trances of
many who mistrusted him after his previous ill-success. Stephen would
willingly 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 number of his men, who,
though 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 same
time, many had served in the militia, and being all animated with the
same zeal, knew that they could trust each other. The scythe-men
especially were sturdy fellows, drawn from the neighbouring mines, and
were ready to fight to the last. Although 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 miles in length. There
was a third ditch, called the Rhine, which still lay between him and the
king's camp, but of which he knew nothing. There was a ford across this
Rhine, by which his troops might 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 company of one hundred scythe-men, who did the duty of
grenadiers. 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 them, when they galloped off to arouse the camp.
Just before this a pistol had been heard to go off, which undoubtedly
drew the attention of the king's troops to the advancing force.
Monmouth, hearing that the king's camp was alarmed, ordered Lord Grey to
advance rapidly with the horse, and to fall among the tents of the foot,
so as to