Monmouth paced with quick uneasy steps up and down the further end of the room until all were seated, when he turned towards them and addressed them.
'You will have surmised, gentlemen,' he said, 'that I have called you together to-day that I might have the benefit of your collective wisdom in determining what our next steps should be.

We have now marched some forty miles into our kingdom, and we have met wherever we have gone with the warm welcome which we expected.

Close upon eight thousand men follow our standards, and as many more have been turned away for want of arms.

We have twice met the enemy, with the effect that we have armed ourselves with their muskets and field-pieces.

From first to last there hath been nothing which has not prospered with us.