ELIZABETH I. SPEECH TO HER LAST PARLIAMENT.

1601
(THE GOLDEN SPEECH)

MUNDOS ANGLFONOS EN PERSPECTIVA HISTRICA Y CULTURAL

(Grado en Estudios Ingleses: Lengua, Literatura y Cultura)
JOS BLZQUEZ GONZLEZ
Correo electrnico
Cartagena (Murcia)

ENFOQUE HISTRICO
The text is a historical text with political character. It is a printed version of Queen Elizabeth's
Speech to her lastarliament, also known as Golden Speech.
Queen Elizabeth's late years of reign was a period of increasing popular discontent, mostly due
to the Monopolies issue (but not only) which Elizabeth herself created, in an attempt to gather
money to cover the expenses that war and conflicts generated (war with Spain, the Irish
conflict). It led to an increase in the prices, and the Parliament asked the Queen to remove
them, particulary the Golden Speech was originally expected to be an economic speech to
deal with the Monopolies.
It is believed to had been composed by the Queen herself, Elizabeth I of England. She was
born in September 7th, 1553, and died on 24th March, 1603. Her parents were Henry VIII and
Anne Boleyn, she was the last Tudor monarch, she never married. Her reign lasted about 45
years, period known as The Golden Age, believed to be the most glorious years in English
history.
The speech was delivered to the whole Parliament, the House of Commons, and the whole
nation in general, on the 30th of November, 1601, therefore it had a public character, even
though it was delivered in the Councell Chamber at Whitehall palace, it is meant for the
country. Also, it somewhat had both a personal and oficial character, that is because she talks
about her ideas and her own feelings, but it was delivered to the nation. It has a national focus,
she only refers to her own country and it only had impact there. It was her last speech, where
she talked to the whole country about what to be a king meant for her and how she deeply
loved her country and her people.
ENFOQUE CULTURAL
Back in Elizabeth's I reign the Parliament wasn't as powerful as it is today. The Queen could
create laws even without the consent of the Parlament, and usually, she only used it as a tool to
gather money. Aware of the popular discontent, the Queen decided to show herself, during a
speech in which she tried to clarify her intentions, showing how pure they were. She makes
clear that the goods she's taking from the people are in good hands and will prove valuable for
the future of the country and its citizens welfare (What you doe bestow on Me, I will not hoard

vp, but receiue it to bestow on you againe). Similarly, she explains she never wasted any
money at all nor used it to become more powerful (Nor a strict fast holding Prince, nor yet a
waster) and at the same time, she looks inflicted by those accusations (When I heard it, I could
give no rest vnto my thoughts). She also tries to show her pure intentions when she talks about
love, how deeply she cares about her people over any wordly goods, throughout the whole
text. On the other hand, there are many references in the text about a King's holy profession, a
position given by God (God hath made Mee to bee a Queene) which was even more important
in Protestant England, the King, Queen in this case, is also the head of the English Church. She
also uses this holiness to explain her actions (God hath made me His Instrument to maintaine
His Truth and Glorie) and at the same time, and in a way, pointing out that people shouldn't
dare to accuse her, given her divine position.
Indeed, she somewhat tries to clear what looks like a misunderstanding about her true
intentions behind her actions, which drove the people to complain about them and try to force
her to change those actions, when she talks about love instead of economics. She then talks
about what it means to be a King, how difficult it is to cope with a King's duties knowing his
actions could make the people suffer, comparing them to the bitter taste of some pills. She also
mentions how easy it seems for others to be a King when it actually isn't (To be a King, and
weare a Crown, is a thing more glorious to them that see it, then it is pleasant to them that
beare it), once again, and in a way, pointing out that people do not know anything about it and
yet keep complaining. She then clarifies that she's willing to step down from the throne if
people truly wanted her to (in mine owne disposition I should be willing to resigne... for it is
not my desire to liue nor to reign longer then my life and reigne shall bee for your good),
which shows her intentions of stepping down from the throne in the near future.
She acknowledges she's made mistakes, but nevertheless, the has loved the nation and her
people more than anyone else (and though you heue had and may haue many mightier and
wiser Princes sitting in this Seat, yet you neuer had nor shall haue any that will loue you
better).
She then asks for the attendants to come and kiss her hand, she already knew this would be her
last speech, and indeed it was.
The attendants, and people in general, were expecting a speech regarding economical issues,
the Monopolies, since the Queen had atleast acceded to the Parlament's request. Instead, they
were delivered a completely different speech, and they understood what it meant, just like the

Queen knew it would be her last speech to the Parliament, the attendants knew it aswell. It was
the end of an era, her death in 1603 and the succession of James I meant the change of dynasty,
with Elizabeth I being the last Tudor monarch.
Her speech made such a huge impact and were so motivating it was constantly referred to in
the next centuries when the Kingdom was going through a difficult sitation, the very same
words which moved a nation back in the day, and were a perfect end for a glorious era.
Furthermore, after she acceded to remove some Monopolies, her words made her actions all the
more kind and glorifying her even more, after concending a deal far from great, nevertheless,
the Parliament felt truly grateful although their demands were much bigger than that.
Mr. Speaker, to whom the text constantly refers to, after the Queen had delivered her speech,
talked to the attendants, saying that during Elizabeth's I reign, the country had always been in a
stable situation. During Queen Elizbeth's reign, addressed as a golden age, the country could
start growing and developing as a nation, which was already setting its eyes outside of Europe,
this was the first step towards the British Empire. She restored the Protestantism as the state's
religion, once again breaking with Rome, the monarch was also the head of the English
Church. Her death meant the end of the Tudor dynasty, she never married and it was James I
(James V of Scotland), a Tudor, who succeeded her.

ENFOQUE PERSONAL
The text is real and exact, Queen Elizabeth did deliver this speech herself to her last Parliament
on the 30th of November, 1601. It is a subjective text, the Queen herself made it and spoke of
her reign, her actions, a King's duty and her own feelings only from her point of view, and
actually, most citizens and the whole country were complaining about her decisions and tried to
make her change some of her policies, during a period when the country had important
economic issues after the Queen's molopolization led to an increase of the prices.
The text had an enormous importance, not only because the Parliament accepted the Queen's
deal regarding the Monopolies, which wasn't balanced at all, it also had a motivating effect,
and being her last speech, it was remembered, and still is, as one of the most excellent speeches
in English history.
She reached her goal, the nation understood her message and her intentions, perhaps by
delivering her speech she avoided a possible revolt, which could be the reason she decided to
access to the Parliament's request in the first place.

Personally, and if I avoid different interpretations and possible hidden meanings behind it, I
found the text quite touching, and I can understand why the attendants felt astonished after
being delivered such a wonderful speech and afterwards, accepting whatever solutions she
proposed. I am clearly aware of what a great speaker Elizabeth I was, who was said to be a
really intelligent person. By delivering a touching speech which had nothing to do with
economics or politics, she was able to change people's opinion about her policies, intentions
and she herself as a Queen and as a person, which, once again, proves her intellect. The art of
speaking is something that can change a whole nation's future, even the whole world, it can
even be regarded as magic to influence others, so, when a leader who is able to perform this
magic in a extremely skilled way appears, he or she always leaves an important trace behind,
which is able to reach people's heart, even after centuries.
If I dig a little further though, I can easily notice a trace of arrogance when she talks about her
holy position as the Queen, and even some parts of the text can easly be understood as a
challenge to those who dare to question her intentions and accuse her, because questioning her
would be same as questioning God. Moreover, at some point she tries to explain why she used
up money from time to time, explaining that it was only for those who deserved it and it was
used properly. That whole part has an apolegetic feeling about it, trying to make the people
forgive her for using money, not because the wanted, but because it was needed. It could be
argued that a monarch, given his or her position, shouldn't step low and ask for forgiveness
after something is done, making the monarch, the person who the whole nation relays on,
vulnerable, instead of the imagine of determination and reliableness the people expect their
monarch should have.
Nevertheless, I do agree with her point regarding a King's duty. It is always difficult and
painful to have a great responsability, knowing that your actions could harm others even if it
wasn't your intention, and a intention, action, speech, can easily be understood in a different
way than the original meaning you wanted it to have. The way she speaks here too, could have
a slight arrogance in it, meaning that people may complain about everything without actually
knowing how that person feels and how hard it is, after all, it's easy to criticize something, but
it's not as easy to put yourself in that person's situation and try to understand how he/she feels.
All in all, I'd like to put aside possible different hidden meanings and Elizabeth's true intentions
when she made this speech, I'd rather want to think of it as a speech made out of love and
consideration, powerful enough to change a whole nation's opinion, instead of a speech full of

rotten meanings and clever arguments to solve an issue, since it moved me just like it probably
did to the whole nation after listening to it.

References
Cavendish, Richard. History of Today, November 2001. Web. 1 November 2014.
Sgroi, Rosemary. History of Parliament Online. Web. 1 November 2014.
Sarnette, Heather. Elizabeth I. Web. 1 November 2014.
Wikipedia. New World Encyclopedia, Elizabeth I of England, October 2005. Web. 1 November
2014.