MONMOUTH, JAMES, Duke of, natural son of Charles II., was born at Rotterdam in 1649. His mother, Lucy Walters, according to Evelyn, a " browne, beautiful, bolde, but insipid creature," came to England with her son in 1656, during the commonwealth. She is said to have been treated as though she had been the king's wife, and was com mitted to the Tower; but was soon allowed to retire to France, where she died. Charles sought out the boy, and committed him to the care of Lord Crofts, who gave him his own name. On the restoration, Monmouth, then "Mr. James Crofts," camel° England with the queen-dowager, and was handsomely lodged at Hampton Court and Whitehall. These honors were, in after years, referred to by his followers as justifying their belief that he was indeed the king's legitimate son. A wealthy heiress, Anne, daughter of the earl of Buccleuch, was selected for his wife; and before he had completed his 16th year, lie was married to her, and was created duke of Monmouth. About the year 1670, Shaftesbury put Monmouth forward as the head of the popular party, and rival of the duke of York (afterward James II.). At the period of Titus Oates's plot (1678), rumors that the "Protestant Duke " was indeed the king's legitimate son spread far and wide. The duke of York was compelled to quit the kingdom; and parliament brought forward a bill for excluding hint from the succession, when Charles suddenly dissolved it. A document was at the same time issued by the king, solemnly declaring that he lad never been married to Lucy Walters. Monmouth was sent into Scotland, in 1679, to quell the rebellion. He defeated the Covenanters at Bothwell Bridge; hut his humanity to the fleeing and so conspicuous, and his recommendations to pardon the prisoners was so urgent, as to bring upon him the violent censures of the king and Lauderdale. Ile thus became the idol of the English Nonconformists. The return of the duke of York, and the exile of Monmouth, soon followed. In Holland, lie allied himself to the leaders of the Nonconformist party, exiled like himself; and when lie was allowed to return to London, he was received with such demonstrations of joy, that Monmouth felt, that he was the people's choice. In 1680, lie made a semi-royal progress through the w. of England, with the design, probably, of courting the Non conformists, who were more numerous there than in any other pint of the country, except London and Essex. In 1682, lie traversed some of the northern counties. The king and his brother were alarmed; and .Monmouth was arrested at Stafford, and bound
over to keep the peace. He meanly confessed his participation in the Rye-House plot, accusing himself and others of a design to seize the king's person, and subvert his government. The king pardoned him, on his solemn promise to be a loyal subject to the duke of York, in case the latter should survive the king. In 1684, Monmouth fled to Antwerp, and remained abroad until the death of the king, when he resolved to em bark for England. He landed (June 11, 1685) at Lyme-Regis, and issued a manifesto declaring James to be a murderer and usurper, charging him with introducing popery and arbitrary power, and asserting his own legitimacy and right by blood to be king of England. He was received with great acclamations at Taunton, where he was pro claimed as James II. At Frome, he heard the news of the defeat of Argyle, who. at the head of the Scottish exiles, had attempted to raise an insurrection in Scotland. Money and men were now abundant ; but arms were wanting, and thousands went home for want of them. On July 5, he was persuaded, with only 2,500 foot and 600 horse, to attack the king's forces, which, under the command of the earl of Faversham, were encamped at Sedgemoor, near Bridgewater. Monmouth's troops were unable to cross a running stream or wide ditch which protected the camp, and were mowed down lay the king's artillery. Their ammunition soon failed; and Monmouth having set a cowardly example of flight, his troops were slaughtered like sheep. About 800 of Monmouth's followers fell in the battle; but 1000 were massacred in the pursuit. Mon mouth was found concealed in a ditch, and was brought to London. He made the most humiliating submissions, and obtained a personal interview with James. " He clung;" says Macaulay, " in agonies of supplications round the knees of the stern uncle he had . wronged, and tasted a bitterness worse than that of death, the bitterness of knowing that he had humbled himself in vain." Even his prayer for " one day more," that he might "go out of, the world as a Christian ought." was 14rutally refused: On June 15, lie was brought to and beheaded on Tower Hill; the executioner performing his office so unskillfully that five blows were struck before the head was severed. The " Bloody Assize" afterwards commenced under judge Jeffreys, when Monmouth's adherents paid a fearful penalty for their participation in his rash and ill-advised rebel lion.