School House Books
Personal Essay Classroom of English Instruction
Compelling SpeechesQueen Elizabeth I of England (1533-1603)
"Against the Spanish Armada"
Essay Prompt: Queen Elizabeth I of England (1533-1603) was 25 years old when she became Queen and ruled England for 44 years until age 69. In the 1500s there was an ongoing rivalry on the sea between the ships of England and Spain over control of trade. King Philip II of Spain tried to put an end to English attacks on his ships by invading England with a huge fleet of warships known as the Spanish Armada. What follows are the words Elizabeth spoke when she visited her troops in the field as they prepared for battle. Even though outnumbered, the English defeated the Spanish Armada and became the dominant world power for centuries.Read the speech carefully. Then write a well-organized essay which analyzes how Queen Elizabeth uses the power of rhetoric to instill the kind of confidence these troops needed to defeat their enemy.
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 at this time, not as for my recreation or sport, but 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, my honor and my blood, even the dust. I know I have but the body of a weak and feeble woman; but I have the heart 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 realms: to which, rather than any dishonor should 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, by your forwardness, that you have deserved rewards and crowns; and we do assure you, on the word of a prince, they shall be duly paid you. In the mean my lieutenant general shall be in my stead, than whom never prince commanded a more noble and worthy subject; not doubting by your obedience to my general, by your concord in the camp, and by your valor in the field, we shall shortly have a famous victory over the enemies of my God, of my kingdom, and of my people.
