queen ELIZABETHS SPEECH TO HER LAST PARLIAMENT.   

The 30. of November 1601, her majesty being set under State in the council Chamber at Whitehall, the Speaker, accompanied with Privy councillors, besides Knights and Burgesses of the lower House to the number eight-scoore, presenting themselves at her majesties feet, for that so graciously and speedily shee had heard and yielded to her Subiects desires, and proclaimed the same in their hearing as followeth.  
Mr. Speaker,  
WEE perceive your coming is to present thankes unto us; Know I accept them with no less ioy then your loues can haue desire to offer such a Present, and do more esteem it then any Treasure or Riches, for those Wee know how to prise, but loyalty, love, and Thankes, I account them invaluable; and though God hath raised me high, yet this I account the glory of my crown, that I haue reigned with your Loues. This makes that I do not so much rejoice that God hath made me to bee a queen, as to bee a queen over so thankful a People, and to bee the mean under God to conserve you in safety, and preserve you from danger, yea to bee the Instrument to deliver you from dishonour, from shane, and from infamy; to keep you from out of servitude, and from slavery under our Enemies, and cruel tyranny, and vilde oppression intended against us: for the better withstanding whereof, Wee take very acceptably your intended helps, and chiefly in that it manifesteth your loues and largeness of heart to your sovereign. Of myself 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 vpon any worldly goods, but onely for my Subiects good. What you do bestow on Me, I will not hoard up, but receive it to bestow on you again; yea Mine own Properties I account yours to bee expended for your good, and your eyes shall see the bestowing of it for your welfare.  
Mr. Speaker, I would wish you and the rest to stand up, for I fear I shall yet trouble you with longer speech.  
Mr. Speaker, you give me thankes, but I am more to thank you, and I charge you, thank them of the Lower-House from Me, for had I not received knowledge from you, I might a fallen into the lapse of an Error, onely for want of true information.  
Since I was queen yet did I never put My Pen to any Grant but vpon pretext and semblance made Me, that it was for the good and avail of my Subiects generally, though a private profit to some of my ancie●t Servants who haue deserved well: But that my Grants shall bee made Grievances to my People, and Oppressions, to bee privileged under colour of Our patents, Our Princely dignity shall not suffer it.  
When I heard it, I could give no rest unto my thoughts until I had reformed it,& those Varlets, lewd persons, abusers of my bounty, shall know I will not suffer it. And Mr. Speaker, tell the House from me, I take it exceeding grateful, that the knowledge of these things are come unto me from them. And though amongst, them the principal Members are such as are not touched in private, and therefore need not speak from any feeling of the grief, yet We haue heard that other Gentlemen also of the House, who stand as free, haue spoken as freely in it; which gives us to know that no respects or interests haue moved them other then the mindes they bear to suffer no diminution of our Honour, and our Subiects love unto Vs. The zeal of which affection tending to ease my People,& knit their hearts unto us, I embrace with a Princely care far above all earthly Treasures. I esteem my Peoples love, more then which I desire not to merit: And God that gave me here to sit, and placed me over you, knows that I never respected myself, but as your good was conserved in me; yet what dangers, what practices, and what perils I haue passed, some, if not all of you know: but none of these things do move me, or ever made me fear, but it is God that hath delivered me.  
And in my governing this Land, I haue ever set the last Iudgement day before mine eyes, and so to rule, as I shall be judged and answer before a higher judge, to whose Iudgement Seat I do appeal in that never thought was cherished in my heart that tended not to my Peoples good.  
And if my Princely bounty haue been abused, and my Grants turned to the hurt of my People contrary to my will and meaning, or if any in authority under me haue neglected, or converted what I haue committed unto them, I hope God will not lay their culps to my charge.  
To be a King, and wear a Crown, is a thing more glorious to them that see it, then it is pleasant to them that bear it: for myself, I never was so much enticed with the glorious name of a King, or the royal authority of a queen, as delighted that God hath made me His Instrument to maintain His Truth and glory, and to defend this kingdom from dishonour, damage, tyranny, and oppression. But should I ascribe any of these things unto myself, or my sexly weakness, I were not worthy to live, and of all most unworthy of the mercies I haue received at Gods hands, but to God onely and wholly all is given and ascribed.  
The cares and trouble of a crown I cannot more fitly resemble then to the drugs of a learned physician, perfumed with some aromatical savour, or to bitter pills guilded over, by which they are made more exceptable or less offensive, which indeed are bitter and unpleasant to take; and for my own part, were it not for Conscience sake to discharge the duty that God hath laid vpon me, and to maintain his glory, and keep you in safety, in mine own disposition I should be willing to resign the place I hold to any other, and glad to be freed of the Glory with the labours, for it is not my desire to live nor to reign longer then my life and reign shall bee for your good. And though you haue had and may haue many mightier and wiser Princes sitting in this Seat, yet you never had nor shall haue any that will love you better.  
Thus Mr. Speaker, I commend me to your loyal Loues, and yours to my best care and your further councils,& I pray you Mr. Controuller,& Mr. Secretary, and you of my council, that before these Gentlemen depart into their Countreys you bring them all to kiss my Hand.  
FINIS.