JAMES, DUKE OF MONMOUTH
[To the Editor of THE SPECTATOR] SIR,—You have found space lately in your columns for two letters about my book, James, Duke of Monmouth. May I comment on them in one ?
As regards the first : the length of the book was my fault, and not my publisher's.
As regards the second : Mr. Maurice Page can see no good in Monmouth, and, though James II himself deicribed Monmouth's conduct of the Sedgemoor campaign as that of " a great Captain," refuses him all credit for the action. To Mr. Page, Monmouth's hurried change of plan—made necessary by the flight of Grey and his Horse—was due to Monmouth's " losing his head." The writer in the Victoria County History who treats of the battle says Monmouth " changed his tactics with commendable promptitude and decided on an immediate frontal attack with his Foot," by which he might yet demoralise Feversham's army.
As to Mr. Page's statement that " There is no evidence of Grey's cowardice," may I refer him to the evidence of Monmouth's servant Williams, who said that he heard the Duke exclaim when the cavalry fled, " Lost by the cowardice of my Lord Grey ! " Hardly anyone, it seems, will change a preconceived opinion, even when well-documented evidence is offered to the contrary : this the reviews of my book— generous though - they are—have taught me. I did not set out to make Monmouth a hero, but only to show him as he was. In doing so, I discovered him to be a better man than common opinion—my own included—thought him.—Yours
faithfully, ELIZABETH D'OYLEY. Green End, Sutton Courtenay, Berks.
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