Monmouth Degraded.

"Hark! how Noll and Bradshaw's heads above us
Cry, Come, come, ye Whigs that love us,
Come, ye faithful Sons, fall down, and adore ye
Your Fathers, whose glory

Was to kill Kings before ye;

From Treason and Plots let your grave heads adjourn,
And our glorious Pinnacle adorn," etc.

[Cf. p. 652, Note 5. -Loyal Song of July 19, 1684.

WE have already (on p. 644 to 650) mentioned some of the

incidental adventures by which "James Scott, the little King in Lyme," began to realize the difficulties of his position and the impending failure. In grasping after the shadowy title of a King, he forfeited the rank and fortune of a Duke.

Nathaniel Wade afterwards declared that when Heywood Dare had been slain by Andrew Fletcher, at Lyme, Richard Goodenough became paymaster to the rebel forces, but Monmouth was heard to curse him for withholding money. "Monmouth expected Sir Walter Young, Sir Francis Rolle of Hampshire, and other gentlemen, but they all failing him, made him grow very melancholy; his intent was for Bristoll, being persuaded by Captain Tily that most of ye citizens were for him, and then to Gloster, and so for London." (Harleian MS., No. 6845, fol. 264.) Sir William Courtney of Powderham, Sir Francis Drake, and other men of property had been expected to lend help, but the abstention of William Cavendish (fourth Earl, and afterwards first Duke of Devonshire,) was the chief disappointment. To incriminate many of the great Whig leaders, as having encouraged Monmouth's insurrection, was desired afterwards, when pains and penalties were being meted out; but the claim to kingship advanced for him in Robert Ferguson's Declaration had disgusted them and driven them back. Ferguson had vainly tried to enmesh them, but he now compelled them to withdraw. His schemes were involved and self-contradictory.

There is extant (in the British Museum Collection, Press-mark, 1872, a. 1. art. 41) "A Letter to Ferguson, or any other, the supposed Author of a late Scandalous Libel, Entituled, An Elogie upon Sir Tho. Armstrong; from one that heartily wishes them what they deserve." It is dated "From Pontack's Tavern, formerly known by the Noted Name of Shepheard's, this 13th of August, 1684" a sheet, Printed for Joseph Hindmarsh, Bookseller to his Royal Highness, at the Black Bull in Cornhill. It begins,

the noted Libel did appear,

When first ante of all your friends were strook with fear ;

Finding, like a true Block-head, you had chose

Some Belgick Muse to rally Armstrong's Foes.

654 "Letter to Robert Ferguson:" perhaps by Nahum Tate.

For all your dear Acquaintants in this Isle,
Tho' they extoll'd the Treason, damn'd the style,
And jointly own'd that by Poetick Laws
True Hanging you deserv'd, but no Applause.
Stories obscene may dully be exprest,
And with each wanton Humour pass for jest;
Misprisions too may crawl in humble strain,
And no Whigg curst for his insipid vein.
But haughty Treason, dangerous and sublime,
Should have a genius lofty as the Crime.
For who upon that theme poor Dogrill writes,
Rather does damp Rebellion than excites.
Curse on thy sottish head, that was the cause
Of forming Monsters without teeth or claws:
Poyson they have enough, and shape to fright,
But the poor Devils can neither scratch nor bite.
Scorn'd and thrown by, like a blunt edgless Tool,
And shew thee much a Rogue, but more a Fool.

[Compare p. 36

[9. mis-Priscians?

20

It refers certainly to the Fergusonian poem given on our p. 488
(i.e. the 18th line, "So holy Cranmer burnt the hand that err'd"):
Burn then that Hand, that held thy guilty pen,
And so recover thy lost Fame agen;
Atone for writing Nonsense, burn it straight,
And Cranmer, whom thou talk'st of, emulate .
For though a Dunce may serve in common arts,
A Rebel still should be a Rogue of parts.
Fools ominously shew our near disgraces,

Thus Dick the Scepter lost. M[onmou]th his Places.
Sir Martin mars the Polititian's toyl,

And Oats and Commins two wise Plots did spoil...

[C. p. 488.

44

[R. Cromwell. [See p. 643.

60

[E.C., p. 607.

As regards the bitter reproach against Armstrong for assisting to restore the Stuarts (lines eleven and twelve) Ferguson is mocked:

And on that Distich ask their counsels all:
G[re]y, N[elthor]p, Ire[to]n, to the theme advance,
And Brandon, that went o're in complaisance.
Then Goodenough brings grizzly Tur]ner in,
And his fair Spouse, that lately sick had bin,
And scap'd great danger her last lying-in.
The mighty lines were scann'd and understood,
And all upon their Honours swore 'em good!

[Rich. N., Hy. I. [See p. 314. [R. G., Charles T. 90

The frequency with which certain tunes were used of old for fresh ballads is one of the surest tests of their popularity. We have had numerous examples of Tom D'Urfey's Vienna Siege Loyal Song, "Hark! the thund'ring cannons roar," furnishing the tune for ballads connected with the Duke of Monmouth. Sometimes it was cited inaccurately, as in next song, "Let the thund'ring cannons roar!" The original words were given on pp. 361, 366, of this volume.

[One Hundred and Eighty Loyal Songs, 1685, p. 356.]

Monmouth Degraded ;

Or,

James Scot, the Little King in Lyme.

TUNE, Hark the Thund'ring Cannons roar. [See pp. 361, 366, 654.]

YOme, beat Alarum, sound a Charge,

Come

As well without as in the verge;

Let every Sword and Soul be large,

To make our Monarch shine, Boys!
Let's leave off sǝлoч and drunken Souls,
And windy words o're brimming Bowls;
Let English hearts exceed the Pole's,

'Gainst Perkin, King in Lyme, Boys!

Such a Fop-King was ne'er before,
Is landed on our Western shore,
Which our black Saints do all adore,

Inspir'd by Tub-Divine, Boys!1
Let us assume the Soul of Mars,
And march in order, Foot and Horse,
Pull down the Standard at the Cross,

Of Perkin, King in Lyme, Boys!

Pretended Son unto a King,

Subject of Delights in sin,

The most ungrateful Wretch of Men;
Dishonour to the Shrine, Boys,

[=Sobieski's.

8

[Monmouth, p. 646.

(Of Charles and James the undoubted Right,)
Of England's Crown and Honours bright:
While he can find us work, let's Fight
'Gainst Perkin, King in Lyme, Boys!

The Sainted Sisters now look blue,
Their Cant's all false if God be true,
Their Teaching-stallions dare not do

No more but squeeze and whine, Boys!

Exhorting all the Clowns to fight

Against their God, King, Church, and Right:
Take cares for all their Wives at night,

For Perkin, King in Lyme, Boys!

16

24

[=at Taunton.

1 This gibe refers to the notorious Robert Ferguson, so often mentioned.

32

656

"James Scott, the Little King in Lyme."

'Gainst their mock King, each draws his Sword,
In Blood we'll print them on record,
"Traytors against their Sovereign Lord;"

Let's always fight and joyn, Boys;

Now they're block'd up by Sea and Land,
By Treason they must fall or stand,
We only wait the King's Command

To burn the Rogues alive, Boys!

But now we hear they're sally'd forth,
Front and flank 'em, South and North,
Nobles of brave England's worth,

Let your bright Honour shine, Boys!
Let Guns and Cannons roar and sing,

40

48

Against the Rogues in Lyme, Boys!

[In White-letter. Date, soon after the 20th of June, 1685.]

56

In two volumes entitled The Life, Progress, and Rebellion of James Duke of Monmouth, 1844, by a useful local antiquary, George Roberts, was given an account of Monmouth's landing at Lyme Regis, Ferguson's "Declaration," the recruits obtained, the failure of gentry and of nobility in coming forward to support the movement, with a list of the inadequate forces, ill-armed and undisciplined. The book is unsatisfactory and ill-arranged, totally inadequate as regards the career of Monmouth, but has value locally in its extracts from family papers, town records, and traditions. Intended to suit Devonshire visitors and county residents, it leaves no cause for complaint, as companion to the guidebook, and for much deserves praise. It is bewilderingly chaotic, however, and seems to have been first shot into some local newspaper, and thereafter left in its original confusion. The blunders in it are innumerable, but it was of some service to Macaulay, even in the suggestion of remarks about difficulties of travelling. Its raison d'être is in its local details. As literature it is nowhere.

King James's Royal Victory.

Lady." Did you ever hear of such a thing as this Battle, as they call it ?"
Lord. "Not I, I'll be sworn, nor no man else I think."

Lady.- -" Every body says, that as the business was ordered, it was a thousand to one that all the King's forces had been cut off."

Lord." Yes, that is most certain; but what I am most delighted with, is to see the infinite satisfaction the General takes in explaining to every one [whom] he meets with, all the particulars of his foolery."

Lady.-"O! here he is a coming: for G's sake, let us make him tell it us again."
Lord.- 1
Pray do, madam."

Enter General [= Lewis Duras, Lord Feversham].

General." Madama, your most humble servanta!"

Lady.

My Lord, will you not tell us a little, first, some of the particulars of this battle?"

General." Madama, vid all min harta me tell a you, begarra de hola historia ó de occasion. Your Ladyship have hear, I supposa, dat de rebella get into de great towna-what you call de towna ?"

Lady."What, Bristol?"

General.-"No: de oder touna."

Lady. "O! Bridgewater?"

....

General .-"Ay! begarra, Breechwater: so madama me have intelligensa dat de rebel he go to Breechwater; me say to my mena, Marsh, you rogua!'

So

me marsha over de great fielda, begar! de brave contra where dey killa de hare vid de dogue, and de patrich vid de hawka, begar! de brave sport in de varld."

Lady." But, my Lord, what did you do there?"

General." Why, Madama, me come vidin two mile o' Breechwater, and begarra, me post myself dere."

Lord. How many men, pray, my Lord, were there of the rebels?"

General." Ma foy! between sixa and sevena tousand."

Lord." How many had you?"

General.-" Abouta two tousand."

Lord.-"I suppose, my Lord, that your Lordship was posted in a very strong place?" General.-"O! begarra, very strong, vid de great river between me and de rebella, calla, de Brooka de Gutter."

Lord." And so your Lordship it seems encamped with your horse and foot?" General.-"Ay, vid de foota; no vid de horsa. Begar, me go vid de horsa an de gentleman officers to one very good villash, where, begar, be very good quartera, very good meta, very good drinka, and very good bedda! Lady. "But pray, my Lord, why did you not stay with the foot?" General. -"Begarra, Madama, because dere be great differentia between de gentlemen Officera, and de rogua de Sogiera. Begarra de rogua de Sogiera lye upon de grounda; but, begar! de gentleman officer go to bedda!”Buckingham's Sedgemore Fight: a Farce, 1685. [Compare p. 664, Note 4.]

THERE

HERE can be no doubt whatever that the Pepysian Ballad of "King James's Royal Victory," now first reprinted and made accessible to readers (through the kindness of the Master, Fellows, and Librarian of Magdalen College, Cambridge), was a genuine contemporary record, written, printed, and issued within a fortnight of Sedgemoor Fight: thus following quickly after the execution of Monmouth 66 on Wednesday the 15th of this instant July, 1685."

VOL. V.

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