Of these was the tale of Monmouth's execution.

It created profoundest dismay amongst those men who were suffering for the Duke and for the religious cause he had professed to champion.

Many refused utterly to believe it.

A wild story began to circulate that a man resembling Monmouth had offered himself up in the Duke's stead, and that Monmouth survived to come again in glory to deliver Zion and make war upon Babylon.
Mr.Blood heard that tale with the same indifference with which he had received the news of Monmouth's death.

But one shameful thing he heard in connection with this which left him not quite so unmoved, and served to nourish the contempt he was forming for King James.