No. 54.

Reply to the above. Dated 29 March, 1603.

Id., fo. 76.

To the most high & mighty Prince our most dread & gracious Soveraigne Lord King James ye First King of England, Scotland, France & Ireland.

Most mighty prince & our most dread & gracious Soveraigne Wee cannot expresse the great comfort and exceeding ioy conceived here for this great blessing of Almighty God in preserving yor sacred Matie for this yor right and yor right for yu and yu for us yor Liege people of this yor Realme wch is increased & redoubled by the perfect union and concurrence of all yor Maties faithful subjects throughout yor Realme especially of this yor Highnes City in harty love & loyall affeccõn towards yor Highnes a Prince so famous and renowned through the world for yor great wisdome piety iustice Magnanimity & other great & princely vertues whereby our selves and all other yor Loyall Subjects of this your Land are made assured of ye continuance and increase of that happy peace holy religion & other great & infinite blessings of Almighty God, which wee have enjoyed soe many yeares by the happy governmt of or late gracious and glorious Queene of famous memory.

What thancks sufficient can wee render to Almighty God for this his mercy and unspeakable goodnes towards this Land whoe hath thus tempered or great sorrow wth a greatr comfort & repaired this or great losse of a Mother with the advantage of a greater gain in the succession of yor Highnes as a Father which is accompanied wth the union of both Kingdoms to the great Strengthening of yor Highnes and noe lesse terror of ye Enemies (if any be) of yor Highnes person & estate.

Touching or selves to whom the Charge & preservacõn of this yor Chamber and principall City is comitted as wee have endeavored with all or powers to advance yor Highnes most iust clayme and rightfull title to the Succession of this yor Kingdome soe or future care & indeavour shall extend it selfe to ye very uttermost of our witts & power to preserve ye same wth all humble duty & circumspeccõn for yor Highnes use agt all power & opposicõn both of this Land (if any happen as God forfend) and the whole world. For assurance of wch or Loyalty & devoted loves towards yor Highnes Wee have sent unto yu or speciall Messenger to witt or Secretary & Remembrancer Mr. Doctor Fletcher a man (wee heare) non unknowne unto yor Highnes As alsoe to returne unto us the Significacõn of yor Highnes pleasure and direccõn in such matters as shall conduce to the well ordering of this yor Chamber Wch wee humbly pray Almighty God & intreate yor Highnes for yor owne and yor peoples sake may be accelerate wth all safety and due caucõn of yor person to the publique ioy both of or selves and yor whole Realme From London this xxixth of March 1603.

Your Maties most humble & loyall Subjects

The Maior & Aldermen of your Highnes Citty & Chamber of London.