Speech 2: Queen Elizabeth's Armada Speech to the Troops at Tilbury, August 9, 1588

[Click the black audio bars at the bottom of the page to hear the speech read aloud].


Description | Source
Portrait of Queen Elizabeth depicting the defeat of the Spanish Armada in 1588
In this portrait of the queen, she has her hand on a globe and is standing in front of naval battle scenes. She is wearing a large black and white dress adorned with pearls and pink bows. She has a large white, lace collar and multiple pearl necklaces. Her red hair has pearls and small tiara. Her dark eyes look out into the distance. She is standing in front of a formal crown and two windows that she a fleet of ships in sail and another fleet of ships being destroyed.Elizabeth I Armada Portrait (Public Domain) http://www.luminarium.org/renlit/elizarmada.jpg

[Subscribed] Gathered by one that heard it and was commanded to utter it to the whole army the next day, to send it gathered to the queen herself.

My loving people, I  have been persuaded by some that are careful of my safety  to take heed how I commit myself to armed multitudes,  for fear of treachery.  But I assure you, I would not desire to live to distrust my faithful and loving people.  Let tyrants fear: I have 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. 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 or 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. I know I have the body but 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 any prince of Europe should dare to invade the borders of my realm.  To the which, rather than any dishonor shall grow by me, I myself will venter my royal blood; I myself will be your general, judge, and rewarder of your virtue in the field.

I know that already for your forwardness, you have deserved rewards and crowns; and I assure you in the word of a prince you shall not fail in them.  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 your 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, of my kingdom.