Speech to the Troops at Tilbury

The Tilbury speech is considered the most famous speech of Queen Elizabeth I. Apparently they taught these in August 1588 in Tilbury to their troops, who had gathered there to repel the invasion of the Spanish Armada.

Beginning of April 1588, Philip II sent from the Spanish Armada to invade England. The Armada was the army of the Duke of Parma, one of Philip's best generals, escort across the Channel to England. In England, a land-force was despatched to Tilbury to the invasion there to resist. On August 8, Elizabeth met her Lieutenant-General, Robert Dudley, 1st Earl of Leicester, a their troops. She was dressed all in white velvet, wearing a silver decorated breastplate, holding a silver, gold-rimmed field -marshal's baton in his right hand when she held the famous Tilbury speech to her soldiers. Later, when the news arrived that the Armada was about to land in England, the Queen was asked to get to safety. Elizabeth announced that she wanted to stay, come what may. The English still assumed that the Spanish Armada would regroup and attack again. There, nobody knew that they had been defeated already in the English Channel. To combat operations in Tilbury it never came. When Elizabeth few days later left the camp, the threat of invasion was averted.

Text

( in English spelling modernized ):

My loving people,

We have been Persuaded by some did 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 the amongst you all; to lay down for my God, and for my kingdom, and my people, my 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 of a king of England too, and think foul scorn did Parma or Spain, or any prince of Europe, shoulderstand dare to invade the borders of my realm; to Which rather than any dishonor 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 splat 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 valor in the field, we have a famous victory Shall Shortly over Those enemies of my God, of my kingdom, and of my people.

Translation

My beloved people,

Some people, where our security is at heart, trying to make us believe we should be careful when we are facing armed masses, for fear of betrayal. I assure you however, that I do not want hinbringen in distrust my faithful people devoted my life. Let tyrants fear. I have always behave that I have put my main forces for God and my Guardian in the loyal hearts and good will of my subjects. Therefore I am now, as you see, not, come to my pleasure to my distraction to you, but with the decision, in the midst of the battle fray to live among you or die. My honor and my blood for my God to give my kingdom, and my people, be it in the dust.

I know that although I have the body of a weak feeble woman, but the heart and marrow of a king, even to a king of England, and I can only laugh about that Parma or Spain, or any rulers of Europe should dare to to cross borders of my realm. Rather that come through me dishonor about my country, I will therefore engage themselves to arms, will even your general, judge, and rewarder of every individual to be your brave actions on the battlefield.

I know that alone deserves your boldness glory and honor, and we assure you with herrscherlichem word that this will bestow upon you. In the meantime, my lieutenant general will take my place. A nobler and more worthy subjects has never commanded a prince in front of me. I have no doubt that we are facing due to your obedience to my general, will soon gain euerer concord in the camp, and your valor in the field a glorious victory over the enemies of my God, of my kingdom, and my people.

The Tilbury speech in the film

In the film adaptations of Elizabeth I - The Virgin Queen from 2005 with Anne Marie Duff, Elizabeth: The Golden Age of the 2007 starring Cate Blanchett, and in the movie Elizabeth I from 2006 starring Helen Mirren the Tilbury speech plays a central role.

Swell

• Sabine Appel: Elizabeth I of England. ISBN 3-7628-0528-8.
• Garrett Mattingly The Armada. Seven days make world history. ISBN 3-492-10533-5.