Her majesties
most Princely answere delivered
by her selfe at the Court at Whitehall, on
1601-11-30the last day of November 1601. When the
Speaker of the Lower House of Parliament (assisted
with the greatest part of the Knights, and Burgesses) had presented
their humble thanks for her free and gracious favour,
in preventing and reforming of sundry grievances,
by abuse of many grants, commonly
called MONOPOLIES: The same being
taken Verbatim in writing by A.B.
as neere as he could possibly
set it downe.

We perceive
by you, whome
we did constitute
the mouth of our
Lower House,
howe with even
consent they are
fallen into the due consideration of the A3 precious A3v 2
precious gift of thankefulnesse, most, usually
least esteemed, where it is best
deserved. And therefore we charge
you tell them how acceptable such sacrifice
is woorthily received of a loving
{Handwritten deletion: King} end of handwritten deletion {Handwritten addition: Queene} end of handwritten addition, who doubteth much whether the
given thanks can be of more poise then
the owed is to them: and suppose that
they have done more for us, then they
themselves beleeve. And this is our
reason: Who keepes their Sovereigne
from the lapse of error, in which, by ignorance,
and not by intent, they might
have fallen; what thanke they deserve,
we know, though you may gesse. And as
nothing is more deere to us then the loving
cōonservation of our subjects hearts,
What an undeserved doubt might we
have incurred, if the abusers of our
liberality, the thrallers of our people, the A4r 3
the wringers of the poore, had not bene
tolde us! which, ere our heart or hand
should agree unto, we wish we had neither:
and do thanke you the more, supposing
that such griefes touch not some
amongst you in particular. We trust
there resides, in their conceits of us, no
such simple cares of their good, whome
we so deerly prise, that our hand should
passe ought that might injure any,
though they doubt not it is lawfull for
our kingly state to grant gifts of sundry
sorts of who we make election, either for
service done, or merit to be deserved, as
being for a King to make choise on who
to bestow benefits, more to one then another.
You must not beguile your selves,
nor wrong us, to thinke that the glosing
lustre of a glistring glory of a Kings
title may so extoll us, that we thinke all is A4v 4
is lawfull what we list, not caring what
we doe: Lord, how farre should you be
off from our conceits! For our part we
vow unto you, that we suppose Physicians
aromaticall savours, which in the
top of their potion they deceive the Patient
with, or gilded drugges that they
cover their bitter sweet with, are not
more beguilers of senses, then the vanting
boast of a kingly name may deceive
the ignorant of such an office. I
grant, that such a Prince as cares but
for the dignity, nor passes not how the
raines be guided, so he rule, to such a
one it may seeme an easie businesse.
But you are cumbred (I dare assure)
with no such Prince, but such a one, as
lookes how to give account afore another
Tribunal seat then this world affords,
and that hopes, that if wee discharge charge A5r 5
with conscience what he biddes,
will not lay to our charge the fault
that our Substitutes (not being our
crime) fall in. We thinke our selves
most fortunately borne under such a
starre, as we have bene inabled by Gods
power to have saved you under our
reigne, from forreigne foes, from Tyrants
rule, and from your owne ruine;
and doe confesse, that wee passe not so
much to be a Queene, as to be a Queene
of such Subjects, for whom (God is
witnesse, without boast or vaunt) wee
would willingly lose our life, ere see
such to perish. I blesse God, he hath given
me never this fault of feare; for he
knowes best, whether ever feare possest
me, for all my dangers: I know it is his
gift; and not to hide his glory, I say it.
For were it not for conscience, and for your A5v 6
your sake, I would willingly yeeld another
my place, so great is my pride in
reigning, as she that wisheth no longer
to be, then Best and Most would have
me so. You know our presence can not
assist each action, but must distribute in
sundrie sorts to divers kindes our commands.
If they (as the greatest number
bee commonly the woorst) shoulde
(as I doubt not but some doe) abuse
their charge, annoy whom they should
helpe, and dishonour their king, whom
they should serve: yet we verely beleeve,
that all you will (in your best
judgement) discharge us from such
guilts. Thus we commend us to your
constant faith, and your selves to your
best fortunes.