Extracts
from accession speech to Parliament,19 March 1603
ON KINGSHIP.
I do acknowledge, that the special and greatest point of difference that is
between a rightful king and an usurping tyrant is in this: That whereas the
proud and ambitious tyrant does think his kingdom and people are only ordained
for satisfaction of his desires and unreasonable appetites; The righteous and
just king does by the contrary acknowledge himself to be ordained for the
procuring of the wealth and prosperity of his people, and that his greatest
and principal worldly felicity must consist in their prosperity. If you be
rich I cannot be poor: if you be happy I cannot but be fortunate: and I
protest that your welfare shall ever be my greatest care and contentment: and
that I am a servant it is most true, that as I am Head and Governor of all the
people in my Dominion who are my natural vassals and subjects, considering
them in numbers and distinct ranks; So if we will take the whole people as one
body and mass, then as the head is ordained for the body, and not the body for
the head; so must a righteous king know himself to be ordained for his people,
and not his people for him.
ecclesiastes viii:iv