Perth; Its Annals and Its Archives

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1849 edition. Excerpt: ... and foreign commodities, for ever to the crown. Argyle arrived in his own country from Holland in 1685, and, with great difficulty, collected and armed a body of two thousand five hundred men; upon which twenty-two thousand militia were called out to join the regular forces, so that Argyle was soon surrounded with insuperable difficulties. His arms and ammunition were seized, and his provisions cut off; the Marquess of Athole pressed him on one side, and Lord Charles Murray on another; the Duke of Gordon hung upon his rear, whilst the Earl of Dumbarton met him in front. His followers daily deserted him, so that his little army, wandering about from place to place, was at last dispersed. Argyle himself was taken prisoner in disguise near Renfrew, put in irons, and carried to the cross of Edinburgh, where he suffered death with a fortitude and serenity which confounded his enemies. In the Western Highland counties, which had supported Argyle, Lord Brcadalbane and the Marquess of Athole exerted themselves as the ministers of vengeance, and exercised great severity upon the inhabitants. The houses of the peasantry upon Argyle's estate were burnt; the woods, the mills, and the gardens destroyed; tho fishing-boats and nets of the starving inhabitants torn in pieces; and the jails filled with prisoners, who, if not hurried to instant execution, were left to linger out life in circumstances of want and misery. In the meantime, the King was desirous to acquire glory, by restoring the British dominions to the empire of Rome. The Earls of Perth and Melfort gained his favour by their apostacy. The former, to prove his sincerity, persuaded his dying wife to embrace Popery, and gained over Sibbald, a celebrated physician and naturalist. After this, the penal...