24 A SPEECH USED TO THE KING. 



heard your wisdom in sundry excellent speeches 

 which you have delivered amongst us ; now we 

 hope to find and feel the effects of your goodness, in 

 your gracious answer to these our petitions. For this 

 we are persuaded, that the attribute which was given 

 by one of the wisest writers to two of the best emperors, 

 &quot;Divus Nerva et divus Trajanus,&quot; so saith Tacitus, 

 &quot; res olim insociabiles miscuerunt, imperium et liber- 

 tatem ;&quot; may be truly applied to your majesty. For 

 never was there such a conservator of regality in a 

 crown, nor ever such a protector of lawful freedom 

 in a subject. 



Only this, excellent sovereign, let not the sound 

 of grievances, though it be sad, seem harsh to your 

 princely ears: it is but &quot; gemitus columbae,&quot; the mour- 

 ing of a dove ; with that patience and humility of 

 heart which appertained to loving and loyal subjects. 

 And far be it from us, but that in the midst of the 

 sense of our grievances we should remember and ac 

 knowledge the infinite benefits, which by your ma 

 jesty, next under God, we do enjoy ; which bind us 

 to wish unto your life fulness of days ; and unto your 

 line royal, a succession and continuance even unto 

 the world s end. 



It resteth, that unto these petitions here in 

 cluded I do add one more that goeth to them all : 

 which is, that if in the words and frame of them 

 there be any thing offensive ; or that we have ex 

 pressed ourselves otherwise than we should or would ; 

 that your majesty would cover it and cast the veil of 

 your grace upon it ; and accept of our good inten- 



