Famous Quotes of World History: England 15th

Mr. Sedivy's
History Classes:

More Features:

Highlands Ranch High School - Mr. Sedivy
Highlands Ranch, Colorado Rise of Nation State England

- Famous Quotes Throughout World History -
Quotes from England: 15th, 16th and 17th Centuries

Erasmus c.1469 - 1536

"In regione caecorum rex est luscus."

(In the country of the blind the one-eyed man is king.)

Sir Thomas More 1478 - 1535

"Is not this house (the Tower of London) as nigh heaven as my own?"

July 5, 1535 - On the eve of his execution in a letter to his daughter Margaret:
"Fare well my dear child and pray for me, and I shall for you and all your friends that we may merrily meet in heaven."

On mounting the scaffold:
"I pray you, master Lieutenant, see me safe up, and my coming down let me shift for my self."

After his head was upon the block (he) lift it up again, and gently drew his beard aside, and said:
"This hath not offended the king."

Henry VIII 1491 - 1547

The King found her (Anne of Cleves) so different from her picture that he swore:

"They had brought him a Flanders mare."

James V (of Scotland) 1512 - 1542

December 1542 - Of the crown of Scotland, on learning of the birth of Mary Queen of Scots:
"It came with a lass, and it will pass with a lass."

Elizabeth I 1533 - 1603

November 12, 1586
"I know what it is to be a subject, what to be a Sovereign, what to have good neighbors, and sometimes meet evil willers." (The traditional version concludes: "In trust I have found treason.")

1588 - Speech to the troops at Tilbury on the approach of the Armada
"I know I have the body of a weak and feeble woman, but I have the heart and stomach of a king, and of a king of England too."

1601 - The Golden Speech
"Though God hath raised me high, yet this I count the glory of my crown: that I have reigned with your loves."

To the leaders of her Council who were opposing her course towards Mary Queen of Scots:
"I will make you shorter by the head."

Mary Queen of Scots 1542 - 1587

"En ma fin git mon commencement." (In my end is my beginning.)

Sir Francis Drake c.1540 - 1596

"There is plenty of time to win this game, and to thrash the Spaniards too."

"There must be a beginning of any great matter, but the continuing unto the end until it be thoroughly finished yields the true glory."

"I must have the gentleman to haul and draw with the mariner, and the mariner with the gentleman ... I would know him that would refuse to set his hand to a rope, but I know there is not any such here."

Guy Fawkes 1570 - 1606

November 6, 1605
"A desperate disease requires a dangerous remedy."

James I (James VI of Scotland) 1566 - 1625

1604 - Counter-blast to Tobacco
"A custom loathsome to the eye, hateful to the nose, harmful to the brain, dangerous to the lungs, and in the black, stinking fume thereof, nearest resembling the horrible Stygian smoke of the pit that is bottomless."

1604 - To a deputation of Presbyterians from the Church of Scotland, seeking religious tolerance in England:
"No bishop, no King."

March 21, 1610 - Speech to Parliament
"The king is truly parens patriae, the polite father of his people."

December 1621
"I will govern according to the common weal, but not according to the common will."

Robert Bruce 1554 - 1631

"Now, God be with you, my children: I have breakfasted with you and shall sup with my Lord Jesus Christ this night."

Charles I 1600 - 1649

"Never make a defense or apology before you be accused."

"I see all the birds are flown."

"You manifestly wrong even the poorest ploughman, if you demand not his free consent."

"A subject and a sovereign are clean different things."

Oliver Cromwell 1599 - 1658

1643
"I would rather have a plain russet-coated captain that knows what he fights for, and loves what he knows, than that which you call 'a gentleman' and is nothing else."

On the execution of Charles I:
"Cruel necessity"

August 3, 1650 - Letter to the General Assembly of the Kirk of Scotland
"I beseech you, in the bowels of Christ, think it possible you may be mistaken."

September 4, 1651 - Letter to William Lenthall, Speaker of the Parliament of England
"The dimensions of this mercy are above my thoughts. It is, for aught I know, a crowning mercy."

April 20, 1653 - Addressing the Rump Parliament
"You have sat too long here for any good you have been doing. Depart. I say, and let us have done with you. In the name of God, go!"

September 12, 1654 - Speech to Parliament
"Necessity hath no law. Feigned necessities, imaginary necessities É are the greatest cozenage that men can put upon the Providence of God, and make pretences to break known rules by."

On the painting of his portrait:
"Remark all these roughnesses, pimples, warts, and everything as you see me; otherwise I will never pay a farthing for it."
(commonly quoted as: "warts and all")

Last words:
"My design is to make what haste I can to be gone."

Charles II 1630 - 1685

"It is upon the navy under the good Providence of God that the safety, honor, and welfare of this realm do chiefly depend."

"This is very true: for my words are my own, and my actions are my ministers'."

On the debates in the House of Lords on Lord Ross's Divorce Bill in 1670:
"Better than a play."

- Famous Quotes Throughout World History -

Highlands Ranch High School 9375 South Cresthill Lane Highlands Ranch, Colorado 80126 303-471-7000

| Home | Back to top of page | Site Contents |