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Elizabeth I
Speech to her troops encamped at Tilbury
to repel the Spanish Armada
(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.
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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, 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.
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