[Pepys Collection, II. 241.] Monmouth's Saying in the West of England; or, His last Resolution on his Vopage into Holland. TO THE TUNE Or, The Souldier's Departure. (See p. 669.) NOW Ow our bloody Fight is over, "If we had but Am[m]unition, quickly I'd regain the Field, Soon I'de better my Condition, and make all my foes to yield: I will have a stronger Army, and good Amunition store, With Trumpets' sound (my Boys) I'le charm ye, thus regain the English shore. "Then aloud my Guns shall rattle, I'le on boldly once again Appear myself i' th' front o' th' Battle, make them know Monmouth's not slain : See the hearts of my poor Soldiers! now like men they endure to dye; See their Foes dissect their quarters, "But when I recruit my Forces I'le return to England's shore; I will come to you once more; 8 16 24 And bravely drive my Foes before me, My Enemies I'll make adore me, when my ends are once obtain❜d. 32 1 See Note on p. 670; these lines proving the issue of the ballad to be late, and not contemporary with Monmouth's capture, but after "The Bloody Assize.” Monmouth's Saying in the West of England. "Tis reported I am taken, and disputed sev'ral ways: Some say, I'm by my Friends forsaken, such reports as these they raise : Whoso ever is the vender in a little time shall see I'le come in greater strength and splendour, then shall ever Conquer'd be. "Foreign Princes will assist me, with such force I'le come again; My Foes shall not dare to resist me. but the Power they serve disdain : Then shall Monmouth in his Glories to his English Friends appear, And will stifle all such Stories as are vended ev'ry where. "They'll see I was not so degraded to be taken gathering Pease, Nor in a Cock of Hay upbraided: "I'll revive my ancient Honour, then my happy Friends shall see My Foes shall truckle to my Banner, and repent their Villainy : In a blest and happy Station then I'll place my worthy Friend, From Pop'ry, likewise free the Nation, this is all your Monmouth's end. 679 [See Note at end. 40 48 56 [William of Orange, "Dear Country-men, you know I love ye, The Losses of your rights does move me, England now is full of Crosses, 64 72 680 'Monmouth's Saying,' and 'The Soldier's Return.' Those that have me much Degraded, in a little time shall see Tho' by Romans I'm upbraided, I'll live to pluck down Popery. Printed for B. J. 80 [Black-letter. Three woodcuts. Date of issue, probably, Nov. or Dec. 1688. And now in greater pomp and glory I have then my Banners spread, (Compare "And stifle all such stories," in our present sixth verse.) Probably, both Monmouth's Saying" and "The Soldier's Return came from one and the same writer. The repetition of phraseology cannot be merely accidental. Here are other verses of The Soldier's Return," with special application to Monmouth's Return, as to his being represented by William of Orange: Treach'ry shall no more betray me, I'll no more such Villains trust; To make me greater now than ever, or in my l'indication fall. 32 48 Dear Country-men, 'twas first to serve you that I took a Sword in hand, 64 AT The Last Letters of Monmouth. "It is the curse of Kings to be attended By slaves that take their humours for a warrant And on the winking of authority To understand a law: to know the meaning Of dangerous Majesty, when perchance it frowns, Had'st thou not been by, A fellow by the hand of nature mark'd, [=Sunderland. -King John, Act iv. sc. 2. T the risk of wearying readers by repetition of similar phrases in each, it seems expedient for us here to give the correct text of various supplicatory letters written by Monmouth during the last week of his existence. We are by no means inclined to blame James II. for cruelty and remorseless intolerance towards Monmouth. He had never believed in the relationship claimed as a nephew, either legitimate or natural. He had never met with genuine affection from the young man, whom flattering satellites had tempted often to advance pretensions and exclude the lawful heir. He had been deceived by Charles and by Monmouth to yield his forgiveness for former insults and injuries, on a voluntary promise of future loyalty, since "Monmouth's sword would be the first to be drawn in his defence," if need should arise; and yet Monmouth's sword was almost the earliest to threaten him, after accession to the throne of his dead brother. Still worse, the basest calumnies against James had been publicly proclaimed in the West, thus making the rebellion more embittered. It had been a long if an intermittent struggle, and, since the vanquished Moumouth had previously shown himself false to his plighted word, no renewal of clemency could be reasonably expected. Vae Victis was the solemn adjudication of Nemesis. A few hours after his capture on the 8th, Monmouth was taken to Ringwood along with Grey (who was in excellent spirits). In feebleness and distraction, Monmouth wrote a Letter to the King. (A copy of this is in Harleian MS. 7006, fol. 197; but the original is at Oxford.) [Bodleian Collection, Rawlinson MSS. A. 139 verso.] Monmouth's First Supplication to James EE. [Written from Ringwood, Hampshire, 8th July, 1685.] SIR,-Your Maty may think it is the misfortune I now ly under makes me make this application to you, but I doe assur your Maty, it is the remorce I now have in me of the rong I have done you in severall things, and now in taking up Arms against you. For my taking up arms, it never was in my thoughts since 682 Monmouth's Letters, craving access to James II. the King dy'd; the Prince and Princess of Orange will be witness for me of the İ assurance gave them, that I would never stir against you, but my misfortua was such, as to meet wth some horrid people that made me believe things of your Maty, and gave me soe many false arguments, that I was fully led away to belive, that it was a shame and a sin before God not to doe it; but Sr. I will not trouble your Maty at present with many things I could say for my self, that I am sur would move your compation, the cheif end of this letter being only to beg of you that I may have that happiness to speak to your Mty for I have that to say to you, Sr, that I hope may give you a long and happy Rain. I am sur, Sr. when you hear me you will be convinced of [the] zeal I have for your preservation, and how hartily I repent of what I have done. I can say noe mor to your Maty now, being this letter may be seen by those that keep [me from your favour?]; therefore, Sr. I shall make an ind in begging of your Maty to belive so well of me, that I would rather dy a thousand deaths then to excuse any thing I have don, if I did not realy think myself the most in the rong that ever any man was, and had not from the bottom of my hart an obhorance for those that put me upon it, and for the action it self. I hope, Sr. God Almighty will strick your hart wth mercy and compation for me, as he has done mine wth the obhorance of what I have done; therefor I hope, Sr. I may live to show you how zealous I shall ever be for your service, and could I say but ONE WORD in this letter you would be convinced of it, but it is of that consequence that I dare not doe it; therefor, Sr. I doe beg of you once mor to let me speak to you, for then you can be convinced how much I shall ever be your Matys humble and dutifull "For the King." [Seal in red wax, broken.] Monmouth. That the "one word " was "Sunderland " we have no doubt. On the day after he had written to the King, Monmouth wrote to obtain help of the Earl of Rochester, James's brother-in-law: Monmouth's Letter to Laurence Hyde. (In the Clarendon Correspondence.) From Ringwood, the 9th of July, '85. MY LORD,-Having had some proofs of your kindness when I was last at Whitehall, makes me hope now that you will not refuse interceding for me with the King, being I now, though too late, see how I have been misled; were I not clearly convinced of that, I would rather die a thousand deaths than say what I do. I writ yesterday to the King, and the chief business of my letter was to desire to speak to him, for I have that to say to him that I am sure will set him at quiet for ever: I am sure the whole study of my life shall hereafter be how to serve him; and I am sure that which I can do is more worth than taking my life away; and I am confident, if I may be so happy to speak to him, he will himself be convinced of it, being I can give him such infallible proofs of my truth to him, that, though I would alter, it would not be in my power to do it. This whch I have now said, I hope will be enofe to encoradge your lordship, to shew me your favour, whch I doe ernestly desire of you, and hope that you have so much generosity as not to refuse it. I hope, my Lord, and I make noe doubt of it, that you will not have cause to repent having saved my life, whch I am sur you can doe a great deal in it, if you please; being it obliges me for ever to be intierly yours, whch I shall ever be, as long as I have life. Monmouth. "For the Earl of Rochester, Lord High Treasurer of England." |