Draft government proclamation, 1588 (SP 12/211)
Transcript
This extract has been translated into modern English with line numbers added.
Line 10 … yet considering it is seen how malice doth commonly pervert
as seditious and slanderous untruths the sincerity and truth of
all honourable actions, which is certainly seen at this present in that
some of her rebels abroad by infamous and traitorous libels
do at this time seek to entice and draw forth as they do think
Line 15 do favour their weak attempts, and others that of simplicity
cannot judge thereof, to have them think, that the great preparations
of war that have been long in making, both in Spain, and in the
Low Countries, and now as they say, are without delay to be
used with all manner of forcible execution to invade this realm, are
Line 20 only for the relief and comfort of such as their account Catholics,
Line 21 being in truth her traitors: …
Simplified transcript
Line 10 … Yet it is seen how nastiness often misrepresents
as disloyal and slanderous lies the sincerity and truth of
all honourable actions. This is certainly seen at the present.
Some of her rebels abroad now seek by wicked and traitorous lies
to persuade and draw forth those they think
Line 15 support their weak attempts, and others too simple
to judge, and to have them think that the great preparations
of war that have long been in the making, both in Spain and in the
Low Countries, and they now say are without delay to be
used with force to invade this realm, are
Line 20 only for the relief and comfort of Catholics,
Line 21 being in truth traitors: …
2. Elizabeth’s ministers accused Catholic English rebels of trying to make her ‘honorable actions’ look bad.
- In this document they use the following writer’s tricks, can you find them?
- strong adjectives
- alliteration
- What evidence can you find to support the view that the English knew about Philip II’s preparations well in advance?