[1] Macaulay’s “England.”

Not long afterwards James brought the miscreant Oates to trial for the perjuries he had committed in connection with the so-called “Popish Plot” (S478).  He was found guilty and sentenced to imprisonment for life; in addition he was publicly whipped through London with such terrible severity that a few more strokes of the lash would have ended his worthless life (1685).  But in the next reign Oates was liberated and a pension was granted him.

486.  Monmouth’s Rebellion; Sedgemoor, 1685.

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]