proves him to have been a rebel against his father, and has for ever ftamped him a traitor to his own affociates.

"I have heard" (thus he writes to the King) " fome reports of me, as if I fhould have leffened the late Plot, and gone about to discredit the evidence given against those who have died by justice. Your Majesty and the Duke know how ingenuously I have owned the late confpiracy; and though I am not confcious of any defign against your Majesty's life, yet I lament the having had so great a share in the other part of the faid confpiracy. Sir, I have taken the liberty to put this in writing for my own vindication; and I beseech you to look forward, and endeavour to forget the faults you have forgiven me. I will take care never to commit any more against you, or come within the danger of being again mifled from my duty; but make it the business of my life to deserve the pardon your Majesty hath granted to

"Your dutiful

"MONMOUTH."

He was quickly made fenfible of the difgrace into which he was plunged by this betrayal of his accomplices. Repenting this poor act of repentance, he went to the King, and earnestly implored him to return the paper, which "he thought was a diminution of his honor.” His father anfwered that he would not keep it against his will; but warned him not to recall what alone could testify the fincerity of his forrow. He perfifted in his request; and Charles gave him back his letter. But no fooner had Monmouth got poffeffion of the paper,

than he denied having ever made any acknowledgment of guilt, thus prefenting himself to friends and foes a strange spectacle of alternate rebellion, abjectness, and falfehood. The King for ever banished him from his prefence: fo he incurred the penalty which he had declared would be "the greatest curse he could lay upon himself," for he retired again to Holland, and faw his father's face no more.

It has been afferted that Charles fo far relented as to supply him with money, and to correspond with him ; and that, juft before his own fatal illness, being unable to endure Monmouth's absence, he meditated his recall. If this were fo, it would only mark more emphatically the ingratitude of the fon, who could plot against so affectionate a father. The fact receives fome confirmation from the flattering attentions paid to him by the Prince and Princefs of Orange at the Hague, during the life of the King, who would be gratified by this indulgence. The active part Monmouth had taken against the Catholic Duke might enhance his claim to the favour of the Proteftant Stadtholder. But no fooner did the news of Charles's death reach Holland, than all things wore another aspect at the Dutch Court. The Prince found it more to his own interests to treat this avowed enemy of the new King with a prudent reserve.

James II. in his Memoirs would have it believed that the Prince was willing to foment the quarrel between him and Monmouth, "one a Pretender to the throne, the other in poffeffion, and whichever got the better would equally advantage his pretenfions. If the Duke of Monmouth (who was illegitimate) fucceeded,

it would be eafy for William, that was a Proteftant as well as he, and in right of his wife the next heir, to fhove him off the faddle. If on the contrary the Duke of Monmouth was worfted, he got rid of a dangerous rival; and was sure all his party would have recourse to him. This made him, underhand, do all he could to inflame the young man's fury and ambition; and fend him out like a victim to the flaughter, playing a fure game himself, to whomfoever fortune fhould give the advantage."* There appears no ground whatever for this grave accufation.

As foon as James came to the throne he made application to the Prince of Orange, through his envoy at the Hague, to have Monmouth fecured and fent to England, before he could form any dangerous defigns. William was incapable of fuch an act of treachery, even had it suited his plans. He recommended Monmouth to leave Holland, where he could no longer protect him, and gave him money to carry him to Bruffels. Here, however, he was still pursued by the King's watchful jealoufy: the Spanish Governor of the Netherlands ordered him to leave. He could not take refuge in France; for James was already the penfioner, and clofe ally of Louis. Thus in fear of arreft whichever way he turned, urged by Argyle, Lord Grey, and other refugees and malcontents, Monmouth was impelled, against his own judgment, to precipitate his plans, and make a descent on England, before (as was thought) the new King could mature his

power.

He

had, however, no chance of fuccefs in the prefent good understanding between the King and his parliament: he ran upon certain deftruction. Even the Prince of Orange, who had no fympathy with James, and had profeffed great friendship for Monmouth, when he faw the temper of Parliament to put down the rebellion, offered to come over to England, and in perfon head the troops against him.

CHAPTER XIV.

The Duke of Monmouth lands in the Weft of England-Defeated in the battle of Sedgemoor-Cruelties of Lord Feverfham, and Colonel Kirke-Ken's appeal to the King on behalf of the prifoners-Monmouth condemned to death-Ken attends him on the fcaffold.

XCEPT in perfonal bravery, the common attribute of foldiers, Monmouth was wanting in all the qualities required for fuch an enterprise as the invasion of England with a handful of men. His father's indulgence, and the flattery of a court, had infpired him with ambitious hopes; the breath of popular applause had inflated him to a high prefumption: but he had neither deliberative wisdom to form great plans, judgment to direct, nor moral firmness to fuftain them; no genius or decifion to command fuccefs.

As the appointed day for his embarking from the Texel drew near he began to waver; the difficulties that befet his path appeared in their true propor But this conviction came too late; he was pledged to Argyle, who had already failed for Scotland on the faith of his co-operating in England. "I have received both your's this morning" (he writes to one of his adherents) " and cannot delay you my anfwer longer than this poft, though I fear it will not please you so much as I heartily wish it may. I have weighed all your reasons, and