π1r Make of this Bundle
Five Vols.volumes Number them
1st 2nd etc. Intitule
Pamphlets From the
Place according to the dates
when printed.
date of the first to the date
of the Last in each Vol.volume as
follows. From 16601660
To 16691669
π1v
Page-size oval portrait of Elizabeth I, bejewelled and holding scepter. Framed by oval border bearing the motto vera effigies prudentissimÆ principis ElizabethÆ angliÆ franciÆ et Hibe: reginÆ etc.” Upper-left corner has coat of arms with border bearing the motto “hony soi t quimal y pnsepense. Upper-right corner has dragon-seal surrounded by the motto “semper fadem”. A small lion holds up the lower-left corner of the portrait; a small dragon holds up the lower-right corner.

Havinge reformed Religion, established Peace, reduced Coyne to the juste
value, Delivered Scotland from the Frenche, Revenged domesticall Rebellion,
saved Fraunce from headlonge ruyne by civ ell Warr, supported Bellgia,
overthrowe the Spanishe invīincible Navie, expelled the Spaniard out of
Irelande, and receaved the Irishe into merete, enriched England by
her most prudent Governement Fortie Five Yeares: Elizabeth a
Victorious and Triumphant Queene, in the: 70: Yeare of her age,
in most happie and Peaceable manner Departed this life: leavīing
heare her Mortall parts, untill, by the last Trumpe, shee arrise Immortall:
Francisco
Delanum

sculp
Are to be sould
by Jo: Sudbury
; G: Humble.

A1r

Queene
Elizabeths

Speech
to her last
Parliament.

A1v A2r

1601-11-30The 30 of November 1601, her Majestie
being set under State in the Councell
Chamber at Whitehall, the Speaker, accompanied
with Privy Councellours, besides
Knights and Burgesses of the lower
House
to the number of eight-scoore, presenting
themselves at her Majesties feet,
for that so graciously and speedily shee
had heard and yeelded to her Sub jects
desires, and proclaimed the same in their
hearing as followeth.

Mr. Speaker,

Wee perceive your comming is to
present thankes unto Us, Know I
accept them with no lesse joy then
your loves can have desire to offer such a Present,
and doe more esteeme it then any Treasure
or Riches, for those Wee know how to
prize, but Loyaltie, Love, and Thankes, I account
them invaluable; and though God hath
raysed Mee high, yet this I account the glorie
of my Crowne, that I have reigned with your
Loves. This makes that I doe not so much
rejoyce that God hath made Mee to bee a A2 Queene A2v
Queene, as to bee a Queene over so thankefull
a People, and to bee the meane under God to
conserve you in safety, and preserve you from
danger, yea to bee the Instrument to deliver
you from dishonour, from shame, and from
infamie; to keepe you from out of servitude,
and from slaverie under our Enemies, and
cruell tyranny, and vilde oppression intended
against Us: for the better withstanding wherof,
Wee take very acceptably your intended
helpes, and chiefely in that it manifesteth your
loves and largenesse of heart to your Soveraigne.
Of my selfe I must say this, I never
was any greedy scraping grasper, nor a strict
fast-holding Prince, nor yet a waster, My heart
was never set upon any worldly goods, but
onely for my Subjects good. What you doe
bestow on Me, I will not hoard up, but receive
it to bestow on you againe; yea Mine owne
Properties I account yours to bee expended
for your good, and your eyes shall see the bestowing
of it for your wellfare.

Mr. Speaker, I would wish you and the rest
to stand up, for I feare I shall yet trouble you
with longer speech.

Mr. Speaker, you give me thankes, but I am
to thanke you, and I charge you, thanke
them of the Lower-House from Me, for had
I not received knowledge from you, I might
a fallen into lapse of an Error, onely for
want of true information.

Since I was Queene yet did I never put My Pen A3r
Pen to any Grant but upon pretext and semblance
made Me, that it was for the good an d
availe of my Subjects generally, though a
private profit to some of my ancient Servants
who have deserved well: But that my Grants
shall bee made Grievances to my People, and
Oppressions, to bee priviledged under colour
of Our Pattents, Our Princely Dignitie shall
not suffer it.

When I heard it, I could give no rest unto
my thoughts untill I had reformed it, & those
Varlets, lewd persons, abusers of my bountie,
shall know I wil not suffer it. And Mr. Speaker,
tell the House from mee, I take it exceeding
gratefull, that the knowledge of these things
are come unto me from them. And though
amongst them the principall Members are
such as are not touched in private, and therefore
need not speake from any feeling of the
griefe, yet We have heard that other Gentlemen
also of the House, who stand as free, have
spoken as freely in it; which gives Us to know
that no respects or intrests have moved them
other then the mindes they beare to suffer no
diminution of our Honour, and our Subjects
love unto Us. The zeale of which affection
tending to ease my People, & knit their hearts
unto us, I embrace with a Princely care farre
above all earthly Treasures. I esteeme my
Peoples love, more then which I desire not to
merit: And God that gave me here to fit, and
placed mee over you, knowes that I never respectedA3 spected A3v
my selfe, but as your good was conserved
in mee; yet what dangers, what practises,
and what perills I have passed, some, if not all
of you know: but none of these things doe
moove mee, or ever made mee feare, but it is
God that hath delivered me.

And in my governing this Land, I have ever
set the last Judgement day before mine eyes,
and so to rule, as I shall be Judged and answer
before a higher Judge, to whose Judgement
Seat I doe appeale in that never thought was
cherished in my heart that tended not to my
Peoples good.

And if my Princely bountie have beene
abused, and my Grants turned to the hurt of
my People contrary to my will and meaning,
or if any in Authoritie under mee have neglected,
or converted what I have committed
unto them, I hope God will not lay their culps
to my charge.

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: for my selfe, I
never was so much inticed with the glorious
name of a King, or the royall authoritie of a
Queene, as delighted that God hath made me
His Instrument to maintaine His Truth and
Glorie, and to defend this Kingdome from
dishonour, dammage, tyrannie, and oppression.
But should I ascribe any of these things
unto my selfe, or my sexly weaknesse, I were
not worthy to live, and of all most unworthy of A4r
of the mercies I have received at Gods hands
but to God onely and wholly all is given and
ascribed.

The cares and trouble of a Crowne I cannot
more fitly resemble then to the Drugges
of a learned Physitian, perfumed with some
Aromaticall favour, or to bitter Pils guilded
over, by which they are made more exceptable
or lesse offensive, which indeed are bitter
and unpleasant to take; and for my owne part,
were it not for Conscience sake to discharge
the dutie that God hath layd upon me, and to
maintaine his glorie, and keepe you in safetie,
in mine owne disposition I should be willing
to resigne the place I hold to any other, and
glad to be freed of the Glory with the Labors,
for it is not my desire to live nor to reign longer
then my life and reigne shall bee for your
good. And though you have had and may
have many mightier and wiser Princessitting
in this Seat, yet you never had nor shall have
any that will love you better.

Thus Mr. Speaker, I commend mee to your
loyall Loves, and yours to my best care and
your further Councels, & I pray you Mr. Controller,
& Mr. Secretary, and you of my Councell,
that before these Gentlemen depart
into their Countreys you bring
them all to kisse my
Hand.

Finis.