IX. 1685. June 30. BOOK execution within three days, he was condemned to suffer for his explanation of the test. He retained his fortitude, and even his accustomed mirth, to the last; dined and indulged, as usual, in a short slumber before his execution; and in kneeling to submit his neck to the block, embraced the instrument of death with an allusion to its name, as the sweetest maiden he had ever kissed. His misfortunes and death were universally commiserated. He was twice condemned for ficti tious crimes; and his execution on his former iniquitous sentence, was regarded as little else than judicial murder. The cruel and vindictive character of James, was marked by the most barbarous medals, struck to commemorate his triumph over an innocent, inoffensive nobleman, whom his own injustice had ruined and reduced to despair". Severities of government, That Argyle should obtain a pardon, could hardly be expected from the character of James, who, on Monmouth's defeat, had no mercy to extend to his brother's favorite son. In his memoirs, he endeavours to extenuate his own cruelty, and would persuade the world, or himself, that 10 Wodrow, ii. 541. " On the one medal, the heads of Argyle and Monmouth placed on altars, the bleeding bodies beneath, with an inscription, Sic Aras et Sceptra tuemur; on the other, their heads upon spikes, and the inscription, Ambitio malesuada ruit. Cuningham, i. 62. Pennant's Journey to Scotland, 1772. Echard. IX. 1685. he was released from the ties of affection and BOOK blood, inasmuch as Monmouth was neither his nephew nor his brother's son; but the son of Robert, and the nephew of Algernon Sidney, connected both by consanguinity and treason with his inveterate foe 12. The cruelties of Kirk and Jefferies in the west of England, which will never be forgotten, could hardly exceed what the presbyterians had endured in Scotland for twenty years; but at present, from the dissensions of the ministry, the rigors of government were comparatively mild. As there was no battle, few prisoners were taken in arms. Sir Patrick Hume, and the principal officers who crossed the Clyde, had repulsed the military before they dispersed; but Archer a clergyman, and Rumbold the maltster of Rye, were wounded and executed; Ayloff, another Englishman, was sent to London, nor did his affinity to Clarendon, and the king's children, preserve his life. Cochran, betrayed by his aunt, was redeemed from death by a wealthy father. But the marquis of Athole inflicted cruel ravages on the estates of Argyle; put many gentlemen of his name to death; and, but for a timely application to the privy council, would have executed his son, in the midst of a fever, at his father's gate. The gaols were crowded with prisoners on Argyle's invasion; and many of them, driven northward to IX. BOOK to Dunnoter castle, were confined in a loathsome, contracted dungeon, where they perished daily, 1685. for the want of the common benefits of water and air. Numbers were transported to the plantations; were deprived, as usual, of their ears, and were consumed by diseases during a long voyage. But the government was still intent on forfeitures; and attainders continued to multiply during the whole reign 1. ruinous to James. The destruction of Argyle and Monmouth, instead of confirming the authority, first contributed to the ruin of James. The merciless and bloody circuit, or, as unfeelingly styled in his letters, the campaign of Jefferies '5, destroyed the apparent popularity with which his reign had commenced. Elated at the destruction of his enemies, or rather intoxicated with uninterrupted success, he condescended no longer to dissemble his bigotry or his designs. In his speech to the English parliament, he announced abruptly his resolution to maintain a standing army, and to dispense with the penal laws and the tests; and no explanation was necessary to convince the nation that the former was 14 Fount. Dec. i. 301-8-86-9. Wodrow, ii. 54857-67-76. Burnet, iii. 24. Hind let loose. 15 "Lord chief justice is making his campaign in the west." "Lord chief justice has almost done his campaign, he has "already condemned several hundreds, some of whom are already executed, more are to be, and the others sent to the "plantations." The concise and humane language of a father of his people! James's Letters; Dalrymple's Mem. ii. 53. intended to establish arbitrary power, and the BOOK latter to introduce the catholics into the church and state. The parliament might have acquiesced in the most arbitrary powers which the sovereign could assume; but it was dissolved in anger, as it hesitated to betray the religion, together with the liberties of the nation; and from that moment, while his precipitate violence continued to increase, it is observable that his authority began to decline. His good faith, moderation, and judgment, were universally distrusted; and the attachment of his protestant subjects was dissolved. The tories, the universities, and the church, amidst the dangers with which their religion was threatened, forgot their professions of implicit ́subjection, and in the attempt to establish the Romish faith, no party, a few catholics excepted, adhered to the king. IX. 1685. 1696. tion of The concessions refused by the English parlia- Introduc ment, were expected from Scotland, where pro- popery selytes received every encouragement which the attempted. king could give. Perth the chancellor, and Melfort his brother, disgusted at Queensberry's arrogance, preferred an accusation which appeared so frivolous or invidious at court, that, to preserve their own places, they embraced the popish faith, and, like true courtiers, ascribed their seasonablę conversion to the papers found in the cabinet of the deceased king. According to an observation of Lord Halifax, their faith had made them whole. IX. 1686. BOOK Queensberry,stript of his employments, discovered, when too late, that neither the sums extorted for the treasury, nor the merit of rendering the prerogative absolute, could atone for his want of the true faith. The administration was entrusted to papists only; to Perth, a timorous and cruelto Melfort, a cruel and rapacious statesman-to the earl of Murray, a convert, admitted to an ostensible share of power. Proselytes were not numerous; but the new-born zeal of the chancellor was indefatigable. Shoals of priests were allured to Scotland. The press was abandoned to their care and diligence; a royal seminary, or college of Jesuits, was erected in the palace, for the gratuitous instruction of youth, and a chapel was prepared for the private, yet offensive, celebration of mass. But the populace, to whom it was ever odious, rose tumultuously on Sunday, defaced the superstitious ornaments provided for the chapel, and compelled the priest who officiated to abjure his religion at his own altar, by accepting the test 16. Unex Murray was appointed commissioner to parpected op liament; to expiate, in the opinion of the cathoparliament lics, the crimes of his ancestor, by the repeal of position in those penal laws which the regent Murray, at the reformation, had enacted against papists. But as many circumstances had contributed to excite apprehension and alarm, the compliant temper of 16 Burnet, iii. 86. Fount. Mem. MS. Dec. i. 399, |