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Queen Elizabeth I’s Speech to the Troops at Tilbury, 1588By the 1580s, Elizabeth had fallen into definite disfavor with Philip II of Spain. Not only was she a Protestant, she had also refused his marriage proposals years before. When Elizabeth killed off her Catholic rival Mary Queen of Scots, Philip lost his patience. Personally angered and wanting England for himself, he decided in 1587 that the time was ripe for an invasion of England.In July 1588, Philip finally managed to launch the supposedly invincible Spanish Armada. His hope was to swing the fleet by the Netherlands, pick up his army there, and transport them across the English Channel for a ground invasion.England's competent navy, helped by a fortuitous wind (referred to as the "Protestant Wind"), managed to defeat the Armada. On July 28, England defeated Spain in a decisive battle, preventing the Spanish from landing in England. Fleeing north, the Armada was wracked by storms. Of the 30,000 Spanish soldiers Philip had sent to invade, only 10,000 survived.Meanwhile, Britain's army prepared for battle on land, assuming that the "Invincible" Armada would be able to land Philip's troops. To inspire the troops at Tilbury, Elizabeth made one of the most famous speeches of her career. Elizabeth I's army was understandably nervous, and Elizabeth left behind her bodyguard and went out among her soldiers. Dressed in armor and looking like Pallas Athena, the Greek goddess of war, she said the following words to her assembled army: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, 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 my people, my honour and my blood, even in the dust.I know I have the body of a weak, 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 on a word of a prince, they shall be duly paid. 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 valor in the field, we shall shortly have a famous victory over these enemies of my God, of my kingdom, and of my people.Answer these questions on your own paper in complete sentences. Be thorough in your answers, using textual evidence where appropriate.According to the speech, what have Elizabeth’s advisers warned her not to do? Why does she do it anyways?Queen Elizabeth I is sending her men to fight the Spanish Armada. What do you know about the audience based on the information in the speech? How does she take the audience into account?How does Queen Elizabeth I use the audience’s faith and belief in God as a way to convince them to believe and agree with her? Why is it a good idea for her to remind them of her divine right as a ruler before sending them into battle?Identify the tone of the passage. How does she set the tone?At one point she says that she is going to fight beside them, and then she says she will not. Explain what she means and what she is doing here. How is she manipulating her audience?What does Elizabeth tell her audience she already knows, and what does she promise to do? ................
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