In ten essays, this volume examines Elizabeth I's extensive iconography, focusing on both visual and textual representations of the queen, not only in portraiture and literature, but also in contemporary sermons, speeches and alchemical treatises.

Illuminated manuscripts are an invaluable resource for understanding medieval and early modern life in castles, palaces and ordinary households, both urban and rural. Reproducing 140 little-known illuminations, mostly from the British Library’s collections, this book shows how these miniatures reflect medieval domestic interiors and how they provide information on topics ranging from the security of dwelling places to creature comforts such as heating and lighting, hygiene, beds and bedrooms, and the display of wealth and treasured possessions.