least, if not weeks, there seemed to have been more foundation for the sanguine hopes of Lord Grey, and others, his followers, than the Duke had supposed. The first step taken by the invader, was to issue a proclamation, which he caused to be read in the market-place. In this instrument he touched upon what were, no doubt, thought to be the most popular topicks; and loaded James, and his Catholick friends, with every imputation which had at any time been thrown against them. This declaration appears to have been well received, and the numbers that came in to him were very considerable; but his means of arming them were limited, nor had he much confidence, for the purpose of any important military operation, in men unused to discipline, and wholly unacquainted with the art of war. Without examining the question, whether or not Monmouth, from his professional prejudices, carried, as some have alledged he did, his diffidence of unpractised soldiers, and new levies, too far, it seems clear that, in his situation, the best, or rather the only chance of success, was to be looked for in councils of the boldest kind. If he could not immediately strike some important stroke, it was not likely that he ever should; nor indeed was he in a condition to wait. He could not flatter himself, as Argyle had done, that he had a strong country, full of relations and dependents, where he might secure himself till the co-operation of his confederate, or some other favourable circumstance, might G g CHAPTER III. 1685. CHAPTER 1685. Bridport. men, put it in his power to act more efficaciously. Of any brilliant success in Scotland he could not, at this time, entertain any hope, nor if he had, could he rationally expect that any events in that quarter would make the sort of impression here, which, on the other hand, his success would produce in Scotland. With money he was wholly unprovided, nor does it appear, whatever may have been the inclination of some considerable such as Lords Macclesfield, Brandon, Delamere, and others, that any persons of that description were engaged to join in his enterprise. His reception had been above his hopes, and his recruits more numerous than could be expected, or than he was able to furnish with arms; while on the other hand, the forces in arms against him consisted chiefly in a militia, formidable neither from numbers nor discipline, and moreover suspected of disaffection. The present moment therefore, seemed to offer the most favourable opportunity for enterprise of any that was like to occur; but the unfortunate Monmouth judged otherwise, and, as if he were to defend rather than to attack, directed his chief policy. to the avoiding of a general action. His success at It being however absolutely necessary to dislodge some troops which the Earl of Faversham had thrown into Bridport, a detachment of three hundred men was made for that purpose, which had the most complete success, notwithstanding the cowardice of Lord Grey, who commanded them. This nobleman, who had been so instrumental in persuading his friend to the invasion, upon the first appearance of danger, is said to have left the troops whom he commanded, and to have sought his own personal safety in flight. The troops carried Bridport, to the shame of the commander who had deserted them and returned to Lyme. It is related by Ferguson, that Monmouth said to Matthews, "What shall I do with Lord Grey?" to which the other answered, "That he was the only ge"neral in Europe who would ask such a question ;" intending, no doubt, to reproach the Duke with the excess to which he pushed his characteristick virtues of mildness and forbearance. That these virtues formed a part of his character, is most true, and the personal friendship in which he lived with Grey, would incline him still more to the exercise of them upon this occasion: but it is to be remembered also, that the delinquent was, in respect of rank, property, and perhaps too of talent, by far the most considerable man he had with him; and therefore, that prudential motives might concur, to deter a General from proceeding to violent measures with such a person, especially in a civil war, where the discipline of an armed party cannot be conducted upon the same system as that of a regular army serving in a foreign war. Monmouth's disappointment in Lord Grey was aggravated by the loss of Fletcher of CHAPTER III. 1685. CHAPTER III. 1685. His subsequent progress. Salton, who, in a sort of scuffle that ensued, upon his being reproached for having seized a horse belonging to a man of the country, had the misfortune to kill the owner. Monmouth, however unwilling, thought himself obliged to dismiss him; and thus, while a fatal concurrence of circumstances forced him to part with the man he esteemed, and to retain him whom he despised, he found himself at once disappointed of the support of the two persons upon whom he had most relied. On the fifteenth of June, his army being now increased to near three thousand men, the Duke marched from Lyme. He does not appear to have taken this step with a view to any enterprise of importance, but rather to avoid the danger which he apprehended from the motions of the Devonshire and Somerset militias, whose object it seemed to be to shut him up in Lyme. In his first day's march, he had opportunities of engaging, or rather of pursuing each of those bodies, who severally retreated from his forces; but conceiving it to be his business, as he said, not to fight but to march on, he went through Axminster, and encamped in a strong piece of ground between that town and Chard in Somersetshire, to which place he proceeded on the ensuing day. According to Wade's narrative, which appears to afford by far the most authentic account of these transactions, here it was that the first proposition was made for proclaiming Monmouth King. Ferguson 111. 1685. made the proposal, and was supported by Lord Grey, CHAPTER but it was easily run down, as Wade expresses it, by those who were against it, and whom, therefore, we must suppose to have formed a very considerable majority of the persons deemed of sufficient importance to be consulted on such an occasion. These circumstances are material, because if that credit be given to them which they appear to deserve, Ferguson's want of veracity becomes so notorious, that it is hardly worth while to attend to any part of his narrative. Where it only corroborates accounts given by others, it is of little use; and where it differs from them, it deserves no credit. I have therefore wholly disregarded it. at Taunton. From Chard, Monmouth and his party proceeded to His reception Taunton, a town, where, as well for the tenour of former occurrences, as from the zeal and number of the Protestant Dissenters, who formed a great portion of its inhabitants, he had every reason to expect the most favourable reception. His expectations were not disappointed. The inhabitants of the upper, as well as the lower classes vied with each other in testifying their affection for his person, and their zeal for his cause. While the latter rent the air with applauses and acclamations, the former opened their houses to him and to his followers, and furnished his army with necessaries and supplies of every kind. His way was strewed with flowers the windows were thronged with spectators, all |