Two Speeches, The first spoken by the Kings most Excellent Majesty.  
At a general Council held at OXFORD, December 29.  
Wherein his Majesty declares his inability to maintain the War any longer. without the Lords shall raise present supply of Money, for the maintenance of the said ARMY.  
The second, spoken by the Earl of Northampton, in answer to his Majesty's Demands.  
C R  HONI SOIT QVI MALl Y PENSE  royal blazon or coat of arms 
January, 2, Printed for I. H. and W. Whightfield. 1643.   


A SPEECH Spoken by the Kings most Excellent MAJESTY.  
At a General Council held at Oxford December 29. 1642.  
MY Lords, and Gentlemen which are here assembled according to Our Command,  
We in Our tender care of the General good, have thought it necessary to declare unto you the truth of Our present estate and condition, which I believe will appear very deplorable to you, and all other Our loving and loyal Subjects.  
The great summe● which We have received from every one of you, (We willingly and gratefully acknowledge) toward the maintenance of these wars, in which you are jointly engaged with us, for the maintaining our Regal and Royal Prerogative, and the support of the true Protestant Religion Professed by Queen Elizabeth and maintained by our Royal father under whose government this Kingdom enjoyed so many years of Peace and plenty.  
But having by your assistance gone thus far, and brought this glorious structure to the height and view of foreign Princes, who with Avaricious long wait to see the end of our proceed, let us not now for want of your assistance let fall the work, and make ourselves a scorn and byword to all Nations.  
Therefore in these two heads consists the crown of all our actions.  
Either you must advance some present moneys, whereby our Army may be maintained and kept from mutining till such time as we shall gain power to enlarge our quarters, and by that means, our men be enabled to supply their wants, or on the contrary to endeavour to gain an honourable accommodation of peace, before our exigences are discovered or made known to the adverse party.  
For common reason tells us that our excursions being stopped and our dragooners so fare impoverished, it will be a means to increase mutines, which mutines will easily be discovered and the enemy take advantage of them, and should they find so fair an opportunity they would not easily be won to an accommodation, except it were very advantageous on their party, and very preiudicicall to us.  
So that now consider whether you think yourselves able to maintain the cause which you have undertook or embrace an accommodation as is proffered  
For since We cannot perform with Honour what We have undertaken, let your present moderation, cure the malady your former rashness hath made, let us not proceed, but with all possible expedition, endeavour to obtains an Honourable accommodation.   
Hi● Majesty having ended his Speech, after some Consultation had among themselves, the Earl of Northampton returned this Answer, in the name of all the Lords.  

MAy it please your Majesty  
We your most Loyal Subjects have seriously weighed the tenor and extent of your Majesty's desires and in Answer to your Majesty's Propositions, we have thought it requisite to return this Answer.  
1. For your Majesty's Proposition that we should raise a present sum of money, to defray the charge of the Army, 'tis not unknown to your Majesty, with what willingness and alacrity we have exhausted our Treasure to the ruin of our present Estates, having disbursed all the Coin that we could raise upon our Lands or credits, 'tis not unknown likewise, that since the beginning of these Wars between your Majesty and your Parliament, we have received no Rents, our Tenants being enjoined the contrary, by which means we are so necessitated, that we have hardly means to defray our present necessities, and being so, how fare unable we are to raise such a considerable sum, your Majesty may easily conceive.  
2. As touching an Honourable Accommodation, so it might be procured with Honour to your Majesty, and security to us your Majesty's Servants, I verily believe that no true Subject but would willingly and joyfully embrace it; but on the contrary, if a Peace cannot be obtained, without the exposal of our lives to the censure of the Law, (as Delinquents) for our Loyalty to your Majesty, we hope your Majesty will not condescend to, and we would rather hazard our lives to the last minute, and die with Honour, then submit our lives and honours to the censure of the Law, and at so dear a rate as the loss of both, purchase a brand of dishonour to our Posterities forever.  
This we leave to your Majesty's Royal consideration, promising to be assistant to your Royal Majesty, to the hazard of our lives, so fare as our Honours will permit, either in Peace or War, according as your Majesty in your Royal wisdom shall think fit.   
FINIS