Natalie Bonner
Hist. 400.01E
Dr. Burgman
http://www.luminarium.org/renlit/tilbury.htm
The Speech at Tilbury
 Who?
Queen Elizabeth I of England and her troops.
 What?
A speech inspiring: Patriotism, Bravery, and
Solidarity before their Spanish Enemies.
 When?
According to the Julian Calendar: 9 Aug 1588
According to the Gregorian Calendar: 19 Aug 1588
 Where?
On the front lines of battle: the beach of Tilbury,
Essex, England.
Continued
 How?
Queen Elizabeth I, rode on a horse to the front
lines of her soldiers, dressed in armor, and delivering a
speech that stated, amongst other things:
“I know I have the body of a weak and feeble woman,
but I have the heart and stomach of a king, and 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; the 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.”
http://tudorhistory.org/primary/tilbury.html
Continued
 Why?
Spain had declared war on England, and the
Protestant Queen. The Spanish Armada was
approaching and the English troops were getting
nervous about the impending battle. In order to bring
courage and fortitude to her troops, and to again prove
she was as kingly as any man that was on the throne
before her, Queen Elizabeth I rode onto the battlefield
and delivered a speech that prepared them to meet
their enemy, and quite possibly their Maker.
 Here is Cate Blanchett delivering part of the speech in
the 2007 film, Elizabeth: The Golden Age
http://youtu.be/T3Bq1h728X0
Bibliography
Eakins, Lara E. “THE SPEECH OF QUEEN ELIZABETH TO HER ARMY
ENCAMPED AT TILBURY, 1588.”Tudor History.Org. 1995-2013. 4
September 2013. http://tudorhistory.org/primary/tilbury.html.
Jokinin, Anniina. “Queen Elizabeth I of England: Speech to the Troops at
Tilbury.” Luminarium: Anthology of English Literature. 8 August 1996. Last
updated 1 April 2012. 4 September 2013.
http://www.luminarium.org/renlit/tilbury.htm.
Kwokshee. “Queen Elizabeth I (Cate Blanchett), Tilbury
Speech.”Youtube.com. Uploaded 17 May 2011. 4 September 2013.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T3Bq1h728X0.
“Speech to the Troops at Tilbury.” Wikipedia. Last Modified 17 June 2013. 4
September 2013.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speech_to_the_Troops_at_Tilbury.