Doubt Of Future Foes By Elizabeth Essay aqa unit 5 biology synoptic essay help Engineering essay help

, Research Paper

“ The Doubt of Future Foes ” by Queen Elizabeth I The uncertainty of future

enemies expatriates my present joy, And wit me warns to eschew such traps as threaten

mine annoy. For falsity now doth flow, and capable religion doth wane, Which would

non be, if ground ruled or wisdom weaved the web. But clouds of playthings unseasoned do

cloak draw a bead oning heads, Which turn to rain of late repent, by class of changed

air currents. The top of hope supposed, the root of Ruth will be, And fruitless all

their graffed crafts, as shortly ye shall see. The dazzled eyes with pride,

which great aspiration blinds, Shall be unsealed by worthy creatures whose foresight

falsity discoveries. The girl of argument, that eke strife doth sow Shall reap no

addition where former regulation hath taught still peace to turn. No foreign banished

wight shall ground in this port, Our kingdom it brooks no alien? s force, allow

them elsewhere resort. Our rusty blade with remainder, shall first his border employ To

canvass their tops that seek such alteration and gape for joy. Written in 1568 by one

of England? s most outstanding swayers, “ The Doubt of Future Foes ”

gaining controls a clip of hurt for Queen Elizabeth. Elizabeth Jenkins, one of the

great Queen? s biographers, stated that “ Elizabeth was non poetical, but

she shared that extraordinary gift of look that was general among the

English of the clip, and one time or twice she wrote some singular poetry ” ( Jenkens,

Elizabeth the Great, 1958 ) . In this peculiar “ singular poetry, ”

Elizabeth composed 16 lines depicting the troubled province of England and

prophesied the destiny of her enemies. Elizabeth uses initial rhyme in several

lines, such as “ wisdom weaved the web ” and “ foresight falsity

discoveries, ” which reflects her knowing and civilized background. However,

the verse form appears to be chiefly a merchandise of Elizabeth? s struggles with

antagonists and a menace to those who had the “ aspirant heads ” to

effort to take her from the throne. The verse form is written in octosyllabics:

riming pairs with 12 syllables in the first line and 14 syllables

in the 2nd line. This metre drums out a steady, forceful beat that farther

drills in the extremely moralistic message of “ trueness? or else. ” The

foremost two lines province that Elizabeth? s fright ( “ uncertainty ” ) about her

enemies prevents her from being happy, and that if she were smart, she would

ignore the traps those enemies had set in topographic point to harm her with. Her cousin,

Mary Stuart, Queen of Scots, had been giving her cousin heartache about

Elizabeth? s unfulfilled promise when Mary was imprisoned to assist her regain

her throne ( and succeeded in labeling Elizabeth as a dissembler ) , but Mary

refused to admit the fact that Elizabeth had saved her life countless

times. Her cousin besides had her eyes on the British Crown and appealed to

Elizabeth? s understanding to get down to win it. However, advised by Sir William Cecil

that her cousin had “ an appetency to the Crown, ” she handled Mary? s

demands, such as for Elizabeth? s ain royal garments, with cautiousness and

restriction. At this point in history, Elizabeth was besides enraged tha

t the

northern Catholics had spurned her exceptionally tolerant spiritual policy. The

Catholics had ever wanted Elizabeth ousted from the throne because she had

committed the farce of being Protestant, and they looked at anything

controversial that she did as a manner to acquire her out. Line three describes

perfidy and devotedness as a moving ridge that recedes and crestless waves ; at the present clip,

commitment is short of manus and lese majesty is a changeless menace. However, Elizabeth

provinces in line four that if people had intelligence and common sense, they would

be loyal to her. She feels this manner non merely because of her spiritual beliefs,

but besides because of the simple fact that she is Queen. Her topics may be

rebellious now, when they feel they may hold a opportunity at subverting her, but

finally she is still in power and has a aureate finger to direct their destiny.

She alludes to the at hand tools and fast ones that her antagonists will utilize

against her as clouds that will fall every bit rain when her enemies change their heads

and beg forgiveness. She besides portrays their false foreparts as a shoot grafted into the

turning works of the land of England, with hope as the foliages

( “ exceed ” ) and sorrow ( “ Ruth ” ) as the roots, but which will

output no net incomes ( “ fruit ” ) every bit long as they are unpatriotic. She so

provinces that their conceited eyes, full of impatient expectancy, will be opened by a

baronial individual ( a “ worthy creature ” ) who foresees their perfidy.

Elizabeth refers to her cousin Mary as “ the girl of argument ”

because she had caused so much dirt and contention. She predicts that no

affair what conflict Mary began, she would ne’er hold success because the

Reformation of England has trained her, as Queen, to keep peace. No foreign

or exiled individual such as Mary would sit at the throne of England, because the

land does non let aliens governing it. Let them travel someplace else,

Elizabeth declares, because that will non be tolerated in my state. The verse form

terminals with a vibrating menace that foreshadows the destiny of Mary. The

executioner? s blade which has non been used in so long will strike off the

caputs of those that wish to alter sovereign, and these executions of decease

will convey joy and prosperity back to the Kingdom. Elizabeth? s anticipation

became world when Mary was charged with being accoutrement to an attempted slaying

of Elizabeth and was beheaded in 1587, and William Byrd wrote a vocal that echoed

Elizabeth? s announcing about twenty old ages before: “ The baronial celebrated

queen/Who lost her caput of late/Doth show that kings every bit good as clowns/Are edge

to Lucks? destiny, /And that no earthly Prince/Can so unafraid his crown/But

Luck with her twirling wheel/Hath power to draw them down ” ( Jenkins,

316 ) . It was said among those who knew her that Elizabeth ne’er wept once more as

she did when Mary was executed. However, as a strong swayer, she did what was

necessary for the wellbeing of her state, and she rid England of its

oppositions. She would hold no more fright of future enemies.

Elizabeth, I. “ The Doubt of Future Foes. ” 1568. Jenkins, Elizabeth.

Elizabeth the Great. 1958.