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 Excerpt: ...It was almost impossible for the most cautious to avoid coming in contact with some of the many who were-held as traitors, and that was sufficient to involve them in the same fate. After the accession, a Parliament met at Edinburgh, where Queensberry presided as Commissioner. This assembly appeared willing to make an entire surrender of their liberties. They voted that the King was vested with a solid and absolute authority, of which none could participate but in dependenco on him, and by commission from him; they engaged that every individual in the nation, between sixteen and sixty, should be in readiness for his Majesty's service, where and as oft as he should require them; and they annexed the whole excise, both of inland 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 wns 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 Breadalbano and the Marquess of Athole exerted themselves as the ministers of vengeance, an...