http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speech_to_the_Troops_at_Tilbury
The Speech to the Troops at Tilbury was 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.
Prior to the speech the Armada had been driven from the Strait of Dover in the Battle of Gravelines
eleven days earlier, and had by now rounded Scotland on its way home, but troops were still held at
ready in case the Spanish army of Alexander Farnese, the Duke of Parma, might yet attempt to
invade from Dunkirk; two days later they were discharged. On the day of the speech, the Queen left
her bodyguard before the fort at Tilbury and went among her subjects with an escort of six men.
Lord Ormonde walked ahead with the Sword of State; he was followed by a page leading the
Queen's charger and another bearing her silver helmet on a cushion; then came the Queen herself,
in white with a silver cuirass and mounted on a grey gelding. She was flanked on horseback by her
Lieutenant General the Earl of Leicester (Robert Dudley) on the right, and on the left by the Earl of
Essex (Robert Devereux), her Master of the Horse. Sir John Norreys brought up the rear.
http://www.luminarium.org/renlit/tilbury.htm
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 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 mean time,
my lieutenant general2 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.
Notes:
1. Delivered by Elizabeth to the land forces assembled at Tilbury
(Essex) to repel the anticipated invasion of the Spanish Armada, 1588.
2. Robert Dudley, earl of Leicester; he was the queen's favorite,
once rumored to be her lover.
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http://tudorhistory.org/primary/tilbury.html
THE SPEECH OF QUEEN ELIZABETH TO HER ARMY
ENCAMPED AT TILBURY, 1588
I remember in '88 waiting upon the Earl of Leicester at Tilbury camp, and in '89, going into Portugal
with my noble master, the Earl of Essex, I learned somewhat fit to be imparted to your grace.
The queen lying in the camp one night, guarded with her army, the old treasurer, Burleigh, came
thither and delivered to the earl the examination of Don Pedro, who was taken and brought in by Sir
Francis Drake, which examination the earl of Leicester delivered unto me to publish to the army in
my next sermon. The sum of it was this.
Don Pedro, being asked what was the intent of their coming, stoutly answered the lords: What, but
to subdue your nation and root it out.
Good, said the lords, and what meant you then to do with the catholics? He answered, We meant to
send them (good men) directly unto heaven, as all that are heretics to hell. Yea, but, said the lords,
what meant you to do with your whips of cord and wire? (Whereof they had great store in their
ships.) What? said he, we meant to whip you heretics to death that hare assisted my master's rebels
and done such dishonour to our catholic king and people. Yea, but what would you have done, said
they, with their young children? They, said he, which were above seven years old should hare gone
the way their fathers went, the rest should have lived, branded in the forehead with the letter L for
Lutheran, to perpetual bondage.
This, I take God to witness, I received of those great lords upon examination taken by the council,
and by commandment delivered it to the army.
The queen the next morning rode through all the squadrons of her army, as armed Pallas, attended
by noble footmen, Leicester, Essex, and Norris, then lord marshall, and divers other great lords.
Where she made an excellent oration to her army, which the next day after her departure, I was
commanded to re-deliver to all the army together, to keep a public fast.
Her words were these.
My loving people, we have been persuaded by some that are careful of our safety to take heed how
we commit ourself 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 safe guard 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 or die amongst you all, to lay
down my life for my God and for my kingdom and for my people, my honour, and my blood, even in
the dust. 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. 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,
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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.
From a letter by Dr. Leonel Sharp to the Duke of Buckingham after 1623 (spelling moderized)
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