vessels, and
rowed to the shore. From these boats landed about eighty men, well armed
and appointed. Among them were Monmouth, Grey, Fletcher, Ferguson, Wade,
and Anthony Buyse, an officer who had been in the service of the Elector
of Brandenburg. [359]

Monmouth commanded silence, kneeled down on the shore, thanked God
for having preserved the friends of liberty and pure religion from the
perils of the sea, and implored the divine blessing on what was yet to
be done by land. He then drew his sword, and led his men over the cliffs
into the town.

As soon as it was known under what leader and for what purpose the
expedition came, the enthusiasm of the populace burst through all
restraints. The little town was in an uproar with men running to and
fro, and shouting "A Monmouth! a Monmouth! the Protestant religion!"
Meanwhile the ensign of the adventurers, a blue flag, was set up in the
marketplace. The military stores were deposited in the town hall; and
a Declaration setting forth the objects of the expedition was read from
the Cross. [360]

This Declaration, the masterpiece of Ferguson's genius, was not a grave
manifesto such as ought to be put forth by a leader drawing the sword
for a great public cause, but a libel of the lowest class, both in
sentiment and language. [361] It contained undoubtedly many just charges
against the government. But these charges were set forth in the prolix
and inflated style of a bad pamphlet; and the paper contained other
charges of which the whole disgrace falls on those who made them. The
Duke of York, it was positively affirmed, had burned down London, had
strangled Godfrey, had cut the throat of Essex, and had poisoned the
late King. On account of those villanous and unnatural crimes, but
chiefly of that execrable fact, the late horrible and barbarous
parricide,--such was the copiousness and such the felicity of Ferguson's
diction,--James was declared a mortal and bloody enemy, a tyrant, a
murderer, and an usurper. No treaty should be made with him. The sword
should not be sheathed till he had been brought to condign punishment as
a traitor. The government should be settled on principles favourable
to liberty. All Protestant sects should be tolerated. The forfeited
charters should be restored. Parliament should be held annually, and
should no longer be prorogued or dissolved by royal caprice. The only
standing force should be the militia: the militia should be commanded
by the She