Editing James Scott, 1st Duke of Monmouth

{{Short description|English nobleman and soldier (1649–1685)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2020}}
{{Infobox noble
| honorific-prefix    = [[His Grace]]
| name                = The Duke of Monmouth
| honorific-suffix    = {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|KG|PC}}
| image               = Peter Lely (1618-1680) (after) - James Scott (1649–1685), Duke of Monmouth, KG, in Garter Robes - 1171154 - National Trust.jpg
| caption             = Portrait by [[Peter Lely]], {{c.|1680}}
| nickname            = 
| birth_date          = {{birth date|1649|4|9|df=y}}
| birth_place         = [[Rotterdam]], [[Dutch Republic]]
| death_date          = {{death date and age|1685|7|15|1649|4|9|df=y}}
| death_place         = [[Great Tower Hill]], Tower of London, Liberties of the Tower, England
| nationality         = English
| signature           = Signature of James Scott, 1st Duke of Monmouth.svg
| module              = {{Infobox military person|embed=yes
| allegiance          = [[Kingdom of England]]
| branch              = [[English Army]]
| serviceyears        = 1665–1685
| rank                = General
| unit                = 
| commands            = 
| battles             = {{plainlist|
*[[Second Anglo-Dutch War]]
*[[Third Anglo-Dutch War]]
*[[Franco-Dutch War]]
*[[Monmouth Rebellion]]}}
}}
| awards              = 
| parents             = {{plainlist|
*[[Charles II of England]]
*[[Lucy Walter]]}}
| spouse              = {{marriage|[[Anne Scott, 1st Duchess of Buccleuch]]|1663}}
| issue               = 9, including: {{plainlist|
*[[James Scott, Earl of Dalkeith]]
*[[Henry Scott, 1st Earl of Deloraine]]
*[[James Crofts (British Army officer)|James Crofts]]
*[[Henrietta Paulet, Duchess of Bolton]]}}
}}

'''James Scott, 1st Duke of Monmouth, 1st Duke of Buccleuch''', {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|sep=,|KG|PC}} (9 April 1649 – 15 July 1685) was an English nobleman and military officer. Originally called '''James Crofts''' or '''James Fitzroy''', he was born in [[Rotterdam]] in the [[Netherlands]], the eldest [[Legitimacy (family law)|illegitimate]] son of [[Charles II of England]] with his mistress [[Lucy Walter]].

The Duke of Monmouth served in the [[Second Anglo-Dutch War]] and commanded English troops taking part in the [[Third Anglo-Dutch War]] before commanding the Anglo-Dutch brigade fighting in the [[Franco-Dutch War]]. He led the unsuccessful [[Monmouth Rebellion]] in 1685, an attempt to depose his uncle King [[James II and VII]]. After one of his officers declared Monmouth the legitimate king in the town of [[Taunton]] in Somerset, Monmouth attempted to capitalise on his [[Protestantism]] and his position as the son of Charles II, in opposition to James, who had become a [[Roman Catholic]]. The rebellion failed, and Monmouth was [[Decapitation|beheaded]] for treason on 15 July 1685.

==Biography==

===Parentage and early life===

[[Charles II of England|Charles, Prince of Wales]] (later becoming King Charles II), moved to [[The Hague]] in 1648, during the [[Second English Civil War]], where his sister [[Mary, Princess Royal and Princess of Orange|Mary]] and his brother-in-law [[William II, Prince of Orange]], were based. The French relatives of Charles' mother, [[Henrietta Maria|Queen Henrietta Maria]], had invited Charles to wait out the war in France with the Queen, but he opted for the Netherlands, as he believed there was more support to be gained for the cause of his father, [[Charles I of England|King Charles I]], in the Netherlands than in France.{{sfn|Fraser|1979|pp=55–56}} During the summer of 1648, the Prince of Wales became captivated by [[Lucy Walter]], who was in The Hague for a short visit. The lovers were only eighteen, and she is often spoken of as his first mistress, though he may have begun having affairs as early as 1646.<ref>{{cite DNB |last=Seccombe |first=Thomas |wstitle=Walter, Lucy |volume=59 |pages=259–260}} cites Gardiner, ''Hist. of Civil War'', iii. 238; Boero, ''Istoria...di Carlo II'', Rome, 1863.</ref> Their son James was born in [[Rotterdam]] in the [[Netherlands]] on 9 April 1649, and spent his early years in [[Schiedam]].<ref name=odnb>{{cite ODNB |last=Harris |first=Tim |date=October 2009 |orig-year=2004 |id=24879 |title=Scott [Crofts], James, duke of Monmouth and first duke of Buccleuch (1649–1685) }}</ref>

Research by Hugh Noel Williams suggests that Charles had not arrived in [[The Hague]] until the middle of September 1648 – seven months before the child's birth, and that he had only met Lucy in July. It was later rumoured that in the summer of 1648 Lucy had been the [[mistress (lover)|mistress]] of Colonel Robert Sidney, a younger son of the [[Robert Sidney, 2nd Earl of Leicester|Earl of Leicester]].<ref>Williams, p. 6</ref> As Charles had no legitimate surviving children, his younger brother [[James, Duke of York]], was next in line to the throne.<ref name=odnb/> When the boy grew up, those loyal to the Duke of York spread rumours about the young James' resemblance to Sidney.<ref name=odnb/> These voices may have been encouraged by the Duke of York himself, who wished to prevent any of the fourteen [[royal bastard]]s his brother acknowledged from gaining support in the succession.<ref name=odnb/> In 2012, a [[DNA profiling|DNA test]] of Monmouth's patrilineal descendant the [[Richard Scott, 10th Duke of Buccleuch|10th Duke of Buccleuch]] showed that he shared the same [[Y chromosome]] as a distant Stuart cousin; this is evidence that Charles II was indeed Monmouth's father.<ref name=scotsman>{{cite news |work=The Scotsman |url=http://www.scotsman.com/the-scotsman/scotland/scotland-s-dna-descended-from-lost-tribes-and-related-to-napoleon-1-2238030 |title=Scotland's DNA: Descended from lost tribes…and related to Napoleon |date=17 April 2012 |access-date=20 April 2012}}</ref>

James had a younger sister or half-sister, Mary Crofts, whose father may have been [[Theobald Taaffe, 1st Earl of Carlingford|Lord Taaffe]]. Mary later married the Irishman [[William Sarsfield (died 1675)|William Sarsfield]], thus becoming the sister-in-law of the [[Jacobitism|Jacobite]] general [[Patrick Sarsfield]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZNO3WVTokk0C&q=%22mary+crofts%22+sarsfield&pg=PA532|title=The Family Forest Descendants of Lady Joan Beaufort|page=532|publisher=Milisecond Publishing|first=Bruce|last=Harrison|year=2005|access-date=15 October 2015}}{{Dead link|date=October 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

As an [[Legitimacy (family law)|illegitimate]] son, James was ineligible to succeed to the English or Scottish thrones, unless he could prove rumours that his parents had married secretly.<ref>{{cite DWB |id=s-WALT-LUC-1630 |title=Lucy Walter |access-date=13 May 2012}}</ref> He came to maintain that his parents were married and that he possessed evidence of their marriage, but he never produced it.<ref name="hull">{{cite web |url=http://www3.dcs.hull.ac.uk/cgi-bin/gedlkup/n=royal?royal05871 |title=Scott, James Crofts, Duke of Monmouth |publisher=University of Hull |access-date=13 May 2012}}{{dead link|date=November 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes}}</ref> King Charles II testified in writing to his [[Privy Council of the United Kingdom|Privy Council]] that he had never been married to anyone except his [[queen consort]], [[Catherine of Braganza]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.south-central-media.co.uk/lit_home/sts/sts-17c/sts-17c.htm |title=Setting the Scene in Wessex: the 17th Century in Literature and Drama |access-date=13 May 2012}}</ref>

In March 1658, young James was kidnapped by one of the King's men, sent to Paris, and placed in the care of [[William Crofts, 1st Baron Crofts]], whose surname he took. He briefly attended a school in [[Familly]].<ref name=odnb/>

===Officer and commander===
[[File:James Scott, Duke of Monmouth and Buccleuch by Jan van Wyck.jpg|thumb|James Scott at the [[Siege of Maastricht (1673)|siege of Maastricht]] in 1673, painted by [[Jan Wyck]] {{circa|1675}}]]

On 14 February 1663, almost 14 years old, shortly after having been brought to England, James was created Duke of Monmouth, with the subsidiary titles of [[Earl of Doncaster]] and [[Baron Scott of Tynedale]], all three in the [[Peerage of England]], and, on 28 March 1663, he was appointed a [[Knight of the Garter]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Brydges |first=Sir Egerton |title=Collins's Peerage of England; Genealogical, Biographical and Historical |publisher=F.C. and J. Rivington|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3PsUAAAAQAAJ&q=28+March+1663+duke+of+monmouth+knight+of+the+garter&pg=PA510 |volume=3 |page=511 |year=1812}}</ref>

On 20 April 1663, just days after his 14th birthday, the Duke of Monmouth was married to the heiress [[Anne Scott, 1st Duchess of Buccleuch|Anne Scott, 4th Countess of Buccleuch]]. He took his wife's surname upon marriage.<ref name="hull"/> The day after his marriage, the couple were made [[Duke of Buccleuch|Duke and Duchess of Buccleuch]], Earl and Countess of Dalkeith, and Lord and Lady Scott of Whitchester and Eskdale in the [[Peerage of Scotland]].<ref name="burkes">{{cite book |last1=Burke|first1=Bernard|title=Genealogical and Heraldic Dictionary of the Peerage and Baronetage of the British Empire|date=1914|publisher=Burke's Peerage Limited|location=London|page=320}}</ref> The Duke of Monmouth was popular, particularly for his [[Protestantism]]. The King's official [[heir presumptive]], James, Duke of York, had openly converted to [[Roman Catholicism]].<ref name=odnb/>

In 1665, at the age of 16, Monmouth served in the [[Royal Navy|English fleet]] under his uncle, the Duke of York, in the [[Second Anglo-Dutch War]].<ref name=odnb/> In June 1666, he returned to England to become captain of a troop of cavalry.<ref name=odnb/> On 16 September 1668 he was made colonel of the [[1st Troop of Horse Guards|His Majesty's Own Troop of Horse Guards]].<ref name=odnb/> He acquired [[Moor Park (house)|Moor Park]] in Hertfordshire in April 1670.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hertfordshire-genealogy.co.uk/data/places/places-m/moor-park.htm |title=Moor Park |access-date=19 April 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131212221920/http://www.hertfordshire-genealogy.co.uk/data/places/places-m/moor-park.htm |archive-date=12 December 2013 }}</ref> Following the death in 1670, without a male heir, of [[Josceline Percy, 11th Earl of Northumberland]], the earl's estates reverted to the Crown. King Charles II awarded the estates to Monmouth. The Countess of Northumberland successfully sued for the estates to be returned to the late Earl's only daughter and sole heiress, [[Elizabeth Seymour, Duchess of Somerset|Lady Elizabeth Percy]] (1667–1722).<ref>{{cite web |title=Journal of the House of Lords: Volume 13, 1675–1681. |url=https://www.british-history.ac.uk/lords-jrnl/vol13/pp123-124 |website=British History Online |publisher=His Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1767–1830. |access-date=8 September 2022}}</ref> 

At the outbreak of the [[Third Anglo-Dutch War]] in 1672, a brigade of 6,000 English and Scottish troops was sent to serve as part of the French army (in return for money paid to King Charles), with Monmouth as its commander.<ref name=odnb/> He became [[Lord Lieutenant of the East Riding of Yorkshire]] and [[List of Governors of Kingston-upon-Hull|Governor of Kingston-upon-Hull]] in April 1673.<ref name=odnb/> In the campaign of 1673 and in particular at the [[Siege of Maastricht (1673)|Siege of Maastricht]] that June, Monmouth gained a considerable reputation as one of Britain's finest soldiers.<ref name=odnb/> He was reported to be replacing [[Marshal Schomberg]] as commander of England's [[Zealand Expedition]], but this did not happen.<ref>Watson p.67-68</ref>

In 1674, Monmouth became [[List of Chancellors of the University of Cambridge|Chancellor of Cambridge University]]<ref>{{acad|id=MNMT663J|name=Monmouth, James, Duke of Monmouth}}</ref> and [[List of Masters of the Horse|Master of the Horse]], and King Charles II directed that all military orders should be brought first to Monmouth for examination, thus giving him effective command of the forces; his responsibilities included the movement of troops and the suppression of riots.<ref name=odnb/> In March 1677, he also became [[Lord Lieutenant of Staffordshire]].<ref name=odnb/>

[[File:Monmouth's Execution.gif|250px|thumb|Monmouth's execution on [[Tower Hill]], 15 July 1685 (O.S), in a popular print]]
In 1678, Monmouth was the commander of the Anglo-Dutch brigade, now fighting for the [[Dutch Republic|United Provinces]] against the French, and he distinguished himself at the [[Battle of Saint-Denis (1678)|Battle of Saint-Denis]] in August that year during the [[Franco-Dutch War]], further increasing his reputation.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=1328|page=1|date=8 August 1678}}</ref> The following year, after his return to Britain, he commanded the small army raised to put down the rebellion of the Scottish [[Covenanter]]s and despite being heavily outnumbered, he decisively defeated the (admittedly poorly equipped) Covenanter rebels at the [[Battle of Bothwell Bridge]] on 22 June 1679.<ref name=odnb/>

===Exile and rebellion===
{{Main|Monmouth Rebellion}}

During the [[Exclusion Crisis]] of 1679 to 1681, Monmouth attracted support as successor to the throne. Charles's heir, his brother, the Duke of York, was, as a Catholic, deeply unpopular and a bill was put before parliament excluding him from the succession. Monmouth's supporters hoped that he would be [[Legitimation|legitimised]] and become Charles's Protestant successor instead.  However, the king was adamant in his opposition to changing the succession and prevented the bill from passing by [[Dissolution of parliament|dissolving parliament]] in May 1679.<ref>{{cite book | last=Watkins | first=Sarah-Beth | title=Charles II's Illegitimate Children: Royal Bastards | publisher=Pen and Sword History | date=2023| isbn=978-1-3990-0097-0 | url=https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=KMzKEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA21&dq=Monmouth+banished+1679&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&sa=X&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=Monmouth%2520banished%25201679&f=false | pages=19-21}}</ref> As Monmouth's popularity with the masses increased, he was obliged by his father to go into exile in the Dutch [[Dutch Republic|United Provinces]] in September 1679.<ref name=odnb/> Following the discovery of the so-called [[Rye House Plot]] in 1683, which aimed to assassinate both Charles II and his brother James, Monmouth, who had been encouraged by his supporters to assert his right to the throne, was identified as a conspirator.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=1848|page=2|date=2 August 1683}}</ref> 

On King Charles II's death in February 1685, Monmouth led the Monmouth Rebellion, landing with three ships at [[Lyme Regis]] in Dorset in early June 1685, in an attempt to take the throne from his uncle, [[James II of England|James II and VII]].<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=2042|page=1|date=11 June 1685}}</ref> He published a "Declaration for the defence and vindication of the protestant religion and of the laws, rights and privileges of England from the invasion made upon them, and for delivering the Kingdom from the usurpation and tyranny of us by the name of James, Duke of York": King James responded to this by issuing an order for the publishers and distributors of the paper to be arrested.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=2043|page=1|date=15 June 1685}}</ref> Monmouth declared himself as the rightful king at various places along the route including [[Axminster]], [[Chard, Somerset|Chard]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wessex.me.uk/chardpics.htm|title=King Crowned in Chard|publisher=Chard Tourist Guide|date=26 June 2005|access-date=13 May 2012}}</ref> [[Ilminster]] and [[Taunton]].<ref name=odnb/> The two armies met at the [[Battle of Sedgemoor]] on 6 July 1685, the last clear-cut [[pitched battle]] on open ground between two military forces fought on English soil: Monmouth's makeshift force could not compete with the regular army, and was soundly defeated.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=2049|page=1|date=6 July 1685}}</ref>

===Capture===
Following the battle a reward of £5,000 was offered for his capture.<ref name="roberts">Roberts, p. 109</ref> On 8 July 1685, Monmouth was captured and arrested near [[Ringwood, Hampshire|Ringwood]] in Hampshire,<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=2050|page=1|date=9 July 1685}}</ref> by tradition "in a field of peas". The events surrounding his capture are described by [[George Roberts (antiquary)|George Roberts]] in ''[[Tait's Edinburgh Magazine]]''.<ref>{{cite book|title=The Life and Rebellion of the Duke of Monmouth|authorlink=George Roberts (antiquary)|first=George|last=Roberts|publisher=Tait's Edinburgh Magazine|volume=12|date=1 January 1845|page=57 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9eERAAAAYAAJ&dq=monmouth+field+of+peas&pg=PA57}}</ref>

{{Blockquote|Upon the 7th, about five in the morning, some of the Lord Lumley's said scouts riding in the road near Holt Lodge in Dorset, {{convert|4|mi|km|0|abbr=off|spell=on|disp=sqbr}} west of Ringwood in Hampshire, just at the turn of a cross way, surprised and seized two suspected persons, which, when the Lord Lumley came up, proved to be Lord Grey and Hollyday the guide. Lord Lumley now commenced a strict examination of the cottages scattered thickly over this heathy country, and called those to assist him who were acquainted with the locality. Sir William Portman was informed of the capture that had been made, and hastened to the spot, with as many of his horse and foot as he could suddenly get together. As Lord Lumley was making inquiries of the cottagers, a poor woman, Amy Farrant, directed him to a hedge, over which she had seen two men go. This hedge proved to be part of the outbounds of several enclosed fields, some overgrown with fern and brakes, and others sown with rye, peas, and oats. The assembled militia were placed around these outbounds, at short distances from each other, while horse and foot performed their assigned duty – that of beating about within.<ref>"Official account published by command", quoted in ''Tait's Edinburgh Magazine''</ref>}}

When the Duke had left his horse at Woodyates Inn, he exchanged clothes with a shepherd, who was soon discovered by local loyalists and interrogated. Dogs were then put onto the Duke's scent. Monmouth dropped his gold snuff box, full of gold pieces, in a pea field, where it was afterwards found.<ref>{{cite journal|year=1864|title=Sword of the Duke of Monmouth|journal= Archaeological Journal|volume=21 |pages= 62–63|doi=10.1080/00665983.1864.10851277}}</ref>

[[File:Capture of Monmouth.jpg|thumb|left|[[Artist's conception]] of Monmouth's capture, from an 1873 British book]]
From Woodyates Inn the Duke had gone to Shag's Heath, in the middle of which was a cluster of small farms, called the "Island". Amy Farrant gave information that the fugitives were concealed within the Island. The Duke, accompanied by Busse and Brandenburgher, remained concealed all day, with soldiers surrounding the area and threatening to set fire to the woodland. Brandenburgher deserted him at 1 am, and was later captured and interrogated, and is believed to have given away the Duke's hiding place. The spot was at the north-eastern extremity of the Island, now known as Monmouth's Close, in the manor of Woodlands, the property of the Earl of Shaftesbury. At about 7 am Henry Parkin, a militia soldier and servant of Samuel Rolle, discovered the brown skirt of Monmouth's coat as he lay hidden in a ditch covered with fern and brambles under an ash tree, and called for help. The Duke was seized. Bystanders shouted out "Shoot him! shoot him!", but Sir William Portman happening to be near the spot, immediately rode up, and laid hands on him as his prisoner. Monmouth was then "in the last extremity of hunger and fatigue, with no sustenance but a few raw peas in his pocket. He could not stand, and his appearance was much changed. Since landing in England, the Duke had not had a good night's rest, or eaten one meal in quiet, being perpetually agitated with the cares that attend unfortunate ambition". He had "received no other sustenance than the brook and the field afforded".<ref>''[[Tait's Edinburgh Magazine]]''</ref>

The Duke was taken to Holt Lodge, in the parish of Wimborne, about {{convert|1|mi|km|round=0.5|abbr=off|spell=in}} away, the residence of Anthony Etterick, a magistrate who asked the Duke what he would do if released, to which he answered: "that if his horse and arms were but restored to him at the same time, he needed only to ride through the army; and he defied them to take him again". The magistrate ordered him taken to London.<ref name=roberts/>

===Attainder and execution{{anchor|Attainder, Duke of Monmouth Act 1685}}===
{{Infobox UK legislation
| short_title           = Attainder, Duke of Monmouth Act 1685
| type                  = Act
| parliament            = Parliament of England
| long_title            = An Act to Attaint James Duke of Monmouth of High-Treason.
| year                  = 1685
| citation              = [[1 Ja. 2]]. c. 2
| territorial_extent    = [[England and Wales]]
| royal_assent          = 16 June 1685
| commencement          = 19 May 1685{{efn|Start of session.}}
| repeal_date           = 30 July 1948 
| amends                = 
| replaces              = 
| amendments            = 
| repealing_legislation = [[Statute Law Revision Act 1948]]
| related_legislation   = 
| status                = Repealed
| original_text         = https://www.british-history.ac.uk/statutes-realm/vol6/p2
}}

Following Monmouth's capture, [[Parliament of England|Parliament]] passed an [[Bill of attainder|Act of Attainder]], [[1 Ja. 2]]. c. 2:<ref>Raithby, p. 2</ref>

{{Blockquote|Whereas James Duke of Monmouth has in an hostile Manner Invaded this Kingdom and is now in open Rebellion Laying War against the King contrary to the Duty of his Allegiance, Be it enacted by the Kings most Excellent Majesty by and with the Advice and Consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal and Commons in this Parliament assembled and by the Authorities of the same, That the said James Duke of Monmouth Stand and be Convicted and Attainted of High-Treason and that he suffer Paines of Death and Incurr all Forfeitures as a Traitor Convicted and Attainted of High Treason.<ref>''The Statutes of the Realm'', vol. VI (1819); [https://www.british-history.ac.uk/statutes-realm/vol6/p2 James the Second, 1685: An Act to Attaint James Duke of Monmouth of High-Treason. Chapter II. Rot. Parl. nu. 2.] at british-history.ac.uk, accessed 23 April 2020</ref>}}

The King took the unusual step of allowing his nephew an audience, despite having no intention of extending a [[pardon]] to him, thus breaking with a longstanding tradition that the King would give an audience only when he intended to show clemency. The prisoner unsuccessfully implored his mercy and even offered to convert to [[Roman Catholic|Catholicism]], but to no avail. The King, disgusted by his abject behaviour, coldly told him to prepare to die, and later remarked that Monmouth "did not behave as well as I expected". Numerous pleas for mercy were addressed to the King, but he ignored them all, even that of his sister-in-law, the [[Catherine of Braganza|Dowager Queen Catherine]].<ref>Beatty, p. 60</ref>

[[File:James Scott, 1st Duke of Monmouth execution.png|thumb|A 1698 Dutch etching by [[Jan Luyken]] of the execution of the Duke of Monmouth]]

Monmouth was [[Decapitation|beheaded]] by [[Jack Ketch]] on 15 July 1685, on [[Tower Hill, London|Tower Hill]].<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=2051|page=2|date=13 July 1685}}</ref> Shortly beforehand, Bishops [[Francis Turner (bishop)|Turner]] of [[Bishop of Ely|Ely]] and [[Thomas Ken|Ken]] of [[Bishop of Bath and Wells|Bath and Wells]] visited the Duke to prepare him for eternity, but withheld the [[Eucharist]], for the condemned man refused to acknowledge that either his rebellion or his relationship with [[Henrietta Wentworth, 6th Baroness Wentworth|Lady Wentworth]] had been [[sin]]ful.<ref>Macaulay, p.491</ref> It is said that before laying his head on the block, Monmouth specifically bade Ketch finish him at one blow, saying he had mauled others before. Disconcerted, Ketch did indeed inflict multiple blows with his axe, the prisoner rising up reproachfully the while – a ghastly sight that shocked the witnesses, drawing forth execrations and groans. Some say a knife was at last employed to sever the head from the twitching body. Sources vary; some claim eight blows, the official [[Tower of London]] fact sheet says it took five blows,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://hrp.org.uk/Resources/Prisoners.pdf |title=Tower of London: Fact sheet |access-date=10 October 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090327165659/http://www.hrp.org.uk/Resources/Prisoners.pdf |archive-date=27 March 2009  }}</ref> while [[Charles Spencer, 9th Earl Spencer|Charles Spencer]], in his book ''Blenheim'', puts it at seven.<ref>Spencer, p. 54: "Monmouth had a particularly grisly end, the executioner's axe striking seven times before his head severed"</ref>

Monmouth was buried in the [[Church of St Peter ad Vincula]] in the Tower of London.<ref>{{cite book | last=Matthews | first=Peter | title=Who’s Buried Where in London | publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing | year=2017 | isbn=978-1-78442-201-1 | url=https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=FHi9DAAAQBAJ&pg=PA199 | page=199}}</ref> His Dukedom was forfeited, but his subsidiary titles, [[Earl of Doncaster]] and [[Baron Scott of Tindale]], were restored by King George II on 23 March 1743 to his grandson [[Francis Scott, 2nd Duke of Buccleuch]] (1695–1751).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.earlofdoncaster.com/ |title=Earl of Doncaster |access-date=19 May 2012 |archive-date=19 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210119121355/http://www.earlofdoncaster.com/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Popular legends===
According to legend, a portrait was painted of Monmouth after his execution: the tradition states that it was realised after the execution that there was no official [[portrait]] of the Duke, so his body was exhumed, the head stitched back on, and it was sat for its portrait to be painted.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.trivia-library.com/b/tourist-sights-portrait-of-the-duke-of-monmouth-in-england.htm |title=Tourist Sights Portrait of the Duke of Monmouth in England |publisher=Trivia-library.com |access-date=13 May 2012 |archive-date=6 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210506214357/http://www.trivia-library.com/b/tourist-sights-portrait-of-the-duke-of-monmouth-in-england.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> However, there are at least two formal portraits of Monmouth tentatively dated to before his death currently in the [[National Portrait Gallery (London)|National Portrait Gallery]] in London,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.npg.org.uk/live/search/portrait.asp?LinkID=mp03129&rNo=4&role=sit |title=National Portrait Gallery NPG 151 |publisher=National Portrait |access-date=13 May 2012 |archive-date=17 December 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071217175628/http://www.npg.org.uk/live/search/portrait.asp?LinkID=mp03129&rNo=4&role=sit |url-status=dead }}</ref> and another painting once identified with Monmouth that shows a sleeping or dead man that could have given rise to the story.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.npg.org.uk/live/search/portrait.asp?LinkID=mp03129&rNo=0&role=sit |title=National Portrait Gallery NPG 1566 |publisher=National Portrait |access-date=13 May 2012 |archive-date=25 February 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080225001102/http://www.npg.org.uk/live/search/portrait.asp?LinkID=mp03129&rNo=0&role=sit |url-status=dead }}</ref>

One of the many theories about the identity of the [[Man in the Iron Mask]] is that he was Monmouth: the theory is that someone else was executed in his place, and James II arranged for Monmouth to be taken to France and put in the custody of his cousin [[Louis XIV of France]].<ref>Shaw, Samuel, "Duke of Monmouth: Man in the Iron Mask", in ''Oxford Journals'' (Oxford, 1870), Vol s4-V, No 120.</ref>

[[Henry Purcell]] set to music ([[List of compositions by Henry Purcell|Z. 481]]) a satirical poem by an unidentified author, ridiculing Monmouth and his parentage:<ref>{{cite book|url=http://www.henrypurcell.org.uk/purcell-society-edition/vol-22b/|title=Henry Purcell: Duets, Dialogues and Trios |editor-first=Ian |editor-last=Spink |edition=Purcell Society |volume=22B |publisher=Purcell Society |access-date=4 December 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180910024132/http://www.henrypurcell.org.uk:80/purcell-society-edition/vol-22B/|archive-date=2018-09-10}}</ref>

{{poemquote|A grasshopper and a fly,
In summer hot and dry,
In eager argument were met
About priority.

Says the fly to the grasshopper:
"From mighty race I spring,
Bright Phoebus was my dad 'tis known,
And I eat and drink with a king."

Says the grasshopper to the fly:
"Such rogues are still preferr'd;
Your father might be of high degree,
But your mother was but a turd."

So, rebel Jemmy Scott,
That did to the empire soar,
His father might be the Lord knows what,
But his mother we knew a whore.}}

== Arms ==
James Scott's first coat of arms was initially granted in 1663 at the same time he was created Duke of Monmouth:<ref name="Holder">{{cite web |last1=Holder |first1=Samantha |title=The Baton Sinister |url=https://www.wrongsideoftheblanket.com/baton-sinister |website=The Wrong Side of the Blanket |access-date=13 January 2024}}</ref>
Quarterly, 1st and 4th, ''Ermine, on a [[Pile (heraldry)|Pile]] gules three [[Lions passant]] guardant or;'' 2nd and 3rd: ''Or, within a double [[Orle_(heraldry)#Tressure|Tressure flory counterflory]] gules, on an Inescutcheon azure, three [[Fleur-de-Lys|Fleurs-de-Lys]] gold.''
Crest: ''Upon a [[Cap of maintenance|Chapeau]] gules turned up ermine, a Dragon passant or gorged with a Crown having a Chain gules.''
Supporters: Dexter, ''a Unicorn argent, armed, maned and unguled or, gorged with a Crown having a Chain gules affixed thereto:'' Sinister,'' a Hart argent, attired and unguled or, gorged with a Crown having a Chain gules affixed thereto.''<ref name="Murdock">{{cite web |last1=Murdock |first1=Paul J. |title=Illegitimate Royal Offspring |url=https://aroyalheraldry.weebly.com/blog/illegitimate-royal-offspring |website=A Royal Heraldry |access-date=19 January 2024}}</ref>

This version of the arms, which consisted in a creative reorganisation of the Royal Arms, drew numerous complaints as it did not include any marker to signify his illegitimacy, and rumours that Charles might attempt to legitimise James started to spread.<ref name=Holder/>

Four years later, after James' marriage, and with Charles' growing realisation that he would not legitimise him, a new design was granted:<ref name=Holder/> ''the [[Royal arms of England|Arms of King Charles II]] debruised by a [[baton sinister]] Argent;'' An [[Escutcheon (heraldry)|inescutcheon]] of Scott was added on top:'' Or, on a Bend azure a [[Star (heraldry)|Mullet]] of six points between two [[Crescent#Heraldry|Crescents]] of the field.'' To show the importance of James' marriage to [[Anne Scott, 1st Duchess of Buccleuch|Anne Scott]], which he had married shortly after receiving his original arms. The Crest and Supporters from his previous arms were kept.<ref name=Murdock/>

<gallery mode="packed" heights="200px">
File:Coat of Arms of James Crofts (later Scott), 1st Duke of Monmouth (before 1667).svg
File:Coat of Arms of James Scott, 1st Duke of Monmouth (after 1667).svg
</gallery>

==Children==
[[File:Anne Scott 1st duchess of Buccleuch.png|thumbnail|Anna, Duchess of Buccleuch and her two surviving sons]]
[[File:BaronessWentworth.jpg|thumbnail|Baroness Wentworth]]
His marriage to [[Anne Scott, 1st Duchess of Buccleuch]] resulted in the birth of six children:<ref name="burkes"/>
* Charles Scott, Earl of Doncaster (24 August 1672 – 9 February 1673/1674)
* [[James Scott, Earl of Dalkeith]] (23 May 1674 – 14 March 1705). He was married on 2 January 1693/1694 to [[Henrietta Hyde]], daughter of [[Laurence Hyde, 1st Earl of Rochester]]. They were parents to [[Francis Scott, 2nd Duke of Buccleuch]].
* Lady Anne Scott (17 February 1675 – 13 August 1685)
* [[Henry Scott, 1st Earl of Deloraine]] (1676 – 25 December 1730)
* Francis Scott (died an infant; buried 8 December 1679)
* Lady Charlotte Scott (died an infant; buried 5 September 1683)

His affair with his [[mistress (lover)|mistress]] Eleanor Needham, daughter of Sir [[Robert Needham (Haverfordwest MP)|Robert Needham]] of [[Lambeth]] resulted in the birth of three children:<ref name="burkes"/>
* [[James Crofts (died 1732)|James Crofts]] (died March 1732), major-general in the Army.
* [[Henrietta Paulet, Duchess of Bolton|Henrietta Crofts]] ({{circa|1682}} – 27 February 1730). She was married around 1697 to [[Charles Paulet, 2nd Duke of Bolton]].
* Isabel Crofts (died young)

Toward the end of his life he conducted an affair with [[Henrietta Wentworth, 6th Baroness Wentworth|Henrietta, Baroness Wentworth]].<ref name="burkes"/>

==Family tree==
{{tree chart/start|align=center}}
{{tree chart | | | Ned | | | | | | | | | | | | Chr |Ned=[[Edward Hyde, 1st Earl of Clarendon|Edward Hyde]]<br/>1609–1674|Chr='''[[Charles I of England|Charles I]]'''<br/>1600–1649}}
{{tree chart | |,|-|^|-|.| | | |,|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|+|-|-|-|.| }}
{{tree chart | Hen | | Ane |y| Jam |y| Mry | | Mar | | Chl |Hen=[[Henry Hyde, 2nd Earl of Clarendon|Henry Hyde]]<br/>1638–1709|Ane=[[Anne Hyde]]<br/>1637–1671|Jam='''[[James II of England|James II & VII]]'''<br/>1633–1701|Mar=[[Mary, Princess Royal and Princess of Orange|Mary]]<br/>1631–1660|Chl='''[[Charles II of England|Charles II]]'''<br/>1630–1685|Mry=[[Mary of Modena]]<br/>1658–1718|Laurence=[[Laurence Hyde, 1st Earl of Rochester|Laurence Hyde]]<br/>1641–1711}}
{{tree chart | | | | | | | |!| | | |!| | | | | |!| | | |:| }}
{{tree chart | | | | | | | |!| | | Jim | | | | |!| | | |:|Jim=[[James Francis Edward|James]]<br/>''the old pretender''<br/>1688–1766}}
{{tree chart | | | | | |,|-|^|-|.| | | | | | | |!| | | |:| }}
{{tree chart | | | | | Ann | | May |~|~|~|~|~| Bil | | Sco |Ann='''[[Anne, Queen of Great Britain|Anne]]'''<br/>1665–1714|May='''[[Mary II of England|Mary II]]'''<br/>1662–1694|Bil='''[[William III of England|William III & II]]'''<br/>1650–1702|Sco=<small>(illegitimate)</small><br/>James Scott<br/>1649–1685}}
{{tree chart/end}}

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Sources==
* {{cite book |last=Beatty |first=Michael |title=The English Royal Family of America, from Jamestown to the American Revolution |date=2003 |isbn=978-0-7864-1558-8 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2xNmOeE7LH8C&q=Dowager+Queen+Catherine+duke+of+monmouth&pg=PA60|publisher=McFarland and co.}}
* {{cite book |last=Macaulay |first=Thomas Babington |title=The History of England from the Accession of James II, Volume I |date=1878 |location=Philadelphia |publisher=J. B. Lippincott & Co.}}
* {{citation |last=Fraser |first=Antonia |author-link=Antonia Fraser |title=King Charles II |date=1979 |location=London |publisher=Weidenfeld and Nicolson |isbn=978-0-297-77571-3}}
* {{cite book |last=Raithby |first=John |title=James the Second, 1685: An Act to Attaint James Duke of Monmouth of High-Treason |chapter=Chapter II. Rot. Parl. nu. 2., Statutes of the Realm|volume=6: 1685–94 |date=1819}}
* {{cite book |last=Roberts |first=George |title=Life, progresses and rebellion of James, Duke of Monmouth to his capture and execution |date=1844 |location=London |publisher=Longmans, Brown, Green and Longmans |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xxc6AAAAcAAJ&q=that+if+his+horse+and+arms+were+but+restored+to+him+at+the+same+time%2C+he+needed+only+to+ride+through+the+army%3B+and+he+defied+them+to+take+him+again&pg=PA109}}
* {{cite book |last=Spencer, 9th Earl Spencer |first=Charles |title=Blenheim, Chapter 3: John Churchill |date=2005 |location=London |publisher=Phoenix |isbn=978-0304367047}}
* {{cite book |last=Watson |first=J.N.P. |title=Captain General and Rebel Chief: The Life of James, Duke of Monmouth |date=1979 |location=London |publisher=George Allen & Unwin |isbn=978-0-04-920058-6}}
* {{cite book |last=Williams |first=Hugh Noel |title=Rival sultanas |date=1915 |location= |publisher=Hutchinson & Co |url=https://archive.org/details/rivalsultanasne00willgoog}}

==Further reading==
{{DNB poster|Scott, James (1649-1685)}}
* {{Commons category-inline|James Scott, 1st Duke of Monmouth}}
* {{cite Nuttall|Monmouth, James, Duke of|short=x}}
* {{cite book |last=Keay |first=Anna |title=The Last Royal Rebel: The Life and Death of James, Duke of Monmouth |date=2016 |publisher=Bloomsbury |location=New York |isbn=978-1-62040-934-3}}
* {{cite book|last=Wyndham|first=Violet|title=Protestant Duke: Life of the Duke of Monmouth|publisher=Littlehampton Book Services|year=1976|isbn=978-0-297-77099-2}}

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{{s-new|rows=2|creation}}
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{{s-end}}

{{Chancellors of the University of Cambridge}}
{{Chief of the General Staff}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Monmouth, James Scott, 1st Duke Of}}
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