A SPEECH DELIVERED, TO THE KING'S MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY IN THE NAME OF THE SHERIFFS OF LONDON AND MIDDLESEX.  
By Master Richard Martin of the Middle Temple.  
AT LONDON Imprinted for Thomas Thorpe, and are to be sold by William Aspley. 1603.   

A SPEECH DELIVERED, TO THE KING'S MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY, AT HIS NEAR APPROACH TO LONDON, IN THE NAME OF THE SHERIFFS OF LONDON AND MIDDLE SEX.  
THe common fears & difficulties which perplex most confident Orators, speaking before Princes, would more confound my distrustful spirit speaking to your high Majesty (most mighty King & our dread sovereign Lord) did I not know that the message which I bring is to a good King always grateful. Curiosity of wit and and affected strains of Oratory I leave to those, who more delight to tickle the Prince's ear, then satisfy his deeper judgement.  
To me (most gracious Sovereign) your majesties meanest subject, vouchsafe your mild and Princely attention, whiles in the names of these grave Magistrates (your majesties faithful Sheriffs of London and Middle SeX) I offer to your benign grace that loyal and hearty welcome, which from that Honourable and ancient City (the heart of this kingdom) is brought by them, whose deep and inward grief, conceived for the loss of our Peerless and renowned Queen Elizabeth, is turned into excessive joy, for the approach of your excellent Majesty, by whom the long and blessed peace of five and forty years is made perpetual. Great is thac'knowledgement we own to the memory of our late Prince's government, whose far spread fame, as it shall live recommended to posterity for ever, so of her flourishing reign no other testimony need be required, then that of your high Majesty (since none can be more honourable) that the like hath not been read or heard of in our days, or since the reign of great Augustus: So that, even glorious and victorious Kings have just cause, to envy the glory and virtue of a woman. But she is gathered in peace to her fathers, a memorable instance of your majesties divine observation, that Princes differ not in stuff, but in use from common men.  
Out of the Ashes of this Phoenix wert thou King james borne for our good, the bright star of the North, to which all true adamantine hearts had long before turned themselves. Whose fame (like a new Sun rising) dispersed those clouds of fear, which either our politic friends, or open enemies, or the unnatural factors for the fift Monarchy, had given us some cause to apprehend: yea our nobility, Councillors, and Commons (whose wisdom and fidelity is therefore renowned as far as this Island is spoken of) with a general zeal posted to your majesties subjection: not more incited here unto by the right of your majesties descent & royal blood, drawn to this fair inheritance from the loins of our ancient Kings; then inflamed with the fame of your Princely and eminent virtues, wherewith (as a rich Cabinet with precious jewels) your Kingly mind is furnished, if constant fame have delivered us a true inventory of your rare qualities. A King whose youth needs no excuse, and whose affections are subdued to his reason: A King which not only does justice, (which even Tyrants do some times) but loves justice; which habit none but virtuous Princes can put on. Who (imitating the free bounty of the King of Kings) invites all distressed people to come unto him, not permitting Gehaezie to take talents of silver, nor change of garments.  
In some Princes (my Sovereign Lord) it is enough that they be not evil, but from your Majesty we look for an admirable goodness, and particular redress, so strange an expectation (forerunning your majesties coming) hath invested the minds, of good men with comfort, of bad with fear.  
And see how bounteous heaven hath assigned four kingdoms, as proper subjects for your majesties four Kingly virtues. Scotland hath tried your prudence, in reducing those things to order in the Church and Commonwealth, which the tumultuous times of your majesties infancy had there put out of square. Ireland shall require your justice, which the miseries (I dare not say the policies) of civil wars have there defaced. France shall prove your fortitude, when necessary reason of state shall bend your majesties Counsels to that enterprise. But let England be the school, wherein your Majesty will practise your temperance and moderation: for here flattery will essay to undermine, or force your majesties strongest constancy and integrity: base assentation the bane of virtuous Princes, which (like Lazarus dogs) licks even the Prince's sores, a vice made so familiar to this age by long use, that even Pulpits are not free from that kind of treason? A treason I may justly call it most capital, to poison the fountain of wisdom and justice, whereat so many kingdoms must be refreshed,  
Nor can I be justly blamed, to lay open to a most skilful and faithful Physician our true griefs, nay it shall be the comfort of mine age, to have spoken the truth to my Lord the King, and with a heart as true to your Majesty as your own, to make known to an uncorrupted King, the hopes and desires of his best subjects.  
Who (as if your Majesty were sent down from Heaven to reduce the golden age) have now assured themselves, that this Island (by strange working and revolution now united to your majesties obedience) shall never fear the mischiefs and misgovernments, which other countries and other times have felt.  
Oppression shall not be here the badge of authority, nor insolence the mark of greatness. The people shall every one sit under his own Olive tree, and anoint himself with the fat thereof, his face not grinded with extorted suits, nor his marrow sucked with most odious and unjust Monopolies. Vnconcionable Lawyers, and greedy officers, shall no longer spin out the poor man's cause in length to his undoing, and the delay of justice. No more shall bribes blind the eyes of the wise, nor gold be reputed the common measure of men's worthiness: Adulterate gold, which can gild a rotten post, make Balam a bishop, and Isachar as worthy of a judicial chair as Solomon, where he may wickedly sell that justice, which he corruptly bought. The money changers and sellers of Doves, (I mean those which traffic the livings of simple and religious pastors) shall your Majesty whip out of the Temple and common wealth: For no more shall Church livings be pared to the quick, forcing ambitious Churchmen (partakers of this Sacrilege) to enter in at the window by simony and corruption, which they must afterwards repair with usury, and make up with pluralities.  
The Ports and Havens of these kingdoms which have long been barred, shall now open the mouths of there rivers, and the arms of there seas, to the gentle amity and just traffic of all nations, washing away our reproach of universal pirates, and sea-wolves, and deriving (by the exchange of homebred commodities with foreign) into the veins of this land, that wholesome blood and well got treasure, which shall strengthen the sinews of your majesties kingdoms. The neglected (and almost worn out) nobility shall now (as bright Diamonds and burning Carbunckles) adorn your Kingly Diadem. The too much contemned Clergy, shall hang as a precious ear-ring at your Princely ear, your Majesty still lystning to their holy Counsels. The wearied Commons shall be worn as a rich ring on your royal finger, which your Majesty with a watchful eye will still graciously look upon. For we have now a King that will hear with his own ears, see with his own eyes, and be ever jealous of any great trust, which (being afterwards become necessary) may be abused to an unlymmitted power.  
O my gracious Liege, let never any wry Counsels dyvert or puddle the fair stream of your natural goodness. Let wicked usurpers seek lewd arts, to maintain their lewd purchases: To your Majesty (called to this Empire by the consent of God and men, and now King of so many faithful hearts) plain and direct virtue is the safest policy, and love to them, who have shown such loyalty to you, is a wall of brass.  
They mean to sell the King to his subjects at their own price, and abuse th'authority of his majesty to their private gain, & greatness, who persuade him, that to shut himself up from the access of his people, is the means to augment his state.  
Let me not seem tedious to your Majesty (my gracious Sovereign) nor yet presumptuous, for I counsel not. But whiles your Majesty hath been (perchance) wearied with the complaints and insinnuations of particulars, for private respects; let it be lawful (my liege) for a heart free from fear or hope, to show your Majesty the agues which keep low this great body, whereof your Majesty is the sound-head.  
Nor are we fed with hopes of redress by imagination (as hungry men with a painted banquet) but by assurance of certain knowledge, drawn out of the observation of your majesties forepast actions, and some books now fresh in every man's hands, being (to use your majesties own words) the Vive ideas or representations of the mind. Whose excellent wholesome rules your Majesty will never transgress, having bound your Princely son by such heavy penalties, to observe them after you, nor doth any wiseman wish, or good man desire, that your Majesty should follow other Counsels or examples then your own, by which your Majesty is so nearly bound.  
To conclude therefore, what great cause have we to welcome to the territories of our City your most excellent Majesty, who (to make us the glorious and happy head of this Island) have by your first entrance brought us th'addition of another kingdom, which war could never subdue. So your majesties upright government, shall make us partakers of that felicity, which divine Plato did only apprehend but never see, (whose king is a Philosopher a Philosopher being our King) Receive then (most gracious Sovereign) that loyal welcome, which our City sendeth out to meet your Majesty; our City which for the long trial of her loyalty, obedience, and faithful readiness in all occasions, your majesties royal progenitors have honoured with the title of their Chamber: whose faithful Citizens, with true and well approved hearts, humbly lay at your royal feet their goods and lives, which they will sacrifice for your majesties service and defence, with longing eyes, desiring to receive your Majesty within their walls, whom they have long since lodged in their hearts: praying to heaven that your majesties person may be free from practise, your soul safe from flattery, your life extended to the possibility of nature: and that if not your natural life, yet your royal line may have one period with the world, your princely offspring sitting upon the throne of their fathers for evermore. And we your majesties faithful servants, humbly surrendering into your majesties hands that authority, which we hold from you, wishing from our hearts that all plagues may pursue his posterity, that but conspires your majesty's danger.