Monarchists

[Philippus Flavius Homovallumus]

Indeed, most of the replies so far have been all the same idealized thing . All in all, I would prefer a Shaftesbury or a Conde over a Bernard Maddoff or a Bill Gates.

Also aristocracy "illiterate"? WTH? The British "aristocracy" had a solid etiquette and superb political skills, complemented of course by their higher literacy and knowledge than the rest of the mass. For centuries it was them who patronized the arts and the letters, and not just for the knack of profit and consumer appeal like a CEO would, but of taste. A generalization still, but a valid one.

Oh indeed, and more. King Alfred is credited with translating the Latin philosopher Boethius, among others, and the daughter of William the Bastard, Matilda, was latin-litterate, as were her brothers;
Richard I knew Latin well enough to crack jokes in the it, the Black Prince and the John of Gaunt were both energetic patrons of Latin, French and English literature; Elizabeth I translated classical works into English, James I was extremely well educated, and authored, "A Counterblast against Tobaco" while King....

The list goes on, and on, and on.

[A Terribly Harmful Name]

Oh indeed, and more. King Alfred is credited with translating the Latin philosopher Boethius, among others, and the daughter of William the Bastard, Matilda, was latin-litterate, as were her brothers;
Richard I knew Latin well enough to crack jokes in the it, the Black Prince and the John of Gaunt were both energetic patrons of Latin, French and English literature; Elizabeth I translated classical works into English, James I was extremely well educated, and authored, "A Counterblast against Tobaco" while King....

The list goes on, and on, and on.

Heh you could write an entire book just of summarizations .

[Mouzafphaerre]

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James I was extremely well educated, and authored, "A Counterblast against Tobaco"

Shame on you Jimmy!
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