London and the Kingdom - Volume 3 / A History Derived Mainly from the Archives at Guildhall in the Custody of the Corporation of the City of London.

by Reginald R. Sharpe

Journal 26 fo. 75b.

Trustie and welbeloved we greit you hartelly well beinge informed of youre great forduartnes in that iuste and honorable action of proclaminge ws youre Souverane lord and King immediatlye after the deceas oure late darrest Sister the quene, wherin yo^u have gevin a singulare good proufe of your ancient fidelitie, a reputation hereditarie to that oure Citie of Lundon, beinge the Chamber of oure Imperiall crowne and ever free from all shedowes of tumultous and onlawful courses wee could not omitt w^th all the speid possible wee might to give you hereby a teast of oure thankfull mynde for the same and withall assurance that yo^u cannot crave anie thing of ws fitt for the mentenance of yow all in generall and everie one of yow in particulare but it shalbe moast willingly performed by avs whose speciall care shall ever be to provide for the continewance and incresse of your present happines desiringe yow in the meane tyme to goe constantly forduart in doinge all and whatsumer things yow shall find necessary or expedient for the good goverment of oure said Citye in execution of Justice as yow have bene in wse to doe in oure said darrest Sisters tyme, till oure pleasure be knowen unto yow in the contrare This not douting but ye will doe as ye may be fully assured of oure gratious favour towards yow in the hieghest degrie, we bid you hartely farewell Halyrudhous the 28 of Marche 1603.

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 y^e 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 yo^r sacred Ma^tie for this yo^r right and yo^r right for y^u and y^u for us yo^r Liege people of this yo^r Realme w^ch is increased & redoubled by the perfect union and concurrence of all yo^r Ma^ties faithful subjects throughout yo^r Realme especially of this yo^r Highnes City in harty love & loyall affeccõn towards yo^r Highnes a Prince so famous and renowned through the world for yo^r great wisdome piety iustice Magnanimity & other great & princely vertues whereby our selves and all other yo^r Loyall Subjects of this your Land are made assured of y^e 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 governm^t of o^r 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 o^r great sorrow w^th a great^r comfort & repaired this o^r great losse of a Mother with the advantage of a greater gain in the succession of yo^r Highnes as a Father which is accompanied w^th the union of both Kingdoms to the great Strengthening of yo^r Highnes and noe lesse terror of y^e Enemies (if any be) of yo^r Highnes person & estate.

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