Sara Johnson
ENG 320-01
Research Paper
November 30, 2009
Queen Elizabeth I
From 1558 until 1603, England was ruled by one of the greatest queens the country
would ever see. Elizabeth I made a mark on England that will never fade. She was a unique
character in many ways, but somehow managed to keep the trust and adoration of her country
throughout her reign until the day of her death. A single, protestant woman didn’t exactly seem
fit to be ruling an entire country, but Elizabeth kept her country together politically under one
church. A great disappointment to her father, Henry VIII, she defied all odds as the sole
successor to the throne after his and her older half-sister Mary’s passing. In a time when respect
wasn’t often given to women, it was against probability that Elizabeth ruled England
successfully. The political success of Elizabeth Queen of England can be attributed to her
extensive educational background, her dedication to her country and to those near to her, and the
power behind every word she wrote. Her educational background contributed to the strength in
her words and her love for the people was presented every day.
As a princess, Elizabeth received intense, meticulous tutoring. Her training included
classical and modern languages, history, rhetoric, theology, and moral philosophy. Much of her
education took place at old Hatfield House where she and her brother Edward were happy and
eager to learn (“The Life of Queen Elizabeth I” Jokinen). Elizabeth’s mother was executed when
she was very young, so there wasn’t much for her to do but study. Her ability to speak fluent
French and Italian assisted with her communication when she became Queen. There were many
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tutors provided at Hatfield for the Edward who was to be the future king and Elizabeth took full
advantage of their convenient presence (Jackson). The preparation in Latin and Greek rhetoric
was significant to Elizabeth’s ability to emphasize authority in her speeches and writing. This,
combined with her extensive guidance in Latin, a language of power, gave her the facility to use
language effectively and to carefully compose persuasive speeches (Green 422). During Mary’s
reign, Elizabeth spent two months in the Tower after which she was transferred to Woodstock.
While in confinement at Woodstock she wrote Verses Written with a Diamond. After Woodstock
she spent the remainder of Mary’s reign at Hatfield where she continued her education under the
lessons of Roger Ascham (“The Life of Queen Elizabeth I” Jokinen). Ascham was a Greek
scholar who remained dear to Elizabeth. He was selected to be her tutor after her present one
had passed and together they spent many hours working on the art of double translation
(Jackson). Ascham was appointed as Elizabeth’s secretary under her reign until his death in
1568 (“The Life of Roger Ascham” Jokinen).
The significance of her education is shown in her letters and writings left behind. Her
ability to write so eloquently not only helped her in communication, but left behind a detailed
timeline of her life and events that took place under her reign. If Elizabeth had solely been a
writer, it is hard to imagine what beautiful works we could be enchanted with today. Much of
her writing is quite beautifully written, and some of the best are her verses. The Verses Written
with a Diamond is just eight words: “Much suspected by me, Nothing proved can be”
(Greenblatt 688). In this short verse, it is fascinating that these eight words can say so much. It
takes a great writer to be able to say so much with so few words. In Monsieur’s Departure,
Elizabeth lets her guard down a little bit and lets readers in: “My care is like my shadow in the
sun, Follows me flying, flies when I pursue it, Stands and lies by me, doth what I have done”
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(Greenblatt 696). Elizabeth uses a simile to give her love a life of its own. By being a very
learned woman, she was able to compose some very unique and moving pieces that helped
contribute to her success and admiration.
Elizabeth’s care for others within her heart stretched far and wide. There wasn’t a person
in England that she didn’t care for at one point or another. It was commonly said that Elizabeth
did not marry a husband because she was married to her country (King 30). She made her
decisions, not for herself, but for the good of her country. On the day before her coronation, she
made a promise to her country: “…be ye ensured that I will be as good unto you as ever queen
was to her people” (Greenblatt 689). From that day forward, she lived up to her promise.
Elizabeth’s choice to remain a celibate queen allowed her to forfeit personal interests giving her
more time and energy to spend on her service to the public (King 30).
Elizabeth also demonstrated her care and compassion in her correspondences with King
James VI of Scotland. Although they never met face to face, the two overcame a 32 year age
difference to become great friends who shared a relationship through a pen and paper (Mueller).
The Queen showed her big heart in her letter to King James VI of Scotland in regards to the
execution of his mother Mary, Queen of Scots: “I have now sent this kinsman of mine, whom
ere now it hath pleased you to favor, to instruct you truly of that which is too irksome for my pen
to tell you” (Greenblatt 697-698). In this statement Elizabeth is telling James that she has sent
Sir Robert Casey to tell him what words in a letter could not. She is showing her compassion
and sorrow for James in his hard times by saying what she wants to say in person rather than in
letter. This truly showed the compassion and concern she had for James while still treating him
with the utmost respect.
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Another man that Queen Elizabeth cared for was Sir Walter Raleigh. He was a man close
to her and she supported his new ideas and adventures. Raleigh and Elizabeth exchanged verses
with one another. Raleigh wrote to Elizabeth in words of despair: “Fortune hath taken away my
love,My life’s joy and my soul’s heaven above. Fortune hath taken thee away, my princess, My
world’s joy and my true fantasy’s mistress (Greenblatt 698). Raleigh thought a gap was growing
between the two of them, but Elizabeth replied with words of comfort: “Ah, silly Pug, wert thou
so sore afraid? Mourn not, my Wat, nor be thou so dismayed. It passeth fickle Fortune’s power
and skill To force my heart to think thee any ill” (Greenblatt 699). Elizabeth’s short names for
Raleigh show her friendliness and playfulness in these few lines. She is also very dramatic and
exaggerated when answering his dismal verses. She is a true friend to Sir Walter Raleigh and the
power in her words is captivating.
Queen Elizabeth’s power in everything she said and wrote was another quality that led to
her success as the leader of England. Elizabeth’s careful placement of all of the right words in
her well planned speeches added to their effectiveness. Her organization was another thought
out process. In her Speech to the Troops at Tilbury she opens with kindness, veers straight to the
order of business, presents her position and effectively ends with a brief yet forceful conclusion
of her main points (Green 429). This speech given to the troops is one of her most inspiring
speeches: “Wherefore I am come among you at this time but for my recreation and pleasure,
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 for my people mine honor and my blood even in the dust”
(Greenblatt 699-700). In this line, Elizabeth says to a great extent just what she would give up
for her people. The power in these words can be found inspiring and honest. She ends the
speech with confidence and motivation:
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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
concord in the camp and valor in the field, and your obedience to myself and my
general, we shall shortly have a famous victory over these enemies of my God
and of my kingdom. (Greenblatt 700)
The rhetoric used within this line was persuasive and stimulating. Any soldier would be proud to
fight for such a woman.
The “Golden Speech” given by Elizabeth to her last parliament two years before her
death, was recorded by one of the members of parliament and was given the name because of a
headnote to one of its versions:
’This speech ought to be set in letters of gold, that as well the majesty, prudence,
and virtue this royal queen might in general most exquisitely appear, as also that
her religious love and tender respect which she particularly and constantly did
bear to her Parliament in unfeigned sincerity might… be nobly and truly
vindicated.’ (Greenblatt 700)
The purpose of The “Golden Speech” was for Elizabeth to tell the people of her parliament that
she was selfless and did not hope to gain anything personally as a leader of England: “Of myself
I must say this: I never was any greedy, scraping grasper, now a strait, fast-holding prince, nor
yet a waster. My heart was never set on worldly goods, but only for my subjects’ good”
(Greenblatt 701). Elizabeth tells her people how she cares for their needs before her own. This
speech really is a true display of her selflessness: “Since I was queen yet did I never put my pen
to any grant but that upon pretext and semblance made unto me, it was both good and beneficial
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to the subject in general…” (Greenblatt 701). She explained to her members of parliament that
any decision she made, she was sure to consider the outcome of the decision’s impact upon her
people. It was always a great emphasis and widely known that she thought through everything in
regards to the people of her country. Elizabeth went on further to explain that she held her
position of power as an importance in the kingdom of God: “For myself, I was never so much
enticed with the glorious name of a king or royal authority of a queen as delighted that God hath
made me His instrument to maintain His truth and glory, and to defend this kingdom (as I said)
from peril, dishonor, tyranny, and oppression” (Greenblatt 702). Elizabeth explained to her
people that she was never in it for the glitz and glamour of being a queen, but for the opportunity
to protect her kingdom from evil.
Elizabeth I was a fascinating woman whose reign in England will be forever remembered
as significant. Her charm and grace were but a mere bonus to the richness of her heart and her
love for the people of England. Elizabeth was born to be a leader and raised under the watchful
eyes of tutors that gave her the capacity to achieve success. Readers can be nothing but thankful
to be able to experience some of Elizabeth’s life through her marvelous works and recorded
speeches. Through her education, noble reign, and ability to present such force and persuasion in
her speeches, Elizabeth I will always remain one who is remembered as a great and successful
leader.
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Works Cited
Green, Janet M. ""I My Self": Queen Elizabeth I." Sixteenth Century Journal 28.2 (1997): 421445. JSTOR MSU Memorial Lib., Mankato, 28 Oct. 2009.
<http://www.jstor.org/stable/2543451>.
Greenblatt, Stephen, Barbara K. Lewalski, George M. Logan, and Katharine Eisaman Maus. The
Norton Anthology of English Literature. 8th ed. B. New York, London: W.W. Norton &
Company, 2006. 687-703. Print.
Jackson, John Morris and Noel Harold Kaylor, Jr. “The Early Education of Queen Elizabeth I.”
Troy State University. n.d. Web. 29 Nov. 2009.
Jokinen, Anniina “The Life of Queen Elizabeth I.” Luminarium 22 Dec. 2008. Web. 28 Oct.
2009.
Jokinen, Anniina “The Life of Roger Ascham.” Luminarium 8 May 2009. Web. 29 Nov. 2009.
King, John N. "Queen Elizabeth I: Representations of the Virgin Queen." Renaissance Quarterly
43.1 (1990): 30-74. JSTOR MSU Memorial Lib., Mankato, 28 Oct. 2009.
<http://www.jstor.orb/stable/2861792>.
Mueller, Janel “The Correspondence of Queen Elizabeth I and King James VI.” The University
of Chicago Library Digital Collection., 5 May 2000. Web. 29 Nov. 2009.