Lucy Worsley's Royal Myths & Secrets

(dramatic music) It's at this point in the story that Elizabeth's big moment comes, and normally, she's dressed to impress for it. Perhaps in a white velvet gown, maybe with with feathers in her hair, or even wearing armor. The Queen visits her army here at Tilbury on the banks of the Thames, where they're assembled to protect Essex from invasion. She delivers a rousing speech to the troops. She says that she, herself, is here, "in the midst and heat of battle" "to live and die amongst you all." (inspirational music) "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, judge, and rewarder" "of every one of your virtues in the field." (intense music) In the traditional version of the story, the Queen's speech launches the attack. The English set fire to eight of their own ships, and sent them off into the midst of the armada. In a panic, Spanish ships cut anchor, and were scattered. Three collided and one ran aground. In the battle that followed, four Spanish ships were lost. Then strong winds drove the armada to the North. Cutting their losses, the Spanish headed home via Scotland and Ireland. It seems like Elizabeth's rallying cry worked. It did the trick. But in fact, the story of her most famous speech is riddled with holes, and the biggest fib of all lies in the timing. When Elizabeth began planning her Tilbury visit, invasion did seem imminent, but by the time she actually made the speech, the battle was over. This extravaganza at Tilbury happened a whole 11 days after the fire ships, and by this point, the Spanish armada, well, it had floated off. It was somewhere off the coast of Scotland. Not only were the men not going to get to do any fighting, very soon they were going to get sent home, and that was because the Queen couldn't afford to go on paying their wages.