When I heard it, I could give no rest unto my thoughts until I had reformed it, and 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 tho’ 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 have heard that other gentlemen also of the House, who stand as free, have also spoken as freely in it; which gives us to know that no respects or interests have moved them, other than the minds they bear to suffer no diminution of our honour and our subjects’ love unto us. The zeal of which affection, tending to ease my people and knit their hearts unto us, I embrace with a princely care far above all earthly treasures. I esteem my people’s love, more than 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,[64] and what perils I have passed, some if not all of you know; but none of these things do move me, or ever made me fear but it’s God that hath delivered me. And in my governing this land I have ever set the last judgment day before mine eyes, and so to rule as I shall be judged and answer before a higher Judge, to whose judgment seat I do appeal, in that never thought was cherished in my heart that tended not to my people’s good. And if my princely bounty have 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 have neglected or converted what I have committed unto them, I hope God will not lay their culps[65] to my charge. To be a King and wear a crown, is a thing more glorious to them that see it than it’s 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 to myself or my sexly weakness, I were not worthy to live, and of all most unworthy of the mercies I have received at God’s hands, but to God only and wholly all is given and ascribed.