party, to whom this discovery of the Duke's secret influence over his brother was not a little disconcerting.

But this was not the only blow to Monmouth's ambition at this period. Charles, in order to satisfy his brother, went so far as publicly and solemnly to deny his marriage with Lucy Walters. The following remarkable declaration will be found in the Council book of the 3rd of March, 1679 :—

"That to avoid any dispute which may happen in time to come concerning the succession to the crown, he declares in the presence of Almighty God, that he never gave nor made any contract of marriage, nor was married to any woman whatsoever, but to his present wife Queen Catherine, now living, CHARLES REX."

“Whitehall, March 3rd, 1679.”

Again, three months afterwards, we find Charles recording a protest in the Court of Chancery, that, "On the word of a King, and the faith of a Christian, he was never married to Mrs. Barlow, alias Walters, the Duke of Monmouth's mother, nor to any woman whatsoever, besides the now Queen."

In addition to these triumphs, for such they were to James, his influence appeared to be gradually becoming all-powerful at Court, while Monmouth's perceptibly declined. There can be little doubt, we think, that Charles had adopted the clever policy of balancing the power of the one against the other, and of throwing in his own influence, whenever either grew more powerful than suited his views.* At this juncture, in consequence

* Sheffield, Duke of Buckingham, in his memoirs, throws some light on the misunderstanding between James and the Duke of Monmouth. The passage is curious as casting some slight doubt over the purity of the Duchess of Monmouth's conduct, the only instance, however, in which we have found it impugned. It certainly requires corroboration.

of Monmouth's extraordinary popularity and evidently ambitious projects, it was no doubt the policy of Charles to throw his weight into his brother's scale; and accordingly Monmouth, having been deprived of his post of captain-general, and of the governorship of Hull, was ordered to withdraw himself into Holland. The spoiled child of splendour was extremely unwilling to submit. It was pointed out to him, however, by his friends, that, as his banishment would of course be attributed by the multitude to the machinations of James, the result would be a renewed accession of popular affection and applause; and, moreover, being assured by them that, as soon as Parliament should meet, there would be a vote of address to the King to demand his recall, Monmouth at length took his unwilling departure for Holland.

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CHAPTER II.

Monmouth returns to England without Leave-Joy of the Populace on his entering London-His magnificent Progress through the disturbed Districts-He mingles in the Sports of the Peasantry-Is arrested in the Town of Stafford by Order of the King-Wins the Prize at a Horse-race near St. Germain-en-Lai-His share in the Rye-House Plot- - Conceals himself - Is reconciled to the King-Joy of Charles on Monmouth's Return to Court-Again banished-Resides at the Hague, and is hospitably entertained by the Prince and Princess of Orange-Extracts from Monmouth's Diary-Death of Charles II.-James II. procures Monmouth's Dismissal from the Hague-He retires to Brussells with his Mistress-Persuaded though unwillingly to invade England-Sails from the Texel-Lands at Lyme-Takes the title of King.

THE following year, 1680, Monmouth, having in vain solicited his recall, determined on returning to England without permission, and in the face of every danger. Such was his exceeding popularity, that although it was midnight when he entered London, the watch took it upon themselves to arouse the sleeping inhabitants, by announcing to them the return of their idol. Within an hour or two the church-bells were ringing their joyous peals, and bonfires blazed in the streets. Charles instantly sent a peremptory message to his disobedient son to return to Holland. Instead, however, of obeying, he set out on a magnificent progress through the disturbed counties of Lancashire, Staffordshire, Worcestershire, and Cheshire; his retinue consisting of an hundred persons armed and splendidly accoutred. In a scarce memoir of the Duke, published in his life-time, there is an account of his journey to the west at this period.

"At Exeter," says the writer, "he was met by the citizens and the people of all the adjacent parts, to the number of twenty thousand persons; but that which was most remarkable, was the appearance of a brave company of brisk stout young men, all clothed in linen raiments and drawers, white, and harmless, having not so much as a stick in their hands. They were in number about nine hundred or a thousand. They went three miles out of the city to meet his Grace, where they were drawn up all on a little hill and divided into two parts, in which order they attended the Duke's coming, who rid up first between them, and then round each company. After which they united, and went hand in hand in order before, where he no sooner arrived, but a universal shout from all parts echoed forth his welcome." *

During his progress through the midland counties he was received at different places by the Lords Macclesfield, Brandon, Rivers, Colchester, Delamere, Russell, and Grey, Sir Gilbert Gerard, and other principal landholders, at the head of their tenantry. Those who flocked to him were on many occasions armed, according to a feudal custom not then extinct. But a passage in Dalrymple's Memoirs will convey the best picture of this remarkable progress, as also of the nation's extraordinary fondness for the misguided Duke. "When he approached a town," says the writer, "he quitted his coach and rode into it on horseback. The nobility and gentry went foremost in a band. At a distance and single, rode the Duke, and at a distance behind him the servants and tenants. When he entered the towns,

* "An historical account of the heroic life and magnanimous actions of the most illustrious Protestant Prince, James Duke of Monmouth, 12mo. 1683."

those who received him formed themselves into three ranks; the nobility, gentry, and burghers being placed in the first, the tenants in the next, and the servants in the last. He gave orders for two hundred covers to be prepared wherever he dined. At dinner two doors were thrown open, that the populace might enter at the one, walk round the table to see their favourite, and give place to those that followed, by going out at the other. At other times he dined in an open tent in the fields, that he might the more see and be seen. At Liverpool

he ventured to touch for the king's evil. He entered into all country diversions, and, as he was of wonderful agility, even ran races himself upon foot. And when he had outstripped the swiftest of the racers, he ran again in his boots, and beat them though running in their shoes. The prizes which he gained during the day, he gave away at christenings in the evening. The bells were rung, bonfires made, and volleys of fire-arms discharged: wherever he came, the populace waving their hats in the air, shouted after him, A Monmouth, a Monmouth! and all promised him their votes in future elections to parliament."

In the midst of this triumphant popularity, Monmouth, on the very day on which he was to have been entertained by the inhabitants of Stafford in one of their principal streets, was arrested by order of the King. A single Sergeant-at-arms entered the town, and, having been admitted to Monmouth's presence, produced his writ. Neither the Duke nor his friends offered the slightest resistance. Monmouth instantly despatched Sir Thomas Armstrong for a habeas corpus, which having been granted, he returned to the metropolis. Dryden, in his "Absalom and Achitophel," has celebrated the regal progresses of Monmouth.