{283}Such prompt and active measures were taken by the royal party that both Argyle and Monmouth were defeated and captured. The latter implored the king for mercy, and succeeded in obtaining a private interview. James had forgiven this bold man for many personal offences when he was Duke of York, but now his position was altered. He was King of England, and could not find it in his conscience to pardon an offender who had plunged his realm into civil war, and sacrificed the lives of three thousand of his subjects. Story, the orator, was taken prisoner for assisting Monmouth with his exciting speeches, that went far towards raising the popular indignation against the sovereign. When summoned to appear before the council he looked so haggard, neglected, and dirty that King James exclaimed, "Is that a man, or what is it?" On being informed that it was the rebel Story, his majesty replied: "Oh, Story; I remember him--a rare fellow, indeed." Then turning towards him, the king asked: "Pray, Story, you were in Monmouth's army in the west, were you not?" "Yes, an't please your majesty." "Pray, you were a commissary there, were you not?" asked the king. "Yes, an't please your majesty." "And you made a speech before great crowds of people, did you not?" was the next question, "Yes, an't please your majesty," answered Story. "Pray, if you have not forgot what you said, let us have a taste of your fine speech, some specimen of the flowers of your rhetoric." "I told them, an't please your majesty, that it was you who fired the city of London," boldly answered Story. "A rare rogue, upon my word," exclaimed James; "and, pray, what else did you tell them?" {284}"I told them, an't please your majesty, that you poisoned your brother." "Impudence in the utmost height of it!" said the king. "Pray, let us have something further, if your memory serves you." "I further told them," continued Story, "that your majesty appeared to be fully determined to make the nation both papists and slaves." The king had heard enough, and no doubt wondered at the audacity of a man who dared to accuse him to his face of crimes that his very soul would have revolted at. But with remarkable clemency his majesty added: "To all this I doubt not but a thousand other villanous things were added. But what would you say, Story, if after all this I were to grant your life?" He answered, "That he would pray for his majesty as long as he lived." Thereupon he was freely pardoned, but Monmouth and Argyle were executed. This victory of King James's would have increased his popularity and made him extremely powerful, had it not been for the cruel deeds that resulted from it. But Colonel Kirke and Chief-Justice Jeffreys were two barbarians, who caused the execution of thousands, whether innocent or guilty; going from one town to another whence Monmouth had gathered his forces, and committing most unheard-of cruelties.