through
Somersetshire five years before could not now observe without pity the
traces of distress and anxiety on those soft and pleasing features which
had won so many hearts. [382]

Ferguson was in a very different temper. With this man's knavery was
strangely mingled an eccentric vanity which resembled madness. The
thought that he had raised a rebellion and bestowed a crown had turned
his head. He swaggered about, brandishing his naked sword, and crying to
the crowd of spectators who had assembled to see the army march out of
Taunton, "Look at me! You have heard of me. I am Ferguson, the famous
Ferguson, the Ferguson for whose head so many hundred pounds have been
offered." And this man, at once unprincipled and brainsick, had in his
keeping the understanding and the conscience of the unhappy Monmouth.
[383]

Bridgewater was one of the few towns which still had some Whig
magistrates. The Mayor and Aldermen came in their robes to welcome
the Duke, walked before him in procession to the high cross, and there
proclaimed him King. His troops found excellent quarters, and were
furnished with necessaries at little or no cost by the people of the
town and neighbourhood. He took up his residence in the Castle, a
building which had been honoured by several royal visits. In the Castle
Field his army was encamped. It now consisted of about six thousand men,
and might easily have been increased to double the number, but for the
want of arms. The Duke had brought with him from the Continent but
a scanty supply of pikes and muskets. Many of his followers had,
therefore, no other weapons than such as could be fashioned out of
the tools which they had used in husbandry or mining. Of these rude
implements of war the most formidable was made by fastening the blade
of a scythe erect on a strong pole. [384] The tithing men of the country
round Taunton and Bridgewater received orders to search everywhere
for scythes and to bring all that could be found to the camp. It was
impossible, however, even with the help of these contrivances, to supply
the demand; and great numbers who were desirous to enlist were sent
away. [385]

The foot were divided into six regiments. Many of the men had been in
the militia, and still wore their uniforms, red and yellow. The cavalry
were about a thousand in number; but most of them had only large colts,
such as were then bred in great herds on the marshes of Somersetshire
for the purpose of supplying Lon