Graffiti, Poems, Letters, and Speeches of Elizabeth I
WRITTEN WITH A DIAMOND ON
HER WINDOW AT WOODSTOCK.
by Princess Elizabeth (Elizabeth I)
Much suspected by me,
Nothing proved can be,
Quoth ELIZABETH prisoner.
by Princess Elizabeth (Elizabeth I)
O FORTUNE! how thy restless wavering State
Hath fraught with Cares my troubled Wit!
Witness this present Prison whither Fate
Hath borne me, and the Joys I quit.
Thou causedest the Guilty to be loosed
From Bands, wherewith are Innocents inclosed;
Causing the Guiltless to be strait reserved,
And freeing those that Death had well deserved:
But by her Envy can be nothing wrought,
So God send to my Foes all they have thought.
ELIZABETH PRISONER.
A.D. M.D.LV.
WRITTEN IN A FRENCH PSALTER.
by Princess Elizabeth (Elizabeth I)
No crooked leg, no bleared eye,
No part deformed out of kind,1
Nor yet so ugly half can be
As is the inward,2 suspicious mind.
Your loving mistress,
Elizabeth
1. out of kind, so as to be unnatural
2. inward, secret
IN DEFIANCE OF FORTUNE.
by Elizabeth I, Queen of England
Never think you Fortúne can bear the sway
Where virtue's force can cause her to obey.
Authorship by Elizabeth I
Ah, silly pug, wert thou so sore afraid?
Mourn not, my Wat, nor be thou so dismayed.
It passeth fickle Fortune's power and skill
To force my heart to think thee any ill.
No Fortune base, thou sayst, shall alter thee;
And may so blind a wretch then conquer me?
No, no, my pug, though Fortune were not blind,
Assure thyself she could not rule my mind.
Ne chose I thee by foolish Fortune's rede,
Ne can she make me alter with such speed;
But must thou needs sour Sorrow's servant be
If, that to try, thy mistress jest with thee.
Fortune, I grant, sometimes doth conquer kings,
And rules and reigns on earth and earthly things;
But never think Fortune can bear sway,
If Virtue watch and will her not obey.
Pluck up thy heart, suppress thy brackish tears,
Torment thee not, but put away thy fears.
Thy love, thy joy, she loves no worthless bands,
Much less to be in reeling Fortune's hands.
Dread to all joys and living unto woe,
Slain quite by her that ne'er gave wise man blow,
Revive again, and live without all dread;
The less afraid, the better shalt thou speed.
'When I was fair and young'
When I was fair and young then favour graced me;
Of many was I sought their mistress for to be.
But I did scorn them all, and answered them therefore,
Go, go, go, seek some otherwhere,
Importune me no more.
How many weeping eyes I made to pine in woe;
How many sighing hearts I have no skill to show;
Yet I the prouder grew, and answered them therefore,
Go, go, go, seek some otherwhere,
Importune me no more.
Then spake fair Venus' son, that proud victorious boy,
And said, you dainty dame, since that you be so coy,
I will so pluck your plumes that you shall say no more
Go, go, go, seek some otherwhere,
Importune me no more.
When he had spake these words such change grew in my breast,
That neither night nor day I could take any rest.
Then, lo! I did repent, that I had said before
Go, go, go, seek some otherwhere,
Importune me no more.
You have in various ways and manners attempted to take my life and to bring my kingdom to destruction by bloodshed. I have never proceeded so harshly against you, but have, on the contrary, protected and maintained you like myself. These treasons will be proved to you and all made manifest. Yet it is my will, that you answer the nobles and peers of the kingdom as if I were myself present. I therefore require, charge, and command that you make answer for I have been well informed of your arrogance.
Act plainly without reserve, and you will sooner be able to obtain favour of me.
--ELIZABETH.
THE DOUBT OF FUTURE FOES.
by Elizabeth I, Queen of England
The doubt of future foes exiles my present joy,
And wit me warns to shun such snares as threaten mine annoy;
For falsehood now doth flow, and subjects' faith doth ebb,
Which should not be if reason ruled or wisdom weaved the web.
But clouds of joys untried do cloak aspiring minds,
Which turn to rain of late repent by changèd course of winds.
The top of hope supposed, the root of rue shall be,
And fruitless all their grafted guile, as shortly ye shall see.
The dazzled eyes with pride, which great ambition blinds,
Shall be unsealed by worthy wights whose foresight falsehood finds.
The daughter of debate that discord aye doth sow
Shall reap no gain where former rule still peace hath taught to know.
No foreign banished wight shall anchor in this port;
Our realm brooks not seditious sects, let them elsewhere resort.
My rusty sword through rest shall first his edge employ
To poll their tops that seek such change or gape for future joy.
Speech to the Troops at Tilbury1
My loving people,
We have been persuaded by some that are careful of our safety, to take heed how we commit our selves 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 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. In the mean time, my lieutenant general2 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.
Questions
- At a young age, Princess Elizabeth was imprisoned in Woodstock castle. The graffiti “Written with a diamond on her window,” displays an interesting teenage pondering. Explain what you believe she means by the etching. Why do you believe she kept it so short? What could this be compared to today?
- Break down the next of Elizabeth’s graffiti “On a Wall.” Modernize each line in your own words. Explain what this etching means. What was she trying to get across?
- A French Psalter is a book of Psalms from the Bible, written in French. This was essentially a textbook for Elizabeth. What commonalities do you see in what she has written compared to teenagers today? what do you think she is talking about in her lines?
- This is Elizabeth’s signature. She signed EVERYTHING this way. Do you know anyone that has a unique way of signing their name? What do you feel this reveals about her personality?
- “In Defiance of Fortune” was found in a crumpled note amongst Elizabeth’s belongings. Annotate each line.
- “Ah, Silly Pug” was never meant to be shared with the public. It is a creative work intended only for Raleigh. Mark the poem’s rhyme scheme. Next, put notes next to each line, breaking down what each line means in a modern way. Do you think it is disrespectful for us to look upon historic items such as these?
- Elizabeth struggled greatly with aging. In the poem, “When I Was Fair and Young,” annotate each line next to the writing. Next, write 3 revelations on how the 21st century woman still seems to battle with growing older.
- What do the following lines mean? “How many sighing hearts I have no skill to show; Yet I the prouder grew, and answered them therefore, Go, go, go, seek some otherwhere, Importune me no more.”
- In the letter “To Mary, Queen of Scots,” Elizabeth wrote angrily about the attempts her cousin made on her life. We know later, that she would have Mary beheaded. Although she struggled greatly with her decision, do you believe she did the right thing? Circle 5 tone words from the letter that indicate that she is trying to make peace with someone who wants her dead.
- “The Doubt of Future Foes” is a poetic diary entry, in which Elizabeth is trying to make sense of her enemies throughout Europe, particularly Spain. Mark the rhyme scheme for each line and annotate pulling out interesting lines that you believe push her feelings. Underline strangely “miss-spelled” words that may indicate the time period.
- What does the line “The dazzled eyes with pride, which great ambition blinds” mean?
- The “Speech to the Troops at Tilbury” was a historical moment. It was the first moment a female had donned a suit of armor and addressed her troops on the battle field. As her men were about to take on the Spanish fleet. She spoke this emotional words to them. Why does she say she has come before them?
- What words does she use to refer to herself a woman? Why would she say this?
- What would you say are her personal values, based on this speech?
- What other great leaders in history, film, or literature do you know that have given great speeches before battle? What is the purpose of this?