re distinguished by the colour of their habits into black, white, grey, &c. Among the monks, some are called monks of the choir, others professed monks, and others lazy monks; which last are defined for the service of the convent, and have neither clerical nor literature.

Cloistered Monks, are those who actually reside in the house; in opposition to extra-monks, who have benefices depending on the monastery.

Monks are also distinguished into reformed, whom the civil and ecclesiastical authority have made masters of ancient convents, and put in their power to retrieve the ancient discipline, which had been relaxed; and ancient, who remain in the convent, to live in according to its establishment at the time when they made their vows, without obliging themselves to any new reform.

Anciently the monks were all laymen, and were only distinguished from the rest of the people by a particular habit and an extraordinary devotion. Not only the monks were prohibited the priesthood, but even priests were expressly prohibited from becoming monks, as appears from the letters of St Gregory. Pope Syricus was the first who called them to the clericate, on occasion of some great scarcity of priests, that the church was then supposed to labour under; and since that time, the priesthood has been usually united to the monastic profession.

Monk (George), a personage memorable for having been the principal agent in restoring Charles II. to his crown, was descended from a very ancient family, and born in Devonshire in 1608. Being an unprovided younger son, he dedicated himself to arms from his youth, and obtained a pair of colours in the expedition to the Isle of Rhée; he served afterwards in the Low Countries with reputation in both King Charles's northern expeditions; and did such service in quelling the Irish rebellion, that he was appointed governor of Dublin, but was superseded by parliamentary authority. Being made major-general of the Irish brigade employed in the siege of Nantwich in Cheshire, he was taken prisoner by Sir Thomas Fairfax, and remained confined in the Tower of London until the year 1646; when, as the means of liberty, he took the covenant, and accepted a command in the Irish service under the parliament. He obtained the command in chief of all the parliamentary forces in the north of Ireland, where he did signal services, until he was called to account for a treaty made with the Irish rebels; a circumstance which was only obliterated by his future good fortune. He served in Scotland under Oliver Cromwell with such success, that he was left there as commander in chief; and he was one of the commissioners for uniting that kingdom with the new-erected commonwealth. He served at sea also against the Dutch; and was treated so kindly on his return, that Oliver is said to have grown jealous of him. He was, however, again sent to Scotland as commander in chief, and continued there five years: when he dissembled so well, and improved circumstances so dextrously, that he aided the desires of a wearied people, and restored the king without any disturbance; for which he was immediately rewarded Monkey, both with honours and profit: (See Britain, no. 194, &c.)—He was created duke of Albemarle, with a grant of 7000l. per annum estate, beside other emoluments; and enjoyed the confidence of his master without forfeiting that of the people. After his death in 1670, there was published a treatise composed by him while he remained prisoner in the Tower, intitled, "Observations on Military and Political Affairs," a small folio.

Monkey-Fish. See Squalus.

Monks-Head, or Wolf's bane. See Aconitum.

Monkey, in zoology. See Ape and Simia.

Monmouth (James, duke of), son to Charles II. by Mrs Lucy Walters, was born at Rotterdam in 1649. Upon the Restoration, he was called over to England, where the king received him with all imaginable joy, created him earl of Orkney (which was changed into that of Monmouth), and he took his seat in the house of peers in the ensuing session of parliament. He married Anne, the heiress of Francis earl of Buccleugh; and hence it came to pass that he had also the title of Buccleugh, and took the surname of Scot, according to the custom of Scotland. In 1668 his father made him captain of his life-guard of horse; and in 1672 he attended the French king in the Netherlands, and gave proofs of bravery and conduct. In 1673 the king of France made him lieutenant-general of his army, with which he came before Maastricht, and behaved himself with incredible gallantry, being the first who entered it himself. He returned to England, was received with all possible respect, and was received chancellor of the university of Cambridge. After this he went to assist the prince of Orange to raise the siege of Mons, and did not a little contribute towards it. He returned to England; and was sent, in quality of his father's general, to quell an insurrection in Scotland, which he effected; but soon after he fell into disgrace; for, being a Protestant, he was deluded into ambitious schemes, upon the hopes of the exclusion of the duke of York: he conspired against his father and the duke; and when the latter came to the throne by the title of James II., he openly appeared in arms, encouraged by the Protestant army; but coming to a decisive battle before he had sufficient forces to oppose the royal army, he was defeated, taken soon after concealed in a ditch, tried for high treason, condemned, and beheaded in 1685, aged 36. See Britain, no. 242. 249—265.