Зображення сторінки
PDF
ePub

A.C.1684-5 nage, an old caftle on his own eftate, which he converted into a place of arms. He was immediately joined by five and twenty hundred of his own vaffals and dependents: then he published his manifeftos, and wrote circular letters to his friends; but they had been previoufly fecured by an order of council, upon the news of his arrival at the Orkneys. By means of his three fhips, and a great number of fmall boats, he tranfplanted his men to the ifle of Bute, where he remained unactive until he received intelligence that three fhips of war and fome frigates were ordered to diftrefs him by fea, while the duke of Gordon, the marquis of Athol, and the earl of Arran, advanced against him by land, at the head of different bodies of forces. Thence he paffed over into Argylefhire, from whence he marched towards Dumbarton, after having moved his artillery and ammunition into another caftle, and left a small garrifon for its defence. The place was immediately taken, and his veffels fell into the hands of the enemy. This lofs difcouraged him and his followers to fuch a degree, that they now thought of nothing but providing for their own fafety. Finding themselves hotly purfued from place to place, they difperfed into fmall bodies, that they might have the better chance for Is taken, escaping. The earl himfelf, after having been

and exe

cuted.

wounded, thought proper to quit his horfe, and was taken by a peafant, ftanding up to his neck in water. Being conducted to Edinburgh, he began to prepare for death with the moft chearful refignation; and in a few days was beheaded, in confequence of his former fentence. Rumbold, owner of the Rye-houfe, who had accompanied him in this expedition, together with one Aylaffe, nearly allied to the old earl of Clarendon, were brought to trial in London, and condemned. Rumbold denied that the perfons in the Rye-house plot had

ever formed a refolution to affaffinate the king. He A,C.1634-5 laughed at the notion of divine hereditary right: believed that allegiance and protection were reciprocal. He faid he could not think God had made the greater part of mankind with faddles on their backs and bridles in their mouths, and a few with boots and fpurs to ride them at their pleafure. Aylaffe was examined by the king in person, who exhorted him to discover their correfpondents in England, faying, "Mr. Aylaffe, you know it is in

[ocr errors]

my power to pardon you." He boldly replied, that although it was in his power, it was not in his nature and the king would not difprove the truth of the affertion, for both were executed.

Monmouth

The duke of Monmouth, according to his pro- The duke of mife, failed from the Texel with three veffels, on the lands in the twenty-fourth day of May, and on the eleventh weft of day of June landed with about fourfcore followers England. at Lyme in,Dorsetshire, of which he took poffeffion without refiftance. Here he published a manifefto, conceived in very bitter terms against the king, whom he reproached as author of the fire of London, of the popifh plot, the murder of Godfrey, the affaffination of Effex, the diffolution of parliaments, the fubornation of juries, the moft flagrant acts of tyranny and oppreffion. He taxed him with having poifoned his brother; declared he himself was come to redress the grievances of the nation; that his mother had been the lawful wife of Charles; and he invited the people to join him in his laudable undertaking. The parliament was no fooner informed of Monmouth's landing, than they pre- . fented an addrefs to the king, affuring him of their zeal and affiftance in quelling this rebellion. They befought him to publish a proclamation, offering a reward of five thousand pounds to any person who fhould take the duke dead or alive and they brought in a bill of attainder against him; which,

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

A. C. 1685. in two days, paffed through both houfes. They likewife voted a grant to the king of four hundred thousand pounds for his prefent occafions: then the parliament was adjourned. The country people flocked to the standard of Monmouth fo faft, that in two or three days his army was augmented to two thousand men; but he was not joined by any perfon of confequence. Receiving intimation that the duke of Albemarle advanced with a strong body of militia to block him up in Lyme, he marched to Axminster; and Albemarle retreated with precipitation. At Taunton the duke of Monmouth was received amidft the loud acclamations of the people: his army being confiderably increased, he affumed the title of King, and was proclaimed with great folemnity. He then iffued a proclamation, fetting a price upon the head of the duke of York; a fecond, declaring the prefent parliament a feditious affembly; and the third, denouncing Albemarle a traitor. On the twentyfirst day of June he marched to Bridgewater, where he was likewife well received; and from thence advanced to the neighbourhood of Bristol, the inhabitants of which were well affected to his perfon and defign; but they were kept in awe by their governor, the duke of Beaufort. Monmouth understanding that the king's troops were on the march to give him battle, refolved to retire to Bridgewater. He was refufed admittance into Bath; but he entered Froome without oppofition. The king was not a little perplexed and alarmed at his progrefs. The regular troops being difperfed through different parts of the kingdom, he ordered the militia of the western counties to be raised: he recalled fix regiments of English and Scots that were in the service of the States-general. The prince of Orange offered to come over and affift him in perfon; but this offer he declined. Having

affembled

affembled about three thousand foot and dragoons, A. C. 1685. -he bestowed the command of this little army upon . the earl of Feversham, nephew to the famous marechal de Turenne; and this nobleman took post at Sedgemore, a village in the neighbourhood of Bridgewater, while the militia of that country was affembled by the dukes of Beaufort, Somerlet, Albemarle, and the earl of Pembroke.

[ocr errors]

and brought

Monmouth, who had returned to Bridgewater, Is defeated finding himself in danger of being furrounded by to the the enemy, whofe number every day increased, re- block. folved to attack the earl of Feversham at Sedgemore. On the fifth of July, he began his march about eleven at night in profound filence; but falling in with Dumbarton's regiment, which happened to be in an advanced poft, they alarmed the royalifts, who were foon provided for his reception. The action began at day-break; and lord Grey, who commanded Monmouth's horse, was routed at the first onset. The duke, at the head of the infantry, maintained his ground with great gallantry, until he was charged in flank by the victorious horfe of the enemy, and his men would no longer stand to their arms. About three hundred were killed in the engagement, and a thoufand in the pursuit. He retired with about fifty horse; but these foon dispersed, and he rode towards Dorsetshire until his horse could carry him no farther. Then he alighted, and exchanging apparel with a fhepherd, fled on foot, attended by a German count, who had accompanied him from Holland. Being quite exhausted with hunger and fatigue, they lay down in a field, and covered themselves with ftraw. The fhepherd being found in his cloaths, was brought to lord Lumley, who, from his information and the fagacity of fome hounds, detected the duke in this forlorn fituation, with raw peas in his pocket, which he had gather

ed

A.C. 1683. ed in the fields to fuftain life. His fpirit had quite forfaken him; and he manifefted the meaneft de-jection. He wrote a piteous letter to the king, imploring his compaffion; and another to the queen dowager, craving her mediation. She interceded for him, and obtained the king's promise to give him an audience. At this interview the duke fell upon his knees, and begged his life in the most abject terms. James asked him several queftions, defired him to fign a paper, declaring the late king had affured him that he had never been married nor contracted to the duke's mother. When he had made this acknowledgment, the king told him his crime was of fuch a nature, that it could not be pardoned; and that he had nothing to do but to prepare himself for another world. The queen, who was prefent, is faid to have infulted him in the most outrageous manner. The duke, perceiving he had nothing to hope from the clemency of his uncle, recollected his fpirits, rofe and retired with an air of difdain; nevertheless, he renewed his intreaties for life, and even begged a refpite for a few days, which was denied. All hopes being vanished, he compofed himself for death, which he encountered with indifference. On the fcaffold he profeffed his forrow for the blood which had been fhed; and declared he had ever meaned well to the nation. He touched the ax, and said, it was not sharp enough. He gave the executioner half of what he intended for his reward, telling him his fervant would give the reft, provided he fhould perform his part with dexterity, and not behave fo butcherly as he had done at the death of lord Ruffel. The man was feized with an univerfal trepidation. When the duke laid down his head and made the fignal, he ftruck three times ineffectually, and then threw down the ax; but the

fheriff

« НазадПродовжити »