ELIZABETH I - SPEECH TO THE TROOPS AT TILBURY (1588)
HISTORICAL ANALYSIS
The text. This text is a political speech delivered on 9 August Old Style, 19 August New Style 1588 by Queen Elizabeth I of England to the land forces earlier assembled at Tilbury in Essex in preparation of repelling the expected invasion by the Spanish Armada.
Queen Elizabeth supported pirates due to the serious economical crisis that England was facing to (at that time, England have been at war against France for several years; this war had entailed huge expenses to the coffers of England). Pirates supported royal finances back.
The main problem of Queen Elizabeth was Mary I, Queen of Scots. She was deposed and came to England in order to take refuge;…show more content… Queen Elizabeth decided to go to Tilbury at the time the invasion was expected, in order to encourage her troops. It was not usual to see a woman in a battle field, but she wasn’t afraid to talk to her soldiers. With this speech, she was probably trying to reinforce her authority. She talks in honesty, recognizing that she is nothing but an old woman, but she also states that her heart and determination are the ones of a king:
“I know I have the body but of a weak and feeble woman; but I 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 [...]” She tries to make the soldiers feel this battle as a personal offense to themselves, and also to the whole nation of England and the Queen herself; Queen Elizabeth doesn’t want any prince in Europe to think they can defeat her or England, and so tells to the troops, even stating that she will fight by their side, being their “general, judge and rewarder”. She says she is ready to live and die amongst her troops to
Finally, she asks them obedience to her lieutenant and courage in the battle, so they will defeat the enemies “of my God, of my kingdom and of my people”.
Conclusion. Queen Elizabeth I was an eloquent writer and orator and she used these skills to overcome
