Part 17 (2/2)

As far, however, as Stephen could watch, he observed that she held a south-westerly course On his arrival on shore he found that notwithstanding the untoward event of the afternoon, the expedition to Bridport was still to be carried out He found a party of three hundred men under Colonel Wade, with a hundred h, while the cavalry was coe of the whole expedition They were toto fall on theThey waited till sunset, when, all being prepared, they ing up the rear The men were ordered to keep silence, and to make as little noise in any way as possible It was no easy matter to induce raw recruits, however, to do this Stephen of course, knew every inch of the way They were still souardfro away they advanced boldly, declared that they had escaped from the town, and that their as to join the Duke of Monmouth

”You have found them sooner than you expected,” said Lieutenant Mitchell, the officer coreed to return with the party, although they said that there were no less than one thousand two hundred foot, and a hundred horse already holding the town Still, as they had come thus far and were positively ordered to attack, the leaders were unwilling to go back without atteh they were far outnu, which completely concealed their approach towards the end of the tohich consists of one long broad street with a stone bridge at either end, and a cross street running north and south The bridge was quickly won, the outposts retiring with expedition to theonly to receive one volley fro's horse, with a small body of infantry, alone occupied the town, and as the troopers ran away, they let their horses go, which were at once captured by the successful assailants Colonel Venner now led on hisparties of musketeers and pikes to co took place in front of the inn, when two of the king's officers and others lost their lives, and several prisoners were made by Monmouth's men Colonel Venner, however, ounded When Lord Grey was advancing on the bridge, the loyal militia fired a heavy volley, which induced hiallop off

On Colonel Venner being wounded, Colonel Wade took command, and led to the western part of the tohere for half-an-hour histo each other He then, finding that the rest of the force had retreated, considered it his duty to retire, which he did in pretty good order, with thirty horses and about fourteen prisoners The whole transaction must have shown the Duke how little reliance he could place upon his new levies, or even upon some of his principal officers The Duke co off his men The party were pretty well knocked up by theirthat evening, except a the druiments were for himself at the head, passed them all in review As Stephen rode near the Duke, he observed that his countenance wore a melancholy expression, the ani quite faded froreatly to heart the death of Dare; still, as he had commenced the enterprise, he seemed resolved to carry it out His troops were in a very different ers ahead, and were 's forces would melt away before the the ranks, observed the aard movements of soed appearance of the cavalry, an to feel less confident of success till he recollected that probably the 's side were much in the same condition, and, moreover, that they ell-affected towards the Duke The ar till they reached Axht to the Duke that Albee body of militia to attack them Monmouth skilfully drew up his forces; the four field-pieces were planted so as to co, while the thick hedges which on each side overhung the narrow lanes were lined with musketeers; the cavalry were held in reserve

”Here they come, my lads,” cried Stephen Battisob, as Albemarle's men were seen in the distance ”Steady, now; if they venture to attack us, we shall soon send theht-about”

At first the enee they were seen to halt, then suddenly to retreat The insurgents on this dashed forward As they heard the cheers and shouts of Monht, and scampered off in all directions across the country They were pursued for some distance, and coats, ents

”Now, surely the Duke of Monmouth will follow up the pursuit, and we shall probably capture Exeter without a blow,” observed Stephen

”No chance of that, I fear,” answered his brother Andreas riding by his side ”Hark! there is the recall, and it is a signal our raw felloill be glad enough to obey”

This last re to employ his recruits in any hazardous service till they were better trained, thought it wise to be satisfied with the advantage he had already gained, and continued his hbourhood of Chard, where the troops encamped in a meadow outside the town The Duke was now near the estates of those friends who had entertained him so sumptuously a few years before, and he naturally looked forward to being joined by a nuentlemen and their retainers; but only one, John Speke, the son of Mr George Speke of White Lackington Hall, arrived at the ca appearance fro the Duke's forces marched to Ilminster, about four miles off, and encamped in a field about half aforward to the arrival of fresh levies headed bymen in vast numbers would have joined his standard if arms could have been found for theate had sailed into the harbour and had captured the _Pink_ and another vessel which had on board nuunpowder, and several thousand breast and head pieces for cavalry, though, considering that there were no horses or men to wear the defensive armour, it was not of much consequence Thus far there had been no success The Duke now resolved to march to Taunton, that celebrated and beautiful little tohich had endured so heroic a siege under Blake It was here that during his progress he had been received with such remarkable honours, and he fully expected now to receive a similar treatment Taunton was densely populated, and was the seat of the trade in serges, and as most of the manufacturers were Dissenters, they were universally in favour of the Duke of Monmouth As Monmouth approached Taunton several persons came out from the toho informed him that it had been occupied till the day before by Royal troops, but they, hearing of the disorder into which the militia had been thrown between Ax both officers andreceived orders to appear at Bridgewater Messengers also promised a cordial reception to the Duke should he co encamped his forces outside the town, prepared to enter it He was e body ofout to meet him, while the rest of the inhabitants on foot rent the air with applause and acclah which he passed were streith flowers; the ere thronged with spectators, all eager to gaze on the hero they had been taught to adher than they had been since he landed The Duke had taken up his residence at the house of Captain Hucker The followingit was announced to hi to do him honour He descended the steps in front of the house, when he saw co banners of different colours, which they had worked with their own hands At their head appeared a lady ofa naked sword in one hand and in the other a small curious Bible, which she presented with a short acceptable speech The Duke, looking greatly pleased, assured her that he had undertaken with a resolution to defend the truth contained in the book, to seal it, should it be required, with his blood He then saluted each of the young ladies, as did Lord Grey His Grace thenolden banner worked with the initials JR and a crown Having paraded through the streets, the Duke returned to his abode, and the young maidens retired to their own homes The day after, some of his principal advisers reco

The Duke illing to do this, and there were ainst it It was argued that a large nu to take up ar was at the head of the ht result in the establishly opposed Several of his Republican officers, on hearing of the proposal, expressed thereatly averse to it; and it was not without ive their consent, in the hopes that they should be ientry, ere now hanging back Stephen Battisob and his brothers, knowing their father's principles, felt sure that he would disapprove of this step; at the same time, they had becoree to anything which it was supposed would forward his interests The subject was anxiously discussed bycarried by Miss Mary Mead, the work of the maids of Taunton, on which were emblazoned the initials JR and the crown, had been seen by thousands, and that emblem could not have been mistaken No one had complained

The fatal step was quickly decided on,--fatal, because should the Duke fail and be captured, it would cut off all hope of pardon from James the Second On Saturday, 20th June, soistrates were co, where a large concourse of people were asse proclan, Charles the Second, late King of England, the succession to the Crown of England, Scotland, France, and Ireland, with the doally descend and devolve upon the h-born Prince, Ja Charles the Second; but Jae of the absence of the said James, Duke of Mon to be poisoned, and immediately thereupon did usurp and invade the Crown, and doth continue so to do We, therefore, the nobleentlemen, and commons at present assembled, in the names of ourselves and all the loyal and Protestant nobleland, in pursuance of our duty and allegiance, and of the delivering of the kingdonise, publish, and proclaihty Prince, Jan and King, by the naland, Scotland, France, and Ireland, defender of the Faith,” etcetera

”God bless the King,” the people shouted, and immediately the officers of the army and the principal inhabitants advanced and kissed Monmouth's hand, and addressed him as, ”Sire,” and, ”Your Majesty” The news spread far and wide, and an enthusiastic gentleton, in Hampshi+re, proclaimed the Duke of Monmouth, and raised a troop of a hundred reater numbers than before Many had to be sent back for want of arms of any description There was not even a sufficiency of scythes for all Monmouth still waited in vain for news of an insurrection in London Colonel Danvers, who had pro to risk his life in the enterprise The king's forces were now gathering from all directions to oppose the Duke The household troops, the only real soldiers who could be depended upon, werefroonists to Monmouth's ill-disciplined volunteers Stephen had been sent on outpost duty with his small body of horse He had been directed to proceed in the direction of Chard, when towards evening, as he was about to return, he discovered a party of Royal horse galloping towards hih he soon discovered that they were superior in numbers to him, he drew up hisofficer, who showed abundant bravery if not ave the word to charge Shots were rapidly exchanged, and swords were clashi+ng as the co officer Two of Stephen's men dropped from their horses, two others directly afterwards were shot Notwithstanding, the Royal troopers, discouraged by the loss of their officer, wheeled round and took to flight Several more of his men had been wounded, so that Stephen was unable to pursue the eneed it wise to ht be shut up in the town The Duke at once resolved to ht hope to obtain arms and pecuniary assistance from the wealthy inhabitants devoted to his cause It had been proposed to fortify Taunton, but since its e, when defended by Blake, the walls and fortifications had been destroyed, and a considerable number of men would have been required for its defence The day after Monly title he marched out of Taunton at the head of an ared him with hopes of success, but Stephen Battisob observed with regret that he looked dispirited, in spite of the acclamations of the devoted thousands which were raised wherever he appeared Stephen, as he was passing out of the town, observed Mr Ferguson, the Duke's chaplain, who with a draord in his hand, looking more like a lunatic than a sane minister of the Gospel

”What can have come over the man?” remarked Stephen to his brother

”Hark! hear what he is saying”

”Look at uson, the fauson, for whose head so many hundred pounds have been offered” Thus he continued uttering the same or similar phrases till the aro taken the man's measure, and have heartily wished that the Duke had a better adviser,” said Andrew

The two brothers rode on with theira watchful look-out on every side in case the eneewater was reached without opposition, and in the evening Mon six thousand tolerably arewater The Duke met with a cordial reception from the Mayor and Corporation of that toho proclaih Cross The army was encamped on Castle Field, on the east side of the town, and the Duke his in the castle close by The Duke allant defence of Bridgewater by the fauard of forty young men, well mounted and armed, who paid their own expenses, had been formed for the protection of Monmouth's person, while the whole of his cavalry amounted to a thousand horse His object was now to push forward, and, if an opportunity offered, to capture Bristol He therefore ewater, and proceeded on to Glasobry, in the famous abbey of which a part of the arhbouring churches His intention of taking Bristol was frustrated by the bridge across the Avon being broken-down, and by the Earl of Feversha entered the city at the head of two hundred and fifty of the Horse Guards, foronists for Mon the reatly harassed by the cavalry under Lord Churchill, afterwards the fah Monmouth knew that the inhabitants of Bristol were ready to rise the moment he should commence to attack, but the Duke of Beaufort, who commanded there, threatened to burn down the city at the least sign of rebellion, and Mone, while the king's forces were gathering round hin and to counteruard of the two ar led by the Duke of Grafton, a half-brother of Mon on his men, found himself in a deep lane with fences on both sides of hi fire of musketry was kept up, but he pushed on boldly till he came to the entrance of Philip's Norton; there his as crossed by a barricade, from which a third fire met him full in front

His men now lost heart, and ot out of it more than a hundred of them had been killed or wounded Grafton now encountered a party of Monh theh the two are in a general action Feversha for his artillery, and Mone and zeal, were no iments which he had formerly commanded would pass over to his standard, but that hope he was now coave way to despair Even at this time a procla an amnesty to all ould lay down their ar certain leaders ere expressly naly held by some of Monmouth's chief supporters, who proposed that those ere excluded from the amnesty should retreat to the coast and e their followers to make such terms as they could with the Govern mood was much disposed to adopt thisMany lives would be saved, and he and his officers would preserve theirs

The step, however, was strongly opposed by Lord Grey, who ier rather than requite with ingratitude and treachery the devoted attach this project, Mon of the inhabitants of the districts in the neighbourhood of Bridgewater, determined to return thither, and re-entered that town on the 2nd of July, having passed through Wells on his way He now thought of fortifying that place, and had coht They consisted of two thousand five hundred troops, and one thousand five hundred of the Wiltshi+rethe Duke, they encaewater Stephen Battisob, by his courage and judgh in Monmouth's favour, and noith several other officers, accompanied the Duke to the top of the parish church steeple, the loftiest in the county Frolasses they could distinguish across the es where the royal army was posted In one of them, Weston Zoyland, lay the royal cavalry, and here Feversham had fixed his head-quarters Further off lay Middle Zoy, where the Wiltshi+re militia were quartered, and upon the moor, not far froular infantry Aiment, which he himself had once co to Stephen; ”they will fight If I had but theo well”

Still, formidable as the force appeared, the Duke knew Fevershaht in word to Mon theular outposts had been established On this the idea occurred to hi's forces, and to cut thereed to this, and it was arranged that they should ht

Castlefield, where they were encamped, presented on that Sunday afternoon a spectacle which for land since the disbanding of Croreater nuious exercises according to the Puritan fashi+on The preachers who had taken up arreat Civil War, appeared in red coats and jack boots, with swords by their sides Stephen Battisob heartily joined in the religious exercises, though he avoided the spot where Ferguson was holding forth, and endeavouring to prove that the war in which they were engaged was not rebellion, but a righteous enterprise whichthe soldiers were their wives and daughters, who had co districts to see the broke up, and the trumpet summoned the ain Evening of that summer day drew on, and the tiuard, rode out of the castle, ury The night ell suited for the conteh the moon was at the full, and the northern strea lay so thickly on Sedgemoor that no object could be discerned fifty paces off

The Duke hi, had been co the remonstrances of many who mistrusted hily have had a different leader, for though Lord Grey was faithful to the cause he had espoused and courageous in council, yet he was destitute of that nerve which is the great requisite of an officer He could have had no confidence in the greater nuh brave, were quite undisciplined Many of them had been embodied but a few days, and had not learned the use of their weapons, while their horses were unaccustomed to stand fire, or to act in concert with each other, so that they could be scarcely kept in their ranks Even on the march most of the infantry also lacked discipline At the sa all animated with the same zeal, knew that they could trust each other The scythe-hbouring h the distance to Feversham's camp was little more than three miles, in order to avoid two deep ditches, called in those parts plungeons or steanings, the Duke, led by a guide, took a circuitous route of nearly six th There was a third ditch, called the Rhine, which still lay between hi There was a ford across this Rhine, by which his troops ht have passed over, but which in the darkness was missed In silence and darkness Monmouth's devoted troops marched on Some confusion and delay were caused by the first two ditches, but these having been passed, the Duke, believing no obstruction existed between him and the royal camp, fully expected to succeed in his enterprise He here halted for the horse, consisting of eight squadrons, to advance The four iron guns followed the horse, at the head of the foot, which consisted of five great battalions, each having one corenadiers He had got within a mile of the camp, when the advanced sentries of the Royal Horse Guards were discovered A party of Lord Grey's cavalry charged thealloped off to arouse the cao off, which undoubtedly drew the attention of the king's troops to the advancing force

Mon's camp was alarmed, ordered Lord Grey to advance rapidly with the horse, and to fall a still ignorant of the great ditch which protected theiven hie over the ditch, and led his ied, soly, supposing them to be friends, allowed five hundred of the to the first battalion of the Guards, Captain Berkley, who co of the musketeers, inquired who?” he asked