Elizabeth I's Tilbury Speech

The wonderful Glenda Jackson delivering the famous Tilbury speech which Elizabeth I delivered to her troops in August 1588.

Elizabeth was recorded to have worn a white dress with a silver breastplate over this with 'a truncheon in her hand'. Her full speech:

"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 my self that, under God, I have placed my chiefest strength and safeguard in the loyal hearts and goodwill 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 for 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".

She went on to mention Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicestershire:

"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".




Anyone else annoyed with those irritating guards that kept talking throughout the speech?

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Elizabeth
• Tudor
• Tilbury
• Speech
• Glenda
• Jackson
• 1588

[Sanderus]

Why do you call the speech "infamous?" It's rather "famous" :)

[littlemisssunnydale]

@Sanderus Lol, I really don't know why I did that; it will be changed!

[eac1027]

Haha, they are annoying!

[littlemisssunnydale]

I wonder whose idea it was to have two random guards talk through the Tilbury Speech? Very annoying!

[evaperonfan]

Elizabeth- best queen in history!

[safetychoice]

No speech writers, no spin doctors, no pollsters, no political consultants, no ad agencies, no public relations firms - just Elizabeth. Why do I think that all leaders today are worms compared to her?

[Bristain11]

The guards kept on talking throughout this version; they did not do so on the other versions.

[darrenholcomb42]

Not to put down Glenda Jackson, but Helen Mirren's version in 'Elizabeth I' is so much better.

[CMLaneLV]

@bangersnmash4me F U

[RedDeadRevolva]

she looks so unhealthy

[elisabethkohler33]

@Drummerkins but you have to remember this was like the 1500's so it rallied them up lol

[rog5762]

'but loyalty,love and thanks,I count them INVALUABLE.' This means that a person in a marriage must be LOYAL and LOVE and give THANKS.These attributes are not at all considered in a marrige these days....As she said...INVALUABLE.

'I SEE BUT SAY NOTHING' was one of her sayings...meaning that she herself knew who was the rightful heir...but she refused to say who.

[brontewcat]

@DCFunBud Her teeth became quite ba

[wildenj1]

1:13



[DCFunBud]

HRH could have used some teeth whitening.