s
the only business which her Majesty hath to propose to her faithful
subjects at this time.

"Her Majesty also hath this gracious confidence in all the Estates
here now assembled, that when they shall consider with what
dexterity, pains, and travail her Majesty for ten years hath managed
the affairs of this kingdom, and with such good fortune that all the
counsels and intentions of her Majesty have been followed with such
happy success, that the State, with great honour and reputation,
hath escaped many difficulties of war, and yet enjoys such quiet,
that they cannot judge or conclude that her Majesty would now make
any alteration were it not for the good and safety of this nation.

"The Estates, which have been formerly assembled, know very well how
earnestly her Majesty pressed that the kingdom and government might
be provided of a successor, thereby to avoid and cut off the sudden
accidents which happen when a government is uncertain; for which
reason the Estates in that point did agree and think good heretofore
that his Highness should be chosen and made hereditary Prince and
successor to the crown. All this her Majesty did propose and urge
till it was brought to the effect which that time produced.

"And to the end that her Majesty, during her life, may have the
pleasure to see the happy effect of this design, and that the entire
government may be rendered into the hands of his Royal Highness,
therefore her Majesty hath resolved to quit the crown and the
privileges of it, and to put them into the hands of his Royal
Highness.

"And although this resolution of her Majesty may seem strange and
unexpected to the Estates of the kingdom, nevertheless, according to
her gracious confidence, she believes that they will consent to her
quiet in retiring herself from so heavy a burden, by their
contributing an assent to the proposed alteration.

"Her Majesty likewise assures herself (as the Estates by their
former acts have always testified) of the esteem which they have of
the person and of the rare virtues and well-known qualities of his
Royal Highness; and that they will find that he will employ them to
a prudent government and to their great advantage, and that at
length they will not be deceived by this change, or any ways
prejudiced: for which end her Majesty promiseth