A true Copy of a SPEECH Spoken to HIS SACRED MAJESTY, CHARLES The Second: In St. Paul's Churchyard, as His Majesty passed from the Tower of London to Whitehall the day before His Royal Coronation, April 22d, 1661.  
By James Hewlett, one of the Children now remaining in Christ Hospital.  
LONDON, Printed by James Flesher, 1661.   

Dread Sovereign,  
HIstory tells us, that such piercing Rays darted forth from King Philip's countenance, as dazzled the eyes of Demosthenes the Orator so much, that his voluble tongue forgot its duty, and was locked up in silence.  
Much more might I fear the like to befall me, being now before so glorious a Sun, as may well dazzle the eyes of so poor a Nothing as I am. Who am I, that I should adventure to invite the ears of so great a Majesty to so contemptible a sound, and the eyes of such a Glory to the beholding myself, and these vile Abjects? But I have heard, that as there is a Majestic Glory in Your Person, so there is a Royal Goodness in Your Disposition. This hath emboldened this poor Dust to beseech You to accept of two Mites from these the lowest and meanest of all Your Subjects.  
Our first Mite is the expression of our Joy for Your Majesty's wonderful preservation in Your absence, Your safe arrival to us, and Your presence among us. This Year may well be called The Year of Wonders; and this Day of your Solemnity may be termed the Birthday of England's Happiness, and therefore deserves to be registered in the Calendar of the hearts of all Loyal subjects.  
We have all seen those Magnalia Dei plainly discovered, and have observed the wheels of Divine Providence in a seeming contrariety; yet the motion at last to be true and regular. Blessed be that God, that in the midst of all our dismal Conflagrations did provide your Majesty a Zoar to rest in, and now at last hath so calmed those storms and State-Convulsions, that You may this day encircle your Royal brows with a glorious Crown, and be advanced to your Throne in much Serenity.  
But Mites, as they are of no great value, so they are pieces of no great quantity: I shall therefore offer up our second, which is a Mite of prayer, and then cease to put farther stop to this day's Solemnity.  
We have two Petitions, the one to, the other for your Majesty. We humbly beseech you (Most Dread Sovereign) that as at first EDWARD the sixth, who once swayed the Sceptre of this Kingdom laid a foundation for the reception of poor Orphans, who have since been upheld by all Your Royal Ancestors, especially Your late Father of blessed Memory; so You would shine upon us still by Your gracious favour and Princely indulgence. There are above Eleven hundred of us, part whereof have in the name of all, presented themselves this day as lively Monuments of God's mercy, and real Objects of Christian charity: for whom through the pious care and faithful industry of the Right Honourable the Lord Major, Aldermen, Governors, and liberal Benefactors, a Table hath been spread, and other Necessaries both for Soul and Body afforded, even in the midst of those Exigencies, that exposed others to Want and Penury.  
But I am afraid any longer (Most Gracious Sovereign) to detain your Royal ears with childish Smattering. I have done.  
Heaven grant You long to live, and prosperously to Reign over us, that when You have finished God's work, having sat upon this Earthly Throne Beloved, You may leave it Lamented.  
In the mean time let Orphans echo forth with grateful acclamations,  
God bless King CHARLES the Second.