Stefanie Magid
Professor Wilkes
English Legal History
December 7, 2007
Monmouth’s Rebellion
On the
evening of July 5, 1685 as Monmouth’s rebels stealthily encroached on the
sleeping royal army in one last dire effort to overcome the strength of the King’s
forces, a shot rang out from a pistol, prematurely awakening the unsuspecting
royal army. With quick agility and
speed, the king’s army dismantled the rebel forces and ended the nearly two
month civil war against the throne of
i.
Background on
the Rebel Leader
Thirty six years earlier, Monmouth
entered into the world with a fate sealed with mixed fortune. Monmouth was the illegitimate son of King
Charles II, born to Lucy Walter on April 9, 1649 at
During his childhood, Monmouth endured what
most children could never imagine. His
status as the illegitimate son of the King led to attempts at his kidnapping by
agents of the Commonwealth and his mother’s disappearance for a short while.[3] Eventually, in 1658 Charles II managed to
successfully have his son kidnapped and “placed in the care of William, Lord
Crofts, a gentleman of Charles’ bedchamber, whose surname he [took].”[4] Monmouth never saw his mother again, who died
at the end of that year just shy of his tenth birthday.
After his tragic childhood, Monmouth proceeded to live a life of privilege. While Charles II saw little of his son, he made sure Monmouth was well provided for. Charles ensured his son gained influence at the Court, granted him title of Duke of Monmouth and arranged his marriage to the wealthy Scottish heiress, Anna Scott, countess of Buccleuch.[5] Monmouth continued to enjoy his life in the lap of luxury as the typical Restoration courier of the time: hunting, racing, gambling, drinking and womanizing. Eventually his charades led him to the love of his life during an affair with Henrietta Maria Wentworth, whom he met in early 1680.[6]
What Monmouth lacked in his
childhood Charles compensated in his adult life by bestowing on him honors
under the crown and military leadership roles.
However, it was in these honors that led to his eventual disgrace with
his father. The king’s doting on his
son, troubled James, the duke of
ii.
Precursor to
Rebellion
Though exiled to the
Upon news of Charles II’s death, William “could no longer sanction Monmouth remaining in
While content to enjoy his
retirement with his mistress Henrietta in the
iii.
Monmouth
lands at Lyme Regis
In the early
morning of June 11, 1685, Monmouth landed on the western
As Government was originally instituted by God, for the peace, happiness and security of the Governed, and not for the private interest or personal greatness of those that rule: so that the Government has always with all the Power and Prerogatives that might capacitate, not only to preserve the people from Violence and Oppression, but to promote their Prosperity; and yet where nothing was to belong to them by the Rules of the Constitution that might enable them to injure and oppress them.
And it hath been the glory of England, above most other nations, that the Prince had all entrusted with him that was necessary either for advancing the Welfare of the people, or for his own protection in the discharge of his office; and withal stood so limited and restrained by the Fundamental Terms of the constitution, that without violation of his own oath, as well as the rules and measures of the Government, he could do them no hurt, or exercise any act of authority, but through the administration of such hands as stood obnoxious to be punished in case they transgressed; so that, according to the primitive frame of Government; the Prerogatives of the Crown and the Privileges of the subject were so far from jostling one another, that the Rights reserved unto the people tended to render the King honourable and great; and the Prerogatives settled on the Prince were in order to the subjects’ Protection and Safety.
But all humane things being libable to Perversion as well as decay, it hath been the fate of the English Government to be often changed, and wrested from what it was in the first settlement and institution. And we are particularly compelled to say, that all boundaries of the Government have of late been broken, and nothing left unattempted for turning our Limited Monarchy into absolute Tyranny. For such has been the transaction of affairs within this nation for many years long past, that though the Protestant religion and Liberties of the people were fenced and hedged about by as many laws as the wisdom of man could devise for their Preservation against Popery and arbitrary power, our religion has been all along undermined by Popish Councils, and our privileges ravished from us by Fraud and Violence. And more especially, the whole course and series of the life of the present usurper hath been but one continued conspiracy against the Reformed Religion, and Rights of the Nationals.[28]
The declaration went on to accuse James of “forging treason against Protestants, and suborning witnesses to swear the Patriots of [their Protestant religion] and Liberties.”[29] Monmouth even accused the king of murdering Charles II proclaiming, “He hath poisoned the late King, therein manifesting his ingratitude as well as cruelty to the world, in murdering a brother, who had almost ruined himself to preserve and protect him from punishment.”[30] Monmouth then declared his resolution to pursue James as a “mortal and bloody enemy... [and promised] with the assistance of his friends and the Law, to have justice executed upon him.”[31]
Not everyone welcomed the duke’s
arrival. The Mayor of Lyme, Gregory
Alford, “was loyal to James II, and in great trepidation he... left for Honiton
in
At least 300 men, the Duke of
Monmouth among them, so that they became masters of the town. I presently, well knowing I should be the
first seized, took my horse and came with speed to this town; and gave notice
to all the country as I came; and sent my servants that notices should be given
to
The king immediately responded and “in the House of Commons the duke of Monmouth was attainted of High Treason.”[34]
Meanwhile,
“all through the summer night, Lyme was the scene of heady bustle and warlike
preparations.”[35] The rebels, under the guidance of Nathanial Wade,
the commissioned Major under Monmouth, unloaded the arms and ammunition from
the ships along with the muskets, which were stored at the Town Hall.[36] During the night, “some sixty young fellows
of the town joined [Monmouth’s rebels]... and hundreds more from the farms and
villages the next day.”[37] “Before the close of the second day the
Duke’s army amounted to 1,000 foot and 150 horses. It is related that Monmouth enlisted more men
in one day than William of Orange on his landing three years later did in ten
days.”[38] The “greater part of the rebels came from
urban backgrounds, with a heavy concentration from the depressed west country
cloth trades, though there were some farmers and village craftsmen and
labourers.[39] Many who enlisted were either dissenters or
people who sympathized with their plight.”[40] The men were formally enlisted, made into
squads and sent with a guide to the Town Hall to be issued their arms and
ammunition.[41] “Other guides then took them to the outposts,
where the officers in command set about teaching them how to use their
muskets... within an hour of enlisting, the recruits were in what might at any
moment become the firing- line.”[42] While Monmouth’s men made an impressive
effort to recruit after realizing the “promised” army he thought would be
waiting in
On June 13th, news of
Monmouth’s landing reached James in
Around this time, Monmouth also had
to accept the defeat of losing “his best officer, Andrew Fletcher of Saltoun,
for killing his paymaster general, Thomas Dare, in a squabble over a horse.”[46] One evening while Monmouth’s men were still
in Lyme, “he dined together with Lord Grey and Fletcher of Saltoun at the
George.[47] The men drank too much and Fletcher “mounted
Heywood Dare’s excellent horse, which the
on justice for the death of his father, Monmouth, was forced
to dismiss Fletcher.[50] The loss of the two men, “was disastrous for
the Duke.”[51] Andrew Fletcher “was a brilliant and intrepid
leader of Cavalry, while old Dare had much influence on
iv.
Monmouth
Proclaims himself King
With the King’s royal army in quick pursuit, the rebels made their way out of Lyme,
brushed with Dorset Militia at Bridport, and occupied Chard
by the 16th of June.[53]
On June 18th, Monmouth’s army reached
Whereas, upon the decease of our Sovereign Lord Charles the Second, late King of England, the right and succession of the Crown of England... did legally descend and devolve upon the most illustrious and high- born Prince James Duke of Monmouth... but James Duke of York, (taking the advantage of the absence of the said James Duke of Monmouth beyond the seas) did first cause the said late King to be poisoned, and immediately thereupon did usurp and invade the Crown, and doth continue to do: We therefore, the noblemen, gentlemen and commons... do proclaim that said high and mighty Prince James Duke of Monmouth, our lawful and rightful sovereign...[61]
The proclamation “was read [and] affirm[ed] that on the death of Charles the crown did legally descend upon... Monmouth’ and declare[ed] him ‘our lawful and rightful sovereign and king, by the name of James the Second.[62]
v.
Net Closes in
on the Rebels headed toward Bristol
On June 21st, Monmouth
and his army left
Despite the
increasing threat of face to face contact with Feversham’s army, Monmouth’s
“army was in good morale and in a fighting mood.”[70] The day before Monmouth’s army left
The next
day, Monmouth marched to
vi.
Fight or
Retreat?
“This was a
decisive moment in the story of the rebellion.
Monmouth had to decide whether or not to fight the King’s army, now
concentrated around
v.
News of Argyle’s
Execution and the Rebels’ Retreat
The pressure continued to intensify
on Monmouth’s rebels, who were daily deserting the cause. By the time the rebels reached Frome on the
28th of June, “as many as two thousand men deserted him. Probably the disappointment of not having
fought a decisive battle [at
Monmouth might have retreated had
it not been for an “impassioned speech by Lord Grey, in which he argued that
for Monmouth to leave the army now would be an act, ‘so base that it could
never be forgiven by the people’...
[This] persuaded Monmouth to [press forward with the rebellion].[89] On the day that Argyle was executed, Monmouth
turned west and returned to Shepton Mallet.
He had wanted to move in the direction of
vi.
The
“Once again, arrived within the
town of
The citizens of the town did not relish the prospect: Bridgwater had been destroyed in a disastrous fire. Memories of Civil War died hard; it was one thing to cheer a handsome ‘King Monmouth’ and his supporters through the streets when his cause had appeared to be on the flood-tide; it was quite another to be expected to support him to the last now that his fortunes were so clearly on the ebb... The local peasantry relished even less the prospect of having both their labour and their remaining cattle and grain committed to what to many must already have been seen as a ‘lost cause.’[95]
However, Monmouth’s efforts in Bridgwater were merely a
scheme to confuse the Royal army on the rebels’ heels. “According to Wade... who was privy to
Monmouth’s plans, the idea of the rebels sustaining a siege at Bridgwater was
only a cover for a more ambitious scheme.”[96] Monmouth simply wished to rest his army,
“then march hard for Keynsham once more, cross the
Monmouth’s plans were foiled when Feversham received word of the news that he was contemplating a siege. On July 4th, the royal army moved forward from Somerton to Westonzoyland with the intent to blockade Bridgwater.[98] With little choice to break-away from the Royal army waiting on him, Monmouth called a council of war with his most trusted men, including Grey and Wade and decided to “surprise the enemy in the dead of the night.”[99] Excitement ensued amongst the rebels over the plan, who now had a sliver of hope that their efforts might prevail after all. “Bridgwater had rarely known such animation as it knew that evening of 5 July 1685. It was loud with horsemen’s boots, scabbards and jingling spurs over its cobbled streets, and with the cheerful speculation of simple countrymen living the lives of temporary warriors... [and] it was filled with admiration for the rebel commander.”[100] The men also took with them “cider and the fruits of Bridgwater’s cellars”[101] for courage.
vii.
Good fortune
runs out
Therefore,
under Godfrey as their guide out of the town, the rebel army, horses,
ammunition and all headed out silently in the night through the marshes and
banks toward
the horsemen crowded up in the darkness; horses stumbled and neighed; men ran into one another; horses whinnied and snorted; a weapon or two were dropped; men doubtless cursed. This time they were heard. The time was shortly after one in the morning [on July 6th]. Suddenly there was a flash in the darkness, followed by the sound of a shot.[105]
viii.
“All at once the camp began to stir... Frantic but orderly activity ensued as the regular soldiers [of the royal army], hardly pausing to rub the sleep from their eyes... quitted their tents to seize muskets or pikes from the bells- of- arms.” [106] They then “began to run towards the open space... [and] within minutes, the six battalions were formed in the line of battle.”[107] “Monmouth’s infantry, guided by the glowing slow matches of the opposing muskets, moved to a position more than twenty yards from the edge of the ditch.”[108] The rebels, “standing in battle order, started shooting, but they aimed too high to do any harm.”[109] Feversham’s Royal army stood back as Monmouth’s infantry attempted to fight and cross the ditch, only to be “beaten back [and] los[e] both horses and men. “Perhaps daunted by this, Feversham refused to make any new offensive moves until the first streaks of dawn appeared in the sky.”[110] It was then “that his infantry and the rest of the cavalry were ordered over the ditch, and by light of the early sun, pursued and routed their enemies [who were fleeing for their lives].”[111]
It remains unclear exactly how many
rebels died during the battle. Some
accounts claim “400 were killed on the battlefield, and up to 1000 more on the
swords of the royal horse and dragoons or the pike-points and plug- bayonets of
the royal foot... Many of the rebels were caught at the Langmoor Rhine.”[112] Others were hunted through corn fields and “1200
were taken prisoner,”[113]
to meet their dreadful fate later before Judge Jeffrey’s during the Bloody
Assizes. Monmouth’s fate was no
different from his men. After two days
of flight, he was captured on July 8th by Royalist forces near the Woodlands in
The fallen rebel leader was taken
to
Following his meeting with the King, Monmouth was sent to the Tower where he regained some dignity on his final day. “He saw his estranged wife, and their three children, and signed a written statement to the effect that his father, King Charles II, had always told him that he had never been married to his mother, Lucy Walters.”[117] Monmouth refused the bishops’ insistence that he publicly declare “it would be a heinous sin to rebel against the King [but] he did apologise from the heart for all the trouble he had caused... particularly to his... supporters... and declared his undying affection for Lady Henrietta Wentworth.”[118]
On the scaffold Monmouth gave his executioner, Jack Ketch a sum of money and promised more from his servant if he made a quick cut. However, “to the horror of the vast and sympathetic crowd,”[119] Ketch’s first blow barely broke the skin and four more blows followed with struggle to severe Monmouth’s head before the rebel leader could finally rest in peace. On July 15, 1685, “the agony of James Scott was over.”[120]
ix.
The end
The question of who fired the fatal
shot rousing the King’s sleeping army to victory against Monmouth’s rebels when
they were within a mile of a successful rebellion is unknown.[121] Some speculate the shot was an accident
resulting from the surprise halt at the Langmoor Rhine. Others speculate treachery.[122] Regardless of the outcome for Monmouth, his
rebellion can be remembered with pride for the ideals he stood for. While unsuccessful in his own attempt, his
rebellion spurred the even more irrational behavior of King James II to
consolidate his power through fear.
Three years after Monmouth’s failed attempt, a new savior of the
Protestant religion and ideals, William of Orange would finish Monmouth’s task
and peacefully take the throne of
Appendix A
Map reproduced from Peter Earle, Monmouth’s Rebels the Road to
Appendix B[123]
All dates are Old Style. To convert to New Style, add ten days. Thus the first entry could read 16 February (NS) or 6 February (OS).
6 Feb. 1685 -
Death of King Charles II in
2 May -
Earl of Argyle sails from the
1 June - Monmouth sets sail belatedly from the River Texel for the West Country.
11 June (Thurs.) - Monmouth lands a Lyme Regis, preceded by small party landing at
Chideock to collect supporters and horses. Red Regiment is recruited.
13 June (Sat.) - NEWS OF
MONMOUTH’S LANDING REACHES JAMES II IN
14 June (Sun.) - Rebels brush with the Dorset Militia at Bridport.
- JOHN LORD CHURCHILL APPOINTED TO COMMAND FIRST
ROYAL FORCES SENT
WEST.
15 June (Mon.) -
Monmouth marches to Axminster, narrowly forestalling
16 June (Tues.) - Rebels occupy Chard.
17 June (Wed.) - Rebels camp at Ilminster.
-
18 June (Thurs.) -
Monmouth enters
CHURCHILL’S HORSE
MAKE CONTACT WITH THE REBELS
NEAR CHARD; FINAL
DEFEAT OF ARGYLE IN
19 June (Fri.) - Maids of Taunton present colours to Monmouth; first proclamation of
Monmouth
- JAMES II APOINTS LORD
FEVERSHAM TO OVERALL
COMMAND
IN WEST.
-
CAVALRY SKIRMISH AT ASHILL; ROYAL HORSE FALL BACK
ON CHARD
20 June (Sat.) -
Second proclamation of Monmouth (as King) at
Regiment raised.
21 June (Sun.) - Rebel army marches to Bridgwater; receives warm welcome
- COLONEL KIRKE JOINS
CHURCHILL WITH HIS INFANTRY AT
CHARD
- MAIN ROYAL FORCE EN ROUTE FROM
22 June (Mon.) -
Monmouth marches to
encounter at Langport.
23 June (Tues.) - Monmouth reaches Shepton Mallet,
- FEVERSHAM REACHES
24 June (Wed.) - Rebel army marches to Pensford, harassed by Churchill’s cavalry.
-
FEVERSHAM VISITS BATH; MAIN FORCES APPROACHING
25 June (Thurs.) - Monmouth’s rebels repair bridge at Keynsham and cross; skirmish with
Royal cavalry and militia and bad weather cause rebels to retire;
Monmouth holds council of war; abandons
advance into Wiltshire. Rebels march to
26 June (Fri.) - Monmouth camps at Norton St. Philip
- CHURCHILL JOINS FEVERSHAM AT
27 June (Sat.) - Royalist attack on Norton St. Philip repulsed
-
- Rebels set off after dark for Frome through rain.
28 June (Sun.) - Rebels reach Frome
29 June (Mon.) - News reaches Monmouth of Argyle’s fate; Council of War
- FEVERSHAM AND ROYAL ARMY MARCH TO WESTBURY AND
RECEIVE
REINFORCEMENTS INCLUDING THE ARTILLERY
TRAIN
- Rebels prepare to march on Warminster.
30 June (Tues.) - Thwarted by Royal Army, Monmouth abandons plan to march on
- FEVERSHAM OCCUPIES FROME.
1 July (Wed.) - Monmouth reaches Wells, capturing some royal waggons. Desertions
mount.
- FEVERSHAM RESTS ROYAL ARMY AT FROME.
2 July (Thurs.) - Rebels march towards Bridgwater, camp on the moor; joined by
Clubmen.
3 July (Fri.) - Monmouth enters Bridgwater to lukewarm welcome; orders its
fortification.
- FEVERSHAM MARCHES THROUGH
SOMERTON.
4 July (Sat.) -
Monmouth considers break- away towards
- News of siege preparations reach Feversham;
- FEVERSHAM RECONNOITRES CAMP-SITE NEAR
WESTONZOYLAND
5 July (Sun.) - ROYAL ARMY CAMPS AT WESTONZOYLAND.
- Monmouth decides on night- attack
6 July (Mon.) -
Night battle of
routed and pursued.
- CHURCHILL ENTERS BRIDGWATER; REBELS ROUNDED UP
7 July (Tues.) - COL. KIRKE MARCHES INTO
- Monmouth reaches Cranborne Chase
8 July (Wed.) -
Monmouth captured near Woodlands in
15 July (Wed.) - Monmouth executed at the Tower.
Bibliography
Bryan Bevan, James Duke of Monmouth 185- 200 (Trinity
Press, Robert Hale & Company
1973).
The Bloody Assize, 11 Nov. 2007, http://www.somerset.gov.uk/archives/ASH/Bloodyassize.htm.
Rev. C. P. Brown, Monmouth’s Rebellion (Somerset Gateway 11 Nov. 2007),
http://www.somersetgateway.com/history/monmouth/
essay.htm.
David G. Chandler, Sedgemoor 1685: An Account and an Anthology 43- 181 (
Press
1985).
Peter Earle, Monmouth’s Rebels the Road to
Tim Harris, Scott [Crofts], James, duke of Monmouth and
first duke of Buccleuch (1649- 1685),
Charles Chenevix
Trench, The Western Rising 117- 127
(Longmans, Green and Co. Ltd. 1969).
J.N.P. Watson, Captain- General and Rebel Chief 222-
242 (George Allen & Unwin 1979).
Violet Wyndham, The Protestant Duke, A Life of Monmouth
101- 146 (Weidenfeld and
Nicolson
1976).