Many people might be aware that the Duke of Monmouth came to Frome during his infamous rebellion, but not how significant his stay was here.
James Scott – Duke of Monmouth – was the illegitimate son of Charles II, but claimed to be the rightful heir to the English throne. After the death of Charles II, in 1685, Monmouth landed at Lyme Regis with the intention of overthrowing his uncle, the newly crowned king, James II. He marched north into Somerset to rouse support and at its peak it was said his ‘army’ consisted of around 7,000 rebels. However, by the time a rain-sodden Monmouth and his men arrived in Frome, on 28 June 1685, the tide had begun to turn.
A declaration an advance party had posted in the town, declaring Monmouth the rightful king, had been torn down and the main instigators arrested. Then, while in staying in Cork Street, Monmouth learnt a simultaneous rebellion in Scotland had been defeated and royal forces were massing in Trowbridge. And worse was to come. The following day, James II issued a pardon for all who had taken up arms, and so many rebels took the opportunity to return home.
A war council was hastily called and against Monmouth’s belief that he should now return into exile, he was forcibly told by his generals he must fight on. Monmouth and what were left of his rapidly dispersing army then left Frome on 30 June 1685 and headed west, towards his destiny at the Battle of Sedgemoor. Within a little over a fortnight of leaving Frome he would be dead; having been defeated, found guilty of treason and then executed on London’s Tower Hill. After Monmouth left Frome, royal troops entered the town and completely ‘plundered’ it, although this was only the start of the retribution.
At the subsequent trials – known as the Bloody Assizes – 50 Frome men were tried and found guilty of treason; being either executed or transported for life. While back in Frome, 12 rebels found guilty at the Assizes were hung, drawn and quartered and their remains strung up at Gibbet Hill, Gorehedge. The full story of Monmouth’s stay in the town can be found in our book ‘Foul Deeds and Suspicious Deaths in and Around Frome’.
Mick Davis and David Lassman.
