From the Textbase A most Excellent and Remarkable Speech Delivered by that Mirrour and Miracle of Princes, Queen Elizabeth , of famous memory, in the Honourable the High Court of Parliament, In the seventeenth yeere of her reigne.
Any typographical errors are from the source.
My Lords, This present Session of Parliament gathered together by Our command, for the good of Our selfe and the prosperity of Our Subjects, Wee wish may be as fortunate to them as conducing to Our intents, which shall still guide themselves to the advancement of Our peoples wel-fare. A Prince should therefore be toward the people, as that great Prophet Samuel was toward the Israelites , whom, when hee had judged for many yeares, hee boldly challeng'd the whole Congregation to attest against him whose Oxe, or whose Asse he had taken, or from whom he had received any bribe to pervert Justice. This, my Lords, have We in Our consideration and resolution, set downe as Our president in the government of this Our English Israel, who Gods mercies have notified his peculiar people, and this we shall ever accomplish, the due administration of Justice. But the nature We know of all Englishmen to be such, that faire words and gentle usage may sooner overcome and inslave their huge stomacks and great spirits then any force or foule meanes whatsoever. It was the power of Parliament that assisted Our said Grandfather against all those conspiracies of Warbecke , Lambert , and others, and rendred him victorious over all of them.