At the time of the discovery of the Rye-House Plot (S480) a number of
Whigs (S479) who were implicated in the conspiracy fled to Holland,
where the Duke of Monmouth had gone when banished. Four months after
the accession of James, the Duke, aided by these refugees and by a
small force which he had gathered in the Netherlands, resolved to
invade England and demand the crown. He believed that a large part of
the nation would look upon him as representing the cause of
Protestantism, and would therefore rally to his support. He landed at
Lyme on the coast of Dorsetshire (1685), and there issued an absurd
proclamation declaring James to be a usurper, tyrant, and murderer,
who had set the great fire of London (S474), cut the throat of Essex
(S480), and poisoned Charles II!
At Taunton, in Somersetshire, a procession of welcome, headed by a
lady carrying a Bible, met the Duke, and presented him with the book
in behalf of the Protestant faith. He received it, saying, "I come to
defend the truths contained in this volume, and to seal them, if it
must be so, with my blood." Shortly afterwards he proclaimed himself
sovereign of Great Britain. He was popularly known as "King
Monmouth." Many of the country people now joined him, but the Whig
nobles (S479), on whose help he had counted, stood aloof, alienated
doubtless by the ridiculous charges he had made against James.
At the battle of Sedgemoor, in Somersetshire (1685), "King Monmouth,"
with his hastily gathered forces, was utterly routed. He himself was
soon afterwards captured, hiding in a ditch. He desired to be taken
to the King. His request was granted. When he entered his uncle's
presence, he threw himself down and crawled to his feet, weeping and
begging piteously for life--only life--on any terms, however hard.
He denied that he had issued the lying proclamation published at Lyme;
he denied that he had sought the crown of his own free will; finally,
in an agony of supplication, he hinted that he would even renounce
Protestantism if thereby he might escape death. James told him that
he should have the service of a Catholic priest, but would promise
nothing more. Monmouth groveled and pleaded, but the King's heart was
like marble, and he turned away in silence. Then the Duke, seeing
that all his efforts were vain, rose to his feet and regained his
manhood.
He was forthwith sent to the Tower, and shortly afterwards to
execution. His headless body was buried under the communion table of
that little chapel of St. Peter within the Tower grounds, where the
remains of Anne Boleyn, Lady Jane Grey, Sir Thomas More, and many
other royal victimsf, are gathered. No sadder spot exists on earth,
"since there death is associated with whatever is darkest in human
nature and human destiny."[1]
[1] Macaulay's "England."
After Monmouth's death there were no further attempts at insurrection,
and the struggle at Sedgemoor remains the last encounter worthy of the
name of battle fought on English soil.