A Queen's speech to her troops: Elizabeth I's famed Tilbury speech
- Kali Hollands
- 21 hours ago
- 5 min read
Queen Elizabeth I at Tilbury, 1588 © Alfred Kingsley Lawrence (1893–1975), Essex County Council Art Collection; Essex Record Office
“I know I have the body of a weak and feeble woman; but I have the heart and stomach of a king, and of a king of England too.”
This powerful line comes from one of the most infamous speeches in British history. On the 9th of August 1588, a group of soldiers stood together at Tilbury; a port alongside the Thames and just east of London. This was no random group of soldiers. The Spanish Armada was a serious threat to England at the time and fear of invasion was spreading rapidly across the country. These men were placed together as a land army, to protect the realm from the forces of Phillip II of Spain, and they were waiting upon an immensely important woman; their queen, Elizabeth I.
The events that took place that day would go down in history and would be a defining moment in Elizabeth’s reign; the age of “Gloriana”.
King Phillip II of Spain had his heart set on invading England and conquering it, making the country predominantly Spanish. Elizabeth I was a Protestant, whereas Phillip was Catholic and he was intent on restoring England to its Catholic roots. Spain was an exceedingly wealthy and important country; they had conquered the New World and England was a very weak and small country in comparison. Due to their religious differences, Phillip was hostile towards Elizabeth and there were numerous plots to overthrow her. The Spanish Armada was designed to contain a fleet of over 100 ships that would sail to English shores, conquer the land and take Elizabeth hostage.
Elizabeth set to work organising a land army at once, one that would be ready and waiting to defend England against Phillip’s troops. These soldiers were under the command of Lord Robert Dudley, yet Elizabeth refused to hide away in fear in the walls of her palaces. To show solidarity and to prove she was a strong and powerful monarch, she rode to Tilbury to stand alongside the brave men fighting for her kingdom.
It’s important to remember that there are no reliable eye-witness accounts of Elizabeth’s appearance at Tilbury. Yet, she has always been remembered and described as wearing a full suit of armour. “A steel corselet was found for her to wear” … The queen mounted the white horse”. Sadly, there is no evidence to determine whether Elizabeth did wear this symbolic dress, but many people believe she would have done so or worn something very similar. It appears that Elizabeth’s motive that day was centred on the power of propaganda and her imagery, as well as thanking and supporting her subjects.
Wearing a full suit of armour would enhance Elizabeth’s power and her ability to fight and defend the realm as queen. It would even make her appear as one with her troops, showing support and standing alongside them as a soldier herself. It was frowned upon for a woman, let alone a queen, to display masculine deemed traits, yet this never stopped the ambitious and strong-minded monarch. Wearing armour would visually make her appear masculine and perhaps this could have been her motive, to prove that she was just as powerful and strong as a king, carrying the same traits as a successful one. Throughout British history, the idea of a woman on the throne was highly unpopular, and even Elizabeth faced backlash. This certainly fits in with the line in her speech, describing herself as having the “heart and stomach of a king”. This speech, and potentially her dress, would have been a clever way to prove and affirm herself as a strong and powerful female leader, removing all patriarchal limitations placed on her. It would have made her admirable and it would have created sentiment amongst her troops no doubt, that Elizabeth was speaking to them so intimately and placing herself as one of them.
To further enhance her image and create strong propaganda, Elizabeth delivered a carefully thought-out speech, one that she wrote herself. Historians do not doubt the authenticity of this speech; it thoroughly fits with her character and Elizabeth was known, throughout her life, for her love of words and reading. However, no contemporary accounts of the speech survive and there are three different versions of it.
The first and believed to be the most accurate and popular version of the speech, was recorded by Dr Leonel Sharp in his letter to the Duke of Buckingham. Unfortunately, this was written in 1623, making it uncontemporary and somewhat unreliable. However, this speech is the most well-known version of it and both historians and history lovers alike believe this to be very fitting of her character. Furthermore, Sharp was actually present at Tilbury whilst Elizabeth gave this speech, making it the most credible version and can be portrayed as the most accurate evidence we have.
“My loving people,
We have been persuaded by some that are careful of our safety, to take heed how we commit ourselves to armed multitudes, for fear of treachery; but I assure you I 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 down 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 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; to which rather than any dishonour shall grow by me, I myself will take up arms, I myself will be your general, judge, and rewarder of every one of your virtues 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 meantime, 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.”
This speech heavily refers to Elizabeth’s troops, and her realm in general, as her “people” and consistently demonstrates her love for her kingdom throughout. It was a cleverly spun speech that shows strong sentiment for her subjects and places her on the same level as them; even preparing to die alongside them. Not many kings before her have ever demonstrated such empathetic and kind words towards those they rule over. Elizabeth also expresses her anger at the Spanish and anyone who dares invade her kingdom, a mutual feeling no doubt amongst her men. Afterall, Elizabeth’s greatest love was England.
Elizabeth’s confidence that England would defeat the Armada proved correct. The Spanish suffered from severe weather conditions, that caused their fleet to be unable to compete with England. Fire was thrown towards the armada, who now had no choice but to return to Spain. It was utterly humiliating. But to England, Elizabeth was a saviour. England was now a mighty naval force that had defeated the great Spanish empire from invading and Elizabeth was now viewed as saint-like; a warrior queen who had fought for her kingdom. It’s no wonder the Elizabethan era is heralded as “The Golden Age”.
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