rhetorical analysis of speech to the troops at tilbury

Speech To The Troops At Tilbury Rhetorical Analysis

Queen Elizabeth’s speech to her troops is a masterclass in rhetoric. She employs numerous rhetorical devices to great effect, making her case for why they should fight against the Spanish Armada. Elizabeth begins by appealing to her troops’ sense of duty and patriotism, invoking images of a glorious past in which England was victorious against superior forces. She also paints a picture of what will happen if they fail to defeat the Armada, warning them of the consequences of defeat.

Elizabeth then turns to appeals to emotion, using pathos to stir up her troops’ sense of pride and courage. She asks them to think of their families and loved ones, and how proud they will be if the troops return home victorious. She also reminds them that they are fighting for a just cause, and that their victory will be a blow against tyranny.

Finally, Elizabeth appeals to her troops’ sense of reason, using logos to make a logical case for why they should fight. She points out the strength of the English navy, and how badly outnumbered the Spanish Armada is. She also talks about how much is at stake in this battle, and how important it is for England to defeat the Spanish.

Queen Elizabeth’s speech is an excellent example of rhetoric in action. By appealing to her troops’ sense of duty, patriotism, emotion, and reason, she was able to rally them to victory against overwhelming odds.

The queen’s speech energized the troops and assured her faith in them as well as her leadership skills through repetition, contrast, persuasion, amplification, and language use. Elizabeth begins by referring to herself in the fight by using “we,” establishing a shared ground with the troops.

She also employs the technique of repetition later in the paragraph by saying “I know” three times to show the depth of her conviction in what she is saying. This is significant as it would have been easy for her to give up and let someone else lead in her stead, but her commitment to her people is evident in her words. Elizabeth also uses juxtaposition when she compares herself to her sister Mary, who was not a good role model for how a queen should behave.

By contrasting herself with her sister, Elizabeth establishes herself as a virtuous queen who is worthy of respect and admiration. In addition, Elizabeth’s use of persuasive language throughout the speech is effective in winning over the support of the troops. For example, she argues that even though they are outnumbered, they have the “advantage of right” on their side.

This makes the troops feel more confident in themselves and their cause, which is important for boosting morale. Finally, Elizabeth’s use of amplification at the end of the speech leaves the troops feeling inspired and motivated to fight for her and their country. Overall, Queen Elizabeth’s speech was masterfully crafted and served to rally the troops behind her as she led them into battle.

She uses emotive rhetoric to instill a feeling of patriotism in her audience. Elizabeth refers to her people lovingly as “my loving people” (line 1) and “my devoted and loyal people” (line 5). She inspires the soldiers to bravely defend England by complimenting them, expressing nationalism, and giving them a cause.

She also employs logos by providing examples of England’s military accomplishments in the past. Elizabeth notes that “we have been persuaded by some that are careful for us, and true friends to this realm, that greater care is to be had of our preservation, than hitherto hath been taken” (lines 9-11). This statement not only gives the soldiers a sense of pride in their country, but also reassures them that their queen is aware of the danger they face and is taking measures to protect them.

Elizabeth also uses pathos to appeal to the emotions of her audience. In particular, she speaks to the soldiers’ sense of duty and honor. She tells them, “you shall be both rewards and examples to others” (line 14), implying that their actions will be remembered long after the war is over. This encourages the soldiers to fight not only for their country, but also for the legacy they will leave behind.

Overall, Elizabeth’s speech is effective in motivating her troops to fight for England. By appealing to their sense of duty, patriotism, and honor, she inspires them to defend their country against its enemies.

The Queen Elizabeth citation invokes God and country throughout the address, eliciting a strong sense of English patriotism through repetition. The Queen compares her “weak and feeble” (line 14) physical form to her powerful spirit and bravery, which are compared to those of an English king, appealing to the audience’s nationalism even further.

Elizabeth’s humility in admitting her own frailty also humanizes her, making her more relatable to her troops. The Queen’s anaphora at the beginning of several lines throughout the speech also creates a sense of unity and belonging among her audience.

Elizabeth employs many different rhetorical strategies throughout her speech in order to appeal to her troops and encourage them to fight for their country. By invoking images of past English heroes, such as King Arthur, Elizabeth attempts to stir up a sense of nationalism in her troops. She also repeatedly references God and virtue, appealing to their sense of morality.

In addition, the Queen uses various forms of repetition in order to emphasize certain points and create a sense of unity among her audience. Overall, Elizabeth’s speech is successful in its delivery and manages to appeal to the different values of her troops in order to encourage them to fight for their country.

She distinguishes herself from the oppressing sexism of the era, implying that she is as capable of success as any shrewd, hard-hearted king. When talking about the defense of her country, the Queen suggests that she will fight among them; Elizabeth repeats “myself” to emphasize her devotion to her nation.

This is significant as most monarchs would never put their lives on the line in battle, but by saying this Elizabeth unites herself with her troops.

She goes on to say that she knows “no personal cause to spurn at them” meaning that she has no vendetta against Spain, only a desire to protect England and its people. This statement both shows her virtue as a leader and puts any possible doubt of her intentions to rest. Elizabeth’s pathos-laden language speaks to the emotional needs of her troops; she knows they are homesick and worried for their families.

The Queen tells them that “your wives, your sisters, and your children” are all praying for your safe return, which would no doubt bolster their spirits. In her final words to the troops, Elizabeth gives a stirring call to arms that would have invigorated her troops and given them the strength to face the enemy.

Elizabeth’s use of ethos, pathos, and logos throughout this speech was masterful and it is easy to see why she was considered one of England’s greatest monarchs. By using these three rhetorical devices Elizabeth I was able to deliver a speech that inspired her troops and gave them the courage to fight for their country.

To export a reference to this essay please select a referencing style below:

Related essays:

• Queen Elizabeths Accomplishments Essay
• Critical Reading of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice
• Queen Elizabeth I
• Pride And Prejudice – Marriage
• Were Queen Elizabeth I and Catherine the Great effective rulers
• How Did Elizabeth Blackwell Affect Society Essay
• Women in History – Queen Victoria
• Queen Elizabeths Lasting effect on Theater
• Queen Elizabeth Paper
• King Henry VIII and Elizabeth I
• Elizabeth I a daughter Anne Boleyn

Home — Essay Samples — History — Queen Elizabeth — Queen Elizabeth’s Speech to the Troops at Tilbury: A Rhetorical Analysis

Queen Elizabeth's Speech to The Troops at Tilbury: a Rhetorical Analysis

• Categories: Queen Elizabeth Spanish Armada

About this sample

Words: 757 |

Published: Sep 12, 2023

Words: 757 | Page: 1 | 4 min read

Table of contents

The context of the speech, rhetorical devices and strategies, the impact of the speech, 4. repetition, 5. antithesis, 6. allusion.

Cite this Essay

Let us write you an essay from scratch

• 450+ experts on 30 subjects ready to help
• Custom essay delivered in as few as 3 hours

Get high-quality help

Dr Jacklynne

Verified writer

• Expert in: History

+ 120 experts online

By clicking “Check Writers’ Offers”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy . We’ll occasionally send you promo and account related email

No need to pay just yet!

Related Essays

5 pages / 2155 words

4 pages / 1680 words

2 pages / 790 words

1 pages / 546 words

Remember! This is just a sample.

You can get your custom paper by one of our expert writers.

121 writers online

Still can’t find what you need?

Browse our vast selection of original essay samples, each expertly formatted and styled

Related Essays on Queen Elizabeth

Queen Elizabeth I of England, often referred to as the "Golden Queen" or the "Virgin Queen," is celebrated as one of history's most exceptional leaders. Her reign, which spanned from 1558 to 1603, is characterized by political [...]

Queen Elizabeth I, often referred to as the "Virgin Queen," is one of England's most iconic monarchs. Her reign, which lasted from 1558 to 1603, is known for its stability and the flourishing of the arts. Yet, one intriguing [...]

Former African-American slave Frederick Douglass wrote his memoir My Bondage and My Freedom in 1855, sixty-three years after Englishwoman Mary Wollstonecraft released her Vindication on the Rights of Woman in 1792, and [...]

When Rosa Parks became involved in the NAACP, or the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, various men tried to impede her participation. Her own husband, Raymond Parks, firmly discouraged her from even [...]

Freedom doesn’t come as Amazon gift cards, or Disneyland passes; it can only be earned through sacrifices, like Harriet, in the book Harriet Tubman: Conductor of the Underground Railroad finding out her husband, John Tubman, is [...]

“Never do anything when you are in a temper, for you will do everything wrong.” -Baltasar Gracian. Anger is one of the strongest feelings and can cause one to do and say things drastically out of character. The events that take [...]

Related Topics

By clicking “Send”, you agree to our Terms of service and Privacy statement . We will occasionally send you account related emails.

Where do you want us to send this sample?

By clicking “Continue”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy.

Be careful. This essay is not unique

This essay was donated by a student and is likely to have been used and submitted before

Download this Sample

Free samples may contain mistakes and not unique parts

Sorry, we could not paraphrase this essay. Our professional writers can rewrite it and get you a unique paper.

Please check your inbox.

We can write you a custom essay that will follow your exact instructions and meet the deadlines. Let's fix your grades together!

Get Your Personalized Essay in 3 Hours or Less!

We use cookies to personalyze your web-site experience. By continuing we’ll assume you board with our cookie policy .

• Instructions Followed To The Letter
• Deadlines Met At Every Stage
• Unique And Plagiarism Free

Queen Elizabeth I’s speech to the troops at Tilbury

Queen Elizabeth I used her power over language to frame the narrative of the Spanish Armada.

The speech she is supposed to have delivered to her troops on 9 August 1588 has become one of the defining moments in British history.

When was the Tilbury Speech made?

Fear of invasion by Spain remained high in England, especially with the action of the Spanish Armada taking place so close to England's shores. As a result, the ageing Robert Dudley was put in charge of the land army at Tilbury, on the Thames, to the east of London in Essex.

Dudley arranged for Queen Elizabeth to visit Tilbury to announce his appointment and rally the troops on  9 August 1588 . The queen's reported words during that visit has gone down in history. Read it in full below.

Find out more about the Spanish Armada

Elizabeth I's Tilbury speech in full

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 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 on a word of a prince, they shall be duly paid. In the mean time, 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 these enemies of my God, of my kingdom, and of my people.

Celebrating success

The defeat of the Spanish Armada brought fame, both for England and Queen Elizabeth I. Europe was stunned that such a small island nation had successfully defended itself against such a major aggressor.

While the war with Spain would continue until 1604, the outcome was no longer taken for granted and foreign diplomats began to court England as a possible ally. Elizabeth's popularity soared. The impact of the victory for the nation's self-confidence cannot be overestimated.

England’s success was celebrated in all manners of ways. Songs were written, medals struck, portraits painted and prints published. All lauded Elizabeth as a saviour who stood firm to protect her nation, shared the glory of the success with the English navy and gave thanks for divine intervention: 'God breathed and they were scattered'.

Tudors to Windsors: British Royal Portraits

Elizabeth i quotes.

• ‘We princes are set as it were upon stages in the sight and view of the world.’
• ‘I have no desire to make windows into men’s souls.’
• ‘It would please me best if, at the last, a marble stone shall record that this Queen having lived such and such a time, lived and died a virgin.’
• ‘It is not my desire to live or reign longer than my life and reign shall be for your good. And though you have had, and may have, many mightier and wiser princes sitting in this seat, yet you never had, nor shall have, any that will love you better.

The Armada Portrait of Elizabeth I

The most famous visual expression of the Spanish Armada is The Armada Portrait of Elizabeth I (c. 1588). Although there are several versions of the painting, each one shows Elizabeth flanked by scenes of the defining acts that thwarted Spain’s invasion. On the left of the painting is England’s fleet watching the attack of their fireships, and on the right the Armada is being wrecked in storms on the coasts of Scotland and Ireland. In the centre is Elizabeth in all her glory, with her hand hovering over America on a globe. She is portrayed as living embodiment of England’s triumph and its imperial ambition.

See the Armada Portrait of Queen Elizabeth I

Using our collections for research.

The collections at Royal Museums Greenwich offer a world-class resource for researching maritime history, astronomy and time.

Find out how you can use our collections for research

Shop for gifts inspired by an iconic Queen

Understand the context, creation and significance of the Armada Portrait in our concise guide. Indulge in gifts inspired by its Elizabethan symbolism

[ Skip to content ] [ Skip to main navigation ] [ Skip to quick links ] [ Go to accessibility information ]

Elizabeth I's Tilbury speech: the birth of a warrior queen

Posted 09 Aug 2019, by Estelle Paranque

As generations of schoolchildren were taught,  Elizabeth I of England  famously said '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.'

Elizabeth I (The Armada Portrait)

16th C, oil on oak panel by unknown artist

Although many great and sweeping statements have been attributed to influential figures in history over the years, leading experts on the last Tudor queen, including Professor Carole Levin, Professor Steven May, and Professor Janet M. Green, agree that it is very likely that she actually said these words. They are part of a longer version of a piece of rhetoric known as the Tilbury speech , delivered on 9th August 1588, which also marks the defeat of the Spanish Armada and propelled England to the top ranks of Europe's powerful navies.

Launch of Fire Ships against the Spanish Armada, 7 August 1588 c.1590

Netherlandish School

On 8th February 1587, Mary Stuart, former queen of Scots, was executed for being involved in the 1586 Babington Plot. Philip II of Spain, allied with the Guises (Mary Stuart's French family), promised to avenge her. In reality, he saw this as an opportunity to justify an attack on England, since Philip and Elizabeth had been mortal enemies for some years by this point and Spain had long been preparing for an invasion.

Preparatory Sketches of Phillip II of Spain and Elizabeth I c.1854

Richard Burchett (1815–1875) (studio of)

As news of the invasion spread, England got ready for war. Ships were built and ports were armed. The Elizabethan navy was swiftly becoming the best in Europe, attacking Spanish and French cargo ships coming from the New World and stealing their goods and gold to be brought to Elizabeth. Perhaps inevitably, the war began – as the painting below depicts.

English Ships and the Spanish Armada, August 1588 late 16th C

British (English) School

As the battle closed, a storm was ravaging the coast of England. English ships, smaller and more manoeuvrable, got through the tempest, while Spanish galleons, twice the size of English ships and far less manageable, were harried and capsized by the wind and the rain. English sailors and warriors saw this as an opportunity to intensify the attacks. This thorough defeat for the Spanish has been remembered for centuries, becoming the subject of a great deal of artistic expression during the period, particularly in England. The painting by Philip James de Loutherbourg (1740–1812) is a remarkable example of this.

Defeat of the Spanish Armada, 8 August 1588 1796

Philip James de Loutherbourg (1740–1812)

England's victory was quickly portrayed as Elizabeth's victory. From her success over Spain and her mortal enemy Philip II, more and more Elizabeth was represented as a warrior queen, both artistically, in literature and in the political world of the time. In the painting below, she is portrayed rallying her troops atop a white horse, every inch the leader of Englishmen and warriors.

Queen Elizabeth I at Tilbury, 1588 c.1938

Alfred Kingsley Lawrence (1893–1975)

Elizabeth had done the impossible: defeating the 'invincible' Spanish Armada. One of the most famous portraits of her is the Armada Portrait  (seen at the top of this article, in the collection of Woburn Abbey) which was then reproduced and copied by different artists, such as the one formerly thought to be by George Gower (in the National Portrait Gallery) and the one now in the Queen's House (Royal Museums Greenwich), acquired for the nation in 2016.

Queen Elizabeth I c.1588

George Gower (c.1540–1596) (formerly attributed to)

Elizabeth I (1533-1603) (the 'Armada Portrait') c.1588

She is depicted sitting victoriously, with very strong – to not say enormous – arms to emphasise her virility and warlike image. From now on, Elizabeth was more than the Virgin Queen: she was Gloriana, and through this image of Gloriana she became a warrior queen, with a strong masculine stance.

After 1588, Elizabeth was portrayed as a dominant and powerful queen who controlled Europe. Another famous portrait of the queen, the Ditchley Portrait, shows her standing on the map of the world as a victorious monarch.

Queen Elizabeth I ('The Ditchley portrait') c.1592

Marcus Gheeraerts the younger (1561/1562–1635/1636)

She represents glory, stability, and prosperity. The artist wished to indicate that after her confident and successful rule, only chaos could happen, hence the storm clouds gathering behind her.

In this portrait by Nicholas Hilliard, exhibited at Hardwick Hall, Elizabeth also has the same strong, masculine stance portrayed in the Ditchley Portrait.

Elizabeth I (1533–1603) 1592

Nicholas Hilliard (1547–1619) (studio of)

Her arms are also enormous and her hand, poised on the armrest of the royal chair, points out to her initials: Elizabeth Regina, the symbol of her monarchical authority. Most historians, such as Professor John Guy, argue that there are two reigns of Elizabeth. In many ways, 1588 and the victory over the Spanish Armada mark the beginning of the second one. Elizabeth is no longer viewed in the royal houses of Europe as a potential bride for their princes. She is Gloriana, the famous warrior queen who defeated the most powerful country of Europe at that time: Spain.

After her death, artists and commentators clung to this warrior image, which was frequently reproduced and conveyed in portraits.

Elizabeth I (1533–1603), with a Miniature Sieve late 16th C & later

This portrait, for example, is an early seventeenth-century portrait of the queen exhibited at Charlecote Park in Warwickshire. Elizabeth's strong, masculine arms remind the viewer of the Armada Portrait. Despite the dark colours of this painting, Elizabeth is depicted as Gloriana.

Moving forward in time, Riehé was a mid-nineteenth-century artist who painted a series of English monarchs, including Victoria, Henry VIII, and Elizabeth, many of which presently hang in Hull Guildhall.

Elizabeth I (1533–1603)

His depiction of the English queen is particularly masculine, looking more like a young man than a queen in her prime. All her feminine features have been masculinised. Her usual fairy wings or collar are replaced by an ornate bodice that looks more like a vest. It seems that the artist decided to paint a male version of Elizabeth to demonstrate her greatness as a ruler, which is perhaps unsurprising, given Victorian views of a woman's place in society.

The last major portrait showing Elizabeth as a warrior queen after her death is by Wilhelm Sonmans. A Dutch artist who lived at Charles II's court, Sonmans died in 1708, but during his career he painted important political figures of the seventeenth century.

Elizabeth I (1533–1603) c.1670 (?)

Wilhelm Sonmans (1650–1708)

In his portrait of Elizabeth, Sonmans decided to reproduce the strong and masculine arms earlier artists had gifted to the warrior queen. On the left top corner, her coat of arms with the lion and dragon stands out – reinforcing the image of the warrior queen, Gloriana. Her stance in this portrait reminds the viewer of the Ditchley and Armada portraits, which were likely influences.

Elizabeth I of England is one of the most famous English monarchs and the public has shown great interest in her reign. Her victory over the Spanish Armada is arguably what makes her so well known. To some extent, through this victory, Elizabeth was reborn, going from the virgin queen to a distinguished warrior queen, an image that was presented and remembered centuries after her death. One can easily claim that, true to her own words, she had 'the heart and stomach of a king.'

Estelle Paranque, historian and author

Further reading John Guy, Elizabeth: The Forgotten Years , Penguin, 2016 Peter Lake and Michael Questier, All Hail to the Archpriest: Confessional Conflict, Toleration, and the Politics of Publicity in Post-Reformation England , OUP, 2019 Carole Levin, The Heart and Stomach of a King: Elizabeth I and the Politics of Sex and Power , University of Pennsylvania Press, second edition, 2013 Estelle Paranque (ed.), Remembering Queens and Kings of Early Modern England and France: Reputation, Reinterpretation, and Reincarnation , Palgrave Macmillan, 2019 Kevin Sharpe, Selling the Tudor Monarchy: Authority and Image in Sixteenth-century England , Yale University Press, 2009

• Share on Facebook
• Share on Twitter

More stories

Learning resources

Queen Elizabeth I: Speech to the Troops at Tilbury. 1

• LATEST NEWS
• Tudor Life Magazines
• Tudor Videos
• Tudor Expert Talks
• Tudor Quizzes
• Guest Articles
• Tudor Resources
• Tudor People
• Advertise with us
• Privacy Policy

• You are here : 
• The Tudor Society

9 August 1588 – Elizabeth I’s Tilbury Speech

On the 9th August 1588, Elizabeth I appeared before the troops that had gathered at Tilbury Fort in anticipation of a Spanish attack.

In her article "The Myth of Elizabeth at Tilbury", Susan Frye, writes that there are no reliable eye-witness accounts regarding Elizabeth I's appearance on that day, but that tradition places the Queen in armour, giving a rousing speech – an iconic Gloriana.

Many historians and authors have described Elizabeth I on that August day in 1588. In Elizabeth the Great (1958), Elizabeth Jenkins wrote:

"A steel corselet was found for her to wear and a helmet with white plumes was given to a page to carry. Bareheaded, the Queen mounted the white horse. The Earl of Ormonde carried the sword of state before her, Leicester walked at the horse’s bridle, and the page with the helmet came behind."

Carolly Erickson, in The First Elizabeth (1983), wrote:

"She rode through their ranks on a huge white warhorse, armed like a queen out of antique mythology in a silver cuirass and silver truncheon. Her gown was white velvet, and there were plumes in her hair like those that waved from the helmets of the mounted soldiers."

J E Neale, in Queen Elizabeth I: A Biography (1934), wrote:

"Mounted on a stately steed, with a truncheon in her hands, she witnessed a mimic battle and afterwards reviewed the army."

And in The Armada (1959), Garrett Mattingly wrote:

"She was clad all in white velvet with a silver cuirass embossed with a mythological design, and bore in her right hand a silver truncheon chased in gold."

Reading those descriptions, it is clear, as Susan Frye points out, that an analogy is being drawn between Elizabeth I and Britomart, the armed heroine of Edmund Spenser's "The Faerie Queene", the virgin Knight of Chastity and Virtue. However, there is no firm evidence that Elizabeth dressed like that on that day. I like to think, though, that Elizabeth's love of drama and her belief in the power of image and propaganda caused her to appear before her troops just like that.

There are three versions of the speech that Elizabeth I gave to the troops at Tilbury. The first is recorded by Dr Leonel Sharp in a letter to the Duke of Buckingham, thought to have been written sometime after the Duke of Buckingham's 1623 marriage expedition to Spain. Sharp's is the most famous rendition of Elizabeth I's speech:

"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 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."

The second version of the Tilbury Speech is one recorded in 1612 by William Leigh, in his sermon "Quene Elizabeth, Paraleld in Her Princely Vertues", where he described Elizabeth appearing before her troops "with God in her heart, and a commaunding staffe in her hand" and saying the following:

"Come on now, my companions at arms, and fellow soldiers, in the field, now for the Lord, for your Queen, and for the Kingdom. For what are these proud Philistines, that they should revile the host of the living God? I have been your Prince in peace, so will I be in war; neither will I bid you go and fight, but come and let us fight the battle of the Lord. The enemy perhaps may challenge my sex for that I am a woman, so may I likewise charge their mould for that they are but men, whose breath is in their nostrils, and if God do not charge England with the sins of England, little do I fear their force… Si deus nobiscum quis contra nos? (if God is with us, who can be against us?)"

The third version of Elizabeth’s speech appears beneath the painting of "Elizabeth at Tilbury" in St Faith's Church, Gaywood. It was commissioned by Thomas Hare (1572 – 1634), the rector, and is dated 1588, although it may well have been painted in the early 17th century. This speech, published in Susan Frye’s article, reads:

"Now for Queene & For the kingdome I have beene your Queene in P[e]a[ce] in warre, neither will I bid you goe & Fight, but come & let us Fight the battell of the Lorde-For what ar thes proud Philistines that they should Revile the host of the Living God. It may be they will challenge my [sexe] For that I am a woman so may I charge [their] mo[uld] [flor that they ar but [men] whose breath is in theire nostrells and if God doe not charge England with the sinnes of England we shall not neede to feare what Rome or Spayne can doe against us w: whome is but An ar[mi]e o[f] Flesh where as with us in the Lord our God to Fight our battells & to helpe I with us yt skills not Greatley if all the devills in hell be against us[.]"

The Gaywood Painting, Copyright Evelyn Simak and licensed for reuse under Creative Commons Licence

Frye points out that this Gaywood speech and Leigh's record of Elizabeth's speech are scrambled versions of one another. Frye explains this:

"If we delete the very different prayers with which the two versions end, and amend the text of the Gaywood speech as indicated in n. 16 [in note 16 of her article, Frye notes that the words “we commend your prayers, for they will move the heavens, so doe wee your powerfull preaching, for that will shake the earth of our earthly hearts; and call us to repentance, whereby our good God may relieve us, and roote up in mercy his deferred Iudgements against us, onely be faithfull and fear not." were excluded in the Leigh speech by her elipsis], then the Gaywood text, containing 122 words, reproduces 103 exact words of Leigh’s 147 words. Except for the lengthy Gaywood clause of 45 words (which explains why, if God does not hold England’s sins against her, no one need fear), most of the difference rests in alternate word choices: “I have beene your Queene in Peace” (Gaywood), “I have been your Prince in Peace” (Leigh); in paraphrase: “It may be they will challenge my [sexe]” (Gaywood), “the enemie perhaps may challenge my sexe” (Leigh); and in omission: “now for Queene & For the Kingdome” (Gaywood), “now for the Lord, for your Queene and for the kingdome” (Leigh)."

Frye goes on to say that the Leigh and Gaywood speeches differ enough for the Gaywood painting speech to be a copy of Leigh's sermon, but it could well be that they are derived from Elizabeth I's actual speech. Frye is convinced that Leigh's speech is "a more probable Tilbury speech, while Sharp's may be a memorial reconstruction (he was at Tilbury)" and although Sharp was present at Tilbury, he was using the wording of the speech to make a point (he feared the proposed Spanish marriage of Prince Charles). His version, therefore, could be unreliable as it is coloured by his views. There are, however, similarities between the Leigh/Gaywood version and Sharp’s version, which Frye points out:

• Military comradery – "my companion at arms" (Leigh) and "I myself will take up arms" (Sharp).
• Elizabeth plays on her sex - "the enemie perhaps may challenge my sexe" (Leigh) and "I have the body of weak and feeble woman." (Sharp).

Do the exact details of what Elizabeth wore at Tilbury and what she really said matter? Frye argues that:

"For no matter what happened at Tilbury, no matter what the Queen wore or said, the fictions that surround her visit became essential. Contemporaries invented a first myth as the means to connect the defeat of the Armada with the Queen’s person through her virginity. Historians and biographers perpetuated a second myth, which portrayed Elizabeth as symbolic of England’s emergent military power and, by extension, of a unified political power she did not actually command." And she also goes on to say that this image and mythology of Elizabeth as the Virgin Queen, whose "virtue was closely associated with the welfare of England throughout her reign", meant that an attack on England actually constituted rape, because it was an attack on Elizabeth's person. She talks about Louis Montrose's discussion on the Armada Portrait and how the defeat of the Spanish Armada was "expressed in sexual terms":

"The Armada portrait - or, more precisely, the three extant Armada portraits, for they are nearly identical - makes a clear spatial connection in the triangle linking the two pictures of an Armada beset by storms and fireships with the virginal bow at the end of Elizabeth's stomacher, to which our eyes are drawn by strands of virginal pearls and rows of tight, small bows."

Interesting.

Armada Portrait

Although I knew that the painting was referring to Elizabeth as the Virgin Queen, I had never considered the Spanish attack as being seen as rape. Elizabeth saw herself as a virgin married to England, so an attack on the country was an attack on her and her virginity.

Susan Frye points out that England was definitely on the defensive during the Spanish Armada and ill prepared for an English invasion. Spain had been preparing its Armada for three years, yet England's lack of financial credit meant that Elizabeth's Privy Council could only take defensive measures at the last moment, e.g. the Earl of Leicester amassing troops at Tilbury in late July and early August 1588 when the Armada was already in the Channel. It is fortunate that England made good use of its lighter ships, which were easy to manoeuvre, that it had Effingham and Drake to command its fleet and that the weather (the Protestant Wind) worked against the Armada.

Susan Frye writes:

"To those alive in 1588, England must have seemed anything but united, just as Elizabeth’s Tilbury visit may have only provided ineffectual pageantry, for she performed before unpaid and ill-equipped and even hungry soldiers, many of whom, we know from royal proclamation, tried to sell their armor the moment they were disbanded. Nevertheless, the Queen’s review of the troops proved a brilliant stroke, which grew more brilliant in the succeeding weeks, years, and centuries because it provided a moment through which generations could cast Elizabeth I as the powerful political icon she remains."

And I think she has hit the nail on the head. Elizabeth's visit to the troops was essential to raise morale and as propaganda. Elizabeth knew just what she was doing.

Elizabeth's understanding of the importance of image has led to us, over 400 years later, still regarding her as the Virgin Queen and Gloriana, the monarch who brought a Golden Age to England. How powerful is that?

Notes and Sources

• "The Myth of Elizabeth at Tilbury" by Susan Frye from "The Sixteenth Century Journal", Vol.23, No.1, Spring 1992, p.95-114, found at JSTOR .

URL for this post : https://www.tudorsociety.com/9-august-1588-elizabeth-is-tilbury-speech/

There are 2 comments Go To Comment

Mythical or not it’s an image which has stuck and it makes for a good rousing scene in Hollywood.

When he wrote to Buckingham, Sharp said, no man hath it (the speech) except from my hand and that at Tilbury the queen lyeth (in camp). Arguably he claimed authorship of the speech. He appears to have been a spy and the origin of the phrase sharp-witted. A contempory of Marlow at Cambridge, he also recruited others. His life parallels Shakespeare’s plays, as does his memorial parallel Shakespeare’s. His family names are some of the most common in the plays.

Leave a Reply Cancel Reply

Name (required)

Email (required)

Latest Content

• #OTD in Tudor history – 25 April
• #OTD in Tudor history – 24 April
• #OTD in Tudor history – 23 April
• #OTD in Tudor history – 22 April
• #OTD in Tudor history – 19 April
• #OTD in Tudor history – 18 April
• #OTD in Tudor history – 17 April
• #OTD in Tudor history – 16 April
• #OTD in Tudor history – 15 April
• Expert Talks (106)
• Feast Days (69)
• Friday Videos (380)
• Guest Articles (26)
• Magazines (94)
• Monday Martyrs (24)
• On this day (1,728)
• Places (49)
• Public (570)
• Quizzes (427)
• Audios (27)
• Battles and Rebellions (43)
• Daily Life (2)
• Documentaries (15)
• Expert answers (31)
• Family Trees (3)
• Primary Sources (54)
• Recommended Reading (15)
• This Week in History (427)
• Transcripts (80)
• Explorers (13)
• Martyrs (59)
• Monarchs (25)
• Six Wives (14)
• The King's Men (36)
• The Queen's Men (12)
• Tudor and Renaissance Artists and Composers (8)
• Tudor Churchmen (16)
• Tudor Men (69)
• Tudor Poets and Playwrights (24)
• Tudor Women (55)
• Tudor Times (49)
• February 2024
• January 2024
• December 2023
• October 2023
• September 2023
• August 2023
• February 2023
• January 2023
• December 2022
• November 2022
• October 2022
• September 2022
• August 2022
• February 2022
• January 2022
• December 2021
• November 2021
• October 2021
• September 2021
• August 2021
• February 2021
• January 2021
• December 2020
• November 2020
• October 2020
• September 2020
• August 2020
• February 2020
• January 2020
• December 2019
• November 2019
• October 2019
• September 2019
• August 2019
• February 2019
• January 2019
• December 2018
• November 2018
• October 2018
• September 2018
• August 2018
• February 2018
• January 2018
• December 2017
• November 2017
• October 2017
• September 2017
• August 2017
• February 2017
• January 2017
• December 2016
• November 2016
• October 2016
• September 2016
• August 2016
• February 2016
• January 2016
• December 2015
• November 2015
• October 2015
• September 2015
• August 2015
• February 2015
• January 2015
• December 2014
• November 2014
• October 2014
• September 2014
• August 2014
• Tudor Magazines
• Weekly Videos

Ace the Presentation

Top 41 Famous Speeches IN HISTORY

Storytelling – 8 Tips to Help You Master the Art

Who wrote the Tilbury speech?

A. None other than the Queen herself! In fact, it is said that the Queen would often write all her own speeches, letters, & even poetry.

Did the English army win the battle at Tilbury?

A. Yes, and no. The Spanish Armada never showed up at Tilbury (since they were retreating after their previous defeat), so the battle never took place! Nonetheless, the English forces emerged victorious in the overall conflict with Spain, regardless of the outcome at Tilbury. 

Final Thoughts

Similar posts.

An Engaging Business presentation? Read This!

You find yourself spending endless hours in tools like Microsoft Teams or Zoom or around a table discussing strategic agendas, busy schedules from beginning to end of the day with conversations about different projects. All this, not infrequently, leaves you exhausted.  However, it doesn’t have to be that way! The problem, mind you, is not…

DELIVER AN EFFECTIVE DEBATE AND SPEECH WITH THIS 5-STEP STRATEGY

Delivering a debate and speech is actually different from just writing your debate speech. This is why some people can actually prepare outstanding content for their debate speech and still not ace it, not because there was a lack of quality material but because the debate and speech wasn’t effectively presented.  A poorly researched debate…

Benefits of Taking Interpersonal Communication Classes

Even though interpersonal skills can be defined by birth, they are also polished during conscious social interactions where we know the power of each thing we do to deliver a message. It has to do with our willpower, the activities and groups we choose to embrace. In this article, we will let you know some…

5 Great Tips on How to Become a Motivational Speaker

There a lot of people pondering and wondering.  How do I become a motivational speaker?  What steps do I take?  I want to inspire people?  How do I do it? I wish I could speak eloquently and help people, how do I go about becoming a great role model, an inspiration for others? How to…

5 APPS to Help with Rehearsing our Speech or Presentation

How many times have we felt lost and anxious because we had an important speech to give and not knew how to prepare appropriately. In the busy world we live nowadays, waiting for a partner to practice is no longer the only way and effective to get ready for a speech. This article will talk…

The First Step to Conduct a Rhetorical Analysis  

Our world today is filled with a plethora of information. This is usually presented in several ways; in writing, verbally, through paintings, sketches, movies, etc. Various media outlets (television, news posts, WhatsApp, Twitter, telegram, youtube, etc) exist where this information is displayed and digested by its producers and consumers.  In this article, we will be…

QUEEN ELIZABETH I

Tilbury speech.

This speech was given by Queen Elizabeth to her troops, fighting the Spanish Armada, on 9 August 1588 at Tilbury in Essex. 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 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.

The Spanish Armada Bookshop

The Spanish Armada

This website is an affiliate of amazon and a small commission is earned on all purchases made through this website.

Queen Elizabeth's Speech at Tilbury Themes

By queen elizabeth i.

These notes were contributed by members of the GradeSaver community. We are thankful for their contributions and encourage you to make your own.

Written by Jody Perry

The Evils Of Catholicism

Although never stated as a fact, the evils of Catholicism is implied strongly throughout this speech. By stating that she as a Protestant has been protected by God from her enemies Elizabeth is stating that God has protected her, a Protestant, from the threat of invading Catholics, implicit in this argument the premise that God favors the Protestants.

She also makes clear that invasion from enemies would also come from a catholic country, primarily Spain. Throughout the 1500s and 1600s, the Spaniards aggressively conquered many non-Catholic nations and converted the people to Catholicism under threat of death. Phillip II was a constant threat to Elizabeth's throne and his primary objective was to extend the Catholic empire throughout Europe. By telling her troops about this threat the Queen again emphasized that the Catholics were invaders and tyrants.

Lastly, mentioning potential treachery also emphasizes the evils of Catholicism as the internal treachery came from the Scottish Plantagnets who were Catholics and intent upon taking the throne back from the Protestant incumbent.

Elizabeth's Strength As. Leader

One of the themes the Queen returns to again and again in this speech is her own readiness to fight alongside her troops if necessary. Broaching the subject of her gender as a factor that might instill concern in her subjects she assures them that she is stronger than any male monarch would be and not only prepared and able to lead from afar but also to go to battle with them. By promising to be ready to "lay down for my God, and for my kingdom, and my people..." She is emphasizing her own readiness to die alongside them.

She also continues to this theme by repeating her pledge to take up arms, showing that she is a leader from the battlefield not just on paper.

Update this section!

You can help us out by revising, improving and updating this section.

After you claim a section you’ll have 24 hours to send in a draft. An editor will review the submission and either publish your submission or provide feedback.

Queen Elizabeth’s Speech at Tilbury Questions and Answers

The Question and Answer section for Queen Elizabeth’s Speech at Tilbury is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel.

Selection 2 from the speech is an example of which of the following of rhetorical devices?

I don't have numbered selections. I only have the whole speech.

What are the primary rhetorical appeals the Queen uses in the numbered selections?

a. Logos and Ethos

In passage 1, how does Queen Elizabeth l’ use of parallelism reflect the purpose of her speech?

The first paragraph?

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...

Study Guide for Queen Elizabeth’s Speech at Tilbury

Queen Elizabeth's Speech at Tilbury study guide contains a biography of Queen Elizabeth I, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.

• About Queen Elizabeth's Speech at Tilbury
• Queen Elizabeth's Speech at Tilbury Summary
• Character List

Essays for Queen Elizabeth’s Speech at Tilbury

Queen Elizabeth's Speech at Tilbury essays are academic essays for citation. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of Queen Elizabeth's Speech at Tilbury by Queen Elizabeth I.

• The Intersection of Gender, Religion, and Nationalism in Queen Elizabeth's Speech at Tilbury

Wikipedia Entries for Queen Elizabeth’s Speech at Tilbury

• Introduction
• First version
• Physical appearance at Tilbury
• Second version

Speech to the Troops at Tilbury

20 pages • 40 minutes read

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Essay Analysis

Key Figures

Index of Terms

Literary Devices

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

Discussion Questions

Pathos is a literary device by which the speaker or writer chooses words or phrases to stir the audience’s emotion. Elizabeth employs pathos in several ways in her speech at Tilbury. Besides repeatedly stating her affection and love for her subjects, she chooses visceral words to move her listeners. “Foul,” “scorn,” and “treachery” all hint at the dangers she places herself in by appearing physically at the battle site. When referring to her subjects, she consistently refers to them as “her loving” people, who are “faithful,” “noble,” have “valour,” and are “worthy.” These are all evocative words that may stir a sense of something greater than themselves in the audience; they also establish Elizabeth’s concern for her people, underscoring that they are not simply faceless masses who might die for her. Finally, Elizabeth invokes God several times to help legitimize her campaign and remind subjects of her divine authority. In a relatively short speech, she mentions “God” three times: at the beginning, middle, and end of the address. Her closing words, “God, my kingdom, and my people!” (Paragraph 5), are the three main ideas she wants to leave with the audience .

Don't Miss Out!

Access Study Guide Now

Featured Collections

European History

View Collection

Memorial Day Reads

Military Reads

Politics & Government

Speech to the Troops at Tilbury

Delivered on 9/19 August 1588 to the land forces assembled at Tilbury in Essex in preparation to repel a possible invasion by the Spanish Armada .

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 mean time, 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 work was published before January 1, 1929, and is in the public domain worldwide because the author died at least 100 years ago.

Public domain Public domain false false

• Texts without a source
• English speeches
• Military speeches

Navigation menu