Charles II, with all his faults, had conducted himself towards his
subjects with so much personal cordiality, and had so well calculated
his ground before making any aggressions upon popular liberty, that he
might probably have pursued his arbitrary career for many years
longer. But his brother James, though much more respectable as a man,
more industrious, and more sincere, wanted entirely the easiness of
carriage, pleasantry, and penetration, which were the grounds of the
late king’s popularity and success. He was, moreover, an avowed
Catholic, and inspired by an ardent desire of reforming the nation
back into that faith. He began his reign by declaring before the
privy-council his intention to govern solely by the laws, and to
maintain the existing church; and such was the confidence in his
sincerity, that he soon became very popular. Addresses poured in upon
him from all quarters, professing the most abject devotion to his
person. The Parliament called by him voted an ample revenue, and
expressed the greatest servility towards him in all things. The
doctrines of passive obedience, and the divine right of the sovereign,
were now openly preached. The university of Oxford promulgated an
elaborate declaration of passive obedience to rulers, which they
declared to be ‘clear, absolute, and without any exception of any
state or order of men.’
The remains of the Whig party still existed, though in exile, and
there were some districts of the country where they were supposed to
have considerable influence. The Duke of Monmouth and the Earl of
Argyle (the latter of whom had been condemned to death in Scotland,
for adding a qualification to the test-oath, but had escaped) met in
Holland, and projected two separate invasions, for the purpose of
expelling King James. The former soon after landed in the west of
England with a small retinue, and quickly found himself at the head of
5000 persons, though irregularly armed. At several places he caused
himself to be proclaimed king, which offended many of his principal
adherents, as inconsistent with his previous engagements. Upon the
whole, his conduct was not energetic enough for the management of such
an enterprise. Being attacked by the king’s troops near Bridgewater,
his infantry fought with some spirit, but being deserted by the
cavalry, and by the duke himself, were obliged to give way. Monmouth
was taken and executed. Many of his followers were hanged without form
of trial by the royal troops, and others were afterwards put to death,
with hardly any more formality, by the celebrated Chief-Justice
Jefferies, whom the king sent down with a commission to try the
offenders. The butchery of several hundred men of low condition, who
were unable of themselves to do any harm to the government, was looked
upon as a most unjustifiable piece of cruelty, even if it had been
legally done; and the principal blame was popularly ascribed to the
king.
The Earl of Argyle sailed in May with a corresponding expedition, and
landed in that part of the West Highlands which owned his authority.
Unfortunately for him, the government had received warning, and seized
all the gentlemen of his clan upon whom he had chiefly depended. He
nevertheless raised between 2000 and 3000 men, and made a timid
advance to Glasgow, in the expectation of being joined by the
persecuted Presbyterians of that part of the country. Being surrounded
on the march by various parties of troops, he dispersed his army, and
sought to escape in disguise, but was taken, brought to Edinburg, and
executed. Thus terminated the last effort made by the Whig party to
ameliorate the despotic sway of the Stuarts.