A true Copie of a SPEECH Spoken to HIS SACRED MAJESTIE, CHARLES The Second: In St. Paul's Church-yard, as His MAjESTIE passed from the Tower of London to White-hall the day before His Royall Coronation, April 22 d, 1661.
By James Hewlett, one of the Children now remaining in Christ Hospitall.
LONDON, Printed by James Flesher, 1661.
HIstory tells us, that such piercing Raies darted forth from King Philip's countenance, as dazled the eyes of Demosthenes the Oratour so much, that his voluble tongue forgat its duty, and was lock'd up in silence.
Much more might I fear the like to befall me, being now before so glorious a Sun, as may well dazle the eyes of so poor a Nothing as I am. Who am I, that I should adventure to invite the ears of so great a Majesty to so contemptible a sound, and the eyes of such a Glory to the beholding my self, and these vile Abjects? But I have heard, [Page 2] that as there is a Majestick Glory in Your Person, so there is a Royall Goodnesse in Your Disposition. This hath emboldned this poor Dust to beseech You to accept of two Mites from these the lowest and meanest of all Your Subjects.
Our first Mite is the expression of our Joy for Your Majesties wonderfull preservation in Your absence, Your safe arrivall to us, and Your presence among us. This Year may well be call'd The Yeare of Wonders; and this Day of your Solemnity may be term'd the Birthday of England's Happiness, and therefore deserves to be registred in the Kalender of the hearts of all Loyall subjects.
We have all seen those Magnalia Dei plainly discovered, and have observed [Page 3] the wheels of Divine Providence in a seeming contrariety; yet the motion at last to be true and regular. Blessed be that God, that in the midst of all our dismall Conflagrations did provide your Majesty a Zoar to rest in, and now at last hath so calm'd those storms and State-Convulsions, that You may this day encircle your Royall brows with a glorious Crown, and be advanced to your Throne in much Serenity.
But Mites, as they are of no great value, so they are pieces of no great quantity: I shall therefore offer up our second, which is a Mite of prayer, and then cease to put farther stop to this daies Solemnity.
We have two Petitions, the one to, the other for your Majesty. We humbly [Page 4] beseech you (Most Dread Sovereign) that as at first EDWARD the Sixt, who once sway'd the Scepter of this Kingdome lay'd a foundation for the reception of poor Orphans, who have since been upheld by all Your Royall Ancestors, especially Your late Father of blessed Memorie; so You would shine upon us still by Your gracious favour and Princely indulgence. There are above Eleven hundred of us, part whereof have in the name of all, presented themselves this day as lively Monuments of God's mercy, and reall Objects of Christian charity: for whom through the pious care and faithfull industry of the Right Honourable the Lord Major, Aldermen, Governours, and liberall Benefactors, a Table hath [Page 5] been spread, and other Necessaries both for Soule and Body afforded, even in the midst of those Exigencies, that exposed others to Want and Penury.
But I am afraid any longer (Most Gracious Sovereign) to detain your Royall ears with childish Smatterings. I have done.
Heaven grant You long to live, and prosperously to Reigne over us, that when You have finished God's work, having sate upon this Earthly Throne Beloved, You may leave it Lamented.
In the mean time let Orphans eccho forth with gratefull acclamations,
God bless King CHARLES the Second.