A History of the Early Part of the Reign of James the Second

In Short

Charles James Fox’s history offers an unsparing analysis of English politics from the later years of Charles II through the failed rebellions against James II in 1685. Writing as a prominent statesman, Fox examines how royal overreach and widespread political submission undermined English liberties. The narrative traces the crown’s alliance with France, the judicial executions of political dissidents, and the ill-fated risings led by the Earl of Argyle and the Duke of Monmouth. It endures as a classical statement of Whig constitutionalism, warning against the dangers of passive obedience and the gradual erosion of parliamentary authority.

The Story

The book opens with an examination of the reign of Charles II, focusing on the mechanics of royal power and the gradual submission of the English political establishment. Fox evaluates Charles's character, acknowledging his affability and personal warmth while exposing his political calculations. The narrative details how the crown sought financial independence from Parliament through secret monetary subsidies from Louis XIV of France. This foreign connection allowed the monarchy to consolidate its authority without relying on parliamentary grants, laying the groundwork for absolute rule.

Fox examines the climate of political and judicial suppression during this period, highlighting the misuse of the legal system to eliminate opposition. He dissects famous state trials, such as that of Algernon Sidney, where speculative writings were used as evidence of treason. The text criticizes the subservience of the judiciary under figures like Chief Justice Jeffreys, arguing that courts became mere instruments of royal will.

Upon the accession of James II, the drive toward absolute authority accelerates. James demands an immediate and unconditional grant of revenue for life from Parliament, accompanying his request with explicit threats to govern without them if they hesitate. Parliament complies, driven by a prevalent doctrine of non-resistance among the ruling Church party. Fox argues that this submission stemmed from a mistaken belief that royalty would respect ecclesiastical privileges even while dismantling civil liberties.

The central narrative arc culminates in the twin uprisings of 1685, intended to challenge James’s rule. In Scotland, the Earl of Argyle leads an expedition that quickly founders due to internal divisions, poor coordination, and tactical missteps. Argyle's forces disperse in the night, leading to his capture and calm, dignified execution in Edinburgh.

Simultaneously, the Duke of Monmouth lands at Lyme in western England. Despite initial local support, Monmouth’s army suffers from inadequate cavalry, the cowardice of Lord Grey at Bridport, and the loss of key officers. After failing to spark a broader rising or secure military defections, Monmouth is defeated and captured. James grants his nephew a final interview at Whitehall, only to confirm his execution without mercy. The book concludes with the total suppression of the rebellions, leaving James at the height of his absolute power and poised to pursue his political and religious objectives unchecked.

How It Unfolds

The French connection established Charles II secures monetary aids from Louis XIV to establish financial independence from Parliament. This agreement sacrifices English foreign policy flexibility regarding the Spanish Netherlands in exchange for absolute royal authority at home.

Judicial tyranny in the courts The prosecution of Algernon Sidney demonstrates the corruption of the legal process. Arbitrary legal interpretations and suborned judicial figures like Jeffreys transform the court system into a tool for destroying political opponents.

James demands revenue Upon taking the throne, James II addresses Parliament with a direct demand for life revenues, implicitly threatening to levy taxes without consent if refused. Parliament capitulates rapidly, driven by strict tenets of non-resistance.

Argyle's tragic expedition The Earl of Argyle’s campaign in Scotland falls apart amidst strategic disagreements and a chaotic night march near Glasgow. His subsequent execution is marked by notable personal composure and explicit declarations against popery and tyranny.

Monmouth’s western rising The Duke of Monmouth lands at Lyme but faces early setbacks, including Lord Grey's flight at Bridport and the departure of key supporters. The movement fails to draw expected desertions from the royal army.

The final interview and execution Following his capture, Monmouth is granted a personal audience with King James II at Whitehall. The king remains inexorable, refusing pardon and executing his nephew forty-eight hours later to secure his absolute throne.

The People

• Charles II — The late monarch whose affability and personal kindness toward his family masked a calculating policy. He systematically sought independence from Parliament through secret French subsidies and judicial suppression.
• James II — The stubborn king who demands absolute submission from Parliament and seeks unchecked monarchical power. He shows no clemency toward his captured nephew, using the defeat of the 1685 rebellions to consolidate absolute rule.
• Archibald Campbell, Earl of Argyle — The leader of the ill-fated Scottish insurrection. Hampered by divided counsels and strategic errors, he displays calm fortitude and religious conviction during his trial and execution.
• James Scott, Duke of Monmouth — The natural son of Charles II who leads a desperate invasion of western England. Hesitant and prone to low spirits, his affection for his supporters keeps him with his army until its ultimate defeat.
• Ford Lord Grey — Monmouth's chief commander whose cowardice at the battle of Bridport undermines the early momentum of the western rising, though he retains his influence over Monmouth.
• Algernon Sidney — The prominent Whig theorist executed under Charles II. His trial, based on unpublished speculative manuscripts, serves as Fox’s primary example of juridical tyranny.

In Its Own Voice

"The truth is that the guilt of the action--that is to say, the taking away of the life of the king, is what most men in the place of Cromwell and his associates would have incurred; what there is of splendour and of magnanimity in it, I mean the publicity and solemnity of the act, is what few would be capable of displaying."

Fox reflects on the international perception and moral weight of the execution of Charles I, noting how the publicity of the act affected Europe's view of English history.

"To command success is not in the power of man; but to deserve success, by choosing a proper time, as well as a proper object, by the prudence of his means, no less than by the purity of his views, by a cause not only intrinsically just, but likely to insure general support, is the indispensable duty of him who engages in an insurrection against an existing government."

In assessing the exiled patriots who hesitated to join Monmouth and Argyle, Fox outlines the moral and practical prerequisites required to justify armed rebellion against an established crown.

What It's Really About

The primary argument centers on the persistent danger that royal ambition poses to constitutional liberty. Fox challenges Tory historians who attributed the abuses of James II's reign solely to his Catholic faith. Instead, he demonstrates that James's actions were part of a continuous strategy pursued by the Stuart monarchs to achieve absolute power independent of parliamentary oversight.

The work exposes how political compliance and doctrines of passive obedience enable tyranny. By examining the actions of the Church party, the judiciary, and Parliament, Fox shows that yielding on civil liberties in hopes of protecting specific institutions ultimately leaves those very institutions vulnerable to royal overreach.

Why Read It Today

This history appeals to readers interested in constitutional theory, parliamentary history, and the political thought of the Whig tradition. Written by one of Great Britain's most prominent eighteenth-century parliamentary orators, the prose carries the measured weight of a practical politician dissecting the mechanics of governance and statecraft.

The narrative demands patience with early modern political structures and historical detail. Its sentence structures reflect nineteenth-century rhetorical styles, with lengthy analytical digressions on legal precedents, diplomatic correspondence, and historical historiography (such as Fox's frequent critiques of David Hume's accounts).

What remains compelling is Fox's sharp focus on how legal systems can be twisted to serve political power. His analysis of state trials, executive overreach, and the psychological effects of absolute authority offers a clear, unvarnished look at how liberties are gradually lost through institutional compliance and misplaced trust in sovereign benevolence.

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