19.-JAMES II. (PART I.) 1685 to 1688 A.D.-3 years. 1. The Duke of York, brother of the late King, now came to the throne as James the Second. Being a strict Roman Catholic, he was no favourite with the people; but as he promised to uphold the Protestant religion, none opposed his being King. He, however, went openly to Mass, and soon showed that he could not endure any religion but his own. 2. A plot was therefore set on foot for taking the crown from him, and giving it to the Duke of Monmouth, his nephew. The Duke of Argyle was to head a 'rising in Scotland, while Monmouth was to land on the south coast of England. Argyle, however, failed in his attempt, and was taken prisoner and beheaded in Edinburgh before Monmouth landed. 1685 A.D. 3. When Monmouth arrived at Lyme,1 he had scarcely one hundred followers; but as the common people were in his favour, he was soon at the head of 6,000 men. He was met, however, by the King's forces at Sedgemoor,2 and totally defeated. He fled on horseback as far as his horse could carry him. Then changing his clothes for those of a peasant, he wandered about for two days. Thereafter he was hunted with bloodhounds. He was found in a ditch, half-starved, with a few peas in his pocket. 4. When taken before the King he begged for life; but James knew no mercy, and had him put to death on Tower Hill. His followers who were taken prisoners in the battle were cruelly treated. Many were murdered in cold blood after the 1685 A. D. battle by Colonel Kirke, who hanged them by scores on the sign-post of an inn at Taunton.3 Numbers more were condemned to most cruel deaths in the Bloody Assize by Judge Jeffreys, who, for his zeal in this foul butchery, was made Lord Chancellor. 5. James, feeling now safe on the throne, began to unfold his great plan-which was to make England once more a Roman Catholic country. In order to favour the Roman Catholics, he granted freedom of religion to all classes of nonconformists, Romanist and Protestant alike. 1688 6. He also thrust Roman Catholics into offices in the University of Oxford; and he drew up a Declaration of Indulgence, which allowed every one to believe what he chose, and to worship as he liked. in all the churches. A.D. This he ordered to be read The London clergy refused to read it; and seven bishops wrote a 'Petition against the Declaration. 7. James, in anger, sent them all to the Tower, where they remained for a week before they were 1688 A.D. He brought to trial. The jury declared them "Not guilty," and shouts of joy rang through the streets of London at the news. When James heard this, his anger knew no bounds. then resolved to bring his people to obedience by force of arms. For this purpose he sent over to Ireland for soldiers, who, being Roman Catholics, would more readily support his cause. foul, wicked. ris-ing, rebellion. knew no bounds, was so great that Scores, large numbers together. he could not control it. mass, a Roman Catholic service. pe-ti-tion, prayer to the king. 1 Lyme, or Lyme-Regis.-In Dorsetshire; 22 miles west of Dorchester. 2 Sedgemoor.-East of Bridgewater in Somersetshire. thrust, forced people to receive. 3 Taunton.-On the Tone in Somersetshire; 12 miles south-west of Bridgewater. Kirke's soldiers were ironically called Kirke's lambs." 66 20.-THE LAST BATTLE ON ENGLISH SOIL. 1. Having landed at Lyme, in Dorsetshire, the Duke of Monmouth, one of the sons of Charles the Second, fought a battle with the troops of King 2. Intending to 'surprise the royal army, which was commanded by a lazy and pleasure-loving general called Feversham, Monmouth, pale and anxious-looking, rode out of Bridgewater at the head of his soldiers about eleven o'clock one moonlight Sunday night. A mist, which lay on the moor, served as a cover for the approach of the rebel army. 1685 A.D. 3. That army had been hastily raised. The foot-soldiers were merely ploughmen and miners, who had tied scythes on poles, and had rubbed oil on the old rusty guns with which they had been in the habit of 'poaching and of frightening crows. The horsemen were worse off, for scarcely one of the clumsy cart-horses on which they rode had ever heard a shot fired. even 4. They had six miles to go, and the success of the attempt depended on their making no noise: 'consequently there were strict orders against the beating of drums and the firing of guns. The watch-word of the army, thus creeping over the moor in the foggy moonshine, was "Soho." 5. In two hours they had reached a place where deep ditches, containing a good deal of slushy mud, ran across the moorland. The army walked quietly across the first ditch, on a pathway made of stone. At the second ditch, a mistake which the guide made about the proper path caused delay and 'confusion; and in the bustle of finding the track again, a pistol went off by accident. This spoiled all; for some of the Life Guards were startled by the shot, and looking in the direction indistinct figures from which it came, saw the of Monmouth's men through the mist. Firing into the fog, they galloped away to rouse the royal troops. 6. Drums began to beat the signal for falling into rank; and Monmouth saw that unless he made a dash all hope of victory was gone. He therefore ordered the cavalry to charge in front, while he led up the foot behind. As the horsemen went forward at a rapid pace, they saw something black before them for which they could not account. Drawing a tight rein as they approached it, they found to their dismay that it was another ditch, of which they had received no warning! 7. On the opposite side the musketeers of James were lighting their matches in preparation for a volley. A short quick talk took place across the water. "For whom are you?" cried a royal officer. "For the King," was the rebel answer.- "For which King?"--" King Monmouth-God with us." -The reply to this war-cry came back in the shape of a shower of bullets, which emptied several of the rebel saddles, and scattered the whole troop of horse. 8. Then the foot-soldiers of Monmouth came up to the ditch, and began to fire across it at the royal troops. But they were not used to the firing of volleys, and, although they were very cool and brave, they aimed too high, and sent their balls over the heads of the enemy. Monmouth himself was among them, with a pike in his hand, directing the attack. But in the confusion caused by the |