ELIZABETH I: SPEECH TO THE TROOPS AT TILBURY.

“My loving people,

We have been persuaded by some that are careful of our safety, to take heed how we commit our selves to armed multitudes, for fear or treachery; but I assure you do not desire to live to distrust my faithful and loving people. Let tyrants fear, I have always so behaved myself that, under God, I have placed my chiefest strength and safeguard in the loyal hearts and good-will of my subjects; and therefore I am come amongst you, as you see, at this time, not for my recreation and disport, but being resolved, in the midst and heat of the battle, to live and die amongst you all; to lay for my God, and for my kingdom, and my people, my honour and my blood, even in the dust. I know I have the body but of a weak and feeble woman, but have the heart and stomach of a king, and of a king of England too, and think foul scorn that Parma or Spain, or any prince of Europe, should dare to invade the borders of my realm; to which rather than any dishonor shall grow by me, I myself will take up arms, I myself will be your general, judge, and rewarder of every one of your virtudes in the field. I know already, for your forwardness you have deserved rewards and crowns; and We do assure you in the word of a prince, they shall be duly paid you. In the mean time, my lieutenant general shall be in my stead, than whom never prince commanded a more noble or worthy subject, not doubting but by your obedience to my general, by your concord in the camp, and your valour in the field, we shall shortly have a famous victory over those enemies of my God, of my kingdom, and of my people.”

CLASIFICATION

It’s a historical-narrative text, and it´s personal and public. This text can date from1588 (July-August) when the queen Elizabeth I gave one speech to the troops at Tilbury to provide them with will and courage when they attacked the Invincible Armed of the king of Spain, Felipe II, who was infuriated by England’s piracy of Spanish ships from the New World.

The author is Elizabeth I, queen of England. She was proclaimed queen when Mary I (her half-sister) was dead in 1558 without heir to the throne. Mary, before her death, recognized her sister as heir to the throne. Later, Queen Mary died and Elizabeth’s accession took place. This accession was greeted with whole-hearted enthusiasm.

In January 1559, her coronation was and then one of the most glorious periods in its history started.

The text is aimed at troops of Tilbury, which would have to fight against the Spanish ships to defend their country.

ANALYSIS

The Queen proves courage and will, courage and will that she try to transmit to her people. She is like one of them and she will fight for her kingdom in the same way as her warriors.

They should not be afraid, because they struggle with the support of their queen for what is theirs, and when you want to fight for something, for your freedom, nothing can go wrong.

COMENTARY

Elizabeth was born in 1533. She was a strong queen and a wise sovereign. She had physical strength, passion of power and a vicious temper, inherited from her father (Henry VIII); but, as well, she inherited insincerity and jealousy from her mother (Anne Boleyn). Anne was guilty of treason and executed, and Elizabeth was declared illegitimate. Her childhood was hard, dominated by tragedy. She often lived in fear of death.

Before Elizabeth’ accession, Mary I (Mary Tudor) was the queen of England. She married Felipe II, king of Naples, and later, king of Spain. The marriage clauses were very hard, and England kept its rights and privileges.

When in 1558 Mary died, Felipe stopped being king of England.

The statesmanship of Elizabeth gave a time of splendor to England, but she felt threatened because Philip II attacked Francis Drake`s ship and John Hawkins`s ship, both pirates supported by the Queen to attack Spanish merchant shipping. In 1569 Elizabeth ordered to capture the fleet of the Indian; a part of the country was divided by religion as well. Protestants were on the side of Queen, while the rest were Catholic and supported Spain, and they hoped that Spain helped them to kill the Queen and put Mary Stuart in her stead to restore Catholicism, in 1571.

In 1579, Felipe II sent an expedition to Ireland, and he accepted to be coronated when Elizabeth died. But Elizabeth’s troops stopped the rebellion.

Later, Francis Drake attacked Cádiz and Philip II began preparing the invasion plan, making the Invincible Armed.

In 1588, Spanish Armed approached the Canal de la Mancha and Elizabeth went to Tilbury to support her warriors.

Elizabeth addressed her speech to her troops, who fought to defend England from the Spanish attack, ordered by Felipe II.

Within the English troop, we point out two people: Admiral Charles Howard and Francis Drake, who was second-in-command (Vice Admiral) of the English fleet against the Spanish Armed, subordinate only to Charles Howard and the Queen herself. He was an English sea captain, privateer, navigator, slaver, a renowned pirate and a politician of the Elizabethan era. He was the aim of Invincible Armed during the combat.

The Spanish fleet is bigger than its enemies fleet. Its advance through Canal de la Mancha, and the English warriors saw Invincible Armed, but a storm put to advantage on the English fleet, shooting with guns of ships and destroying the Armed.

This allowed the Queen to remain on the throne, and, it was a major defeat for the Armed.

CRITICISM

We must point out some aspects about the character of Elizabeth I. She was away from the court, but even so, she had a fairly wide culture. When she ascended to the throne, she intended to remain single, and it, probably, coupled with the death of her half-brother when he only was sixteen, made her stronger. To this, we can add religious problems, for which she faced Mary Stuart, whom Elizabeth placed on trial for life, making Elizabeth stricter.

Everything she made shows extreme determination and good sense, and with this, she was leading away from the plots that could have cost her life.

In the speech every skill can underline, showing courage and strength, two skills typical of a king. As well, she doesn’t forget her people, “her loving people”, but she desires safety for them.

In this text, she shows sincerity and she isn’t objective, but she thinks like one of them, she thinks of their people, their freedom, their rights and the return to their deserved homes.

She is a queen with a heart of stone. She is strong. She struggles for her people like the warriors.

BIOGRAPHY

Books:

Isabel I: Reina. Isabel I: Una perspectiva feminista. Dissing Elizabeth: Representaciones negativas de Gloriana.

Tudor, Isabel: Retrato de una reina.

Internet:

www.tudorhistory.org www.elizabethi.org www.englishhistory.net