Sir Thomas Smith was raised from being professor in Cambridge, first to be ambassador to France, then secretary of state.

The despatches of those times, and among others those of Burleigh himself, are frequently interlarded with quotations from the Greek and Latin classics.

Even the ladies of the court valued themselves on knowledge: Lady Burleigh, Lady Bacon, and their two sisters, were mistresses of the ancient as well as modern languages; and placed more pride in their erudition than in their rank and quality.
Queen Elizabeth wrote and translated several books: and she was familiarly acquainted with the Greek as well as Latin tongue.[**] [43] * 27 Henry VIII.c.

24.
** See note QQ, at the end of the volume.
It is pretended that she made an extemporary reply in Greek to the university of Cambridge, who had addressed her in that language.

It is certain that she answered in Latin without premeditation, and in a very spirited manner, to the Polish ambassador, who had been wanting in respect to her.