Elizabeth I and the Armada

Queen Elizabeth's dramatic speech to the assembled troops at Tilbury Camp on 9 August 1588 has a celebrated place in English history. The stirring words are much quoted:

  '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 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 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 and you have deserved rewards and crowns; and we do assure you, in the word of a prince, they shall be duly paid you,'

These phrases have been quoted with approval on other occasions when invasions have threatened.

This mural painting, by Alfred Kingsley Lawrence (1893-1975), is on the stairs to the Essex County Hall Chamber. Other of Lawrence's murals are to be found in St.Stephen's Hall, (Houses of Parliament), and in the new Bank of England. This particualr mural is a lively and colourful rendering, although casual observers have been known to comment unfavourably upon the high hills on either side in the background. Admittedly, Gun Hill approaching Chadwell St.Mary is steep enough in reality but does not over-top the marshes so. The ground beneath the feet appears excessively clean swept. The inscription below the painting in County Hall has been 'edited' too, for it reads: I have the heart of a king, and of a king of England too. In this public place there is no mention of stomachs! Versions of the past do differ and speculation as to why this is so form part of one of the 'key elements' of History, that is 'interpretations of history'. Perhaps in a formal meeting place in the 1930s a reference so starkly anatomical was considered infra dig. Artistic licence is an understood phenomenon?

Alfred Kingsley Lawrence (1893-1975)