. It's really most remarkable.

Everything is quite different from what I'm used to of course.

And please, call me Elizabeth.

[cramschoolgod]

Have you actually been able to find useful books? [Frustration does creep into her voice.] The library here has been-- completely worthless to me, ah, Elizabeth.

[someday_a_queen]

There have been a few books on history in some of the classrooms. I've found the ones in the library helpful in their own way though.

The books on manners present an interesting view on how this times society is run. And I can use the books to practise my languages.

[cramschoolgod]

Ye-es. I must say, it's rather insulting, though. Perhaps it's not so insulting to you, considering your different historical circumstances.

Hmm, just history books or other subjects, too?

[someday_a_queen]

What do you mean?

A few basic ones of other subjects as well.