His
Majesties
Speech
to
the
Maior
,
Aldermen
,
and
Commonalty
of
the
Citie
of
Oxford
.
Mr.
MAIOR
,
IT
being
in
this
City
,
whereof
you
are
under
Us
,
the
immediate
Governour
,
We
should
think
it
fit
to
deliver
Our
intentions
to
you
in
the
first
place
,
but
that
the
affaires
for
which
We
caused
both
you
and
these
worthy
Gentlemen
to
be
summoned
,
tends
to
one
purpose
and
effect
,
and
therefore
in
common
Wee
shall
give
notice
to
you
of
Our
desires
,
which
surely
(
so
good
a
confidence
have
We
of
your
loyalty
to
Us
and
Our
Cause
)
We
shall
not
be
readier
to
propound
to
you
then
you
to
will
be
prompt
to
accomplish
.
But
would
heaven
had
been
pleased
to
have
so
disposed
of
the
businesse
of
this
Our
Kingdome
,
that
We
had
never
had
any
cause
to
make
these
Propositions
to
you
;
Wee
should
rather
then
have
indevoured
to
have
augmented
your
estates
by
Our
bounty
,
then
have
any
wayes
diminished
them
by
Our
necessity
.
But
there
is
no
resisting
the
Divine
pleasure
,
whose
judgements
are
inscrutable
,
and
who
for
Our
offences
,
and
the
sins
of
Our
people
,
hath
been
pleased
to
inflict
on
this
Our
late
happy
Land
,
all
the
miseries
which
can
arise
from
a
civill
war
,
then
which
no
greater
can
be
contingent
to
mankind
▪
for
to
behold
brothers
killing
brothers
,
fathers
their
children
,
and
children
their
fathers
;
to
se●
the
honest
and
well
gotten
goods
of
divers
substantiall
men
of
Our
Kingdome
taken
violently
from
them
,
and
by
their
fellow-subjects
,
acquain●●●●●
and
friends
;
to
view
houses
and
townships
fired
and
plundered
,
certainly
are
spectacles
of
as
much
horror
and
pity
as
can
be
presented
,
to
dazle
,
and
,
as
it
were
,
make
men
sicken
at
the
eyes
by
reviewing
such
lamentable
objects
,
and
all
these
in
this
Our
Kingdome
are
daily
conspicuous
,
which
is
now
so
much
more
wretched
and
unfortunate
,
by
how
much
it
hath
been
in
times
past
,
happy
and
flourishing
,
war
and
tumult
being
the
more
dreadfull
and
oppressive
to
Our
Subjects
,
because
they
have
beene
rarely
,
and
not
these
many
yeeres
seene
among
them
,
peace
having
so
long
been
the
Genius
of
this
Island
,
whereas
in
the
Low-countries
and
Germany
,
where
the
people
are
inured
and
habituated
to
military
troubles
,
they
indure
them
with
even
a
naturall
patience
;
as
birds
,
who
from
the
nest
taken
and
put
into
Cages
,
sing
there
as
cheerefully
as
if
they
were
at
libertie
;
those
oppressions
by
custome
being
made
tolerable
to
them
,
which
to
Our
Subjects
appeare
insufferable
.
And
We
may
justly
protest
to
you
,
Gentlemen
,
We
are
more
afflicted
at
the
sufferings
of
Our
people
,
then
forty
for
Our
particular
grievances
,
though
surely
but
few
Kings
of
th●●
or
any
Christian
Kingdome
whatsoever
hath
undergone
the
like
disgraces
and
afflictions
that
Our
Se●●e
hath
●one
:
First
affronted
at
Our
owne
Palace
,
and
driven
away
from
thence
,
and
consequently
from
Our
Parliament
which
●●th
given
life
to
all
these
ruines
)
by
a
multitude
even
of
the
●●●●est
sort
or
Our
owne
Subjects
,
since
which
time
We
have
〈◇〉
Our
Magazines
seised
on
and
imployed
against
Our
Selfe
,
Our
Navie
detained
from
Us
;
nay
,
We
Our selfe
denyed
entrance
into
Our
owne
townes
,
unlesse
Wee
would
contract
Our
traine
to
the
appointment
of
Our
Subjects
;
witnesse
Sir
Iohn
Hothams
usage
to
Us
at
Hall
;
and
besides
,
Wee
have
undergone
many
wants
of
the
due
appertainments
to
Majesty
,
both
in
Our
house-keeping
and
other
wayes
,
being
reduced
to
more
exigents
then
divers
private
men
;
many
of
Our
meniall
servants
refusing
to
give
their
attendance
on
Us
,
and
We
,
in
a
mockery
of
fortune
,
forced
to
goe
from
place
to
place
to
beg
assistance
and
reliefe
from
Our
owne
Subjects
.
But
God
in
his
good
time
will
give
an
end
to
these
troubles
:
in
the
interim
,
We
must
as
well
as
We
can
,
provide
for
Our
defence
,
and
the
safety
of
those
who
depend
upon
Us
:
Our
Parliament
and
Wee
cannot
yet
be
reconciled
,
though
for
Our
part
We
should
beg
no
other
happinesse
of
heaven
,
no
greater
benefit
in
this
life
,
then
to
have
all
differences
attoned
betwixt
Us
;
for
whilest
we
are
at
this
variance
,
whosoever
are
gainers
(
which
certainly
are
but
●ew
)
We
are
sure
to
be
loser
:
Wee
lose
Our
Royalty
in
losing
those
additaments
and
supportments
which
should
sustaine
it
,
being
debarred
the
benefit
of
Our
Exchequer
revenues
and
custome
;
Wee
lose
Our
strength
in
the
losse
of
our
Subjects
(
the
strength
of
Kings
)
and
Wee
lose
that
which
is
more
pretious
to
Us
then
all
things
else
,
Our
peace
and
quiet
of
mind
,
never
free
from
cogitations
of
Our
peoples
injuries
and
Our
owne
sufferings
;
so
that
We
are
even
growne
old
in
the
vigour
of
Our
yeeres
by
this
continuall
perplexity
of
care
and
troubles
,
which
when
they
will
arrive
to
a
happy
conclusion
puts
Our
augury
to
Judge
,
though
no
indevour
of
Ours
shall
in
any
wise
be
wanting
that
may
speedily
terminate
the
misery
of
these
distractions
:
But
in
the
meane
time
Our
Parliament
hath
of
Us
infinite
advantages
;
they
abound
in
money
to
pay
their
army
with
,
whilest
Ours
are
〈…〉
to
maintaine
themselves
(
as
it
were
in
charitie
to
Our
service
)
at
their
owne
cost
and
expence
;
the
Parliament
having
daily
brought
into
Guildhall
for
their
use
(
as
Wee
are
surely
informed
)
plate
,
money
;
and
other
considerable
aids
of
horses
subscribed
for
,
not
onely
from
all
parts
of
the
populous
and
wealthie
City
of
London
,
but
also
from
divers
of
the
adjoyning
Counties
,
as
Hertford
,
Essex
,
and
such
like
;
so
that
they
cheerefully
may
undertake
these
warrs
,
having
so
long
a
stocke
of
coyne
to
support
them
.
A
sad
and
unhappy
accident
it
is
for
Us
,
that
Our
owne
Subjects
should
with
such
willingnesse
part
with
their
estates
,
nay
,
lives
against
their
Soveraigne
:
And
surely
,
should
these
fatall
wars
(
which
heaven
avert
)
continue
long
,
the
very
money
which
is
in
the
power
and
at
the
dispose
of
the
Parliament
would
sustaine
them
against
Us
,
and
be
a
maine
blow
to
Our
Cause
,
We
having
already
made
what
shifts
We
can
possible
with
Our
honour
for
the
advancement
of
monies
for
these
our
wars
,
&
yet
are
We
neither
so
well
furnished
as
Our
occasions
require
,
nor
can
they
last
long
without
some
new
supplyes
.
The
cause
then
why
We
sent
for
you
,
Mr.
Mayor
and
your
Brethren
,
&
for
you
Gentlemed
,
the
High
Sheriffes
and
Justices
of
this
and
the
neighbouring
Countie
,
was
to
let
you
have
a
true
understanding
of
Our
urgent
necessities
,
that
by
the
knowledge
of
them
you
might
be
excited
as
much
as
in
you
lyes
,
to
endevour
Our
reliefe
,
which
Wee
conjecture
you
may
effect
to
some
proportionable
quantitie
of
money
,
if
you
Mr.
Mayor
and
your
Brethren
,
will
summon
together
all
the
able
men
and
heads
of
your
Citie
,
and
to
them
plainly
infer
the
wants
of
Us
their
Soveraigne
,
and
induce
as
much
as
in
you
lyes
(
according
to
the
example
of
the
Citizens
of
London
,
for
the
use
of
the
Parliament
)
to
contribute
everie
man
what
money
,
plate
,
or
horses
,
his
abilitie
can
spare
to
furnish
Our
occasions
with
,
yet
Wee
would
not
have
you
mistake
Us
in
this
matter
,
nor
lay
this
as
an
injunction
upon
your
Citizens
,
which
We
only
intended
to
intreat
from
them
as
the
testimony
of
their
loves
;
for
that
were
to
invert
and
alter
the
state
of
Our
meaning
quite
,
and
it
would
give
a
large
cause
to
them
,
who
without
any
reason
at
all
,
forge
occasions
to
scandalize
Our
proceedings
,
to
exclaime
that
where
the
King
could
not
borrow
money
by
faire
meanes
,
there
He
took
it
by
force
,
as
divers
have
already
untruly
reported
of
Us
;
for
never
will
We
of
a
King
,
the
Protectour
and
Defender
,
turne
the
robber
and
destroyer
of
our
good
Subjects
:
No
,
let
everie
man
,
as
the
Israelites
in
the
wildernesse
to
the
building
the
Ark
of
the
Testament
,
off●r
with
a
willing
mind
what
hee
pleases
;
neither
directly
or
indirectly
,
by
force
or
threatning
language
,
fright
mens
contribution
out
of
them
:
not
that
Wee
did
ever
intend
to
receive
as
a
gift
,
what
Wee
intend
only
as
a
loane
,
and
will
with
all
integritie
,
on
our
Royall
word
,
see
honestly
repaid
to
the
uttermost
farthing
,
and
We
hope
our
good
Subjects
here
will
as
soon
take
our
Royall
word
for
their
securitie
,
as
they
at
London
have
done
,
the
publike
faith
for
those
vast
and
almost
incredible
sums
,
which
have
been
raised
for
the
maintenance
of
the
Parliaments
Forces
:
We
are
confident
We
shall
pay
as
honestly
as
they
shall
ever
bee
paid
there
,
though
Wee
are
not
altogether
so
wealthy
.
God
in
his
good
time
will
restore
Us
to
our
owne
,
and
then
Wee
shall
have
meanes
sufficient
to
pay
all
our
debts
.
This
is
all
,
Mr.
Mayor
,
Wee
have
at
this
present
to
say
to
your selfe
and
Brethren
:
And
what
is
spoken
to
the
Gentlemen
,
Wee
would
have
you
conceive
is
uttered
to
you
;
Wee
would
desire
you
our
two
Sheriffes
of
our
Counties
of
Oxford
and
Berks
,
and
you
the
Justices
of
Peace
of
our
said
Counties
,
to
intimate
our
said
request
to
all
the
Gentlemen
of
abilitie
,
and
Yeomen
of
our
said
Counties
,
our
wants
are
perspicuous
and
obvious
to
your
understandings
.
Nor
can
there
be
a
more
noble
addition
to
the
honour
of
your
loyalties
,
than
that
posteritie
shall
report
of
you
,
that
you
relieved
your
King
in
his
necessitie
.
And
for
our
after
resentment
and
remembrance
of
your
fidelitie
and
courtesie
to
U●…
Leave
that
to
Us
,
to
think
and
determine
of
.
And
last
of
all
,
Wee
request
both
you
Master
Mayor
,
an●…
you
Gentlemen
,
to
be
as
speedy
as
you
can
in
the
pursuit
o●…
this
businesse
;
and
so
returne
Us
your
answer
.
It
will
bee
the
last
time
We
shall
trouble
you
in
this
nature
.
Wee
verily
beleeve
;
for
Wee
hope
a
speedy
reconciliation
betwixt
Us
and
our
High
Court
of
Parliament
will
give
an
●nd
to
these
wofull
distractions
,
in
an
happie
peace
;
and
then
Wee
shall
take
care
to
repay
these
moneys
,
and
provide
for
all
our
peoples
well-fare
.
FINIS
.