Speech to the Troops at Tilbury
Queen Elizabeth I
Delivered as the Spanish Armada approached England with 130 ships and 30,000 troops. Elizabeth rode on horseback among her soldiers at Tilbury, wearing a steel cuirass over her dress.
Speech Structure
Personal presence
I am come amongst you—establishes physical courage
Trust declaration
I know I have the body but of a weak and feeble woman—addresses gender directly
Martial spirit
I have the heart and stomach of a king—claims masculine virtues
Rhetorical Techniques
Concessive opening
"I know I have the body but of a weak and feeble woman"
Acknowledges gender doubt to dramatically transcend it
Antithesis
"But I have the heart and stomach of a king"
Contrasts physical body with inner warrior spirit
Key Quotes
"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."
"I myself will take up arms, I myself will be your general."
"We shall shortly have a famous victory over these enemies of my God, of my kingdom, and of my people."
Delivery Analysis
Pace
Measured and regal with emphatic declarations
Tone
Fierce and commanding, erasing doubts about female leadership
Pauses
Strategic pauses after key declarations
Gestures
Spoke from horseback in full armor
Why It Works
Physical courage demonstrated
Her presence at potential invasion point showed she shared soldiers risk
Gender reversal
Acknowledged femininity then claimed masculine warrior virtues
Lessons for Your Speech
Address your apparent weakness directly
Acknowledge what your audience doubts about you, then transcend it
Physical presence amplifies words
Being there speaks louder than text
Legacy & Impact
Became the defining image of Elizabeths reign and model for female leadership rhetoric. The heart and stomach of a king phrase is among the most famous in English.
Quick facts
- Speaker
- Queen Elizabeth I
- Year
- 1588
- Category
- political
- Words
- 350
- Duration
- 4 min
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